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One of the two cast iron gates at the entrance to the Red Path, just before Lahiff's shop.
THE 39 STEPS. The Red path holds a lot of happy memories for many Limerick people. In droves on a Summer's day, people walked, ran, hopped, skipped, jumped and cycled down the 39 steps on their way to the Swimming Pool (Corbally Baths).
Former Toll House. Lahiff's Shop 1950’s. For those who had a few pence to spend, a visit to Lahiff's shop to buy sweets or ice cream was a great treat before making a descent down the 39 Steps of the Red Path, or making their way across Athlunkard Bridge to the Church Fields.
Former Toll House (Lahiff's Shop), with extension, how it looks today.
TOLL HOUSE AND GATE. Limerick side of Athlunkard Bridge, Corbally. There was a toll of a half penny to anyone coming into Limerick from Clare by foot, one penny if travelling by horse and cart. The bridge was declared toll free on 28th April 1884.
ATHLUNKARD BRIDGE. At the end of the 39 Steps there is a magnificent view of the mighty 5 arch cut limestone Athlunkard Bridge. It was designed and built by Pain brothers architects to connect Limerick with Clare. The building of the bridge commenced 1826, completed in 1830 at a cost of £7,000
From the Red Path, looking out into the middle of the river you will see a little island just downstream from Athlunkard Bridge, it was called "Corneen" by the Abbey fishermen, meaning little hill or small round heap. In the dead of night, the fishermen stopped there to take a rest and boil a kettle before taking off upstream to fish.
St. Munchin's College is on the left as you go down the Red Path. In 1850 it was the estate of Pierce Shannon, after that the residence of the Catholic Bishop’s. In April 1960 the foundation stone was laid for the new college and in August 1963 it was officially opened.
Across the river on the Clare shore is Shannon Banks housing estate, before the houses were built it was known as the Church Fields, a place much frequented by Limerick people for swimming and picnics.
KENNEDY BRIDGE.
KENNEDY BRIDGE. A short distance along the Red Path at the bend, there is a small archway, this was the first arch of an attempt to build a bridge across the river by a wealthy Limerick banker named Kennedy. This project was later abandoned in favour of the more ambitious plans for Athlunkard Bridge.
Tucked away behind Kennedy Bridge is a little silent wood, step in there and you will find lots of fungi and the ground covered in a thick carpet of brown pine cones, difficult not to take a few cones home, for some craft project or to decorate a Christmas wreath.
On the bridge there’s a cast iron boundary marker.
Safety railings in place on the Red Path 1950's.
The old Millrace footbridge near Corbally Baths 1950's
The old Millrace footbridge near Corbally Baths 1950's
The Milllrace footbridge (Photo 2013)
Here it is again in the Summer 2017, it got a nice new coat of red paint.
On hot Summer days people flocked to the green area near the footbridge to picnic and swim.
On hot Summer days people flocked to the green area near the footbridge to picnic and swim.
Old Millrace Footbridge, near Corbally Baths 1960's. Note, no safety railings on the bridge. Photo courtesy of Pat Howell and Pat Lysaght.
THE MILL DAM built to direct water to the Corbally Mills, farther downstream.
Portion of the Mill Dam opposite Corbally Baths.
Block House, near the Millrace Footbridge on the Red Path, it was built during the second World War to protect the Ardnacrusha Power Station. Another one can be seen on the Green at the end of the Mill Road.
Fishing at the Millrace, Gabbett’s Grove (Red Path). Before the Red Path was built it was known as Lover’s Walk.
The Red Path from the Millrace footbridge near Corbally Baths, down to the footbridge over the Mill Stream was known as Gabbett's Grove. It got its name from Poole Gabbett who lived in Corbally House, now the Nursing Home. When Gabbett's came into possession of the Mill they made many improvements including the planting of glorious beech trees beside the Mill Race and Mill Stream, hence the name Gabbett's Grove.
Tunnel of leaves
Wild Cherry Plums
Hazel nut heart shaped, hairy leafs with pointed tips
Hazel Nuts
CHERRY PLUMS AND HAZEL NUTS Leaving the Footbridge, we continue along the Red Path, here we find the lovely Wild Cherry Plums, it is one of the first trees to come into flower in February to March, creating an elegant arch of tiny white blossoms, it produces fruit in July.
The Hazel Tree is along this stretch too, also known as the ‘Tree of Knowledge” folklore tells the story of the nine nuts coming from nine hazel trees, each nut full of potent poetic wisdom. These nuts dropped into a well that was below the trees, and within that well, lived a salmon, who ate these nuts. Each nut eaten by the salmon became a spot on its skin, and gave the salmon all the wisdom and poetry of the world. Anyone who either ate one of the sacred nuts or ate the salmon was said to also be given the gift of this sacred sight and wisdom.
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