Drumsna lies on the River Shannon on the border with County Roscommon and is designated an Area of High Visual Amenity. Two themes shape the village as a destination: its river and harbour history, and its literary, religious and architectural heritage.
On the Shannon: harbour, quay and walking trail
For orientation within the road network: under the current N4 alignment, the R299 leads into Drumsna village and forms the local main road, the L-3656. It connects the N4 south of Drumsna with the R280. Drumsna Harbour dates from 1817 and was a centre of commercial water traffic until the more northerly shipping route to Carrick-on-Shannon opened in 1850. The waterway is still busy, especially during the summer months, though at a more leisurely pace.
The quay is a protected structure and is listed in the Record of Protected Structures. It is also home to the statue The Swimmer, which reflects the village’s longstanding connection with the water. From Drumsna Bridge, the Riverside Walk follows the Shannon and includes a picnic area. The harbour, statue and riverside path offer different perspectives on the water: as a former transport route, as part of the village’s history and as the course of a walking trail.
Literature and historic sites
Anthony Trollope lived in Drumsna in the 1840s and found inspiration there for his first novel, The MacDermots of Ballycloran (1847). The site of the mansion associated with his stay is part of the signposted Anthony Trollope Trail. If you plan to follow the trail, check the route conditions in advance. The connection between the novel, local history and the signposted trail gives Drumsna’s literary heritage a tangible link to the place.
The religious history can also be traced through individual buildings and memorial sites. St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church was built in 1845; it is a protected structure and is listed in the NIAH. The grave of surgeon Thomas Heazle Parke is in the ruins of the old church in the village. Parke was born at Clogher House in Drumsna, was a writer and explorer, and accompanied Stanley on his famous Nile expedition of 1887.
The Methodist cemetery was established around 1820 and lies within an early medieval ringfort. At the entrance are a marble bust and a plaque commemorating Robert Strawbridge, founder of the Methodist Church in North America. The cemetery is no longer in use and reflects Drumsna’s social and religious history. Early burial traditions, Methodist remembrance and the later-built church stand side by side in this part of the village’s history.
An archaeological point of interest near Drumsna
About one kilometre north of the village, on the Roscommon side of the Shannon and opposite the quay, lies the Dún (Doon) of Drumsna. The Iron Age fortification was built as a crossing into Connacht and extends across the Shannon peninsula between Jamestown and Drumsna. It is therefore a nearby point of interest in its own right, connected with the landscape and history of the area, rather than a structure within the village itself.
An episode of the Leitrim County Council podcast Leitrim Memory Meitheals features local people’s memories of Drumsna and the surrounding areas. As a digital addition to the local history, you can look up the episode in advance; check whether it is available before travelling.
County Leitrim as a broader destination
Those looking to explore the wider destination of County Leitrim will find other route options there. The first section of the Shannon Blueway includes 16.5 km of waterways as well as circular walking and cycling routes between Drumshanbo and Carrick-on-Shannon. The Leitrim Way is a 56 km long-distance walking trail from Manorhamilton to Leitrim Village, usually completed over two to three days. These routes follow their own courses and broaden the picture of County Leitrim, without describing local routes in Drumsna.
Discover more destinations: Drumnafinnila, Cloone, Carnhill, Dromahair, Drumod, Drumshanbo, Drumkeeran, Ballinamore
For the broader travel overview: County Leitrim.
