Discover Corlough through two distinctive structures: St Patrick’s Church and a single-arch road bridge over a river. Their different construction phases give a stay focused on architecture and history a tangible point of interest. If you prefer exploring individual architectural details to following a long list of attractions, Corlough offers a clear place to start.
St Patrick’s Church: construction phases and distinctive details
The present-day St Patrick’s Church in Corlough was built in 1857 and is a sandstone building. Built into one side is a vaulted stable or shelter for horses—an unusual detail in the building’s history as a place of worship. The chancel and the flanking, gabled sacristies were added in 1910–1911. Beneath the added chancel and sacristies are open, vaulted substructures. This makes it possible to distinguish the church’s original construction, later additions and the substructures below. St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church in Corlough underwent extensive renovation in 2001.
A Mass is scheduled at St Patrick’s Church on Saturdays at 8:15 pm. The schedule may vary at certain times of the year. If you would like to include a service in your plans, check the parish schedule in advance.
Corlough’s single-arch road bridge
In Corlough, a single-arch road bridge crosses a river. It was built around 1770; its parapets were altered in 1891. Its architectural features include square stone abutments, a rubble-stone underside and an elliptical arch ring. The arch ring describes the shape of the arch, while the abutments form its supports on either side. The structure thus brings together an approximate construction date and a later alteration dated precisely. When looking at the bridge, it is worth keeping these two dates distinct.
More to explore in the wider destination of County Cavan
In the wider destination of County Cavan, the Cavan Way offers a different walking experience: this long-distance trail is 21.7 km long and connects Dowra and Blacklion. It passes along rural and riverside paths, quiet roads, karst terrain and open bogland. A shorter walking option is the Killeshandra Lake and Forest Walk: a 6 km waymarked trail suitable for a family outing. The accompanying map was last updated in 2021, so check local conditions before setting off.
County Cavan also offers distinct points of interest for culture and nature. The St Kilian’s Heritage Centre in Mullagh provides information about the life and influence of St Kilian. The exhibition includes a 15-minute audiovisual presentation, maps, photographs, statuettes, manuscript facsimiles and art reproductions. For a nature-focused visit, Cavan Burren Park is a key site in the Cuilcagh Lakelands UNESCO Global Geopark. Killykeen Forest Park lies around the Lough Oughter lake system and has accessible walking trails and a family cycling trail.
Discover more destinations: Blacklion, Lavagh, Bailieborough, Cavan, Cloverhill, Dowra, Loch Gowna, Virginia.
See the wider travel guide: County Cavan.
