Visit ancient monasteries and hop over to County Galway.
At the Northern end of Lough Derg is the County Galway town of Portumna. It is a 30-minute drive from The Nest, and here you can visit the Workhouse museum, take a stroll in the Portumna Forest Park, visit the 17th Century Castle or pause for a coffee on the main street. A short distance from Portumna, back in County Tipperary, is the ancient monastic village of Lorrha, where you wander among the ruins and breathe in the history.
Walking, scenery and history.
Crossing The Shannon.
Portumna
Portumna is at the Northern end of Lough Derg, and is where the River Shannon flows into the Lough. As you approach the town you will cross the River on the swing bridge. Several times a day, the bridge opens up to allow boats to flow north and south. It is quite a surreal experience to sit in your car and watch the boats sail past the end of the road!
The main street of Portumna includes many shops, as well as places where you can get coffee or a meal. The town grew up around the castle initially, and later developed as an important port, as the Shannon Waterway became increasingly important in the 19th Century for the transport of goods.
.
Portumna Forest Park
Portumna Forest Park was originally part of the hunting grounds of the Portumna Castle. Today it features miles of trails for walking or cycling, and is a beautiful place to spend an afternoon. Please note that you are welcome to rent one of our eBikes to explore the park under your own steam. There is also a path which links the forest park to the bridge over the River Shannon.
Portumna Castle and Abbey
Portumna Castle was built in the early 17th Century by the powerful Burke family. Today you can explore it or enjoy a coffee in their cafe. It is also a great spot for lovers of ornamental gardens.
Next door to the Castle is the 12th Century Abbey, where you can wander among the ruins.
Portumna Workhouse
During the 19th Century, a system of Workhouses was developed across Britain and Ireland, ostensibly with the aim of helping the needy. As is the way of these things, they quickly became notoriously grim institutions, and at the Portumna Workhouse you can see the conditions in which people lived, and hear the stories of how people came to be here.
Carrigahorig
Between Portumna and Lorrha lies the village of Carrigahorig. This means ‘the hill of the meeting place’, and a new ‘meeting place’ has been developed by Sinead and Kate at The Mill Pantry. It’s a great place to call in for artisan foods or coffee, and the ladies will be happy to have a chat while you enjoy your treats!
Lorrha
Lorrha was founded as a monastery in the 6th Century, and over the centuries, 2 more abbeys were added. Today it is a great place to explore. If you go down on a Thursday evening, you can get a guided tour in which local historian James Heenan will relate the history of the village while showing you the sites. It’s highly recommended! Or of course you can wander around on your own at any time of the week.