Things To Do in Upper Shannon River Valley
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Upper Shannon River Valley Attractions
Strokestown: A Kind of Atonement -- The somber and informative Famine Museum at Strokestown could be seen as a kind of atonement for the behavior of Major Denis Mahon, the landlord at Strokestown in the 1840s. When a blight killed the country's potato crop, setting off widespread famine, Mahon and his land agents could have done many things to help the hundreds of starving peasants who lived and worked on the property, but instead they evicted them as soon as it became clear they would not be able to pay their rent. He even went so far as to charter ships to send them away from Ireland. In 1847 Major Mahon was shot to death near Strokestown, and two men were hastily (and dubiously) convicted of the crime. But it seems clear that many hungry people had motives.
- Religious Site
Boyle Abbey
Sitting forlornly in a corner of bustling central Boyle, rugged old Boyle Abbey looks sad and forgotten. Time has truly passed it by. Founded in 1161 by Cistercian monks from Mellifont, and once a large and architecturally beautiful place, the abbey was a haven of otherworldliness… - Cooking Class
Cavan Crystal Craft & Design Centre
One of the country's top crystal companies, this establishment is known for its delicate glassware, mouth-blown and hand-cut by skilled craftspeople. Visitors are invited to watch as the master blowers fashion the molten crystal into intricate shapes and designs, which are then… - Historic Site
Clonalis House
This great house stands on land that has belonged to the O'Conor clan for more than 1,500 years. The O'Conors were the kings of Connaught, and this is the current home of the O'Conor Don, a direct descendant of the last high king of Ireland. The house, built in 1880, is a combination… - Park/Garden
Lough Key Forest Park
Stretching for miles along the shores of Lough Key, encompassing lush woodlands, a glassy lake, and a dozen islands, this park holds nature walks, ancient monuments, ring forts, a central viewing tower, picnic grounds, a cafe, and a shop. All of it was privately owned until 1957,… - Historic Site
Strokestown Park House, Gardens and Famine Museum
Strokestown Park House was the seat of the Pakenham-Mahon family from 1600 to 1979. King Charles II granted the vast estate, which stretches for miles in every direction, to Nicholas Mahon after the Restoration in appreciation of his support of the House of Stewart during the bloody…
Upper Shannon River Valley Nightlife
There are many good pubs in this area, but don't miss the sweet, ivy-covered Derragarra Inn, Butlersbridge, County Cavan (tel. 049/433-1003), for a drink or a meal. Relax by the turf fireplace or in the garden, overlooking the River Annaly. It's 6km (3 3/4 miles) north of Cavan Town.
