Overview
Long before the Limerick Tunnel charged drivers to cross the Shannon, Athlunkard Bridge did the same: a halfpenny to walk over, a penny with a horse and cart, until the tolls were lifted in 1884. It still carries traffic today, marking the historic boundary between County Limerick and County Clare at the north-eastern edge of the city. The five cut-limestone arches link the residential streets of Corbally with the riverside paths that run along the Shannon, and it is those paths – not the bridge itself – that are the reason to come. Locals call the walk the Red Path.
If you have half an hour, do it at either end of the day: early morning or late evening light on the water is the whole point, and there are fewer people about.
History and architecture
An earlier attempt at a low-level crossing here failed, leaving a single unfinished arch that still stands on the Red Path behind the old Toll House. The bridge you cross today was a more ambitious replacement, designed by the Limerick architects James and George Richard Pain – the Pain brothers. Construction began in June 1826 and finished in December 1830, at a cost of £7,000, a considerable sum for the period.
It is a five-arch cut-limestone road bridge. Each arch is segmental-headed with finely dressed voussoirs, and the piers carry limestone ashlar cutwaters. Three inscribed plaques record the start and completion dates, the architects’ names, and Thomas Spring Rice, the local MP who championed the scheme. The bridge opened up the western road network for the city, connecting King’s Island with the Clare side.
When it opened it ran on a toll: half a penny for pedestrians, a penny for a horse and cart, collected at the toll-gate house on the Limerick side, which still stands. Tolls were abolished in 1884. In December 2025 the historic Toll House was bought for €100,000, having been listed on the derelict sites register, with plans to restore the early-19th-century building.
Walking, cycling and access
The footpath across the bridge is paved with even limestone, so it takes pushchairs and wheelchairs. The catch is width: the path is narrow, and pedestrians and cyclists share it, which is why local councillors have pushed for dedicated cycle lanes under the Active Travel scheme. Clare County Council and Limerick City and County Council have been reviewing design options to make the crossing safer.
The riverside walkways either side have seen recent upgrades under the National Transport Authority’s Active Travel programme, with smoother surfacing and better lighting, making the stretch between the city centre and Corbally a reliable route for an evening stroll. One honest warning: the limestone surface turns slick after rain, so wear something with grip.
Getting there and practical information
Athlunkard Bridge is open around the clock, with no admission charge and no ticket office – an easy, spontaneous stop while exploring Limerick’s riverfront.
By car From the city centre, follow the R463 (Corbally Road) north-east. There is on-street parking along Corbally Road; watch the signage for time restrictions and pay-bay requirements.
By bus Local Corbally bus services run from the city centre in about 15–20 minutes; check current route numbers and times on the TFI journey planner, as they change. From the Corbally stop it is roughly a 10-minute walk south along Corbally Road to the bridge.
On foot From the Corbally area the bridge is about a 15-minute walk from the village centre along Corbally Road, on quiet residential streets that ease down to the riverbank.
Nearby and tips Corbally Road has a handful of cafés and shops for a coffee after the walk. Within about 2 km you can also take in the Sally Ports section of the city walls and King’s Island. For photographs, aim for the soft light of early morning or late evening, when the river takes on orange and pink; and if you are relying on the bus back, check the timetable first, as evening frequencies drop in winter.