Lough Boora Discovery Park
Lough Boora
A large park reclaimed from exhausted peat workings, with outdoor land-art sculptures, lakes and cycling trails; admission is free.
Lough Boora Discovery Park was once an industrial peat-cutting bog. After extraction ended, it was transformed into wetlands, lakes, woodland and meadows covering roughly 2,000 hectares. The park's outdoor sculptures are large land-art works made from bog, rail and peat-harvesting machinery. They are scattered along more than 50 km of trails and are best enjoyed by renting a bicycle. Archaeologists have also discovered a Mesolithic camp site here, dating back about 9,000 years. The park is free to enter. The visitor centre has a café and bicycle rental, and the park is about 33 km from Athlone.
Opening hours
All day (visitor center about 09:00–17:00)
Nearby sights
- Clara Bog Nature Reserve
- Birr Castle Demesne
- Old Rail Trail Greenway
- Kilbeggan Distillery
- Clonmacnoise
- Sean's Bar
- Athlone Castle
- Luan Gallery