Overview
The River Shannon doesn’t just run past Lanesborough – it runs through the middle of it. In doing so it divides two provinces (Leinster and Connacht), two counties (Longford and Roscommon), two Catholic dioceses and two parishes, all inside one town of about 1,733 people. Lanesborough shares the crossing with its western neighbour Ballyleague on the far bank, and sits at the northern tip of Lough Ree.
It’s a working crossing town rather than a resort, and honest about it – but for anglers, boaters and anyone touring the midland waterways it’s a genuinely useful base. If you’ve an afternoon, the pick is a tour at Lough Ree Distillery; if you’ve a rod, the Shannon here is one of the better coarse-fishing stretches in the midlands.
History and the bridges
The Irish name is Béal Átha Liag, ‘mouth of the ford of stones’, from the flagstones once laid across the river to help people cross. Because whoever held the crossing held the road, Lanesborough has gone through more bridges than most towns:
- c. 1000 AD – the High King Malachy of Meath and the King of Connacht jointly built the first bridge, against Viking raids.
- 1140 – a more permanent stone bridge, built by High King Turlough O’Connor.
- 1667 – a replacement after centuries of wear.
- 1690 – Colonel O’Reilly destroyed the bridge to slow the advancing Williamite army.
- 1706 – Parliament funded a grand nine-arch stone bridge, 300 feet long and 15 feet wide. It was prompted by tragedy: in 1701 a ferry carrying 46 people capsized and 35 drowned.
- 1844 – replaced by a bridge with a swivel arch, to let bigger river traffic through.
- 1971 – the current concrete span, still the main crossing.
Angling and the waterways
Lanesborough is a recognised centre for coarse and predator fishing, with bream, tench, rudd and pike drawing anglers to this reach of the Shannon. You can fish from the banks or hire a boat from the privately run Lanesborough Marina, which has slipway access, a fuel dock and parking, and rents motorboats, canoes and kayaks. Lough Ree opens out south of the town and runs almost 30 km down to Athlone; upstream, the Shannon meanders about 40 km north to Carrick-on-Shannon. For first-timers, the local angling club runs seasonal “Learn to Fish” sessions with all the gear provided.
Lough Ree Distillery
The town’s newest draw is Lough Ree Distillery, started in 2018 by three siblings in an old butcher’s shop on Main Street. Its Sling Shot Gin is the signature – distinctive for using peat as a botanical, which gives it an earthy note you don’t often meet in a gin.
The distillery runs bookable experiences rather than a casual drop-in: a Distillery Tour and Tasting from €15, an Exclusive Whiskey Tasting from €25, and an Exclusive Gin & Vodka Tasting from €25. Book ahead, especially at weekends and in summer.
Regatta, sport and events
The Lanesborough Regatta comes round each September, reviving a tradition that goes back to 1927 – trophies from that first regatta still survive and are sometimes put out over the weekend. It centres on the traditional Shannon-One-Design dinghies and keeps a low-key, community feel.
On land, the annual Lanesborough Triathlon pairs a 750 m swim in the Shannon with a 22 km cycle and a 5 km run. The town keeps two GAA clubs, one on each bank – Rathcline on the Longford side and St Faithleachs on the Roscommon side. Lanesborough is also twinned with Lanesborough, Massachusetts.
Walking and cycling
- Commons Woodland Trail – a circular walk through mixed woodland, a former limestone quarry and a playground, noted by Waterways Ireland. Most of it is paved and wheelchair-accessible, though the quarry edges are uneven.
- Riverside promenade – a short, level stroll along the bank with clear views of the 1971 bridge, the marina and the open water of Lough Ree.
Practical information
Getting there
Lanesborough sits on the N63, meeting the R371 (Ballyleague) and R392. Rough distances: Longford town 16 km north-east, Roscommon town 15 km south-west, Ballymahon 20 km south-east, Strokestown 15 km north-west.
Public transport – Bus Éireann runs three regional routes through the town:
- Route 425: Longford to Galway via Roscommon – daily except Sundays
- Route 467: Longford – Wednesdays only
- Route 65: Galway and Cavan – Fridays and Sundays
Parking and facilities
There’s parking in the town centre and at the marina, and the usual run of cafés, pubs and shops. The distillery takes bookings for its tours and tastings.
Accommodation
The Marina Riverside Apartments offer self-catering stays, alongside family-run B&Bs and guesthouses nearby. For hotels, look to Tarmonbarry (Keenan’s Hotel) or the larger centres of Longford and Roscommon towns.
Nearby attractions
- Granard – medieval motte and the Knights & Conquests Heritage Centre
- Abbeylara – Cistercian abbey ruins in quiet countryside
- Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre – an Iron Age bog road, reconstructed and interpreted
- Ballyleague – the Roscommon side of the crossing, with marina access and riverside walks