Ballinamore: Discover Canal History and Trails

Ballinamore brings together waterways, history and outdoor activities: the town overlooks a canal connecting the River Shannon with the River Erne. There are also two loop trails with different focuses, a small tool museum and a golf course in the rolling farmland of County Leitrim. When choosing a holiday rental in Ballinamore, it is therefore worth first considering whether you want to plan your trip around canal history, outdoor activities, or culture and golf.

Canal history in the town

At the main entrance to Ballinamore stands a bridge with 19th-century arches. It dates from the original construction of the Ballinamore-Ballyconnell Canal during the Irish Famine. The canal opened in 1860 and connected the waterways of the north with those of the south. This made passage between Belfast, Dublin, Limerick and Waterford possible. This history gives the waterway significance beyond that of a single local landmark: it also represents a connection between different parts of Ireland.

After renovation and its reopening to traffic, the former Ballinamore & Ballyconnell Canal was renamed the Shannon-Erne Waterway. It was officially opened on 23 May 1994 at Corraquil Lock, Teemore, Co. Fermanagh. Together with the bridge at the main entrance, this offers two different points of interest for history enthusiasts: the canal’s original construction and its later reopening under a new name.

Two loop trails, two ways to explore

The Ballinamore Looped Walking Trail is 4.5 km long. It starts at Ballinamore Marina, forms a loop at Longstones and leads back to Ballinamore. The Ballinamore Looped Cycling Trail also follows a 4.5 km loop, starts at the same marina, forms a loop at Longstones and leads back to Ballinamore. The trails’ identical length and shared route make the difference in their names especially clear: you can consider the loop as either a walk or a cycle ride.

The surrounding area also has an 8 km walking trail from Ballyduff Lock 7 to Aghoo Bridge. It follows the towpath of the Shannon-Erne Waterway and partly runs along smaller public roads. So, alongside the loop in Ballinamore, there is also a longer route described in a different way to consider when choosing your trail. If you are taking different interests in your travel group into account, these details can help you compare the kind of outing you want.

Tools and landscape

Lawderdale House in Ballinamore is home to a small museum of old and antique tools and small equipment. The collection includes items used for estate work, blacksmithing, wheelwrighting, woodworking and forestry. It offers an insight into a range of crafts and types of work. Those interested in historic tools will find a cultural alternative to the trails and waterway here, so a stay need not focus solely on outdoor activities.

Ballinamore Golf Club is a 9-hole parkland course in the rolling farmland of County Leitrim. It borders the Ballinamore-Ballyconnell Canal, and the golf club offers panoramic views of the slopes of Sliabh-an-Iarainn. The combination of the course, its canal-side location and views of the slopes reveals another side of the area. When choosing your destination, you can consider whether golf is among the interests that matter for your stay.

Discover more places

If you would like to research destinations beyond Ballinamore, you can also find Drumod, Kinlough, Fenagh, Drumsna, Kiltyclogher, Carrick On Shannon, Rossinver and Leitrim here.

A holiday rental in Ballinamore is particularly worth considering if you want these attractions to shape your stay; you can decide which accommodation suits your needs based on your own requirements.

For the broader travel overview: County Leitrim.