Pallasgreen (Limerick) to Killaloe (Clare)
Distance (km): 44
Cycling Time: (hrs:min) 1:57
Average Speed (km/hr) 21
Total Ascent (m): 180
Average Heart Rate (bpm): 120
Cumulative Distance: 79 km
Cumulative Ascent: 349m
Punctures so far: 0
Left Pallasgreen at 7:15 am to continue on tracing the Mulkear (also spelled Mulcaire) which has been formed by the Dead and Bilboa rivers.
Moving in a north-westerly direction I fell in with the early morning traffic, most of it heading towards Limerick. It was cooler and breezier than Day 1 with a 7 m/sec wind coming from the south west. This wind wasn't an issue for the earlier part of the day.
Next meeting with the Mulkear was just behind the petrol station in Dromkeen, always increasing in size along its course.
I have moved out of dairying country so I didn't have the milking machine and radio sounds to sooth me as i progressed.
At Boher at a picturesque pub I turned off to the right to pick up the river again. Another totally new road for me.
At one point river and road touched and i hopped over the flood bank for a look. The Mulkear has moved up a notch of magnitude as it flowed beneath the willow trees. And more of the Wild Parsnip towering above me. While there I met an angler (retired gentleman) moving on to his beat. Told me people fish for salmon along here but that they're almost extinct by now. 'Still, it's a way of passing a few hours'
This back road into the northern side of Limerick contained impressive new stand-alone houses (built in the last 20 years) and almost all had electric entrance gates fitted.
This road brought me over the M7 and into Annacotty and the Mulkear flowing over a weir by an old mill almost at the end of its 22km course to the Shannon.
I was intent on locating the confluence of both rivers and maps were of little help. I headed down through the IDA National Technological Park and located a rough path that could get me closer. No cycling along here on what soon became a narrow overgrown single track flanked with nettles and Himalayan Balsam, surprised me at this low altitude of 20 m ASL. It's an invasive growth typical on river banks (actually related to the Busy Lizzie) and can grow to heights of 3 metres.
Before I reached my target plodding along through this jungle i came by another gem....the ruin of the original Castle Troy. This area originally known as Caladh an Treoigh, a sheltered landing place for the said clan. In 13th century this castle was built by the O'Briens. Presently the ruin attracts the street art brigade, especially inside.
Eventually I wheeled the bike down to the water's edge by the Black Pipes Bridge (a now disused bridge built to support a water supply pipe) and there to my left I could see the Shannon (red) passing by gladly accepting the contribution of the Mulkear (blue). Thrilled to have accompanied the Mulkear right to its end.
It was a long trek back to cyclable surface through the head-high growth. I attempted to cycle on the wider sections but came a cropper when a section narrowed and became muddy. This wasn't a place to be cycling with slick 22mm tyres. But no harm done to self or bike.
In all i had been walking in this jungle wilderness for the bones of an hour and eventually came to a back gate into the grounds of UL Bohs rugby club. I was just back at the weir in Annacotty and headed northwards for Castleconnell.
For a change now I'm cycling against the flow and will continue so till I hit Co Longford.
This stretch between Annacotty and Castleconnell (although inaccessable by road) was the most picturesque and attractive part of the Lower Shannon featuring the Falls of Doonass - a continuous half-mile sequence of rapids just south of Castleconnell. At present all is relatively calm along the stretch since the head-race to Ardnacrusha has deprived the rapids of a great volume of water at Parteen weir upstream. Over the rapids the river falls 40 feet and this drop was utilised for the Shannon hydro-electricity scheme (1925-29)
Along here is a wooded area with a profusion of old-money gentry places. Interestingly, as i approached Castleconnell, I noted on my left The Hermitage, a major seat of the Massey family, the same family as in Grantstown Hall.
The only view of the Falls of Doonass that saw was some in the upper reaches when i cycled into the grounds of the Castle Oaks Hotel in Castleconnell. Here down along a path by the water's edge I had a weak replica of what must have been a noble sight in its day when it had the full might of the Shannon.
Above Castleconnell I cycled by the calm natural Shannon as far as the bridge in Montpelier.
First i crossed the narrow bridge over to O'Briens Bridge (Co Clare) and then over the headrace (the canal that supplies Ardnacrusha) which has been diverted at Parteen weir just 1.5 km upstream from here. Imagine if all this water were allowed to rush down the falls of Doonass!
Now on the Clare side I had a nice sheltered straight flat road of 8 km all the way to Killaloe. I booted it along at 25 km/hr and then suddenly up ahead I spotted two Garda out with a speed camera (hairdryer). As I passed I called to them 'Am I OK?' he cheerily shouts back 'Your doing 60'. Phew, that was a close one'.
At 11 am I arrived at the twin towns of Killaloe and Ballina. Plenty of pleasure craft on the water and tied up in the marinas. All looked so pleasant in the warming morning sunshine. Commercial trade on the Shannon ceased in 1961 and now it's all pleasure cruising from here upstream.
I crossed over the narrow bridge to Ballina on the Tipp side to finish this Day 2 of the circuit.
Extra: I now cycled back to the car at Pallasgreen and into a strong headwind especially as far as Limerick. 88 km in total for the day. Both of these days I have done from home-base. The next few will be done on consecutive days....waiting for a break in the weather.
Thank God for the health and thank god for the energy.
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