Clonlara

Clonlara lies on the road between Limerick and Killaloe, about 8 km from the city centre, right beside the Ardnacrusha headrace. Boats pass it on the canal, but we know of no place to tie up on the headrace’s steep embankments, and ESB warns against swimming in its deep, fast water. The village is better explored on foot. It is one of five trailheads of the Lough Derg Way, the 68.9 km walking route from Limerick to Dromineer. Beside it runs the dry bed of the Plassey–Errina Canal, part of the old Limerick Navigation that the headrace replaced in 1929. Its locks can be seen from the towpath; Errina Lock, once Ireland’s only three-chamber lock, is fenced off. Visit Clare also lists an equestrian centre, an indoor climbing centre and a karting track around the village.