County Leitrim

Ireland

Glencar Waterfall featuring tranquil scenes, a river or creek and forest scenes

Glencar Waterfall featuring forests, a waterfall and a pond

Glencar Waterfall featuring a lake or waterhole, forests and a cascade

Sligo which includes a river or creek, mountains and landscape views

Sligo showing mountains, tranquil scenes and a lake or waterhole

There aren’t many peoplein Leitrim, but that just means the locals arefriendlier. It’s one of Ireland’s smallest counties and has the lowestpopulation – but also the longest waterway, the most peaceful atmosphere andsome of the most welcoming pubs.

Leitrim Views and Scenery

The best way to exploreCounty Leitrim is in a boat. The Shannon and theErne rivers were linked up in 1994 to create nearly 500 miles of waterway, throughcanals, rivers and lakes all around the county. It’s possible to cruise fordays along the Shannon-Erne Waterway without backtracking and find riversidepubs and restaurants, tiny picturesque villages and spectacular mountainscenery. The waterway has 34 stone bridges and 16 locks along its navigationand there are marinas and mooring spots at very regular intervals.

LoughAllen dominates the centre of Leitrimwhile Lough Melvin to the north marks the border with the UK. Next to LoughMelvin is the Aghavoghil Bog, a peatland with some rare fauna and flora,although it can be hard to access.

History and Heritage inCounty Leitrim

CountyLeitrim was controlled by the O’Reilly clan in Dromahair untilthe arrival of the Norman invaders in the 13th century. CarrickCastle was captured by Robert the Bruce in his battles with theEnglish. The county was earmarked for English and Scottish plantation settlersin the 16th century and Carrick-on-Shannonwas established as the county town in 1607 by King James I, with othersettlements springing up including the Parke'sCastle.

But the plantersstruggled with Leitrim’s soil and during the Irishfamines of the 19th century, County Leitrim wasvery badly affected, losing around a quarter of the population in 10 years tostarvation and emigration. The county was put back on the map by Irish poet WBYeats, who was a frequent visitor to Leitrim andwas inspired by the GlencarWaterfall.

Sport and Leisure inCounty Leitrim

The Shannon-Erne Waterwayis the biggest attraction in County Leitrim, withcruisers available to hire at Carrick-on-Shannon and other towns for a longtrip. Those who prefer to sleep on dry land can still enjoy the water – LoughAllen is the place to go for kayaking and white water rafting in the nearbyrivers. The abundance of trout and salmon make the county a haven for anglers.Hillwalking is another popular activity, from Ballinaglera, Ballinamore andalong the Leitrim Way, while cyclists can find the Kingfisher Trail and theNorth West Trail in Manorhamilton. Golf courses can be found near the largertowns.

Events and Shopping inCounty Leitrim

Artists have long had anaffinity for Leitrim, from the poetry of Yeats tothe traditional Irish music of Carrick-on-Shannon, which hosts severalfestivals a year celebrating music and literature. There are also several craftcentres around the county, working in crystal, sculpture and organic materials.Carrick-on-Shannon is the place to find most major shops, although the port of Sligojust to the north-west of Leitrim may offer morechoice for mainstream purchases.

Enjoy County Leitrim

They say they sell land by the gallonin Leitrim, and the Shannon-Erne Waterway iscertain to be a highlight of any visit. The relaxed pace of life and warmwelcome from locals means County Leitrim is a greatholiday destination.