Royal Canal – Waterway and Greenway Trail

Overview

The Royal Canal is a 225‑year‑old waterway that once linked Dublin’s River Liffey with the River Shannon. Today its towpath has been transformed into the Royal Canal Greenway – a 130 km (81 mi) off‑road trail that is Ireland’s longest greenway. The route is completely level, surfaced and shared by walkers, runners and cyclists of all ages. It threads through the counties of Dublin, Kildare, Meath, Westmeath and Longford, linking vibrant towns such as Maynooth, Enfield, Mullingar and the harbour village of Cloondara.

Along the way you will cross 90 stone bridges, negotiate 33 working locks, pass 17 historic harbours and span four aqueducts, including the impressive Blackwater Aqueduct.

History / Background

Construction of the canal began in May 1790 after a survey by Thomas Williams and John Cooley identified a route across north Leinster. The waterway reached Kilcock in 1796 and finally the Shannon in 1817, at a cost of £1,421,954. For decades horse‑drawn barges and passenger boats such as the Camden and Phelan carried freight and travellers, and the canal also supplied Dublin’s north‑city water via the Blessington Street Basin (opened 1809).

The arrival of the Midland Great Western Railway in the 1840s precipitated a rapid decline; passenger traffic vanished by the 1880s and the canal was officially closed in the 1960s. A dam near Mullingar in 1961 further limited navigation.

In the 1970s volunteers from the Royal Canal Amenity Group began restoring the waterway. By 1990 a 74 km stretch from Blanchardstown to Mullingar was navigable again, and in 2010 Waterways Ireland reopened the full length to the Shannon. A €12 million regeneration project, led by Waterways Ireland and the local authorities, converted the towpath into a modern greenway, earning the Excellence Award at the 11th European Greenways Awards in the early 2020s.

Notable footnotes:

• 1843 – Sir William Rowan Hamilton discovered the quaternion formula while walking across Broom Bridge; a plaque now marks the spot.
• The 13th lock at Deey Bridge is reputed to be haunted, inspiring a local poem and band.
• The canal forms part of the National Famine Way, commemorating the 1847 emigration of 1,490 Roscommon tenants to Dublin.

What to See & Do

Section‑by‑section highlights

• Maynooth – Enfield (≈ 20 km) – Maynooth University’s Gothic campus, Maynooth Castle, Kilcock Harbour and Jackson Bridge at Lock 14.
• Enfield – Mullingar (≈ 42 km) – Enfield Fairy Trail, Blackwater Aqueduct, a flight of locks (8‑15) and remnants of the Midland Great Western Railway.
• Mullingar – Longford (≈ 47 km) – Belvedere House & Gardens with the famous Jealous Wall, the mythic Hill of Uisneach, Mullingar Harbour Blueway for kayaks, and the Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre.
• Longford – Cloondara (≈ 15 km) – Richmond Harbour’s colourful barges, the Richmond Inn, and the gateway to the Shannon Blueway.

Food & Drink

• The Bridge House and The Gregory Inn in Enfield – classic Irish pub fare.
• Dominik’s Restaurant and Montgomery’s Whiskey Bar in Mullingar – locally sourced dishes and a good selection of Irish whiskeys.
• Cafés along the towpath in Maynooth and Cloondara provide coffee and light bites for cyclists.

Getting There & Access

Public transport – The greenway is well‑served by the Dublin Suburban Rail line; trains run from Dublin Connolly to Maynooth (the southern trailhead) roughly every 30 minutes on weekdays. Bus Éireann routes connect Enfield, Mullingar and Longford, making it easy to hop on or off the trail at the main towns.

Parking – Most towns along the route provide free or low‑cost car parks near the trailheads (Maynooth, Enfield, Mullingar, Cloondara). Larger towns also have designated cycle‑parking racks.

Bike hire – Several local bike‑rental schemes operate in Maynooth, Enfield and Mullingar, offering hybrid or electric bikes suitable for the flat towpath.

Accessibility – The surface is compacted grit‑stone, level and suitable for wheelchairs, push‑chairs and cyclists of all abilities. Dogs must be kept on a short lead.

Seasonal Highlights

• Spring (April–June) – Wildflowers line the banks and migratory birds begin to arrive; the trail is quieter than the summer months.
• Summer (July–August) – Peak visitor period; many towns host pop‑up music sessions and food stalls along the towpath.
• Autumn (September–October) – Colours change along the canal’s trees, providing excellent photography opportunities and cooler temperatures for long rides.
• Winter – The towpath remains open, though daylight is limited; it’s a peaceful time for walkers and runners seeking solitude.

Practical Information

• Surface & Difficulty – The towpath is compacted grit‑stone, flat and fully accessible for bicycles, push‑chairs and wheelchairs. No steep climbs.
• Facilities – Picnic areas, public toilets and water points are spaced roughly every 5–10 km; larger towns provide cafés, bike shops and accommodation ranging from B&Bs to hotels.
• Safety – Lock gates are operational; users should obey signage, keep to the right on shared sections, and watch for wildlife, especially otters and waterfowl.
• Navigation – The greenway is sign‑posted with distance markers and QR codes linking to downloadable GPX files.
• Nearby attractions – The National Famine Way, the Dublin‑bound Blessington Street Basin, and the historic railway heritage of the former Midland Great Western line can be combined with a day on the greenway.

The Royal Canal Greenway offers a seamless blend of natural beauty, engineering heritage and Irish culture, making it a flagship route for outdoor tourism across the heart of the island.