The
starting point at Hazelhatch bridge is just half a mile to the
east of the railway halt of the same name on the Celbridge to
Newcastle Road. Two pubs lie within the shadow of the bridge which
is a favourite mooring spot for boat owners away from the built
up areas of the city. Begin your walk on the south bank of the
canal and stay on this side all the way to Sallins. For the first
half mile the underfoot going consists of an old tarmac path which
gives way to a firm grass track on the approach to Aylmers Bridge.
The view to the east is dominated by the Dublin mountains.
Past
Aylmers bridge the towpath is shadowed by the high wall of the
Lyons estate which was formerly the home of the Aylmers, an old
Kildare dynasty, and later the Lawless family who held the title
of lords Cloncurry. The first lord Cloncurry built the classic
great house which can just be glimpsed through the gates of the
demesne wall. It was remodelled by the renowned Palladian architect
Richard Morrison in 1810 and later furnished by the second Lord
Cloncurry with architectural treasures from Greece and Rome. Lyons
Hill to the east rises to 630 feet - according to legend it was
a rallying place of the tribes of Leinster.
The
towpath continues past Henry bridge and along a badly-maintained
road towards Ponsonby Bridge. An old pumping tower stands off
the canal to the east indicating the location of the large Boston
limestone quarries, now flooded. The stump of a 6th century round
tower may be glimpsed on Oughterard Hill in the background. In
a cemetery at the foot of the tower is the grave of Arthur Guinness
(d.1803) who has satisfied more thirsts in the world than anybody
else in history; Indeed the hill echoes many footnotes to the
past - it was on this slope in 1815 that Daniel O’ Connell
and John D’Esteere fought a pistol duel, with mortal results
for the latter.
