I USED A FUJIFILM MEDIUM FORMAT CAMERA
The Urban Cartographer Presents:
An Attractive Pedestrian Bridge
Photographed By William Murphy Using A Fujifilm GFX100RF
On The Corbally Red Path
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.
River Shannon Bridges
- Shannon Bridge: Opened in 1988, this modern road bridge links the Dock Road with the Ennis Road. Known locally as the "Whistling Bridge" due to acoustic sounds produced by high winds blowing through its balustrades.
- Sarsfield Bridge: Originally built in the 1830s as Wellesley Bridge, this historic stone-arch bridge connects central Limerick with the north side of the Shannon. It incorporates a swivel section (now fixed) and houses the Shannon Rowing Club on its middle pier.
- Thomond Bridge: One of Limerick’s most iconic and historic crossings, standing alongside King John's Castle. Rebuilt in 1836 on medieval foundations dating back to the late 12th/early 13th century, it links King’s Island with Thomondgate.
- Thomond Weir / ESB Barrage Walkway (Brown's Quay): An industrial gantry walkway and fish-counting station linking Brown’s Quay to King’s Island across the Shannon rapids.
- Athlunkard Bridge: A five-arch stone bridge completed in 1830, spanning the Shannon from Corbally over into County Clare.
- Plassey "Black Bridge": A 19th-century cast-iron pedestrian bridge near the University of Limerick (UL) that historically carried foot traffic from County Limerick across to County Clare.
- The Living Bridge (An Droichead Beo): A 350-metre, multi-span curved pedestrian bridge on the UL campus, connecting the main south campus to the north campus in County Clare.
- University Bridge: A modern road and pedestrian bridge at UL upstream of the Living Bridge, providing full vehicular transit between the Limerick and Clare campus sectors.
- Corbally Baths Footbridge: The red metal-trellis pedestrian bridge along the "Red Path" spanning the mill race/side stream of the Shannon to access the old Corbally open-air baths.
Abbey River Bridges
The Abbey River loops around King's Island before rejoining the main Shannon channel:
- Baal’s Bridge (Ballsbridge): One of the city’s earliest river crossings, historically dividing the English Town from the Irish Town. Rebuilt in 1831, it carries traffic from Bridge Street to Broad Street.
- Mathew Bridge: A handsome three-arch limestone bridge opened in the 1840s (replacing the older New Bridge), connecting Bank Place with King’s Island.
- Sylvester O'Halloran Footbridge: A lightweight steel footbridge opened in the 1980s, carrying pedestrians from the Potato Market on King’s Island across to the city quays.
- Abbey Bridge: Opened in 1999 to alleviate city-centre congestion, this modern road bridge links Lock Quay and Clare Street with King’s Island via Island Road.
- O'Dwyer Bridge: A historic multi-arch stone bridge at the northern end of King's Island, carrying traffic between Athlunkard Street and Corbally.
Park Canal Bridges
The Park Canal bypasses the unnavigable Shannon rapids, linking the Abbey River to the upper Shannon:
- Canal Bridge (Lock Quay Bridge): Sits at the entrance of the canal right beside Lock Quay and the Abbey River, carrying city traffic across the canal lock.
- Pa Healy Road Bridge: A modern road bridge carrying the inner relief link road over the canal near the Parkway shopping route.
- "Guinness Bridge" (Kevin Hannan Bridge): A pedestrian iron arch crossing the canal along the towpath, named after the Guinness supply barges that once used the route.
- Park Road Bridge: A stone road bridge carrying Park Road across the canal.
- Limerick Metal Railway Bridge: The industrial railway bridge carrying the Limerick–Ennis/Galway rail line across both the canal basin and the Shannon floodplain.
Other Destinations In Limerick
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THE LEGACY CATALOG
Examples Of Waterford Walls Murals
