River Poddle
Encyclopedia
The River Poddle is one of the best known of the more than a hundred watercourses of Dublin. It is the source of the name "Dublin", the city being named after a pool that was once on its course. It rises in the Cookstown area in northern Tallaght
, and flows into the River Liffey
in the city centre.
, towards Greenhills
. Additional ponds were added to its course when Tymon Park was formed in the 1980s and 1990s. The river flows from Greenhills into Kimmage
, where it used to receive an artificial stream from Templeogue. This stream consisted of water from the River Dodder
extracted at Balrothery Weir.
, and carried by the three kilometre first section of the City Watercourse. The ancient watercourse was, without explanation, disrupted in recent times by development allowed by the County Council, and it no longer operates.
, with one third of the flow forming the second section of the City Watercourse, heading for Crumlin Road and Dolphin's Barn
, and two thirds continuing in the original river bed. In the 1990s, changes were made in the Kimmage area, including the addition of a large fountain to the river.
. The final stages of the river's flow are complex, with waters separating and joining. Linked flows include the Tenter Water, and the river is joined by the Commons Water. The present main course is itself a diversion of the original course, which lay further east.
Nowadays, much of the lower course of the Poddle is in a large brick tunnel under the city streets and Dublin Castle
, and while access is restricted, it is walkable.
The confluence of the Poddle and the Liffey is visible at low tide through a grated opening in the Liffey walls at Wellington Quay (picture below).
as dubh linn, which means black pool. The city name, Dublin, is an anglicisation
of this Irish phrase, dubh linn. This historic pool existed under the present site of the Coach House and Castle Gardens of Dublin Castle
.
During the ninth century, Vikings established themselves as Kings of Dublin
, and based their settlement around the confluence of the two rivers, upstream from the Stayne long-stone.
(or Weile Weile Waila), famously performed by The Dubliners
.
In 1592, Red Hugh O'Donnell
and Art O'Neill escaped from Dublin Castle through a drain into the Poddle which runs under the castle from Ship Street gate to the Chapel Royal and the Undercroft. The Poddle was later used to provide a water defence for the south wall of the castle.
During the late nineteenth century the Poddle, by then culvert
ed, caused regular flooding and constant dampness in many buildings in the St. Patrick's Street area, including St. Patrick's Cathedral. During a major reconstruction of the cathedral, the graves of Dean Jonathan Swift
and Stella were moved to their present location, due to the problem of the Poddle.
, was too far from the main settlement, while the Stayne River was too small. By the 13th century the water supply was inadequate and a deal was made, in 1244/1245, with the Priory of St. Thomas to divert water from the Dodder
at the weir at Balrothery near Firhouse to the Poddle, to provide the greater part of the water flow. As mentioned, this connection was allowed to dry out in the late 20th century, and only a tiny part still carries water, though ample evidence of the watercourse can be seen: the sluices and channel on the north side of the Firhouse weir still stand.
Tallaght
Tallaght is the largest town, and county town, of South Dublin County, Ireland. The village area, dating from at least the 17th century, held one of the earliest settlements known in the southern part of the island, and one of medieval Ireland's more important monastic centres.Up to the 1960s...
, and flows into the River Liffey
River Liffey
The Liffey is a river in Ireland, which flows through the centre of Dublin. Its major tributaries include the River Dodder, the River Poddle and the River Camac. The river supplies much of Dublin's water, and a range of recreational opportunities.-Name:The river was previously named An Ruirthech,...
in the city centre.
Origins
The Poddle begins as the Tymon River in the Cookstown area northwest of Tallaght village, near the site of Fettercairn House, and flows east, through Tymon North, and northeast, forming the northern border of TempleogueTempleogue
Templeogue is a suburb of southwest Dublin, Ireland. The original Irish name Teach Mealóg refers to a chapel named after Saint Mel that was built there in about 1273....
