Lough
Key: Lough Key is frequently referred to as the "Jewel of the
West". From Lough Gara, the Boyle River flows into Lough Key,
before continuing its journey through to the mighty River Shannon. The lake
fills an
almost circular valley, 3 miles wide, with 32 islands. Writers, poets, artists and later,
photographers, have chronicled and recorded the history, legends and images of
Lough Key for over 1000 years.
Lough Key Forest Park: 350 Hectares of stunning mixed woodland, a lake and a number of Islands,
Lough Key is one of the most extensive and picturesque
forest parks in Ireland. Included in the park is a visitor centre, camping park,
nature walk, a bog garden, observation tower, ice house and underground
tunnels. Lough Key recently opened a 10 million euros visitor centre, a
state-of-the art restaurant, adventure kingdom, a Boda Borg puzzle and tree top
walking experience.
Boyle
River and Marina: Boyle river flows from Lough Gara through the town
of Boyle and on to Lough Key, before joining
with Ireland's longest river, The Shannon. Boyle river is a very rich river
which holds good stocks of wild brown trout with the best pools downstream of
the town of Boyle towards Lough Key.
Boyle Abbey: An impressive and well preserved Cistercian Monastery which was founded in the
12th century under the patronage of the local ruling family, the MacDermotts.
Though mutilated during the 17th and 18th centuries when it was used to
accommodate a military garrison, Boyle Abbey nevertheless retains its ability to
impress the visitor as one of the most formidable of the early Cistercian
foundations in Ireland.
King House: King House is a magnificently restored Georgian Mansion built around 1730 by Sir
Henry King whose family were one of the most powerful and wealthy in Ireland.
The grand scale of the reception gallery, its original stone floor, tripartite
windows and high vaulted ceiling portray the impression that the house was built
as a symbol of the status and power of the King family.
Drumanone Dolmen: Boyle's
magnificent dolmen was built before 2,000BC. The word "dolmen" is Celtic in origin and means
"stone table". The Drumanone Dolmen capstone is 4.5m x 3m wide,
and is one of the largest in
Ireland. Please be aware that the dolmen is located on private property and should only
be accessed with care via
the gates at the railway
crossing provided by
Iarnrod Eireann.
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