The 44th Lock to the north-east of Killashee dates to about 1815 in the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Its dressed limestone chamber and historic gates recall the difficult work of raising and lowering boats along the canal.
Beside it stands a lock keeper’s house built in 1815 and restored in 1990. It remains a private house. Together, lock and dwelling show how the canal required people to tend the structures as well as engineers to design them.
Savage Bridge and Aghnaskea Bridge, both recorded around 1817, carried roads across the waterway. Their carefully cut stone arches belong to the same years of canal building.
St Patrick’s Catholic Church at Aghnaskea is dated 1829 in the architectural survey. The church is part of the rural district that grew and changed around the canal corridor.
The Royal Canal Greenway allows people to experience the waterway without pretending that every historic lock or bridge is a designated visitor stop. Follow current signs and never use lock gates as informal shortcuts.
Canal locks and quiet towpaths
Good to know
A mapped lock-keeper house is not a designated trail access point. Consult Waterways Ireland for crossings, towpath sections and route safety.
Discover the local story
Keep exploring
Three ideas for exploring
- 44th Lock landscapeObserve listed engineering features from safe public areas.
- Towpath walkChoose a specific section using the official Waterways Ireland greenway guide.
- Cloondara connectionFollow the canal’s wider story west towards Richmond Harbour.
Make more of your visit
See why the 44th Lock is listed
The National Inventory of Architectural Heritage records the 44th Lock at Ballyclare as a circa-1815 limestone engineering structure, associated with other canal-era buildings. The inventory records heritage significance, not public access to lock gates or adjoining land.
Buildings of Ireland – 44th Lock ↗Use an operator route for canal outings
For walking or cycling, plan a defined Royal Canal Greenway section from published access information rather than navigating directly to a listed keeper’s house. Lock structures may still serve waterway functions.
Visit Longford – Royal Canal Greenway ↗