, towards Greenhills
Greenhills
Greenhills is a suburb situated in Templeogue in the Southside of the city of Dublin, Ireland. It sits between Walkinstown, Kimmage, Tallaght, Terenure and Templeogue. It is generally understood to comprise the Greenhills Estate as well as Greenpark, Limekiln and Temple Manor...
. Additional ponds were added to its course when Tymon Park was formed in the 1980s and 1990s. The river flows from Greenhills into Kimmage
Kimmage
Kimmage is a small suburb on the Southside of Dublin near Crumlin, Greenhills, Harold's Cross, Rathfarnham, Templeogue, and Terenure. The name "Kimmage" comes from the Irish cam uisce, which means "winding" river. The River Poddle flows through Kimmage, and flows on to join the River Liffey...
, where it used to receive an artificial stream from Templeogue. This stream consisted of water from the River Dodder
River Dodder
The River Dodder is one of the three main rivers of the Dublin region in Ireland, the others being the Liffey, of which the Dodder is the largest tributary, and the Tolka.-Course and system:...
extracted at Balrothery Weir.
City Watercourse
The Poddle's modest volume was increased for over 700 years by the significant input of water diverted from the River Dodder at the great weir at Balrothery north of FirhouseFirhouse
Firhouse is a small outer suburb of Dublin, in South Dublin County, Ireland, developed from what was historically a rural village. It is located just south of the River Dodder, and is in the postal district of Dublin 24...
, and carried by the three kilometre first section of the City Watercourse. The ancient watercourse was, without explanation, disrupted in recent times by development allowed by the County Council, and it no longer operates.
The Tongue
The river is split at "The Tongue" at Mount ArgusCharles of Mount Argus
Saint Charles of Mount Argus was a well known Passionist priest in 19th century Ireland. He was born Joannes Andreas Houben on the 11 December 1821 in the village of Munstergeleen in the Province of Limburg in the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. He joined the Passionists in 1845 at Ere in Belgium...
, with one third of the flow forming the second section of the City Watercourse, heading for Crumlin Road and Dolphin's Barn
Dolphin's Barn
Dolphin's Barn is an inner city suburb of Dublin, Ireland, situated on the Southside of the city in the Dublin 8, and partially in the Dublin 12, postal district. Its name derives from a family named Dolphyn who once owned a storehouse there. Surrounding areas include The Liberties, Inchicore,...
, and two thirds continuing in the original river bed. In the 1990s, changes were made in the Kimmage area, including the addition of a large fountain to the river.
Lower course
The two flows later recombine and pass under much of the south city centre in a culvertCulvert
A culvert is a device used to channel water. It may be used to allow water to pass underneath a road, railway, or embankment. Culverts can be made of many different materials; steel, polyvinyl chloride and concrete are the most common...
. The final stages of the river's flow are complex, with waters separating and joining. Linked flows include the Tenter Water, and the river is joined by the Commons Water. The present main course is itself a diversion of the original course, which lay further east.
Nowadays, much of the lower course of the Poddle is in a large brick tunnel under the city streets and Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle off Dame Street, Dublin, Ireland, was until 1922 the fortified seat of British rule in Ireland, and is now a major Irish government complex. Most of it dates from the 18th century, though a castle has stood on the site since the days of King John, the first Lord of Ireland...
, and while access is restricted, it is walkable.
The confluence of the Poddle and the Liffey is visible at low tide through a grated opening in the Liffey walls at Wellington Quay (picture below).
Dubh Linn and the origins of "Dublin"
A large, dark pool once existed at the confluence of the Rivers Poddle and Liffey; this pool was described in IrishIrish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
as dubh linn, which means black pool. The city name, Dublin, is an anglicisation
Anglicisation
Anglicisation, or anglicization , is the process of converting verbal or written elements of any other language into a form that is more comprehensible to an English speaker, or, more generally, of altering something such that it becomes English in form or character.The term most often refers to...
of this Irish phrase, dubh linn. This historic pool existed under the present site of the Coach House and Castle Gardens of Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle off Dame Street, Dublin, Ireland, was until 1922 the fortified seat of British rule in Ireland, and is now a major Irish government complex. Most of it dates from the 18th century, though a castle has stood on the site since the days of King John, the first Lord of Ireland...
