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O'Briensbridge - Errinagh Bridge
O'Briensbridge, Co. Clare
Free to visit
The village of O’Briensbridge stands on the eastern verge of Co. Clare, on the right bank of the river Shannon – the longest river in Ireland. The bridge which gives its name to the village stands across the Shannon, and has at its east end, in Co. Limerick, the village of Montpelier.

The section of the river downstream from O'Brien's bridge is noted for angling and watersports. Upstream at Parteen the flow of the Shannon is diverted into a man-made canal (called the Shannon Headrace) for a hydroelectric station at Ardnacrusha. The Errinagh Canal was built to allow navigation of boats and barges to the City of Limerick . Today, the canal is being developed as a recreational amenity (fishing, watersports, etc) – the loop uses what was the towpath for horses as they pulled barges along the waterway in previous times.

A-B. Starting from the riverside car park, follow the pathway along the River Shannon away from the village. You are following the blue arrows on the waymarkers, but there are also red arrows (for the longer Old Barge Loop) and the yellow arrows of the Lough Derg Way (a long-distance walking route which goes from Limerick City to Killaloe). The pathway soon enters an area of natural woodland along the bank of the river - this was the old towpath. After 1km the route swings right as you join the Errinagh Canal.

B-C. Continue to follow the sandy path along the bank of the canal to reach Errinagh Bridge. Go under the bridge, and on your exit, climb the embankment where you will turn right following the blue arrow. Notice that you leave the Lough Derg Way at this point. You also leave the red loop as it turns left towards the village of Clonlara.

C-D. Follow the blue arrows onto a tarred roadway. Turn left and almost immediately turn left via a gateway/stile into a field and onto the embankment of the Shannon Headrace, where you rejoin the red loop on its return from Clonlara. Turn right on top of the embankment.

D-E. Follow the right bank of the headrace for almost 2km to exit via a stile at the end of forestry and onto a roadway. Continue straight here.

E-F. After 300m enter the village again, turning right as you join the tarred road.

F-A. Follow the road through the village – enjoying the 200m back to the trailhead.

Trail details

Type:
Walking Trail
Location:
O'Briensbridge Loop Walks
Grade:
Moderate
Format:
Loop
Length:
7.50km
Ascent:
10m
Dogs allowed:
Yes
    Time:2 hours
    Nearest town start:O'Briensbridge
    Nearest town finish:O'Briensbridge
    Start point:Riverside Park in O'Briensbridge
    Finish point:Riverside Park in O'Briensbridge
    Waymarking:Blue arrow on yellow background
Contact details
O'Brien's Bridge Village,O'Briensbridge,Co Clare,Republic of Ireland
Leave no trace
  • Plan ahead and prepare
  • Be considerate of others
  • Respect farm animals and wildlife
  • Travel and camp responsibly
  • Leave what you find
  • Dispose of waste properly
  • Protect nature from fire
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