The best road cycling routes around Ross

For Ballyshannon, Rory Gallagher is not just a world-famous guitarist; he is the "Born and Bred" pride of Ireland's oldest town. Although he moved to Cork at a young age, Ballyshannon claims him with heart and soul as their own son. He was born here in 1948 at the Rock Hospital, and that deep connection can be felt everywhere in the streets. In the eyes of the local community, Rory embodies the humble, hardworking spirit of Donegal. He was the man who brought the blues to the Irish soul, armed with his iconic, battered Fender Stratocaster and his signature checkered shirt. For the locals, he is the reason thousands of fans from all over the world flock to the Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival every year, turning the town into the centre of rock 'n' roll for a while. Rory is not a distant legend here, but a tangible presence that lives on in the statue on The Diamond and the colourful murals that adorn the town.

Road bridge at Battle Bridge across the Lough Allen Canal. Easy access to the pub, campsite and tow path.

For those who want to hear the music of Rory GALLAGHER – whom the British newspaper The Times praised with "He is one of the few guitarists you can recognize within seconds, his style is so individual." –: In 1977, the native Irishman (1948 to 1995) gave a one-hour concert on the then popular German show "Rockpalast" by Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR), which can be viewed on YouTube => https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qkr-XlNZKM

Dowra is a picturesque village in northwest County Cavan, located near the source of the River Shannon. The village is rich in history, and is along the Beara-Breifne Way, making it a popular destination for nature lovers and history enthusiasts alike.

The Wee Bakery Coffee Shop Ballyshannon Address: Main St, Townparks, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal, F94 HTW5 Lovely little cafe with friendly staff and tasty food. If you have the opportunity to stop here, do so.

The triangular-shaped Lough Allen is a beautiful lake on the River Shannon, out of which the Shannon takes it source. Measuring 9 miles (14.5 km) long and 3 miles (5 km) in width, the lake is an impressive sight. Humans have been present at the lake for thousands of years. Mesolithic traces such as more than 1,000 stone tools made from flint, chert, quartz, mudstone, and basalt were discovered at the lake. Today, the lake is a wonderful place to relax and take in the biodiversity. The water quality is excellent, although the lake's ecology is unfortunately under threat from invasive species such as curly waterweed, like many other lakes in Ireland.

At 360 kilometres (224 mi) in length, the magnificent River Shannon is the longest in Ireland. The river rises on Cuilcagh Mountain before flowing through green landscapes towards the Atlantic Ocean. According to Irish mythology, the Shannon was named after Sionann, granddaughter of the sea god Lir. She is said to have gone to the river to find wisdom, but drowned and was carried out to sea. The Shannon hosts diverse plant life and wildlife such as salmon, kingfishers, and even bottlenose dolphins in the Shannon Estuary.

The shimmering waters of Lough Melvin attract anglers from around the world for its beauty and diverse fish. The lake is home to three unique species of trout, as well as salmon, and an endemic species of char, the Melvin charr. If you want to try your hand at fishing, you should purchase a license and consider renting a boat. The lake is 7.5 miles (12 km) long and 1.9 miles (3 km) wide and set amongst the beautiful green countryside along the border of County Leitrim and Country Fermanagh. If you are not into fishing, there's plenty of wonderful flora and fauna to enjoy too.