Killashee brings together two distinctive themes for trip planning: church architecture and the Royal Canal Greenway, which passes through the town. Templeton Glebe stands prominently at the southern end of the crossroads in the centre and serves as a clear landmark. The buildings differ in denomination, style and level of detail, giving Killashee an architectural focus.
Churches and Architectural History in Killashee
Saint Patrick’s Catholic Church is a cruciform Roman Catholic church dating from 1829. The Royal Canal Company donated the site on which it was built. Surviving details include a cast-iron gallery balustrade with quatrefoil motifs and a cast-iron spiral staircase. The donated site provides a specific historical link between the church and the Royal Canal Company.
Saint Paul’s Church belongs to the Church of Ireland and is in the Gothic Revival style. It was built or rebuilt around 1837 to 1840. Its squat, two-stage tower with corner pinnacles is a distinctive architectural feature. Together with its associated rectory, the church is an integral part of Killashee’s built heritage. Comparing the two churches highlights their different denominations and architectural styles: the cruciform building from 1829 on the one hand, and the Gothic Revival church with its distinctive tower on the other.
The Royal Canal Greenway and its Lock Landscape
The section of the Royal Canal Greenway in County Longford runs for 16.5 kilometres from Longford Town via Killashee to Richmond Harbour in Clondra. This places the town along a clearly defined section of the canal route. East of Killashee, the 43rd lock was built around 1815. Nearby, it forms a group of connected Royal Canal structures with Aghnaskea Bridge and the associated lock keeper’s house, and is part of the built heritage of the Killashee area. These canal structures add another dimension to the area’s architectural history alongside its churches.
County Longford as a Wider Travel Horizon
Beyond Killashee, County Longford offers a wider perspective for planning a trip along the Royal Canal: the Greenway is a 130-kilometre walking and cycling route from Maynooth in County Kildare to Clondra in County Longford. Comparing this with the 16.5-kilometre section through Killashee makes the difference between a single stretch and the full route clear. Along the Greenway are 90 bridges, 33 locks, 17 harbours and four aqueducts.
The National Famine Way offers another historical perspective in County Longford. This waymarked walking and cycling route is 165 kilometres long and follows the last known journey on Irish soil of 1,490 people who were forced to leave Strokestown in County Roscommon in 1847. It passes through County Longford as the Royal Canal Greenway. Alongside the canal infrastructure, the route therefore places a clear emphasis on history.
For the story of the 1798 Battle of Ballinamuck, the Ballinamuck Visitor Centre in Ballinamuck, County Longford, presents interactive information and local guided commentary. Contact the centre before your visit. The waymarked Ballinamuck Battle Trail also leads through the battlefield landscape where the events took place; check the trail signage and access in advance.
For those who would like to include woodland trails instead of focusing on architectural and regional history, County Longford has Newcastle Woodland: managed by Coillte, this mixed woodland is in Newcastle near Ballymahon, covers 325 hectares and offers 14 kilometres of trails of varying lengths. These include a 400-metre Access for All trail and a 1-kilometre wheelchair-accessible trail through the woodland. As conditions and accessibility can change, check them before your visit. For travel within County Longford, the Dublin–Sligo railway line serves the county, including Longford Town and Edgeworthstown stations. Check the current timetable with Irish Rail.
Discover more destinations: Longford, Edgeworthstown, Cloondara, Granard, Mosstown, Ballymahon, Moyne, Lanesborough.
For the broader travel overview: County Longford.
