Day  1.           Sunday Aug 2.

Ballyrobin (Tipp) to Pallasgreen( Limerick)

Distance:  35 (Km) 

Time:  1:39

Average Speed: (Km/ hr) 21.2

Ascent:  (m). 169

Heart Rate: (beats / min). 120

Cumulative Distance:   (km) 35

Cumulative Ascent :  (m) 169

Punctures so far : 0

Left early on Sunday morning at 6:30 while it was still cool but dry. There was mist to be seen on high ground as I passed down through Donaskeigh.

Within 5 km after I had passed under Ballyrobin railway bridge,  I had come to the official start of this circuit. Looking into the field on my right I could spot the two interesting spots. In red we have the start of the Cuteen River and heading west. In blue is the Multeen (already quite sizable) continuing off to the east. So, in between is the boundary between the Shannon and the Suir watersheds.

Nearby, down the road to Doherty’s farm the Cuteen was still quite small as it made its way through the growth.

It was lovely to be out on the road at this early hour....lovely freshness and the aroma of the vegetation and quite confident I’d have the road to myself.

I crossed the Cuteen again just by the moat in Donohill just 2 km further on. Already he flow had increased considerably as it passed beneath me.

Naturally the road didn’t follow the course of the river it I crossed over the Cuteen regularly. Just before Chadwell, I came by Bearna Dhearg (red gap) bridge, a name I hadn't been aware of in this locality. The bridge has been recently repaired with the mason leaving his name for posterity. I don’t know the significance of the 1946.

 Was still on roads I am familiar with as Kathleen (Margaret’s sister) and Frank once lived over this way. And there was Tommy Murray’s pub where we ‘wasted’ many a good hour. That was 40 years ago and both his custom and regular customers died off. Closed now for a long time and even the front door(X) has been blocked up. Memories.

Up a few kms to Pope’s Bridge (named area local family) and I’m standing now over the Dead River. Just 500 m upstream from here (marked) the Cuteen and Pope Rivers join to form the Dead River. It has always been a good trout river with shaded pools beneath overhanging trees. This is the townland of Clonbrick (the meadow of the trout) so its reputation s a long standing one.

By the bridge was a fine purple show of Great Willowherb and small willow trees.

 I cycled a loop back by Tommy Murray’s to cross the Dead River again but still within the townland of Clonbrick. At this stage the current is beginning to live up to its categorisation as a river and quite east to visualise plenty of brown trout own there.

Shortly after this I crossed over into Co Limerick and turned right . Cycling these roads was so relaxing at this hour with the sound of milking machines in almost every farmyard accompanied by he sounds of music from a radio to keep the milkmen entertained.

Down by Longford Bridge the Dead River progressed westward by some dry tall (7+ feet) stands of Wild Parsnip closely related to carrot and parsley. I came across it at a number of bridges.

From Longford Bridge  I downgraded onto tiny bohreens featuring a healthy growth of grass down the centre . Since I had crossed into Co Limerick I was cycling on roads I’d never been on before; that just adds to the adventure

Here from Coolnamona I had a panoramic view of east Limerick all drained by streams feeding into my Dead River. A good view this morning.

Next crossing of the Dead River was at Derraun Bridge on R07, that road from Doon down to the cross at Cluggin. In a survey carried out by the Central and Regional Fisheries Board in 2009

small salmon (6 - 16cm) was the most abundant species in the Dead River followed by brown trout but the trout were bigger (15 - 30 cm). Actually the trout in the Dead River a were found to be bigger than those in the larger Mulkear River downstream.

The next meeting with the Dead River was just near the village of Pallasgreen at Old Bridge just before it comes near to the Bilboa River flowing down from Cappamore. This bridge was constructed in 1874. The river flows narrower and deeper just here and continues on almost parallel to the Bilboa River or another 1.7 km before joining up to form the Mulkear River. 

I followed a gravel farm road in an attempt to see the confluence but of no avail. I knew it was over there at the far side of the field behind that bank. The next day I’ll follow the Mulkear from Pallas till it joins the Shannon.

On the way back through the centre of Pallasgreen I stopped by a memorial to a local hero. Paddy Ryan, born in Old Pallas won gold and over medals in the 1920 Olympics in Antwerp...gold in the hammer throwing and silver in the 56 lb weight throw, e ly time that event featured in the Olympics. He also held the world record for the hammer (189ft 6.5 in) for 25 years from 1913 till 1938. He won these medals for USA. Paddy emigrated to the US aged 30 and worked as a lobour foreman and in the police department of New York. Returned to Pallas in 1924 and died in 1964. Deserves a memorial in his home place.

Across the road s a premises I must call to the next day. Might pick up some info there to make the Mulkear more meaningful to me.

A good Day one on this circuit round the rivers and canals of the Hidden Heartland.

Thank God for the health and thank God for the energy.