Overview
The Camlin gave Longford its name. The O’Farrell clan – the Ó Fearghail, the dominant Gaelic family of this midland country – built their fortress, the longfort that became “Longford”, on the river’s bank where the town now stands. The Camlin (Irish An Chamlinn, the crooked pool) rises near Abbeylara and Granard and winds west through Clonbroney, Ballinalee and Killoe to Longford town, then joins the River Shannon near Cloondara.
It’s a quiet, slow river rather than a dramatic one, prone to flooding after heavy rain. There are two distinct outings: the flat riverside Mall walk through Longford town, and the 10 km Blueway paddling circuit farther downstream where the Camlin meets the Shannon at Cloondara.
A river that built a town
Longford grew up at the O’Farrells’ fortress on the Camlin, and the river stayed central as the town developed. The first Earl of Longford later built a castle along its banks. The crossing in the town centre is old: Camlin Bridge, dated 1819, stands on a long-used fording point and is probably the site of earlier bridges going back to the town’s founding in the 17th century.
Paddling the Camlin River Loop
The Camlin River Loop is a 10 km circuit by canoe or kayak. It starts at Richmond Harbour North in Cloondara, runs down the Camlin, turns south on the Shannon towards Termonbarry and returns to the start along the Cloondara Canal. It is a full outing rather than a quick dip. Use the Waterways Ireland route guide and check current navigation notices, wind, flow and launch arrangements. Wear a buoyancy aid, allow for other vessels, and consider a guided trip if you lack experience with this kind of water.
Angling
The Camlin is a slow-moving lowland river and a quieter alternative to the main Shannon. For fishing, check local access, permission and rules for the stretch you intend to visit, including any permit or licence you need for the species you are after. Some stretches can be hard for a first-time visitor to find, so ask locally before you set out.
The Mall walk in Longford town
In the town the Camlin runs along the Mall and through the Albert Reynolds Peace Park. The council’s walking guide describes the Mall as a multi-access gravel loop. The path follows the river past the weir and through the park, with benches and open lawns, and it is a good place for watching waterbirds. The General Seán Mac Eoin monument stands by the river here. Check current surfaces and water levels after heavy rain.
Practical information
- Access and parking: For the Mall walk, use public parking near the town centre. For the Blueway, check launch and parking arrangements at Richmond Harbour in Cloondara before you go.
- Navigation: Use the Waterways Ireland or Longford.ie route information for the loop, and check for current notices.
- Accessibility: The council describes the Mall loop as multi-access gravel; check current surfaces before you go.
- Best time: Late spring to early autumn is usually the pleasantest for the water. Check water levels after heavy rain, as the Camlin floods.
- Safety: Wear a buoyancy aid on the water; conditions can change quickly after rain.
Nearby
- Cloondara – Where the Royal Canal meets the Shannon, with the stone-cut Richmond Harbour and the Camlin loop.
- Lanesborough – Shannon town to the south with riverside walks.
- Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre – A preserved Iron Age bog road south of Longford near Kenagh.
- Granard – Medieval motte and heritage centre near the Camlin’s headwaters.
If you’re only passing through Longford, walk the Mall path past the weir – a short stroll on the bank of the river the whole town is named after.