Historic Killaloe - 2 hour tour
This tour starts from the Killaloe Hotel and Spa and takes you to various sites of interest around Killaloe and Ballina, while exploring the River Shannon and visiting Lough Derg.
As an added bonus, you will be entitled to a 10% discount on lunch at the Killaloe Hotel and Spa (available Mon-Sat 12pm to 4pm).
Important Information
You need to wear comfortable clothing. Lightweight rain gear is always advisable.
The price for this tour is €50 per person, with a €50 discount for groups of 4 or more.
The tour is 2 hours.
You can book your slot online, or by calling 087 4593141. Guided tours must be purchased in advance, by 10pm the day before.
We have a maximum of 6 people per tour
The tour begins in Killaloe Hotel and Spa, or from your accommodation in the Killaloe area.
Highlights
St Flannan's Cathedral
St Flannan's recently celebrated their 800th Anniversary, and you are free to explore the building, inside and out.
As an optional extra, the Cathedral offer tours of the Bell Tower. This must be booked in advance, and is subject to an additional fee (payable to the Cathedral) and is subject to availability.
The River Shannon and Lough Derg
The River Shannon is the longest river in Ireland, stretching for 360km from Co Cavan in the North to County Kerry in the South West. Killaloe grew to be an important river crossing in the Middle Ages.
Lough Derg is the 3rd biggest lake in Ireland, and forms part of the Shannon waterway. On this tour we visit Towmilegate, which is at the southern end of Lough Derg, and a popular spot for swimming, kayaking and other water sports.
Brian Boru's Fort
Brian Boru was a famous King of Munster and later High King of Ireland in the 10th and 11th Centuries. On this tour, we visit his home, an earthen fort on the shores of the Shannon, and hear of his legendary victories over the Viking raiders.
More Information
This tour explores the historic twin towns of Killaloe and Ballina, along with some of the surrounding countryside. It is an easy cycle, suitable to all levels of ability, and will last 2 hours, including 30 to 45 minutes of cycling.
The tour starts at the Killaloe Hotel and Spa. First, we will head into Killaloe town centre, and visit St Molua's Church. This was a small church which was originally on Friar's Island, south of Ballina. In the early 20th century it was dismantled and rebuilt in the heart of Killaloe, where it still stands today. Next, we will go down the Main Street to St Falnnan's Cathedral, where you will be free to explore the 800-year old building on the inside and out.
Next we will cross over the River Shannon on the old bridge, pausing to admire the views up and down the Shannon. The bridge dates back to the 17th Century, but there was a river crossing here for at least 1000 years prior to that.
We will cycle along the River Shannon on the Ballina side of the River, before stopping at Templekelly. This is a ruined 13th Century Church, with many interesting carvings among the gravestones.
Next, we cross back over the River Shannon on the new bridge, and continue on dedicated newly-built cycle ways.
At this point, there is an optional additional 5km loop, which takes us out of the town to explore a little of the County Clare countryside, viewing the Sliabh Bearnagh Hills, and getting great views down over Killaloe and into County Tipperary as we head back downhill.
Whether or not you choose the additional 5km loop, we next park the bikes and walk the short distance to Brian Boru's fort, where the famous High King of Ireland had his home on the banks of the Shannon.
We next head up to Twomilegate, a local beauty spot at the southern end of Lough Derg, which is very popular for swimmers and other water sports, and is also home to West Lake Aqua Park. You can also get a coffee here.
Finally, we return to Killaloe Hotel and Spa, where you can get a 10% discount on lunch if you wish!
The map below shows the Historic Killaloe Tour.