.
During the ninth century, Vikings established themselves as Kings of Dublin
Kings of Dublin
The Vikings invaded the territory around Dublin in the 9th century, establishing the Norse Kingdom of Dublin, the earliest and longest lasting Norse kingdom in all of Europe outside of Scandinavia, excepting the so-called Kingdom of Mann and the Isles. This corresponded to most of present-day...
, and based their settlement around the confluence of the two rivers, upstream from the Stayne long-stone.
History
The Poddle was known colloquially as the river Salach, or dirty river in Irish. A variation of this name is used in the old children's song The River SaileThe River Saile
The River Saile is a children's nursery rhyme from Ireland. This type of song is also known as a murder ballad or Child ballad, named for Francis James Child who was the first person to catalogue them before his death in 1896...
(or Weile Weile Waila), famously performed by The Dubliners
The Dubliners
The Dubliners are an Irish folk band founded in 1962.-Formation and history:The Dubliners, initially known as "The Ronnie Drew Ballad Group", formed in 1962 and made a name for themselves playing regularly in O'Donoghue's Pub in Dublin...
.
In 1592, Red Hugh O'Donnell
Hugh Roe O'Donnell
Aodh Rua Ó Dónaill, anglicised as either Hugh Roe O'Donnell or Red Hugh O'Donnell , was An Ó Domhnaill and Rí of Tir Chonaill . He led the Irish forces against the English conquest of Ireland from 1593 and helped to lead the Nine Years' War from 1595 to 1603...
and Art O'Neill escaped from Dublin Castle through a drain into the Poddle which runs under the castle from Ship Street gate to the Chapel Royal and the Undercroft. The Poddle was later used to provide a water defence for the south wall of the castle.
During the late nineteenth century the Poddle, by then culvert
Culvert
A culvert is a device used to channel water. It may be used to allow water to pass underneath a road, railway, or embankment. Culverts can be made of many different materials; steel, polyvinyl chloride and concrete are the most common...
ed, caused regular flooding and constant dampness in many buildings in the St. Patrick's Street area, including St. Patrick's Cathedral. During a major reconstruction of the cathedral, the graves of Dean Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift was an Irish satirist, essayist, political pamphleteer , poet and cleric who became Dean of St...
and Stella were moved to their present location, due to the problem of the Poddle.
Water supply
The river provided an early source of water for the city as the Liffey was tidal within the city area, and undrinkable, and the other major south-side water, the CamacRiver Camac
The River Camac is one of the larger rivers in Dublin, Ireland, and was one of four tributaries of the Liffey critical to early development of the city.-Course:...
, was too far from the main settlement, while the Stayne River was too small. By the 13th century the water supply was inadequate and a deal was made, in 1244/1245, with the Priory of St. Thomas to divert water from the Dodder
River Dodder
The River Dodder is one of the three main rivers of the Dublin region in Ireland, the others being the Liffey, of which the Dodder is the largest tributary, and the Tolka.-Course and system:...
at the weir at Balrothery near Firhouse to the Poddle, to provide the greater part of the water flow. As mentioned, this connection was allowed to dry out in the late 20th century, and only a tiny part still carries water, though ample evidence of the watercourse can be seen: the sluices and channel on the north side of the Firhouse weir still stand.
Pictures
See also
- The Back of the Pipes, DublinThe Back of the Pipes, DublinThe Back of the Pipes is the name of a district in Dublin, Ireland, located between Dolphin's Barn and James Street. It takes its name from an important part of the Dublin water supply originally erected in 1245...
- Rivers of IrelandRivers of IrelandThe longest river in Ireland is the The longest river in [[Ireland]] is the The longest river in [[Ireland]] is the [[River Shannon, 386 km . The river develops into three lakes along its course, [[Lough Allen]], [[Lough Ree]] and [[Lough Derg |Lough Derg]]. Of these, Lough Derg is the...
- List of rivers in County Dublin