The Beara Breifne Way
Following the Flight of the O'Sullivans (1602-1603)
Overview
The Beara Breifne Way is Ireland's longest national waymarked walking trail, spanning 700 kilometers from the Beara Peninsula in County Cork to Blacklion in County Cavan. This epic long-distance route retraces the legendary fourteen-day march of Dónal Cam O'Sullivan Beare and approximately 1,000 followers in the winter of 1602–1603, following their defeat at the Battle of Kinsale.
The trail represents the largest community-led trail development project in Ireland, involving over 60 community groups and 240 private landowners who have granted public access.
Distance
700km
Ireland's longest trail
Duration
14 days
Typical completion time
Counties
10
Cork to Cavan
Trail Sections
9
Distinct waymarked ways
The Flight of O'Sullivan Beare
On New Year's Eve 1602, following the English victory at the Battle of Kinsale, Dónal Cam O'Sullivan Beare—the last great Gaelic chieftain of West Cork and South Kerry—initiated a desperate northward march from his besieged stronghold at Dunboy Castle. His objective was to reach allied forces in Bréifne (present-day Leitrim) controlled by the O'Rourke clan, a journey of over 500 kilometers through hostile territory in the depths of winter. The original party of approximately 1,000 people, including soldiers, women, and children, endured constant English attacks, starvation, freezing conditions, and disease. By the time the remnants reached O'Rourke's Castle in Leitrim Village on January 14, 1603, only 35 survivors remained.
Despite the tragic human cost, the march became legendary in Irish history, immortalized in local folklore, place names, and cultural memory throughout the regions the party traversed. The trail's significance extends beyond history—it represents cultural resilience and community connection across rural Ireland.
Trail Sections
Beara Way
Cork, Kerry
Starting on the rugged Beara Peninsula, this circular section encompasses some of Ireland's most dramatic mountain and coastal scenery, including the Caha Mountains, Shehy Mountains, and Slieve Miskish Mountains.
Slí Gaeltacht Mhúscraí
Cork
Connects Kealkill to Millstreet through the Sheehy Mountains, passing Gougane Barra and heritage sites including Carriganass Castle and St. Gobnait's Well.
Ballyhoura Way
Cork, Limerick, Tipperary
Traverses from North Cork through Limerick Junction in Tipperary, crossing the Ballyhoura Mountains with panoramic views over the Golden Vale and Glen of Aherlow.
Grand Canal Way (Offaly)
Offaly
A flat, easy-walking historic canal towpath from Edenderry to Shannon Harbour, offering gentle walking through Ireland's bog country.
Hymany Way
Galway
Connects Portumna to Ballygar, following the River Shannon before turning inland through bogland, passing Clonfert Cathedral with its famous Romanesque doorway.
Miners Way & Historical Trail
Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon
A figure-eight network through Sligo's dramatic upland landscapes, featuring Carrowkeel Megalithic Cemetery, one of Ireland's 'big four' Neolithic passage tomb complexes.
Sligo Way
Sligo, Leitrim
Runs from Larrigan (near Lough Talt) to Dromahair, spanning seven major sections through mountain passes, forest plantations, and lakeside paths.
Leitrim Way
Leitrim
The historic terminus of O'Sullivan's march, featuring the challenging Manorhamilton to Dowra section over Boleybrack Mountain to Doolough lake, and gentler sections following the Shannon-Erne canal.
Cavan Way
Cavan, Leitrim
The final northern section showcasing West Cavan's dramatic karst and limestone landscape, passing Shannon Pot (the source of the River Shannon) and Cavan Burren Park.
Trail Maps
Download detailed PDF maps for each section of the Beara Breifne Way. Maps are organized by trail section and local way.
