A scenic navigation location waiting to be discovered where the Shannon River flows out of Lough Derg.
The imaginative exhibition charts the history of Killaloe and its Celtic and nautical significance. An important feature is the place of Brian Boru (940-1014) High King of Ireland who was born in Killaloe. The arrival of Christianity and the monastic tradition is also featured. The tourist office has a full range of services including reservations for cruiser hire, accommodation, Medieval Banquets, Irish Nights and so on.
Killaloe Heritage Centre elaborates on the theme of Celtic Ireland. The birth place of Brian Boru (940-1014), the greatest High King of Ireland, is just a few miles from the Village. The 1000th anniversary of his crowning as High King takes place in 2002. The exhibition also traces the history of the arrival of Christianity and the monastic tradition, as well as the development of the Shannon River as a transport system. The visit features an audio-visual presentation of the route the canal boat took while making deliveries from Dublin to Limerick. The touch screen facility provides a range of extensive information on the area and the friendly staff have an in-depth knowledge of things to see and do.
Regal Killaloe, once the capital of Ireland as the 11th century seat of heroic King Brian Boru, is now the serene centre of leisure activity on Ireland’s natural water park, Lough Derg. Killaloe bridges the centuries, as well as connecting counties Clare and Tipperary with its distinctive 13 arch bridge linking Killaloe to the pretty village of Ballina. Here one can while away the hours observing or participating in cruising, sailing, and a range of water activities. The 13th century St. Flannan’s cathedral only a five minute walk from the heritage centre, unique for its stone carving featuring Ogham and Runic inscriptions is also worth a visit. On or near this site was the palace of Kincora which was one of the main strongholds of Brian Boru.
The canal was opened in 1799 to bypass the rapids on the river. It was a vital link in the navigation route between Limerick and other ports on the Shannon. The canal became redundant in 1929 when the water level was raised over the rapids due to the opening of a hydro-electric station at Ardnacrusha. Interestingly, the lock keepers house is now the site of the Heritage Centre.
Brochure on Brian Boru 5MB in full colour. The file is in pdf format and is 5mb in size, therefore it may a few minutes to complete the download depending on your connection speed. However, it is worth waiting for...
