Dromahair Park has ten interactive activity points along the walking trail, giving you a specific reason to explore Dromahair on foot and enjoy some exercise in the open air. Meanwhile, the banks of the River Bonet are a place to relax, take a stroll and discover the surrounding area. There are also wooded hills, the Creevelea Franciscan friary and Dromahair Castle. Together, these features connect the town’s natural and riverside setting with its monastic and secular heritage.
Walking and time by the River Bonet
Dromahair Park aims to encourage recreational walking for the local community and visitors. Ten interactive activity points are located along the walking trail. The banks of the River Bonet offer a different focus: the area is well suited to relaxing, taking a stroll and discovering the surroundings. The park therefore brings together two distinct aspects: a walking experience with activity points and time spent by the water. If you choose Dromahair for its nature and opportunities for exercise, you can consider these features separately when planning your visit.
Riverside landscape and nature
Dromahair lies in a landscape of low, wooded hills along the River Bonet valley. The native woodlands in Dromahair Park include oak, ash, hazel, birch and Scots pine. They provide a habitat for a diverse range of wildlife, including rare and endangered species. Around 200 bird species have been recorded in the park. Together, the landscape, tree species and wildlife give a clear picture of the natural environment around Dromahair.
The River Bonet also has ecological significance within Dromahair: it forms part of the Lough Gill Special Area of Conservation and has also been proposed as a Natural Heritage Area. The proposed designation is a separate status alongside its existing inclusion in the Special Area of Conservation.
Creevelea Abbey and Dromahair Castle
The Creevelea Franciscan friary was founded in 1508 for the Franciscan order. It was the last Franciscan friary to be built before the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII, between 1536 and 1541. Creevelea Abbey is a state-owned National Monument cared for by the Office of Public Works. The church comprises a nave, transept, chancel and tower; its east window is particularly finely crafted. The remains of the friary include a chapter house, a sacristy, a bakery, a scriptorium and other service buildings. Two carved depictions of Saint Francis of Assisi can be seen in the cloister arcades; one shows him preaching to birds.
The abbey lies on the Sligo Way, an 80 km walking trail with elevated routes. Dromahair Castle offers a different historical perspective: the castle stands at the southern end of the town on the north bank of the River Bonet and was a stronghold of the O’Rourke clan until the 17th century. Creevelea represents the history and architecture of the Franciscan order, while the castle represents the O’Rourke clan’s era of fortification.
Dromahair town centre is also designated an Architectural Conservation Area. For those interested in architecture and history, points of interest range from the abbey’s layout and details to the history of the castle and the designation of the town centre.
Discover more destinations: Carrigallen, Rossinver, Carrick On Shannon, Ballinamore, Glenfarne, Drumod, Carnhill, Mohill
For the broader travel overview: County Leitrim.
