o brien s bridge

If you continue southwards from Killaloe towards Limerick you will shortly (6 km) reach the small village of O' Brien's Bridge. There are two bridges here, one of modern construction over the canal, and the older stone bridge over the river. At this point the flow of the river is obstructed by a massive weir. The bulk of the flow is diverted into an artificial canal - the headrace for the hydro-electric works at Ardnacrusha. The remainder follows the old line of the Shannon, much diminshed from its former impressive course through the Falls of Doonass and the celebrated fishing village of Castleconnell. There are still, however, pleasant walks by the old river. O' Brien's Bridge is a noted centre for coarse angling. Crossing the bridge to the Co. Limerick village of Mountpelier and taking the R466 road to the left for 2 km you reach Parteen Weir and fish-hatcheries, from which the ESB restocks the Shannon fisheries now in its management. Further on one passes the village of Cloonlara, only a short distance from Ardnacrusha where Ireland's first hydro-electric station (1925-29) harnessed the Shannon for power production.