Section One: West Cork
Beara Way
12 maps covering the Beara Peninsula
Slí Gaeltacht Mhúscraí
5 maps through the Gaeltacht region
North West Cork Way
4 maps through North West Cork
Section Two: Tipperary & East Galway
Ballyhoura Way
3 maps through Ballyhoura
Multeen Way
3 maps through County Tipperary
Ormond Way
External map reference
Hymany Way
8 maps through East Galway
Section Three: Roscommon, Leitrim & Cavan
Suck Valley Way
External map reference
Lung Lough Gara Way
External map reference
Miners Way
External map reference
Leitrim Way
3 maps through County Leitrim
Points of Interest
Gougane Barra
A glacial lake and monastic site surrounded by the Shehy Mountains, significant in Irish mythology and Christianity.
Clonfert Cathedral
Founded by St. Brendan the Navigator (c. AD 557), featuring one of Ireland's finest 12th-century Romanesque doorways with six orders of decorated sandstone.
Boyle Abbey
A remarkable Cistercian monastery founded in 1161 and largely completed by 1218, demonstrating typical Cistercian architectural layout.
Carrowkeel Megalithic Cemetery
Fourteen passage tombs dating to approximately 3000 BC, representing one of Ireland's 'big four' Neolithic passage tomb complexes, accessible via the Miners Way.
Shannon Pot
The aquifer-fed traditional source of Ireland's longest river, measuring approximately 16 meters wide. According to mythology, the Shannon was created when the goddess Síonnan drowned seeking the Salmon of Wisdom.
Cavan Burren Park
A 5,000-year-old archaeological landscape featuring megalithic tombs, the 'Giant's Leap' gorge, promontory forts, glacial erratics, prehistoric rock art, and sinkholes.
O'Rourke's Castle
The historically documented endpoint of O'Sullivan Beare's march on January 14, 1603. Though substantially ruined, the site marks a crucial moment in Irish history.
Parke's Castle
A restored early 17th-century plantation-era fortified manor house, originally an O'Rourke stronghold, overlooking Lough Gill with an interpretive center.
Glencar Waterfall
A 15-meter waterfall in a romantic woodland setting, referenced in W.B. Yeats' poem 'The Stolen Child' (1889).
Connection to the Leitrim Way
County Leitrim represents the trail's historic terminus and contains some of its most significant heritage and natural landmarks. The Leitrim Way (56km) forms a crucial part of the Beara Breifne Way, serving as both the historical destination of O'Sullivan Beare's march and a contemporary walking experience through challenging mountain terrain and gentle canal paths.
Leitrim Sections
- Manorhamilton to Dowra (25.7km) - Challenging mountain section over Boleybrack Mountains
- Dowra to Leitrim Village/Carrick-on-Shannon (30-31km) - Gentler section following Shannon-Erne canal
Leitrim Highlights
- O'Rourke's Castle in Leitrim Village - The documented 1603 endpoint of the march
- Doolough mountaintop lake - Highest point on the Leitrim section
- Glencar Waterfall - 15m drop in woodland setting, W.B. Yeats inspiration
- Parke's Castle - Restored 17th-century fortified manor on Lough Gill
- St. Hugh's Well and Sweathouse - Medieval monastic and penitential sites
- Shannon-Erne canal route - Gentle lowland walking with heritage connections
Practical Information
Best Time to Visit
June to September for warmest and driest conditions. April-May and September-October offer excellent visibility with fewer crowds.
Difficulty & Waymarking
Difficulty: Medium to Strenuous (varies significantly by section). Mountain sections (Beara Way, Slí Gaeltacht Mhúscraí, Leitrim Way Manorhamilton-Dowra) are strenuous. Grand Canal Way is easy.
Waymarking: Distinctive purple waymarker posts mark the Beara Breifne Way specifically, with yellow arrows on black background for individual component trails. Interpretation plaques throughout cover local mythology, wildlife, and heritage.
Accommodation
- • B&Bs and guesthouses available in most towns (€70-120/night)
- • Hotels in larger towns (€100-150/night)
- • Hostels in key locations (€20-40/night)
- • Advance booking (4-8 weeks) recommended during peak season (June-August)
Transport Access
- • Bus Éireann services to major towns along the route
- • Irish Rail connections to Cork City, Limerick, and other major hubs
- • Local bus services in Leitrim, Cavan, and midlands
- • Limited public transport in remote sections - plan stages carefully
Photo Gallery
