North Richmond Street question

Qualitymark

What's the shortest way (walking) from the blind end of North Richmond Street to the Grand Canal?

In James Joyce's story An Encounter, the narrator goes to the bank of the canal and walks along to Newcomen Bridge (about to be 'upgraded', apparently, probably destroying another Joycean landmark).

At the time when the story is set, according to Stanislaus Joyce, the family's temporary home in the last house in North Richmond Street was backed by apple orchards. So the boy would have been able to walk back to the canal and either follow the bank all the way along, or cross at Summerhill Parade bridge and follow the bank on the other side.

From Google Maps it looks as if the area at the back of the house is now filled by industrial buildings, blocking the way. So what's the shortest way to the canal now, walking?

Qualitymark

Actually, looked closer on the Google map, and it appears that you can walk through, and there's a very narrow lane at the back, beside the next house, leading down to the canal. Hope there isn't a gate blocking it.