Tullaghan is well suited to a trip where coastal scenery and local culture matter equally. Saint Patrick’s Catholic Church and Tullaghan Cross offer specific points of interest for culture enthusiasts; the Atlantic coast is another key draw.
Church, High Cross and Local History
Saint Patrick’s Catholic Church in Tullaghan is a single-nave Roman Catholic church built around 1930. It stands on a quiet country road overlooking the Atlantic. Its understated stained-glass windows and simple Celtic cross finials are distinctive architectural details. Those interested in religious architecture as well as the coast will find a clearly defined cultural landmark here.
Tullaghan House also has designated historic status: it is a protected structure listed in the NIAH. Tullaghan Cross tells a different kind of local history. This ancient high cross was discovered on the shore after a storm and erected in 1778 by the local landlord. Its discovery and later erection were two separate events: the cross was not discovered in 1778, but erected that year.
Coast and Getting Around
Tullaghan lies on a coastal road overlooking the open Atlantic. The coastal area is part of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The N15 national road also runs through Tullaghan and serves as a point of reference for getting around.
The “Access to the Sea” project, launched in Tullaghan, provided public access to Leitrim’s only stretch of coastline in 2024. The project includes an accessible access road, a car park and seating with views of the landscape. Check the current condition of the infrastructure before your trip.
County Leitrim as the Wider Setting
The wider destination of County Leitrim offers other cultural experiences. Parke’s Castle is a restored early 17th-century castle on the northern shore of Lough Gill in County Leitrim. Creevelea Abbey is a Franciscan abbey built in 1508, located on the Sligo Way, an 80 km hiking trail with elevated routes. The Kiltyclogher Heritage Centre has an exhibition on Seán MacDiarmada, a signatory of the 1916 Proclamation, with audiovisual facilities and explanatory panels. County Leitrim thus brings historic buildings together with an exhibition venue connected to a specific part of the country’s history.
The routes also vary in length and time required. The first section of the Shannon Blueway comprises 16.5 km of waterways and circular walking and cycling routes between Drumshanbo and Carrick-on-Shannon. The Leitrim Way is 56 km long, runs from Manorhamilton to Leitrim Village and is usually completed in two to three days. Shorter is the 600 m Acres Lake Boardwalk. It forms part of a 6.5 km linear walking and cycling route from Acres Lake in Drumshanbo to Battlebridge Lock near Leitrim Village. Route conditions may change. These examples range from a short boardwalk section to a long-distance trail that usually takes several days.
County Leitrim has other well-defined destinations for landscape enthusiasts. The 15 m-high Glencar Waterfall lies near Glencar Lake, 11 km west of Manorhamilton, and inspired William Butler Yeats. The waterfall can be viewed from a woodland walking path. Hag’s Leap, by contrast, is a 330 m-high, freestanding natural rock tower in the Dartry Mountains and the highest freestanding natural rock tower on the island of Ireland. Important for planning: Hag’s Leap is solely a viewpoint; there is no access for walking or hiking in this area.
Discover more destinations: Kiltyclogher, Drumshanbo, Drumreagh, Drumgorman, Carnhill, Keshcarrigan, Rossinver, Glenfarne.
For the wider travel overview: County Leitrim.
