Rambling along the Royal Canal

A Journey into the Heart of Ireland

Ireland’s historic Royal Canal, originally built in the late 1700s, is now home to the longest Greenway in the country, extending from Dublin to Longford. A haven for walkers and cyclists, this 146 kilometre pathway provides a wonderful opportunity to discover the hidden treasures to be found in Ireland’s Midlands.

Walking from city to countryside, through small villages and provincial towns, Tom Dredge meets local residents who enthusiastically share their experiences and tall tales of living by the Royal. He hears stories about the Ribbonmen planning civil disobedience and explores the exotically named Deep Sinking. Literary figures such as James Joyce, Dermot Bolger and Oliver Goldsmith feature prominently, as do colourful historic figures like The Hanging Judge of Cabra and The Wicked Earl of Belvedere House.

In this lavishly illustrated guidebook and travelogue, Tom Dredge invites the reader to join him on his own personal Camino as he explores the entire route of the Royal Canal from the River Liffey to the River Shannon.

"Nothing escapes Tom's observant eye as he walks along the wonderful heritage treasure that is the Royal Canal. Don’t go walking there without this book." – Éanna Ní Lamhna, Author and Educator

About the Author

On retiring from his position as telecommunications technologist in ESB, Tom Dredge immersed himself in his passions of hill-walking and writing. A member of Bealtaine Poets, Boyne Writers and Leixlip Writers, his poetry has appeared in numerous poetry magazines. He was accepted into the National Mentoring Programme at the Irish Writers Centre which led to the completion of Rambling Along the Royal Canal.

Contents

Map of the Royal Canal

Route Maps

Acknowledgements

Introduction

01. Dublin Docklands to Drumcondra
Balladeers, Drovers, Playwrights and Lockkeepers

02. Drumcondra to Broadstone Street
Soccer, Mountjoy, City Basin and Broadstone

03. Broadstone to Glasnevin Cemetery
Poets, Broadcasters, Pacifists and Liberators

04. Glasnevin Cemetery to Broombridge
Hedgerows, Trains, Equations and a Hanging Judge

05. Broombridge to Blanchardstown
Parks, Mansions, Astronomy and Barges

06. Blanchardstown to Confey
Gunpowder, Tragedy, Castles and a Priory

07. Confey to Leixlip
An Aqueduct, a Spa, a Brewery and a Writer

08. Leixlip to Maynooth
Spooks, Follies, Dukes and Seminarians

09. Maynooth to Kilcock
Water Polo, Markets, Accordions and Missionaries

10. Kilcock to Enfield
Sustainability, Reeds, Buzzards and Conversations

11. Enfield to Hill of Down
Bealtaine, Ribbonism, Herons and a Missing Hill

12. Hill of Down to Killucan
Eskers, Old Inns, Deep Space and Camillians

13. Killucan to Mullingar
The Summit, Squirrels, Pipers and Lilliputians

14. Mullingar to Coolnahay
Studs, Genealogy, Local Lore and a Tea House

15. Coolnahay to Ballynacargy
The Descent, Barrows, Garrisons and a Raffle

16. Ballynacargy to Abbeyshrule
Secretive Mammals, Planes, Bog Oak and a High Cross

17. Abbeyshrule to Ballymahon
The Inny, Evictions, Bianconi and a Pleasure Park

18. Ballymahon to Mosstown
Authors, a Medic, an Ancient Trackway and a Notorious Banker

19. Mosstown to Killashee
Swimmers, the National Famine Way, Dams and Merchants

20. Killashee to Cloondara
Raised Bogs, the Táin, a Glorious Harbour and the Shannon

21. Cloondara to Longford Town
Butterflies, a Buried Harbour, a Cathedral and a Workhouse

Bibliography

Index