Discover Drumod: Lakes and Railway Heritage

Drumod brings together a waterside setting and railway history. Dromod is on the shore where Lough Boderg (Lake of the Red Cow) and Lough Bofin (Lake of the White Cow) are connected. There is also a railway museum and a bog oak sculpture. Several themes come together in the town: lakes, railway heritage and craftsmanship.

Water is also an important feature in the surrounding area. The River Shannon, the Rivers Rinn and Eslin, and Pigeon Island Bay, Bog, Gortinty and Cloonboniagh are named as popular coarse fishing waters. These names give an impression of the variety of waters that feature in the area around Dromod.

Getting There and Railway History

Dromod railway station is served by the Dublin Connolly–Sligo railway line. Bus route 564 between Ballinamore and Carrick on Shannon also operates there. As routes and service details can change, check the latest information before travelling. When choosing a holiday rental, it may help to first consider whether you would like your stay to focus especially on the lakeshore, railway heritage or other interests.

The Cavan and Leitrim Railway Museum in Dromod displays a section of the original Cavan and Leitrim Railway. The railway opened in 1887 and closed in 1959. The museum's collection includes Nancy, a steam locomotive built in 1908. The dates tell two different stories: they mark both the railway's beginning and end and the locomotive's much later year of construction.

The Weeping Tree, a sculpture in Dromod, offers a different perspective on local craftsmanship. A local craftsperson made it from a single piece of bog oak. Its material and distinctive creation make the work a subject in its own right alongside railway history. If you would rather focus on landscape and water than historic technology when choosing where to stay, the two connected lakes offer another point of reference.

Waterways and Other Destinations in County Leitrim

Continuing through a manned lock takes you to Dromod Harbour after a further hour. This is a specific reference for planning a stretch by water; it does not indicate current availability or operating hours. For a broader look beyond the town, County Leitrim offers its own destinations and a range of routes.

The first section of the Shannon Blueway comprises 16.5 kilometres of waterways, as well as circular walking and cycling routes between Drumshanbo and Carrick-on-Shannon. The Leitrim Way covers a different scale: this 56-kilometre long-distance walking trail runs from Manorhamilton to Leitrim Village and usually takes two to three days. At Acres Lake Boardwalk, the 600-metre boardwalk and the 6.5-kilometre linear walking and cycling trail are distinct routes. The trail runs from Acres Lake in Drumshanbo to Battlebridge Lock near Leitrim Village. These details help distinguish a shorter section from longer routes that require their own time planning, without adding claims about difficulty or walking time.

County Leitrim also offers different ways to explore history and landscape. Parke’s Castle is a restored early 17th-century castle on the north shore of Lough Gill. Creevelea Abbey was built as a Franciscan friary in 1508 and lies on the Sligo Way, an 80-kilometre walking trail with upland routes. The 15-metre-high Glencar Waterfall is near Glencar Lake, 11 kilometres west of Manorhamilton; it can be viewed from a wooded walking path and inspired William Butler Yeats. Hag’s Leap, by contrast, is solely a viewpoint: there is no access for walking or hiking in this area. These different conditions are important when choosing outings based on views, cultural history or route length.

Gardening and food are also among the regional interests on offer. The Organic Centre in Rossinver runs more than fifty weekend courses each year, including cheesemaking and organic gardening. Its demonstration gardens have seven polytunnels where visitors receive guidance on organic gardening. In Drumshanbo, the Jackalope Café at The Shed Distillery serves homemade food and drinks. The themes described in County Leitrim thus range from waterways and walking trails to history, practical courses and food.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Carnhill, Leitrim, Drumreagh, Mohill, Kinlough, Drumshanbo, Drumsna, Cloone.

For the regional travel overview: County Leitrim.