Overview
Two centuries of Irish transport history stand a few steps apart at Jerrettspass: a 1730s lock from Ireland’s first summit-level canal, and the 1850s railway bridge that helped put the canal out of business. Both survive, both are protected listed structures, and walking from one to the other along the old towpath is the whole point of coming. The village (Irish: Bealach Sheirit) sits in County Armagh, beside the small river locally called the Blackwater – a tributary of the Clanrye/Newry system – where it marks the boundary between Armagh and Down. It lies in the townland of Kilmonaghan, about four miles north of Newry.
History
The Newry Canal was Ireland’s first summit-level canal, opened in 1742 to carry coal from the Tyrone coalfields to the Irish Sea via Carlingford Lough. A lock was built at Jerrettspass in the 1730s as the canal took shape. The waterway worked for close to two centuries, but the railway arriving in the 1850s quickly took its trade. The railway line ran parallel to it, and its bridge, along with the original towpath accommodation bridge and the canal bridge here, are all now legally protected listed structures. Commercial traffic stopped in 1936, the route was formally abandoned in 1949, and nature reclaimed the towpath before it was repurposed for walking and cycling.
Religious life centred on the First Drumbanagher and Jerrettspass Presbyterian Church. The Drumbanagher congregation traces back to 1751 and the Jerrettspass one to 1801; the two merged in 1902 before entering a joint pastorage with Kingsmill. Engraved stones inside record building work in 1897 and 1959, with a porch added in 2004. The village once had a post office, two shops, a pub, a blacksmith’s forge and a school. The post office served the community for roughly 150 years before closing in 2009.
What to see and do
The lock and the railway bridge
This is the stretch to walk. The 1730s lock survives with its stone-lined chamber clearly intact, and a short distance on stands the 1850s railway bridge – two eras of engineering you can take in on one quiet, traffic-free walk. The towpath is part of the National Cycle Network (Route 9) and the Ulster Way, with interpretation boards along it explaining the canal’s construction and trade.
Jerrettspass Bridge and woodland
Jerrettspass Bridge crosses the canal scenically, but parking is the catch: there is only a small lay-by on the south-bound side, and the road north of the bridge is restricted to residents. Walk north from the bridge and the path runs into a quiet stretch of ancient woodland, good for a picnic or birdwatching under mature trees.
The Presbyterian church
The First Drumbanagher and Jerrettspass Presbyterian Church is plain and dignified, with modest stained glass and memorial plaques tracing two centuries of the congregation. It remains in active use.
Getting there and practical information
Come by car via the A1 dual carriageway, exit at the Newry roundabout and follow signs north – about 10 minutes from Newry. Public transport barely reaches it; the nearest bus stops are in Newry town centre. The towpath has a compacted gravel surface that suits hybrid and road bikes.
There are no visitor centres, cafés or toilets in Jerrettspass itself, so bring water and snacks or use Newry before you come. The towpath is open year-round and free, with no permit or fee for the lock, bridges or woodland, and it connects south to Newry and north towards Portadown.
Wildlife
The Blackwater corridor and the overgrown sections of abandoned canal are good for waterbirds – kingfishers, herons and swans are regular along the banks – while the woodland holds songbirds and small mammals. Early morning and late afternoon are best, especially during spring and autumn migration.
Nearby attractions
- Ardress House – an 18th-century National Trust property in parkland, about a 35-minute drive north.
- Ballymoyer Woodland – woodlands with walking trails and a historic church, good for a longer walk.
- Newry – shopping, dining, Newry Cathedral and the Newry and Mourne Museum at Bagenal’s Castle.
One seasonal note: the towpath is fine year-round, but it turns damp and muddy in winter, so save it for after a dry spell or wear proper boots. Autumn along the Blackwater valley is the best of it for colour.