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Info Barrow Way Map Barrow Way Travel Barrow Way Links Barrow Way Cafes Barrow Way Hire Barrow Way Gallery Barrow Way History Barrow Way Waterford Greenway Western Greenway Carlingford Portadown Royal Canal Greenway Grand Canal Greenway Mullingar - Athlone Barrow Way Greenway Sallins Greenway Boyne Valley Midleton - Youghal Suir Blueway Limerick Greenway Tralee Greenway Killarney Cycle Routes Barrow Way Greenway To understand where the Barrow Way Greenway fits within the Canal system in Ireland it is worth looking at Ireland Canals page here . This explains how the canals have morphed into the greenways that we have today, designated as cycle routes and suitable for cyclists on normal road bikes. Some sections of the canal banks have not been converted and designated as greenways but are under active consideration, others are in the planning process or in a small number of cases the work has already started. Other sections have been denied planning permission for various reasons or have not yet come under active consideration. In the case of the Barrow Way, the section from Robertstown to Athy is completed and is an active greenway while the section south of Athy has been denied planning permission. About 2 kms, south of Athy, the cycle path ends and from there is grassy underfoot. Attempts to extend the greenway met local opposition some years ago and there are no plans to reapply for planning permission. See here a map of the of the Barrow Way Greenway from Kildare Co. Co. All of the Barrow Way can be walked. Walkers can walk all the way from Hazelhatch, through Sallins, Robertstown, Rathangan, Monastrevin, Athy to Carlow, Bagenalstown (Muine Bheag), Borris, Graiguenamang, ending at St Mullins. Some sections after Athy can be cycled using mountain bikes in the summer months when paths are dry. This is not recommended here as it is not designated as a proper greenway. From a greenway/ cycling perspective, the Barrow Way is somewhat of a misnomer as the section from Robertstown to Athy that can be cycled straddles a spur of the Grand Canal not the Barrow River. Although the canal traverses the river via viaducts and this is a feature in Monastrevin. The canal joins the Barrow River just beyond Athy. See image here of Horse Bridge just south of Athy where the Grand Canal joins the River Barrow. The canal meets the River Barrow at Horse Bridge just south of Athy The sections of the Grand Canal that are open to cyclists and the sections that have not yet been converted to cycleways are shown in this image here in the Canals Section of this website. Works have started to extend the Sallins- Hazelhatch greenway back towards Dublin. In addition the section between Sallins and Robertstown will be upgraded to full greenway standard eventually. When those works are completed the Barrow Way will run from outside Dublin along the Grand Canal to Robertstown where it turns south at Lowtown (see map below) to Rathangan, Monasterevin and on to Athy. I will update the website when these works have been completed. But as of now the Sallins Greenway and Barrow Way are not yet connected and are treated as separate greenways. The canal is maintained by Waterways Ireland and is punctuated by canal locks along the route. The underfoot is either asphalt or fine grit. Some sections are shared with motorists but only with very light local traffic to allow access to individual houses on the route. The shared sections are of asphalt construction.The route is very flat. From the north of the greenway, Robertstown is our starting point of the Barrow Way Greenway The Grand Canal Greenway and the Barrow Way go their separate ways at Lowtown Harbour, see map above. The route stretches from Robertstown to Athy, a distance of 47 Kms, where the canal meets the River Barrow at Horse Bridge just south of Athy. From Robertstown the route travels 1.5 Kms south-west to Lowtown and from there to the village of Rathangan. You will find this route to be quiet with a variety of scenery from bog, farmland and forestry. Enjoy a stop at the small village of Rathangan. Onwards to Monasterevin which touches the counties of Kildare, Offaly and Laois, a distance of 10.5Kms. You can cycle into the town of Monasterevin, a town that was once on the main Dublin to Cork road causing tailbacks. Thankfully the motorway has changed all that and the town is now part of the commuter belt with good road and rail access. Note the aquaduct in Monasterevin where the canal crosses the River Barrow. It is a town of bridges to accommodate the canal and the river. Onwards from Monastrevin, you are unlikely to meet another watering hole on the 22.5 Km route to Athy so bring a drink with you. In summertime or at weekends there may be a pop-up coffee trailer on the route. You will pass through the tiny village of Vicarstown. There was nothing open in Vicarstown when we last passed through. Dilly Dally is a coffee shop between Vicarstown and Athy and opens at the weekends. About 1 Km from the outskirts of the town of Athy you will see Cuan Mhuire on the opposite bank of the canal. This is a retreat for recovering alcoholics and drug addicts. There is a very nice coffee shop with all sorts of sweet and savoury snacks and even full meals are served. You can buy some quite unusual and unique artistry created by the patients. It is a nice idea to cycle back about 1Km on the opposite bank of the canal to Cuan Mhuire on the L8068 and experience the solitude and tranquility of the retreat house. Carrying on further into Athy provides a multitude of places to stop and have a well deserved drink and food. Note that many websites will give the impression that the Barrow Way can be cycled past Athy and on to the towns of Carlow, Leighlinbridge, Bagenalstown (Muine Bheag), Borris and Graiguenamanagh. This is not the case. It is a wonderful walk and may be suitable for mountain bikes (although I am not at all sure that they are welcome!). The judgement on the rejection of the application for greenway status was rubber stamped by the planning appeal board, much to the chagrin of cyclists and the local tourist industry, see report here. About a 2 kilometres south from Athy town past the Horse Bridge the greenway ends and turn into a grassy path suitable for walkers. Cuan Mhuire can be seen at the opposite side of the canal less than a kilometre from Lock 26 on the outskirts of Athy. This is well worth a visit. There is a garden centre, restaurant and shop and you will also be supporting a wonderful charity. At then end of the Grand Canal in Athy is a short history of the canal provided by Kildare County Council. Click to read the detail.

