The River Shannon is the longest in Ireland, bordering on 11 counties. The 3 Counties Shannon Tour takes you through a little piece of 3 of those counties, namely Tipperary, Clare and (briefly) Limerick. The tour starts from Killaloe and can be done as either a guided tour or self-guided with the route marked out on a Garmin GPS device.
The Route
The route is fairly short (27km) and mostly flat, although a hill can be thrown into the final stage in County Clare if desired! It takes in scenic river views, an engineering marvel and several opportunities to pause for food or drink. First we travel along the Shannon to Birdhill, then back to the river at O'Brien's Bridge, where we detour to view the Parteen Weir. Finally we return to Killaloe via the quiet roads of County Clare.
Killaloe to Birdhill
First, we cross the historic bridge over the Shannon into Ballina, Co Tipperary. The bridge dates back to the 17th Century, and we move straight into the 21st Century, on brand new cycle paths, taking us first along the river and then along the road to Birdhill. This brand new road development was recently opened to connect the new bridge over the Shannon to the Killaloe bypass and on towards the motorway. Along its length are dedicated cycling / pedestrian lanes, so you will be safely away from the traffic on smooth tarmac.
The first village we arrive at is Birdhill, which has won awards for its parklands and public artworks. It's also a great place to stop for a coffee or lunch, with a choice of The Old Barracks offering artisan coffee (roasted on the premises) and sweet treats, and Matt the Threshers offering high quality food. Or if you prefer to wait a while, coffee is also on offer in O'Brien's Bridge (see below).
Birdhill To Parteen
We continue along the old Limerick road to a quiet back road which takes us across the railway line and down to the river, across the Co Limerick border in Montpelier. We cross the river at O'Brien's Bridge, and head off road to the Parteen Weir. There is a choice of an access road or a footpath along the river, and either will bring you to the engineering marvel. In the 1920s, in the early years of Irish independence, a massive project was devised to split the Shannon in two, with a new 'headrace' being used to feed a hydro electric power station at Ardnacrusha. At the time it was built, the power plant could potentially have generated enough electricity to power the entire country. It is still operational today. The Parteen Weir offers great views up and down stream as well as a chance to marvel at the ambition of the times.
Returning back through O'Brien's Bridge, there is another opportunity for a coffee break, at Bridge 14, who offer good coffee and home baked treats.
O'Brien's Bridge to Killaloe
We continue on through County Clare to Bridgetown, and here we have a choice of an easy ride along quiet roads back to Killaloe (in part following the Lough Derg Way walking route), or for those who fancy a more challenging route, we can head uphill and take the high road over Lackareagh. Either way, the County Clare countryside offers quiet roads and beautiful views as you head back to the starting point in historical Killaloe.
To book this tour, you have a number of options.
Self-Guided rental (Half Day or Full Day)
For guests at our "Places to stay and eBike" partners, customers can avail of a 15% discount on guided tours, and you can start your tour from the front door. Our accommodation partners in the Killaloe area are:-
Lakeside Hotel in Ballina
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