A green sign reads "Cuain an Baile Uí Bhranagáin" and "Ballybrannigan Harbour" with "Greenway" and a wave icon, placed in a grassy rural area under blue sky.
A three-storey stone house stands by a calm canal, reflecting in the water. A boat with "GUINNESS" painted on the side floats nearby. Leafless trees and grassy fields surround the scene under a cloudy sky.
A calm canal runs between grassy banks with a small road and boat on the left. Flowerbeds and green shrubs line the water, and a few houses and trees are visible in the background under a cloudy sky.
A grassy path runs beside a narrow canal with clear water. Stone buildings and trees are visible in the background to the left and right under a blue sky with scattered clouds.
A canal boat moves past an old stone building heavily covered in green ivy, with cloudy skies above and a few cars parked along the narrow road beside the water.

Ballybrannigan Canal Stores

  • Family friendly
  • Free to visit
  • Rainy days

Ireland’s only operational canal storehouse, revitalised as a unique canal‑side hub at Ballybrannigan Harbour

Ireland’s only operational canal storehouse, revitalised as a unique canal‑side hub at Ballybrannigan Harbour, providing secure storage and operational support for outdoor recreation and tourism providers while supporting heritage, sustainable enterprise, and new visitor experiences.

What You Can Do

  • Explore a key location on the National Famine Way
  • Experience Ireland’s canal heritage
  • Enjoy the tranquillity of the Royal Canal Greenway

Good To Know

  • Canal storehouse dating from c.1815, originally built to support trade along the Royal Canal.
  • The location of this building, which is sited at the closest point at which the Royal Canal passes the town of Ballymahon and Center Parks

 

Contact Details

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Step off the beaten track and discover one of the Royal Canal’s hidden gems. Ballybrannigan Harbour combines stunning canal scenery, rich history, and outdoor recreation in a peaceful rural setting at the heart of County Longford. Visitors can: Explore a key location on the National Famine Way, following the journey of those who travelled the canal in search of a better future. Experience Ireland’s canal heritage through the historic Ballybrannigan Canal Stores, dating from c.1815. Enjoy the tranquillity of the Royal Canal Greenway, ideal for walking, cycling, boating, angling, and nature watching. Visit nearby attractions including Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre, Abbeyshrule, its historic aqueduct, and Center Parcs Longford Forest. Discover a unique rural landscape largely unchanged over generations, offering an authentic and unspoilt Irish experience. Ballybrannigan Harbour is where history, nature, and adventure meet—an ideal place to pause, explore, and connect with the story of Ireland’s waterways.

Frequently asked questions

 1. What is Ballybrannigan Harbour?

Ballybrannigan Harbour is a historic harbour on the Royal Canal and an important location along the National Famine Way. It is home to the Ballybrannigan Canal Stores, a former canal warehouse dating from c.1815, and offers visitors a unique combination of heritage, nature, and outdoor recreation.

2. What outdoor activities can I enjoy at Ballybrannigan Harbour?

Ballybrannigan Harbour is an ideal base for walking, cycling, boating, kayaking, paddleboarding, angling, wildlife watching, and photography. The harbour sits directly on the Royal Canal Greenway, providing easy access to one of Ireland’s most scenic recreational corridors.

3. Why is Ballybrannigan Harbour historically significant?

The harbour played an important role in the operation of the Royal Canal. The nearby Ticket House was where passengers purchased canal passage, while the Canal Stores were used to store grain and supplies transported by water. The harbour is also a key location on the National Famine Way, representing an important chapter in Ireland’s history.

4. What attractions are located near Ballybrannigan Harbour?

The harbour is conveniently located close to several major attractions, including the Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre, Abbeyshrule and its historic aqueduct, Center Parcs Longford Forest, and the National Famine Way. This makes it an excellent stop for visitors exploring the wider region.

5. Why should I visit Ballybrannigan Harbour?

Ballybrannigan Harbour offers a peaceful canal-side setting where visitors can experience Ireland’s rich waterways heritage, explore the Royal Canal Greenway, enjoy outdoor activities, and discover an authentic rural landscape largely unchanged for generations.

6. What makes Ballybrannigan Harbour unique?

Ballybrannigan Harbour sits on one of the most beautiful and unspoilt stretches of the Royal Canal, offering a unique destination for boaters, walkers, and cyclists. Home to Ireland’s only operational canal storehouse, it combines rich heritage, outdoor recreation, and authentic canal‑side experiences in a truly distinctive setting.

Accessibility
  • Fully accessible / universally accessible for a wide range of visitors, including people with mobility, sensory, cognitive and hidden disabilities.
  • Step-free access to main entrance and key visitor areas, Accessible parking spaces, Wheelchair-accessible routes throughout the premises, Seating/rest areas available, Assistance dogs welcome, Hearing assistance systems (e.g. induction loop)