The Ulster Canal Greenway – Drumlin Trails Bike Hire

5 The Ulster Canal Greenway

Length:
4km

Time to Complete:
< 1hour

Terrain:
Greenway in former canal

Difficulty:
Easy

See a more detailed map as a PDF

Directions

At the roundabout on the N2 northside of Monaghan town access to the Greenway can be gained from opposite the premises of Maurice Graham ltd. This is also within easy walking distance of the Fours Seasons Hotel nearby.
Proceed under the beautiful arched cut-stone bridge.
Art work displayed on fencing to your right hand side.
Lock-keepers cottage and bat hotel. By taking the left side track by the cottage will lead you towards The Hilgrove Hotel and St Macartan’s Cathedral. Keeping to the right of the cottage will lead you towards Old Cross Square.
Cross over through Old Cross Square, keeping to the left of the mini roundabout and proceed onto the Mall road.
Follow the cycle sign markings and just before reaching Evan’s Tyre Bay turn right. At the rear of Evan’s Tyre Bay turn left onto the Greenway.
You will now emerge onto the Cootehill Road opposite St Louis Convent. Cross over this road and re-join the Greenway where you will find lots of notice boards with much information on the Greenway’s environment.
Your last road crossing at Killyconnigan before reaching the end of the canal Greenway just .3km ahead.
End of the Greenway trail.

Points of Interest

Not far from from the roundabout where your Greenway journey begins, (just about .5km out the Armagh Road on the left hand side) Monaghan Education Campus is located. The Garage Theatre and Cinema complex is also situated here where much of Monaghan’s best entertainment is performed.
Stone arch bridge.
Mural artwork displayed on fencing along your right hand side.
Lock-keepers cottage. Bat hotel. The Hilgrove Hotel and St Macartan’s Cathedral can be accessed by veering left of the cottage. By keeping to the right hand side of the cottage along the Greenway St Davnet’s Health Complex is situated on your right. Playing pitches are visible on the grounds nearby.
From Old Cross Square the centre of Monaghan town is accessible. However, as Dublin Street is a one-way street access would have to be on foot only. The Diamond is regarded as the focal-point of Monaghan town with the Rossmore Monument at it’s core. The Western Hotel is situated here as are most of the town’s banking institutions. Further on Monaghan’s County Museum is situated at 1-2 Hill Street and the Market House in Market Street are both well worth visiting.
At Evans Tyre Bay Monaghan town’s Shopping centre is accessible.
Mostly hedgerows and vegetation are visible along this stretch of the canal. The Notice boards are worth reading or listening to by downloading the apps. What’s not visible is the Convent lake or Lough Tigh (meaning the lake of the House) as it was formerly known. There is a Crannog on this lake which once was home to the McMahon Chiefs.
Killyconnigan.
Upon reaching your destination at the Threemilehouse Road end of the Greenway it is worth noting that Gortakeegan F.C. soccer stadium and pitches are just a short distance out this road. Further still is the entrance to Rossmore Park from where you can cain access to the Route 91 cycle path for a bit of variation to your cycle experience. This Threemilehouse Road is where local road bowls competitors practice their skills. Road bowling is traditional to West Cork and Armagh mainly, but the tradition has always been very strong on this section of roadway even if not competitive.