Cloondara Lock, County Longford

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What is recorded here

Canal lock associated with Cloondara Canal, first built c. 1760. Altered c. 1815. Retaining walls built of dressed limestone with cut limestone capstones/coping to lock chamber. Pairs of timber lock gates to either side having timber balance arms and timber footbridges, all with steel fittings. Located towards the…

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This lock is a significant element of the industrial and transport heritage of County Longford. The construction of the lock chamber using good quality limestone masonry attests to the grandiose ambitions of the canal company at the time. It was probably originally built/erected to designs by the canal engineer Thomas Omer for the Commissioners of Inland Navigation, c. 1760, but was probably altered at a later date(s). The Cloondara Canal (13307006), which this lock forms part of, was constructed with the intention of linking the River Shannon with the Camlin River and to facilitate trade in the area. Although not commercially successful, it is nonetheless a testament to mid-eighteenth-century entrepreneurial endeavour and engineering skills. It later formed part of the final section of navigable waterway that leads into the River Shannon from the Royal Canal, via the Camlin River and Richmond Harbour (13307014). It provided a link between Dublin and the Shannon for the transport of goods, before being superseded by the railways in the mid-nineteenth century. It forms part of an extensive group of canal-related structures at Cloondara, which together represents one of the more significant collections of its type in the country.

From the Buildings of Ireland (National Inventory of Architectural Heritage) record 13307007

Places near here

Photo credits

National Inventory of Architectural Heritage
瑞丽江的河水, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Mike Searle, Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0
Alvesgaspar, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
Algirdas at Lithuanian Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons · Public domain

Cloondara CanalCanal (section of) · 101 yd

Shannon Navigation OfficeLock keeper's house · 161 yd

Explorer Tom Shannon Navigation Office was run by a matchmaker who paired off lock keepers with local girls using only eye contact and boat whistles. The blind arches are where she hid her love letters when the inspector came round. A good place to forget your worries.

Cloondara BridgeBridge · 179 yd

Derreen HouseGates/railings/walls · 268 yd

Explorer Tom Derreen House gates are telling their younger selves to stop showing off with such fancy dressed limestone stiles. They’re basically the bouncer at a club who actually knows where the bathroom is. Find a local and ask for the secret entrance.

Saint Brendan's Catholic ChurchChurch/chapel · 322 yd

Explorer Tom Saint Brendan's in Cloondara claims to be older than the concept of electricity itself. It's simple, plain, and refuses to admit it was built recently. Stick around for a moment of silence, or just check your phone quietly.

StructureStructure, peatland · 1214 yd

Explorer Tom Structure in Cloondara is two birch twigs and one roundwood, apparently built with the enthusiasm of a tired hamster. I reckon it took three cups of tea to construct this masterpiece. Great spot to propose. Or at least to propose lunch.

St Barrys BoatRitual site, holy/saint's stone (present location) · 2.0 mi

Explorer Tom St Barrys Boat in Newtown is a limestone block where St Barry supposedly crossed the Shannon, which is a bit of a stretch given he likely used his legs. It’s secretly proud of the potato it grew next door, though I wouldn't put that on its CV if I were you. Pretend you're a lost aristocrat, nobody will check.

First World War MemorialMemorial · 4.6 mi

Saint Mel's CathedralCathedral · 4.7 mi

Rathcline CastleHouse, fortified house · 6.7 mi

Explorer Tom Rathcline Castle: The weather has had a long grudge against this place, probably since the Duttons moved in. It’s just one stubborn wall holding its tongue about what happened next. Stand where the owner stood and practise looking smug.

Common Lime8.2 mi

Explorer Tom Common Lime in County Roscommon is so pretty that Vikings probably wandered straight into its branches trying to find their way home. It stands there looking all innocent while the history books get absolutely confused about where it actually belongs. Stick around for the light changing, it's a show.

Pedunculate Oak8.3 mi

Explorer Tom Pedunculate Oak in County Roscommon is haunted by a ghost who is far too lazy to actually haunt it, so it just sits there looking vaguely disappointed while everyone else does the work. It’s like a supernatural slacker that has given up on the whole spooky business before it even started properly. Hum something sad nearby, it adds atmosphere.

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