Info Barrow Way Map Barrow Way Travel Barrow Way Links Barrow Way Cafes Barrow Way Hire Barrow Way Gallery Barrow Way History Barrow Way Waterford Greenway Western Greenway Carlingford Portadown Royal Canal Greenway Grand Canal Greenway Mullingar - Athlone Barrow Way Greenway Sallins Greenway Boyne Valley Midleton - Youghal Suir Blueway Limerick Greenway Tralee Greenway Killarney Cycle Routes Bike Hire and Repair - Barrow Way Barrow Blueway Bike Hire Hire a bike from the centre of Monasterevin Barrow Way Bike Hire Bike Hire from Vicarstown Infinity Cycles Bike Repair in Athy

Info Barrow Way Map Barrow Way Travel Barrow Way Links Barrow Way Cafes Barrow Way Hire Barrow Way Gallery Barrow Way History Barrow Way Waterford Greenway Western Greenway Carlingford Portadown Royal Canal Greenway Grand Canal Greenway Mullingar - Athlone Barrow Way Greenway Sallins Greenway Boyne Valley Midleton - Youghal Suir Blueway Limerick Greenway Tralee Greenway Killarney Cycle Routes Maps Barrow Way Greenway Count Kildare Tourism, Into Kildare, produced this wonderful booklet which is available in printed form and in online form. It provides maps, history and great information for anyone cycling in County Kildare. Kildare hosts the Barrow Way, Sallins Greenway and sections of the Royal and Grand Canals. It was produced in collaboration with other local and national agencies including the Irish Government. Please click on the image below. Kildare Sports Partnership facilitated the production of this PDF booklet. Kildare Sports Partnership is a Sport Ireland initiative and is part of Kildare County Council. It was produced in collaboration with other local and national agencies including the Irish Government. Please click on the image below Click for full screen

Info Barrow Way Map Barrow Way Travel Barrow Way Links Barrow Way Cafes Barrow Way Hire Barrow Way Gallery Barrow Way History Barrow Way Waterford Greenway Western Greenway Carlingford Portadown Royal Canal Greenway Grand Canal Greenway Mullingar - Athlone Barrow Way Greenway Sallins Greenway Boyne Valley Midleton - Youghal Suir Blueway Limerick Greenway Tralee Greenway Killarney Cycle Routes History Barrow Way The Barrow Way is a scenic long-distance walking and cycling route in Ireland, tracing the course of the River Barrow, the second-longest river in the country. Stretching approximately 120 kilometers from Lowtown in County Kildare to St. Mullins in County Carlow, the route passes through some of Ireland’s most picturesque and historically rich landscapes. Only the section from Robertstown - Laytown - Athy is designated as a greenway and suitable for cyclists. While today the Barrow Way is appreciated for its tranquil beauty and leisurely pace, its origins lie in a deeply practical and industrial past, rooted in centuries of Irish history. The River Barrow has been central to life in the region since ancient times. Its fertile banks supported early settlements, and it served as a natural transportation route even in prehistoric and early Christian Ireland. Monasteries and religious centres, such as the 7th-century monastic site at St. Mullins, were established along its banks, using the river as both a source of sustenance and a means of communication and trade. The modern history of the Barrow Way is closely tied to the development of the Barrow Navigation. In the 18th and 19th centuries, during the height of the Industrial Revolution, Ireland—like much of Europe—sought to improve its inland waterways to facilitate trade. The Barrow was developed into a commercial navigation using canals to link the Grand Canal in Kildare with the River Suir and the port of Waterford. This involved constructing a series of locks, weirs, and towpaths to make the river navigable by barges. The towpaths, originally used by horses that towed cargo-laden boats upstream, form the backbone of what is now the Barrow Way walking and cycling trail. The Barrow Navigation officially opened in 1791 and played a crucial role in transporting goods such as malt, flour, timber, and coal. Towns like Athy, Carlow, Leighlinbridge, Bagenalstown, and Graiguenamanagh flourished during this period as trade hubs. By the early 20th century, the rise of railways and later motor transport led to a decline in the use of Ireland’s inland waterways for commercial shipping. The Barrow Navigation, once bustling with barge traffic, saw a dramatic reduction in usage. The last commercial barge passed through in the mid-20th century, marking the end of an era. However, the infrastructure remained largely intact, and with increasing interest in heritage and leisure walking in the late 20th century, attention turned to repurposing the towpath network. In the 1980s and 1990s, the Barrow Way was officially developed as a National Waymarked Trail under the guidance of Irish tourism and walking organizations. The trail preserved the historical towpaths while promoting eco-tourism and cultural heritage. Unlike other more rugged hiking routes, the Barrow Way offers a flat, accessible