The National Famine Way
The National Famine Way™ is a unique 165km waymarked walking and cycling trail which begins at the National Famine Museum in Roscommon and passes through seven local authority areas including Fingal. The Fingal section, just over 10km in length, offers a fascinating and highly enjoyable walking experience.
The National Famine Way
This moving trail, rich in history, tells the tale of 1,490 famine-stricken tenant families who were marched to Dublin by their landlord and forced to emigrate to Canada via Liverpool.
The powerful symbol of the National Famine Way™ is a pair of children’s shoes. The trail is waymarked by bronze replicas as a poignant reminder of the journey made by the emigrants—two thirds of whom were children. Through a free app, the story of the trail unfolds at each marker, sharing audio and video insights, including the personal story of 12-year-old Daniel Tighe. An official pack and passport are also available to enhance the experience.
The trail concludes, fittingly, at the Famine Statues in Dublin’s Docklands, close to the Jeanie Johnston Famine Ship and EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum.
Fingal
The Fingal section is entirely along the Royal Canal. It begins at Confey near Leixlip and runs a little over 10km to Ashtown near the Phoenix Park. It’s easy to get to the start by public transport, either by bus or train from the city centre (there is a train station at Confey/Leixlip).
Along the route, the Deep Sinking at Clonsilla is a particularly striking feature. This limestone cutting was blasted at great expense, creating a dramatic stretch where the towpath can rise up to eight metres above the canal. This must have posed challenges for the horses pulling barges below, and tragically, 16 people lost their lives here in 1845 when a barge struck the rocky canal wall.
Please note that this 5km stretch is not suitable for cycling. While it is exceptionally beautiful, walkers are advised to proceed in single file.
Another unique highlight is the opportunity to cross the M50 motorway on foot. The trail does so via a striking aqueduct, offering a dramatic and unusual perspective over the busy traffic below.
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