Activities in Ballinasloe
Boat Hire Ireland Travel Guide to the Shannon River

Places of Interest

The ancient abbey at Clonmacnoise is one of the most famous sites of its kind in Europe. Built by St. Kieran in about 545AD, the abbey grew in stature to become one of the great monastic cities of early Europe. There are many crosses and towers still standing at the site, and the interpretive centre draws about 100,000 visitors every year. There are exhibitions and an audio-visual show, and a tea room.

Clonfert Cathedral is about ten miles from Ballinasloe, and is regarded as a classic example of Irish-Romanesque architecture. Built on the site of a monastery founded by St. Brendan, the intricate sandstone carvings of the building make this well worth a visit.

The Battle of Aughrim Interpretive Centre is about four miles from Ballinasloe, and provides information on a famous battle fought here in the eighteenth century. It was as a result of this battle that the Trenches were awarded the earldom of Clancarty.

Angling Information

The power station at Shannonbridge is an anglers Mecca. The hot water outlet gives rise to big shoals of Bream, Hybrids, Roach, Rudd and Tench.

Lough O'Flyn, Ballinlough is a 600 acre trout fishery controlled by CFB.
Bunowen and Shiven hold an excellent stock of trout, which is especially good early in the season.

The River Suck runs deep and slow, providing excellent coarse fishing with large shoals of bream up to 8lbs 100lb bags are quite common. Rudd of up to 2lbs are also common here.