O'Briensbridge: Shannon paths and bridge history

The River Shannon, old waterways and a distinctive bridge shape the character of O'Briensbridge. When planning your holiday, there are various ways to explore the area on foot or on the water, from the 5 km Parteen Weir Loop to the 12 km Old Barge Loop Walk. The history of the bridges and canals is also closely connected to the town's location on the river.

Circular walks of varying lengths

The O’Briensbridge–Errinagh Bridge Trail is a moderately difficult 7.5 km circular walk. It starts and ends at Riverside Park in O’Briensbridge. Along the way, it follows the banks of the River Shannon and the Errinagh Canal towpath; the return leg follows the Shannon headrace embankment. The riverbank, canal path and embankment are the different sections of this circular route.

The Parteen Weir Loop offers a shorter route. It starts in the car park beside the bridge and heads north from O’Briensbridge. The loop is 5 km long and can take up to an hour, depending on your walking speed. You can factor this time estimate directly into your day's plans; it applies to this loop, not the other routes.

At 12 km, the Old Barge Loop Walk is longer. From O’Briensbridge, it follows the riverbank and towpaths to Clonlara, then returns along the Shannon headrace embankment. An old canal towpath is a reminder of how horses once pulled barges along the waterway. The three routes therefore differ in their stated lengths and the sections described. When choosing a holiday rental in O’Briensbridge, the kind of outing you want to take may be one factor in deciding where to stay.

Bridge, canal and water activities

O'Brien's Bridge is a twelve-arch stone road bridge over the River Shannon. It was built in phases around 1750, 1770, 1840 and 1925. In the 1840s, the present bridge was reduced from its original 14 arches to 12 so that barges and steamships could pass along the river. O’Briensbridge takes its name from an earlier bridge built across the Shannon in 1506 by Turlough O’Brien, the first Earl of Thomond, and his brother, the Bishop of Killaloe.

There is also a specific option on the water: Shannon Paddlers is a canoe and kayak club founded in 2017, registered with Canoeing Ireland and based in O’Briensbridge on the River Shannon. The club offers guided canoe and kayak trips on the canal and on the Shannon towards Limerick. The stretch of the Shannon south of O’Briensbridge is popular with anglers and water sports enthusiasts. When planning, you can choose between routes along the riverbank and a guided activity on the water.

The Errinagh Canal was built so boats and barges could navigate as far as the city of Limerick. South of O’Briensbridge, public footpaths take you over seven sandstone humpback bridges built by the canal company in the 19th century. At the Errina Canal, the path reaches a triple lock beyond Errina Bridge, described as Ireland's only triple lock.

Trips around the Shannon

A short distance from O’Briensbridge is the Lough Derg Blueway, a series of water- and land-based activity trails around Ireland's third-largest lake. The town itself is situated at a crossing over the River Shannon on the eastern edge of Clare. When choosing a holiday house or apartment, you can therefore consider whether you want to focus your stay mainly on the walking routes and water activities in O’Briensbridge, or include the Blueway as well. The circular walks listed provide specific distances to help you plan; the Parteen Weir Loop also has a stated walking time of up to an hour.

More places to explore

You can also explore these places: Whitegate, Ennistimon, Corofin, Bunratty, Coillte, Carrigaholt, Kilshanny and Lahinch.

For the wider travel overview: County Clare.