O’Briensbridge & Montpelier

O’Briensbridge (Co. Clare) and Montpelier (Co. Limerick) face each other across a long stone bridge. The O’Briens first bridged the river here in 1506; the present bridge dates mainly from about 1750 and 1842, with a navigation arch added in the 1920s. Visit Clare calls it the sole Shannon crossing between Limerick and Killaloe. The village lies on the old river below Parteen Weir, which has no lock, so cruisers cannot reach it; the headrace canal runs just to the west. The calm, non-tidal water between the weir and Castleconnell is used for rowing, paddling, angling and water-skiing. Ashore there is a picnic area, a café, a bar and a B&B. Walks start here: a 12 km loop on the old canal towpath to Clonlara and back along the headrace embankment, and shorter river loops.