O'Rourke Clan Country

Drizzled most of the way to the bus station and even heavier to Carrick on Shannon. The bus was full to overflowing and the luggage compartment was very interestingly packed – you did it yourself so most times the travelers just threw the cases and everything else in on top of each other.

The bus drive to Carrick on Shannon takes about three hours and it rained the whole way so not much to see, just read a book and slept. We are met at the bus drop off stop by Adrianne, a young lady I have never met except on Facebook but she has agreed to show us around and drop us off at our accommodation in Leitrim Village. Adrianne is also a walker so interested in our venture and willing to help with some maps and directions. Irish hospitality.

Leitrim Village is situated in the County of Leitrim at the beginning of the Shannon Canal, and home to the O’Rourke Clan. 
The ruins of the O’Rourke Castle and memorial plaque can be found at the Harbour, it was built in 1540 by Brian Rourke of the O’Rourke dynasty/Clan. This family ruled over the Kingdom of Breifne from the 10^th to the 16^th centuries and this clan was the last to submit to the imposition of British rule. The Kingdom of Breifne was made up of the counties of Leitrim and Caven. All that remains of the Castle is a wall and a plaque and this is in need of some TLC. 

There is plenty of accommodation in the Carrick on Shannon/Leitrim area but would advise booking ahead in the summer months. Most facilities were available in Carrick on Shannon which is only a short distance from Leitrim Village but if you are planning to walk the Breifne Beara Way it would be advisable to stay in Leitrim Village.

The large old black and white Leitrim Lodge Hotel is close to the harbour and the start of the Breifne Beara Way. The rooms could do with some upgrading, very narrow and steep staircase to the rooms, doors were hard to lock and rooms were very small, but all we require is a bed and a good night’s sleep. The room was €45 but as we were walking for Cancer the owner donated this amount. A bar downstairs served night meals, a refreshing drink and a breakfast room. Our room was equipped with two single beds situated very close to each other; windows could be opened for fresh air, a small ensuite in our room and a TV on the wall. Wi-Fi was available but we could not connect.

The small but very neat little village of Drumshanbo is worth a visit if you have car transport,  it is about 7klms from Leitrim Village so Adrianne took us as I wanted to show Sue the Famine Cemetery on the outskirts of the village. I was trying to remember the directions from an earlier visit so after a few wrong turns and lanes we found it and it had not changed. This is where our GGG Grandfather John McQueeny was buried in about 1850 after dying while he and his family were living in the Workhouse. Those times were hard and so sad. The cemetery has a high stone fence around it and the grounds are very uneven with lots of water lying on and around the few headstones that now exist. John would not have had a headstone. After my first encounter but not the last with Stinging Nettle in the cemetery we leave for a drive to Boyle to have a look at the Abbey remains. Beware of Stinging Nettle.  We are also looking for any maps that the Tourist shops may provide but nothing is available as the shop is closed. Boyle Abbey is now partially covered in a glass panel and even though it is to preserve the remains I feel it detracts from the presentation. We will see signs to Boyle for the next few days so to us it will appear we are walking in circles. We wander along the Shannon River before returning to the hotel for a meal with Adrianne and an early night.  We must pack our backpacks for the next few days walking as our main cases will remain behind and be moved on by the Pathway Porter. We are ready to begin.