1801 – Grand Canal Hotel, Tullamore, Co. Offaly
The canal had been completed to Tullamore in March of 1798 and was the terminus for six years until the line to Shannon Harbour was completed in 1804.
There were five hotels constructed originally by the Grand Canal Company of Ireland along the route of the navigation – Shannon Harbour, Tullamore, Robertstown, Portobello, and James’ Street Harbour. All similar architecturally. The Shannon Harbour hotel is now ruined, Tullamore and James’ Street are both gone.
The canal had been completed to Tullamore in March of 1798 and was the terminus for six years until the line to Shannon Harbour was completed in 1804.
The Hotel was built in 1803 and was closed as such in 1849. However the building continued in use for various purposes including a RIC barracks and,
Completed in 1806, the Grand Hotel was one of a series of hotels for travellers on the Grand Canal.
The hotel was one of five operated between Dublin and the Shannon and opened in 1807 and operated until 1860 despite passenger services being stopped in 1852.