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Dolphins Barn Bridge credit DCLA

The Grand Canal by Cathy Scuffil

Extract from By the Sign of the Dolphin

The Main Line of the Grand Canal from the harbour at James’s Street to Lowtown harbour near Robertstown, Co .Kildare was constructed between 1756 and 1783, the harbour at James’s Street being completed in 1759. The construction of the canal from Lowtown to the river Shannon was eventually completed by 1804.

In the 1790’s when the canal was completed to Athy, work began on the link with the river Liffey. The obvious route from James’s Street was discounted and replaced with an ambitious scheme which ran almost parallel to the then recent completed South Circular Road, reaching the river Liffey near Ringsend at Grand Canal Dock. This line of the Grand Canal was called the Circular Line.

In 1773, the first Earl of Harcourt (Lord Lieutenant from 1772 to 1776) laid the foundation stone of the first lock at the present Suir Bridge. Seven locks were added to the system when the Circular Line was completed in 1796. The Circular Line follows a two-mile level from Portobello to the first lock Main line, and this stretch is crossed by five road bridges.

Cathy Scuffil, March 2024

Cat John Rooney