RED PATH BRIDGE

Back in 2009 I had set myself the ambitious target of photographing every bridge in Limerick city—a mission that proved far more challenging than I had anticipated. By July 2025, I believed the project was finally complete, only to stumble upon an eye-catching red metal footbridge along the scenic "Red Path" near the old open-air Corbally Baths.

Erected by Limerick Corporation in the late 1940s following the opening of the baths (1946–1947), this structure replaced informal river weirs to establish a safe, permanent crossing from Mill Road directly to the swimming grounds. The outward flare of the balustrades was a stroke of pragmatic ingenuity—it afforded walkers much-needed elbow room across a narrow span whilst echoing the natural ebb and surge of the Shannon basin.

Decades of damp river mists have lent the ironwork a haunting, evocative patina: faded red-oxide undercoats show through flaking green paint, lightly dusted with river moss and threaded with wild briars. Underfoot, the approach tarmac transitions into a muted red deck mid-span, leading the walker across the still, dark water before terminating at the weathered concrete remnants of the historic baths.

Hidden & Historic Crossings: Beyond Limerick's Main Bridges

While major city crossings like Thomond Bridge and Sarsfield Bridge command the postcards, Limerick’s waterways are rich with lesser-known, historic, and industrial crossings:

The "Guinness Bridge" (Kevin Hannan Bridge): Spanning the Park Canal, this iron footbridge takes its popular local moniker from the Guinness barges that once carried porter from Dublin into Limerick harbour along the inland waterways. Renamed in honour of local historian Kevin Hannan, it remains a favourite milestone along the canal bank walk.

The Old "Black Bridge" (Plassey Bridge): Tucked near the University of Limerick (UL) campus, this cast-iron pedestrian bridge links the Plassey grounds in County Limerick across the Shannon into County Clare. Once used by mill workers and students alike, it fell into disrepair and was closed for safety, earning a derelict, gothic charm shrouded by riverside foliage. Nearby stands the modern Living Bridge (An Droichead Beo), UL's undulating pedestrian span.

Thomond Weir & ESB Walkway (Brown's Quay): Stretching from Brown’s Quay in Thomondgate across the Shannon to St Mary’s Park (King's Island), this industrial barrage structure was used for decades by the Electricity Supply Board (ESB) as a fish-counting and monitoring station. Though not a public highway, its low-profile silhouette and gantry walkway remain a striking industrial landmark on the lower Shannon.