Family-friendly Food & drink No car needed Walking
A river town with two personalities
Carrick-on-Shannon is the main town in Leitrim, the least populated county in Ireland. By day it’s a calm river town, with cruisers tied up along the quays and swans drifting past the marina. By night, especially on a bank holiday Saturday, it’s one of the liveliest small towns in the country, popular with hen and stag parties.
Don’t let that put you off. Stay a little outside the centre if you want peace, or plan a quiet dinner and an early night, then use the town as a base for the lakes, forests and waterways all around it.
Getting out on the water
The River Shannon is the reason to come. Hire a self-drive day boat from the marina and you can potter up and down the river without any experience. If you’d rather sit back, a river cruise from the quay passes some lovely stretches of reed beds and wooded banks.
For a bigger adventure, Carrick is a main base for cruiser hire on the Shannon and the Shannon-Erne Waterway. A long weekend is just enough for a short trip upriver and back. No licence is needed, and the hire company trains you before you leave.
In and around the town
- The Costello Memorial Chapel: said to be one of the smallest chapels in the world, built by a grieving husband in 1879.
- The Dock arts centre, in the old courthouse by the river, with exhibitions and a programme of music and theatre.
- The Shannon Blueway, with paddling routes for canoes and kayaks and gentle walking and cycling trails along the water.
- The floating boardwalk at Acres Lake near Drumshanbo, which runs over the water for about a kilometre.
Lough Key Forest Park
Just over the border in Roscommon, about fifteen minutes from Carrick, Lough Key Forest Park is a brilliant day out. There’s a tree canopy walk, lakeside paths, an adventure playground and boat trips around the lake’s islands, one of which has a ruined castle. Children love Boda Borg, an indoor challenge where teams work through rooms of puzzles.
Bring a picnic or eat at the café by the lake, and expect to spend most of a day there.
Food and drink
Carrick has grown a decent food scene to match its nightlife, with good casual restaurants and gastropubs in the centre. Drumshanbo, twenty minutes north, is home to The Shed Distillery, which makes Gunpowder gin, and its tours make a fun rainy afternoon. Sunday lunch in a riverside pub, watching the boats come in, is hard to beat.
When to go
Late spring and summer are best for boating, with long evenings on the river. The June and August bank holidays are busiest, so book a room early. For a quieter weekend, try the May weekend or September.
When it rains
A wet day is a good excuse for a tour of The Shed Distillery in Drumshanbo, a show at The Dock arts centre, or Lough Key’s indoor Boda Borg challenge. The cosy pubs along the quays are made for a rainy afternoon, and the river looks lovely in the mist.
Where to stay
Stay in the town centre to walk to the river and restaurants, or a little outside it for quieter nights on a Saturday. Drumshanbo and Leitrim village are peaceful alternatives, and hiring a cruiser lets you sleep on the river itself.
A two-night plan
Friday: arrive by train, walk the quays and have dinner by the river.
Saturday: a river cruise or a day boat in the morning, then Lough Key Forest Park in the afternoon.
Sunday: the floating boardwalk at Acres Lake and lunch in Drumshanbo on the way home.
Good to know before you go
- Saturday nights in the centre can be lively with hen and stag parties. Choose your hotel accordingly.
- Day boats and cruisers book up early on bank holiday weekends.
- Bring layers for the water: it’s cooler on the river than in town.
- The Shannon Blueway has marked trails for kayaks and canoes, and local operators run guided trips for beginners in summer.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get to Carrick-on-Shannon by train?
Yes. It’s on the Dublin to Sligo line, with trains from Connolly taking a little over 2 hours, and the station is a short walk from the town.
Do I need a licence to hire a boat on the Shannon?
No. You don’t need a licence or previous experience to hire a cruiser or day boat. The hire company gives you training before you set off.
Is Carrick-on-Shannon too lively for families?
The centre can be busy on Saturday nights, but during the day it’s very family-friendly, and Lough Key Forest Park is close by. Stay a little outside the centre for quieter nights.
What is there to do in Carrick-on-Shannon on a rainy day?
The Shed Distillery tour in Drumshanbo, The Dock arts centre and Boda Borg at Lough Key Forest Park are all good wet-weather options.
Where we’d stay
On the river at the edge of town, with water views from many rooms.
One of the oldest hotels in Ireland, right on Main Street.
A baronial castle estate near Mohill, about 20 minutes away.
We may earn a small commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.
Getting there without a car
Carrick is one of the easiest river towns to reach without a car.
- Train from Dublin Connolly on the Sligo line, a little over 2 hours.
- Bus Éireann coaches from Dublin and Sligo.
- Day boat and bike hire in town, and local taxis for Lough Key.
Timetables change, especially on bank holidays, so check with the operator before you travel.
