Cloone

A trail through deciduous woodland and restored bog, together with a freestanding bell tower dating from 1822, represent two different sides of Cloone. Bóthar Na Naomh runs around Annaghmaconway Lough; St James’s Church, its graveyard and the Cloone Garden of Remembrance offer further connections to the past. This raises a practical question for planning your trip: should nature and its activities, or local history, take centre stage?

Nature at Bóthar Na Naomh

Bóthar Na Naomh is a recreational, sporting, cultural and nature trail in the vicinity of Annaghmaconway Lough. It passes through deciduous woodland and restored bog, and runs around the lake. From there, you can enjoy views of wetland scenery typical of limestone landscapes, with riverbanks, wet meadows, woodland, bog and lakeshore. The landscape is therefore not limited to the lake alone: woodland, bog and wet meadows are also among the natural features described.

The trail is used for individual and organised running and walking, as well as horse riding, kayaking and fishing. This offers different activity options for your holiday planning: you can focus on getting around on foot, or consider other activities mentioned, such as horse riding, kayaking and fishing. Bóthar Na Naomh can therefore be described both in terms of its landscape and the activities for which it is used.

Local history around St James’s Church

The freestanding, three-tier bell tower of St James’s Church was built in 1822. It is no longer in use and has been sensitively restored while preserving its character. The construction date and restoration tell of different periods: one marks the tower’s origins, while the other reflects the careful preservation of its historic character.

The graveyard of St James’s Church has been in continuous use since the 19th century and is part of Cloone’s social history. Its connection to local history lies not only in a construction date, but also in its long-standing use. Another perspective is offered by the Cloone Garden of Remembrance, completed in 2020. It is located beside the bell tower; along a path, information panels describe local history. The garden therefore focuses on history conveyed through information panels.

The Catholic church of St Mary and its graveyard are also among Cloone’s historical points of interest. Both are listed in the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. The village’s historic landscape thus includes not only the bell tower of St James’s Church, but also another church building and its associated graveyard.

An annual event in August

The Cloone Agricultural Show is an agricultural show held annually on the Monday of the August bank holiday weekend, and has been running since 1988. For travellers who would like to include a specific event in their plans, this provides a clear date to plan around. The event offers a different focus from the nature trail and local history: at its heart is an agricultural show held at the same time each year.

If you would like to explore more village pages beyond Cloone: Kiltyclogher, Mohill, Tullaghan, Drumkeeran, Leitrim, Ballinamore, Glenfarne and Keshcarrigan.

For the broader travel overview: County Leitrim.