Killaloe
The twin towns of Killaloe and Ballina are situated in County Clare and County Tipperary respectively, joined by an old arched bridge. Under this bridge the Shannon flows, as the waters of Lough Derg taper back to join the river on its last loop before broadening once more at the river's mouth and joining the Atlantic ocean.
On the Killaloe side of the bridge stands Killaloe's 12th Century cathedral which still dominates the skyline. Killaloe is perhaps most famous, however, for being the birthplace of Brian Boru, the first High King of Ireland, who fought the Viking invaders and famously defeated them at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014. In addition to the town's heritage centre, you can also visit the grounds of Brian Boru's fort, which lie just outside the town.
Today Killaloe is a vibrant tourist destination with lots of shops, bars and restaurants to enjoy, as well as many historical attractions to explore. It is particularly popular, with boaters and anglers as its location, right at the mouth of Lough Derg, marks the beginning of the upper Shannon river navigation. As a result many cruisers also come to the town to tie up for the night or just to get a spot of lunch.
One can fish from the riverbank but there are also small boats with outboards that can be rented at reasonable rates. For those who wish to see Lough Derg one can get a tour around the lake on the Spirit of Killaloe which, during tourist season, departs from its mooring point on the Ballina side.
Killaloe, at the mouth of Lough Derg.
