Where every bridge has a story
The fourth CRAG river cycle was one which genuinely followed a river, the river Martin, for 7 miles upstream from Blarney to Rathduff. The Martin is a river with a great history supplying the woolen mills with water and power. The dam has gone now, after bursting in 1931, but there has been repeated flooding also in 1947 & 1948. The river has also had its share of pollution, but with the milk factory in Rathduff no longer in production, this seems to have stopped.
Richard was our guide and informed us of many fascinating aspects of the river, its bridges and its surroundings. A small article of his on the Martin can be found at https://blarneyhistory.ie/pollution-and-flooding-of-the-river-martin/
As a cycle, it was a pleasant mixture of greenway and quiet, flat country roads, with the only incident being assailed twice (up and back) by some irate dog. 14 miles passed easily and we adjourned to the Blarney Woolen mills cafe and prepared for our return cycle to Cork.
