Drumshanbo combines insights into whiskey making with music, exhibitions and outdoor activities. The things to do offer a range of experiences: a distillery tour with tastings, paddling trips through Drumshamazon or routes around Acres Lake. If you are looking for accommodation in Drumshanbo, these interests can help guide your trip planning.
Distillery Tour and Local Cuisine
The Shed Distillery offers a tour of a fully operational distillery. It includes two tastings led by an expert guide. Irish Drumshanbo Single Pot Still Whiskey is made here in Drumshanbo. The visit combines an insight into production with a tasting of the whiskey made on site.
The Jackalope Café is also located in The Shed Distillery and serves homemade food and drinks. This means the distillery tour and café offerings are both in focus at this location. If you include both in your trip, you can make the food aspect fit your plans.
On the Water and at Sliabh an Iarainn
Lough Allen Adventure offers kayaking and SUP tours through Drumshamazon. It also offers guided outdoor experiences at Sliabh an Iarainn. The options are clearly distinguished by activity: choose kayaking or SUP on the water, or a guided outdoor experience at Sliabh an Iarainn.
There are also routes of different lengths around Acres Lake. The 600 m Acres Lake Boardwalk is part of a 6.5 km linear walking and cycling route. It runs from Acres Lake in Drumshanbo to Battlebridge Lock near Leitrim Village. The 600 m refers to the length of the boardwalk, not the entire route. As route conditions can change, it is advisable to check them before your visit.
Exhibitions and Music in Drumshanbo
The Sliabh an Iarainn Visitor Centre is located at Acres Lake in Drumshanbo and operates seasonally. Before your trip, check whether its opening period fits your plans. A short audiovisual presentation shows impressions and views of nearby lakes, mountains and places. The centre offers a concise glimpse of the surrounding area without requiring a longer hiking route.
The Glimpses of the Past exhibition features photographs, documents and memorabilia about Drumshanbo’s past. It is located above the Credit Union offices at The Square. Check whether an appointment is required before visiting. The exhibition adds the town’s history to a view of its present, while the Visitor Centre’s audiovisual presentation offers impressions of the surrounding landscape.
A recurring cultural event is the Joe Mooney Summer School: it takes place in Drumshanbo for one week every July and is dedicated to traditional Irish music, singing and dance. As you should check the exact dates before your trip, it is worth coordinating your stay with the event dates.
County Leitrim Beyond Drumshanbo
Beyond Drumshanbo, the wider destination of County Leitrim offers more options for different day plans. The first section of the Shannon Blueway includes 16.5 km of waterways as well as circular walking and cycling routes between Drumshanbo and Carrick-on-Shannon. Another route is the Leitrim Way: this 56 km long-distance walking trail runs from Manorhamilton to Leitrim Village; it usually takes two to three days. The routes therefore differ both in length and in the type of journey they offer.
The landscape can also be explored at specific destinations. The 15 m high Glencar Waterfall is near Glencar Lake, 11 km west of Manorhamilton in County Leitrim, and inspired William Butler Yeats. It can be visited from a wooded walking path. Hag’s Leap has a different access condition: it is a viewpoint only; hiking is not permitted in this area.
County Leitrim’s cultural history is represented by places such as Parke’s Castle and the Kiltyclogher Heritage Centre. Parke’s Castle is a restored early 17th-century castle on the north shore of Lough Gill. The Heritage Centre in Kiltyclogher focuses on Seán MacDiarmada, a signatory of the 1916 Proclamation; the exhibition uses audiovisual equipment and explanatory panels. The county’s cultural offerings thus range from local history in Drumshanbo to other historical subjects in County Leitrim.
Discover more destinations: Drumreagh, Carrick On Shannon, Fenagh, Manorhamilton, Drumgorman, Mohill, Carnhill, Dromahair.
For the broader travel overview: County Leitrim.
