Overview
Leebeen Park sits on the quiet shore of Lough Leebeen, just outside the village of Aughnacliffe in County Longford. Built and maintained by local volunteers, it has grown into a well-regarded spot for families and walkers, pairing easy lakeside walking with modern facilities, and with some of Ireland’s oldest monuments standing in the fields around it.
The lakeside walk and facilities
The heart of the park is a 1.5km looped boardwalk that hugs the shoreline of Lough Leebeen. The timber path stays close to the water, with clear views of the resident swans, ducks and other wetland birds, and it is flat and firm enough for an easy walk or a quick jog.
Near the car park you will find:
- Timber-frame playground – climbing structures and a zip wire over the lake.
- Fairy garden – a small, imaginative corner for younger children.
- Outdoor green gym – free-standing exercise machines by the water’s edge.
- Picnic areas – benches and grassy spots dotted around the park.
Lighting along the main paths means the loop works for an evening walk or run year-round.
The Aughnacliffe waterfall trail
Right beside the park, the Aughnacliffe Waterfall Trail leads to Pulliness Waterfall, with a choice of a 1.40km loop or a shorter 430m there-and-back. The path follows the riverbank through mature trees and open fields to a viewing deck above the cascade.
There is a neat piece of local engineering history here. In the 1930s a water turbine on the river powered the old Aughnacliffe post office; a modern turbine has since taken its place, generating the electricity for a set of subtle LED lights on the waterfall deck. After dark the gentle lighting picks out the falling water, a quiet focal point for evening visitors.
The dolmens nearby
The Aughnacliffe area has a deep prehistoric record. Within a short walk of the park stand two megalithic portal tombs, or dolmens, one of them reckoned the third-largest of its kind in Ireland. They were raised by Neolithic communities between 4000 and 3000 BC, and they sit in open fields with easy access, a stark contrast to the modern park and a direct link to the area’s earliest settlers.
Accessibility and dogs
The boardwalk surface is firm and generally fine for prams and pushchairs, though the odd slight rise in the decking means it is not fully wheelchair-accessible. The playground, picnic areas and gym are all on level ground. Dogs are welcome throughout the park and on the waterfall trail, kept under control around wildlife.
Getting there and practical information
Address: 12 Líss Na Críose, Dunbeggan, Aughnacliffe, N39 WK74 Opening hours: open 24 hours daily Admission: free
By car: from Longford town, take the N4 south for about 20km, then turn onto the R198 towards Aughnacliffe; after roughly 5km turn left onto Líss Na Críose. There is free parking at the park entrance. By bus: services run from Longford town to Aughnacliffe. From the village stop, head south along the R198 for about 1km, turn left onto Líss Na Críose and walk roughly 500m to the park. By taxi: a taxi from Longford town takes around 20–25 minutes, usually €25–€35.
Nearby
- Aughnacliffe village – local shops, the community centre and the parish church.
- Lough Gowna and Upper Erne – a few minutes’ drive, with fishing, kayaking and more walking routes.
- Deserted village and heritage trail – interpretive signage around Aughnacliffe guides walkers through the old deserted village and the megalithic tombs.
Leebeen works best as a flexible half-day stop. Come early for quieter trails and better light, or leave it late for the LED-lit waterfall at Pulliness to round off a day in north Longford.