Ireland - Shannon Bars and Restaurants - Shannonbridge - Neils Travel WebIreland - Shannon Bars and Restaurants - Shannonbridge - Neils Travel WebShannon Towns & Bars - Shannonbridge

Ireland - Shannon Bars and Restaurants - Shannonbridge - Neils Travel WebIreland - Shannon Bars and Restaurants - Shannonbridge - Neils Travel WebShannon Towns & Bars - Shannonbridge

Ireland - Shannon Bars and Restaurants - Shannonbridge - Neils Travel WebIreland - Shannon Bars and Restaurants - Shannonbridge - Neils Travel WebShannon Towns & Bars - Shannonbridge

Info - The village of Shannonbridge is named after the bridge built in 1757 which spanned the river connecting county Offaly and county Roscommon. The village has recently run a small jazz festival, and a vintage car rally and a boat regatta stop in the village during the summer months. The village is close to Clonmacnois, a site world famous for the ancient monastic buildings found there, and is about 8 miles from the town of Athlone.
Shannonbridge has two major attractions – angling and ecology. The peat bogs which surround the village are home to an abundance of flora and fauna, and is preserved as a natural habitat to the now rare corncrake. Also along the river are eskers, which are winding ridges of raised ground caused by melting ice during the Ice Age and were used by early settlers to cross the river. The proximity to the peat bog influenced the building of Irelands largest peat burning power station at Shannonbridge.

History - It’s said that the first town of Shannonbridge was built by the military to protect the ford in the river. The remains of the nineteenth century Napoleonic fortifications found at Shannonbridge are considered to be a unique example of fortifications of the period. They were completed in 1817 at a cost of £30,000. There was originally a lock here, but the Shannon commissioners decided to remove it and dredge a channel in the 1840’s.

Shannon Bridge (Neil MacPherson) Our bit - Shannon Bridge is the first place to cross the Shannon south of Athlone, and more importantly the first watering hole if travelling by boat. The bridge is certainly high enough to allow all boats through but did have a swing bridge mechanism at one time which can still be seen next to the moorings below the bridge. There is limited mooring by the bridge, and additional mooring in a cut further down stream. This however does require a walk through the fields to reach the village. Anyone mooring here should ensure they have adequate lighting with them if they intend to use these moorings after dark.


Maisie's

Maisie's●  As you leave the moorings you notice that there is a bar next to the bridge, but when we arrived on Sunday afternoon and walked in we were told by the locals drinking there that it was closed, they were also unhelpful in our enquiries as to if there was other bars that were open in the village.
They did however do us a favour as we found Maisie's after about a 5 minutes walk through the village. Not only were they open, they were also showing the Grand Prix so we settled down to watch the race and drink a much needed Guinness after our long trip from Athlone.
Maisie's has a smallish bar just as you enter, with a small restaurant behind it. There is also a larger bar downstairs in the basement with a pool table.
We also visited Maisies on the return trip tried their food. It was reasonable if not spectacular pub food but was certainly welcome. Once we finished eating we did however decide to try the other bar in town as it had live music on that night.

June 2000

Michael Killeen's

● The other bar in Shannon Bridge is next door to Maisie's (no I haven't forgotten the one by the bridge, but I'm trying to). Michael Killeen's is one of those odd bars that are occasionally found in Ireland that serves multiple roles, its both a shop and a bar. As we entered the main bar, which was crowded with both locals and tourist listening to a fairly good duo of a keyboard/guitarist and a singer, performing modern songs at the far end of the bar.
The bar was U shaped with a small stage at the right hand end of the bar. The shop was to the left, and was occupied by some of the overflow from the bar, we never found out if anyone intended to do any shopping as we and the rest of pub where busily drinking and enjoying the music. Despite the place being crowded we still managed to find a seat, and had no problems getting served either. Nice late hours and you can shop while you're drinking.
All in all Michael Killeen's was yet another good night in Ireland despite the odd impression of drinking in the local corner shop. So what! Update: Still going strong, thanks Sonia (Sept 2006)
Shannonbridge, Co. Offaly. Tel. 0905 74112

Sept 2006

Other Shannonbridge Bars or Bar/Restaurants not visited

We have not yet visited the places below, and therefore any comments have been taken from the www, and are not by me.

The Old Fort
Shannonbridge. Tel: 090 9674973 - website
 • Sonia Svoboda visited the Old Fort in September 2006 and recommends the food.

Comments and additional material on the bars in this area are always welcome.
I can be contacted on Neil MacPherson.
Last Updated 28th December 2004 - Neils Travel Web - Ireland - Shannon Bridge - Pubs