Discover Castlerea: Rivers, Culture and Activities

Castlerea lies on the banks of the River Suck and the River Francis. Visitors planning a holiday here will find a range of options: a circular walking route through the Suck Valley, a golf course with a history of its own, railway memorabilia and historic Clonalis House. When choosing a holiday apartment or holiday home, it is worth first considering which of these aspects of the town you want to shape your stay.

Riverside scenery and the Suck Valley Way

The Suck Valley Way runs to the outskirts of Castlerea. As a circular walking route, it returns along the opposite side of the river; the circuit includes a short interruption. Along the way, the landscape is shaped by lowland areas with bogs, floodplains and woodlands. There are also areas of traditional farmland, as well as sections along paths through fields and woods, quiet country roads and the riverbank.

If you are visiting Castlerea primarily for its scenery, the Suck Valley Way is a practical starting point for planning your trip. The short interruption is part of the route as described and should be taken into account when finding your way.

A golf course with a history

Castlerea Golf Course is a nine-hole parkland course in Castlerea. It measures about 6,090 yards and is set around a tributary of the River Suck. Castlerea Golf Club was founded in September 1905. The course was originally located in Harristown and moved to its present location in Clonalis in 1907.

The club also accepts society and group bookings, including 18-hole rounds. So both the course’s nine holes and the 18-hole rounds on offer are golf options you can take into account when planning. If you want golf to be the focus of your stay, you can consider Castlerea specifically from that perspective as a holiday destination.

Railway history and Clonalis House

The Castlerea Railway Museum houses a collection of railway memorabilia. This includes locomotive A55, a 1955 diesel-electric locomotive built by Metropolitan Vickers of Manchester. Bear in mind when planning your visit that the museum is open only by prior appointment.

Clonalis House in Castlerea offers a different kind of insight. The house preserves heirlooms, artefacts and documents, including the coronation stone of the kings of Connacht and O'Carolan's harp. During guided tours, visitors learn more about the history of the individual rooms and the art and manuscript collection. The commentary covers the museum, reception room, dining room, library and chapel. This gives you the option of choosing between railway history and a tour of rooms and collections if you would like to include cultural discoveries in your trip.

Swimming and getting there

Castlerea Outdoor Swimming Pool operates during the summer season. The heated public pool is 33 metres long and has a shallow and a deep section. There is also a separate heated toddlers’ pool and a dedicated grassy picnic area. This information can help you plan swimming as a seasonal part of your stay.

Castlerea is accessible by daily express and local buses, as well as daily train services. Whether the walking route, golf, museum, house tour or swimming is the deciding factor, visiting arrangements vary—for example, the Railway Museum requires an appointment and the swimming pool operates seasonally.

More places for your travel ideas: Headford, Spiddal, Tuam, Dunmore, Farmerstown, Oughterard, Kilkieran and Gowlaun.

For the wider travel overview: Galway.