D’Arcy’s Bridge to Nannie Quinns is a section of the Famine Way that commemorates the route taken by 1490 tenants of Strokestown Estate after they were evicted during the 1847 famine. They walked to Dublin and left on the coffin ships for Canada. Very few made it to their end destination.
D’Arcys Bridge is a quaint single arch bridge built in 1805 to span the Royal Canal. It has space for a few cars to park.
We headed west and walked along the canal. It was not as vibrant as the Blackshade Bridge section we had done previously but it was still pleasant. A country house stood on one side of the canal. Cows dotted the fields around it. A heron stood in the middle of the field, taking a break from looking in the canal for fish.
On the other side, and from a completely different era was a ringfort or Norman motte-and-bailey. I can never figure out how to tell the difference between these.
We carried on until we saw Nannie Quinn’s yellow pub standing out in the distance against the grey limestone of the Thomastown lock.
On the far side of the Thomastown Bridge is the 18th lock. It is only 500m to the next lock but myself and the CEO turned right, leaving the Famine Way, and walk towards Killucan.
On our left is a Waterways Ireland depot. This is a busy enough road so we spend a good bit of time stepping into the verge to keep away from oncoming traffic. We take the next right onto a much quieter road.
The landscape opens out here. It is well-managed farmland with wide-open spaces corralled by hedges and rows of trees. Honeysuckle is in bloom at the moment so the hedges are topped with their tangled flowers.
We pass a restored labourers cottage (with a Banksy mural) and a beautiful old thatched house surrounded by apple trees. It has a statue of an owl standing guard over its roof.
We take the next right back towards D’Arcy’s Bridge. Before we reach the car again, we pass the entrance to Hyde Park House. You cannot see the house from the road but the big gates and the driveway that meanders through the countryside looks big enough for a few range rovers. It was built by James D’Arcy in 1775 so I imagine he also built the bridge.
We also pass Hyde Park Pig Farm which is unbelievably smelly.
Google Maps: 53.494685, – 7.109139
Type of walk: Canal walk and country road
Distance: 4.5 km
Time: 3 – 4.30 pm
Views: Green farmland.
Underfoot: 30% canal towpath, 20% main road, 50% small road.
Animals: Calves, cows, butterflies, a heron.
Humans: A few people on bicycles along the canal.
Traffic: Fast cars on the main road and a few cars on the small road.
Plant of the Day: Oilseed Poppy
Negatives: The smell from the pig factory was powerful enough to catch me in the throat.
Memorable: There are still remnants of the old canal system to be seen in the fields if you keep your eyes open. Lots of field streams have small locks with gates controlling the flow of water into the Royal Canal. It is unusual to see the industrial heritage in the middle of nowhere like this.
Score: 6/10
