Killaloe Itineraries
Half a day or a full weekend. Here are the best ways to spend your time in Killaloe, planned step by step.
Whether you have a few hours or a full weekend to explore, these itineraries give you a local’s route through Killaloe. Each one links directly to the restaurants and activities along the way.
Half a day in Killaloe: the cathedral, the bridge and the boat
The twin towns on foot and on the water: the cathedral and its Thorgrim stone on the Clare side, St Molua's Oratory on the hilltop, across the bridge into Co. Tipperary for the one-hour river cruise, and lunch or dinner in Ballina. Check the cruise calendar first and build the morning around the departure.
- 110:00·45 minutes
St Flannan's Cathedral
Start on Royal Parade in Killaloe, Co. Clare. Find the Romanesque doorway, the ogham and runic Thorgrim stone and, in the graveyard, the stone-roofed oratory. The cathedral says it opens daily at 10am.
View St Flannan's Cathedral - 210:45·30 minutes
Up to St Molua's Oratory
Climb the hill to St Flannan's Catholic church and the oratory moved there from Friar's Island, on the high ground tradition ties to Kincora.
View St Molua's Oratory - 311:30·30 minutes
Coffee at Ponte Vecchio
Back down the hill to Royal Parade for coffee at Ponte Vecchio, the café, bookshop and wine bar a minute from the bridge.
View Ponte Vecchio - 412:15·1 hour 15 minutes
Across the bridge and onto the river
Walk over the old bridge into Ballina, Co. Tipperary and take the one-hour Killaloe River Cruises trip from Lakeside Drive, up the Shannon past Béal Ború into the foot of Lough Derg. Departure times are on the operator's booking calendar; book ahead in summer.
View Killaloe River Cruises - 513:30·1 hour
Lunch at Goosers
Goosers, at the Ballina end of the bridge, is open from noon seven days a week, per its own site.
View Goosers Bar & Eating House
A full day: Béal Ború, Holy Island and the lakeshore
North up the Clare shore of Lough Derg by car: Brian Ború's fort at Béal Ború, a swim at Ballycuggaran in summer, the chocolate factory at Tuamgraney, and Gerard Madden's boat from Mountshannon to Inis Cealtra, where Brian's brother was abbot. Back to Killaloe for dinner. Holy Island boats run April to the end of September, weather permitting.
- 109:30·45 minutes
Béal Ború
Drive or cycle about 1.5km north of the bridge on the Clare side to the ringfort above the point where the lake narrows into the Shannon.
View Béal Ború - 210:30·45 minutes
Ballycuggaran
A short hop up the R463 to the Blue Flag lakeshore at Ballycuggaran. In the summer bathing season there are lifeguards; otherwise it is a walk on the lawn and the jetty.
View Ballycuggaran Beach - 311:45·45 minutes
Wilde Irish Chocolates, Tuamgraney
Watch the chocolate being made, free, and have a hot chocolate in the café. The factory opens Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm, so do this day on a weekday or Saturday.
- 413:00·2 hours 30 minutes
Boat to Holy Island from Mountshannon
On to Mountshannon Pier for Gerard Madden's boat and guided tour of Inis Cealtra: the round tower, six churches and the bargaining stones. His site says no pre-booking is needed in season.
View Holy Island Boat Trips - 516:30·1 hour
Back to Killaloe and a look at the cathedral
Drive the 23km back down the lakeshore and catch St Flannan's Cathedral before it closes at 7pm.
View St Flannan's Cathedral - 618:30·1 hour 30 minutes
Dinner
On a Friday to Sunday, Tuscany Bistro on Main Street in Ballina, Co. Tipperary. Any other evening, O'Brien's at Killaloe Hotel & Spa on the Clare side serves dinner seven days.
View Tuscany Bistro
Ready to plan your visit?
Check the weather forecast before you head out.