Killaloe History
The 11th century seat of heroic King Brian Boru, is now the serene centre of leisure activity on Ireland’s natural water park, Lough Derg. Killaloe bridges the centuries, as well as connecting counties Clare and Tipperary with its distinctive 13 arch bridge linking Killaloe to the pretty village of Ballina. Here one can while away the hours observing or participating in cruising, sailing, and a range of water activities.

The 12th-century Romanesque St. Flannan’s cathedral (only a minutes walk from the heritage centre), is unique for its stone carvings featuring Ogham and Runic inscriptions, in the grounds of the catheral is the 11th Century St. Flannan’s oratory with its perfect stone roof.St. Flannan’s oratory

On the hill above the Cathedral (straight up main street) where the Catholic church now stands was once the site of Boru's palace 'Kincora'.

In the grounds of the Catholic church now stands St Molua’s oratory, it originally stood on Friar’s Island in the Shannon, but was removed and re-erected there when the island was flooded and submerged with the opening of the Shannon Hydroelectric Scheme in 1929.

St. Molua (or St. Lua) is the 6th Century hermit who probably brought Christianaty to the area and after whom Killaloe was named (Church of Lua) (Cill = Church).

The Killaloe canal was opened in 1799 to bypass the rapids on the river. It was a vital link in the navigation route between Limerick and other ports on the Shannon. The canal became redundant in 1929 when the water level was raised over the rapids due to the opening of the hydro-electric station at Ardnacrusha.