Edenderry

Edenderry (Éadan Doire, "hill-brow of the oak wood") is a town at the east edge of County Offaly, with a population in 2022 of 7900. The main reason to visit is for boating along the canal.

53°20′42″N 7°3′0″W

Map of Edenderry

By road from Dublin follow M4 to junction 9 at Enfield, then R402 into town.

Go Ahead Bus 120 runs every 30 min daily from Dublin Connolly station, taking 1 hr 50 min via Heuston station, Cellbridge, Clane and Prosperous.

Bus 120C runs from Tullamore to Edenderry (1 hour) and Enfield, with seven M-F and five Sa Su. The main bus is stop outside Town Hall.

Edenderry is linked by a spur to the Grand Canal, part of the navigable network extending to Dublin, Waterford, Limerick and Enniskillen. Check Waterways Ireland for current status of locks, moorings and so on.

The town is easy to walk round, but you need wheels for outlying sights. A bike would do.

JKL Street the main thoroughfare is named for James, bishop of Kildare and Leiglin: James Warren Doyle (1786-1834) signed himself that way. He sought lawful means to end oppression of Catholics, but also played a leading role in establishing non-denominational primary schools in Ireland.

• Town hall was built as the market hall, and is now a courthouse. It's a building of 1826 in O'Connell Square.
• St Mary's Church is a handsome building on the main street southwest.
• 53.3394-7.05121 Blundell Castle is a scrappy ruin, unstable and fenced off. It was wrecked in 1691 by Jacobite forces, defeated at the Battle of the Boyne and retreating towards Limerick, while James II himself scuttled back to France.
• The canal is a 1.5-km spur of the Grand Canal, with a footpath along its east bank. The Blundell family sought to keep the canal and those ruffian "navvies" away from town, but their lands passed to the 3rd Marquess of Downshire, who paid £692 for the spur. It boosted trade and growth of the town, as building masonry could be brought in more easily. It remains in use by pleasure craft.
• 53.3623-7.07592 Kinnafad Castle is a gnarly stump in the fields 1 km north of town.
• 53.3782-7.03853 Carrickoris Castle is even worse ruined, 2 km north of town along R401.
• 53.361667-6.9688894 Carbury Castle is the prominent ruin of a Tudor mansion built over a Norman motte-and-bailey. There's an old graveyard and mausoleum adjacent.
• 53.275-6.9465 Lullymore Heritage Park and the Bog of Allen Nature Centre lie southeast, see County Kildare.
• 53.347-7.2786 Croghan Hill rears up to the west, see Tullamore.

• Fishing in the canal is catch-and-release only.
• Golf: Edenderry GC is 2 km northeast. White tees 5957 m, par 72.
• Greenway is a long-distance walking and cycling trail along the Grand Canal.
• Clonmore Riding Centre is 5 km northwest of town.
• Skydive at 53.25-7.1231 Clonbollogue Airfield, home of the Irish Parachute Club. They offer tandem jumps and training, using a Pilatus PC-6 Porter and a Cessna 206.

• Phoenix, Dublin Rd R45 AE39, ☏ +353 46 973 3953. M, W-Sa 5-11PM, Su 1-10PM. Mostly good reviews for its Chinese food. (updated Jun 2026)
• Zaffran is an Indian at 44 JKL St R45 K768, open W-M 4-11PM.
• Galileo, 36 JKL Street R45 D858, ☏ +353 46 973 2965. Tu-Sa 3-10PM, Su 12:30-10PM. Friendly Italian diner. (updated Jun 2026)
• Pauline's is within the Decor Centre at 47 JKL St R45 FT52, open M, Th 5-11PM, F Sa 4-11PM, Su 12:30-11PM.
• Station House is a grill and bar in the old railway station.
• Lily Garden, Business Park, off St Mary's Rd R45 Y403, ☏ +353 46 977 2917. M-Sa 4-11PM, Su 1-11PM. Decent Chinese restaurant. (updated Jun 2026)

• Pubs along the main street are O'Donoghue's, Corner House, Larkin's, Molly's, Logan's and Bryne's.

Edenderry is short of accommodation. There's more choice along M4 near Enfield.

• 53.345-7.05241 Hogan's B&B, 4 Carrick Rd R45 E397, ☏ +353 46 973 2021. Friendly comfy place in town centre.  (updated Jun 2026)
• 53.4019-6.85532 Hamlet Court Hotel, Gorteen, Enfield A83 WC04 (R402 off exit 9 of M4), ☏ +353 46 954 1200. Clean efficient hotel handy for motorists. B&B double €140.  (updated Jun 2026)
• 53.4055-6.83743 Johnstown Estate, Johnstown Rd, Enfield A83 V070 (by exit 9 of M4), ☏ +353 46 954 0000. Upmarket spa hotel in a Georgian manor. B&B double €180.  (updated Jun 2026)
• 53.4187-6.9234 Moyvalley Hotel, Moyvally W91 Y803, ☏ +353 46 954 8000. Golf resort hotel with great scores for comfort and service. B&B double €200.  (updated Jun 2026)

As of June 2026, Edenderry and its approach roads have 5G from Eir and Three, and 4G from Vodafone.

• Mullingar has a fine cathedral and Palladian mansion.
• Tullamore is best known for its two whiskey distilleries.
• County Kildare just east is classic horse-breeding and racing country.
• Dublin is the lively unmissable city just beyond.