The
Corbally branch diverges from the Naas branch canal at a junction
on the west bank just before the harbour. It was completed in
1810 as something of an afterthought following the completion
of the Naas branch. Its function is unclear as it terminates at
the isolated Corbally harbour remote from any population or industry.
Although its towpath is walkable it leads to country dominated
by large-scale farming activities and newly built motorways.
It
offers little in the way of points of interest and terminates
in a derelict harbour where there is no access to public transport
or facilities. Its main traffic in the era of canal transport
was malting barley for Reeves’ mill at Athgarvan, two miles
to the west of Corbally harbour. Local folklore suggests that
it was used to ferry the building material for the Curragh camp
but has little substance. The canal was little used since the
Second World War and a low culvert built near Jigginstown in 1954
closed it finally to navigation. However in its non-navigable
condition the Corbally line is now a valuable sanctuary for wildlife
in an area of intensive farming.
Those
interested in tackling its towpath are recommended to walk out
the Newbridge road from Naas and pick up the canal beyond the
ruined 17th century Jigginstown castle. A section of
dense thicket will make progress difficult in the early part of
the route but the westbank towpath presents no difficulty for
the rest of the walk to Corbally. Look out for Hoare’s bridge
- the fifth canal bridge out from Naas - which was widened in
1995 and rebuilt in a manner sympathetic to the original design.