walk, ideal for a wide range of visitors. Along the trail, walkers encounter historical structures such as old lock-keeper’s cottages, stone bridges, aqueducts, and remnants of water mills. The presence of these features offers a tangible connection to the river’s commercial past. The path also passes near castles, ancient monasteries, and Georgian-era estates, blending industrial and ecclesiastical history with natural beauty. The river and its banks are also recognized as important habitats for Irish flora and fauna, including otters, herons, and kingfishers. Efforts to balance tourism, conservation, and heritage preservation have occasionally led to debate—such as the proposed development of a hard-surfaced cycle path past Athy, along the Barrow Line, which met opposition from conservation groups seeking to protect the soft, natural character of the route. An image of the depictions on a wall at the end of the Grand Canal in Athy telling the history of Athy, provided by Kildare County Council. Click on the image to read the text. Athy Nestled along the banks of the River Barrow, Athy has long been a strategic point for transportation, trade, and settlement. Its history spans several millennia, from early prehistoric times to its modern-day role as a bustling market town. The town's development is closely intertwined with Ireland's broader social, political, and economic changes over the centuries. Athy's history can be traced back to ancient Ireland, with evidence of human settlement in the area dating from the Bronze Age (around 2000-500 BCE). Archaeological finds, such as ringforts, burial mounds, and ancient tools, suggest that the region was inhabited long before recorded history. The strategic location of Athy, situated near the River Barrow, would have made it an attractive settlement for early communities, offering access to water for both agriculture and trade. Athy’s recorded history begins with the arrival of the Normans in the 12th century. The Normans, having conquered much of Ireland, established a strong presence in County Kildare. In the 13th century, the town became a part of the feudal system under the control of the de Londres family, who built a castle near the River Barrow. This castle, a significant Norman stronghold, symbolized both the power and strategic importance of Athy during this period. During the Middle Ages, Athy was granted a charter and began to grow as a market town. The town’s location at the junction of important trade routes, combined with its proximity to the river, fostered economic activity. It became an important centre for agriculture, particularly for the grain and livestock trade, which was facilitated by the town's well-established market. The 18th and 19th centuries marked a period of significant economic and infrastructural development in Athy. The River Barrow, which had long been a source of transport, underwent major improvements in the form of the Barrow Navigation. The Barrow Navigation, completed in the early 19th century, was a system of canals and locks designed to make the river navigable for larger boats. The establishment of the canal network in Athy connected the town to the Grand Canal in Dublin and the port of Waterford, making it an important commercial hub. The Barrow Navigation allowed Athy to flourish as a center of trade and industry. Barges transporting goods such as coal, timber, flour, and grain passed through the town, and it became a thriving market town known for its vibrant trade in agricultural products. This period also saw the rise of local industries, including milling, brewing, and distilling, as the town capitalized on the waterway for industrial purposes. Athy played a role in the political turbulence of 19th and early 20th century Ireland. The town was affected by the social and economic conditions that led to the Irish Rebellion of 1798, a part of the larger struggle for Irish independence from British rule. While the town itself did not see major battles, the surrounding areas were sites of conflict, and many of Athy’s residents were involved in the uprisings. The early 20th century brought further unrest to Athy and Ireland as a whole. During the Irish War of Independence (1919-1921), the town witnessed the challenges of the Irish revolutionary movement, including tensions between Irish Republican forces and British soldiers. The town became a focal point for republican activities, particularly in the 1916 Easter Rising and the War of Independence. The town is now a popular destination for commuters who work in the capital but prefer the quieter, more scenic environment of rural County Kildare. Athy remains steeped in history, with landmarks such as the Athy Heritage Centre and Museum, which houses exhibits dedicated to the town’s rich past, including its role in the Irish War of Independence, the era of the Barrow Navigation, and its ties to notable figures like Charles Stewart Parnell, a key leader in the Irish political landscape.

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