O'Briensbridge Parteen Weir loop walk, Co. Clare
A moderate walk
Distance: 5km
Estimated time: 1.5 hrs
Terrain: Flat, firm terrain with riverside paths and canal banks.
O'Brien's Bridge or O'Briensbridge is a village in east County Clare, Ireland, on the west bank of the River Shannon. It is named for the bridge across the Shannon at that point, built by Turlough O'Brien in 1506.
The short 5km loop is marked with green arrows and travels upstream along the Shannon to the Parteen Weir Hydro Dam before returning to O'Briensbridge via the Headrace Canal.
The loop is part of the network of National Looped Walks and is marked in both directions using the standard National Looped Walk directional arrows.
The loop starts and finishes at the trailhead which is located on the bank of the river Shannon at the Riverside Park in the village of O'Briensbridge, approximately 14km from Limerick City and just off the R463.
The trailhead car park is located close to a variety of local shops, pubs, restaurants and guest accommodation.
A Heritage Guide to the walk is available to download from http://obriensbridge.com.
The Barrow Way, Co. Carlow
Rising in the Slieve Bloom Mountains in the southern midlands, and joining the rivers Nore and Suir, before flowing into the Celtic Sea at Waterford Harbour, the River Barrow lays claim to being the second longest river in Ireland.
First made navigable in the eighteenth century, the Barrow stretches for 114km from the canal hamlet of Lowtown in County Kildare to the beautiful monastic site and village of St Mullins in south County Carlow.
With its peaceful route through a quiet landscape, a constantly expanding river for company, and grassy towpaths, tracks and quiet roads, the Barrow Way is perhaps one of the most peaceful walks in Ireland.
Type of Walk: National Waymarked Trail
Level of Difficulty: An easy walk
Length: 100km
Start Grid Point: N 790 250
Finish Grid Point: S 728 378
Ordnance Survey Map: OSI Discovery Series Sheets 49, 55, 61 and 68
You can read more about walking The Barrow Way at Irishtrails.ie.