Sketches of old Dublin

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1907 Excerpt: ... THE CANALS OF DUBLIN. The Grand Canal. The Grand Canal is older by nearly quarter of a century than the Royal. The company that promoted its construction was formed in 1765, and they likewise had a capital of two hundred thousand pounds. Passing, as it does in its earlier portion, through a more fashionable part of the metropolis, the Grand Canal is a familiar object to all residents of the south side of Dublin. Every day thousands pass across its waters over the numerous bridges that connect the suburbs and townships with the business streets, and many fine residences are built along the route it pursues after it leaves the dock at Ringsend up to Portobello. By the banks grow rows of splendid elms, and pleasant shady walks are thus found. Barges full of turf glide smoothly down, and add much that is picturesque to what is truly a pretty scene. Standing, say, on Leeson Street Bridge, one catches a long vista of tall trees on either side of the canal, their shadows reflected in the water, a boat heavily laden with the brown sods from the bogland far away, a touch of colour in the distance from some red brick building, the merry bark of a dog whose owners are giving it a swim, and there is presented as charming a picture as could be desired. There are many points of beauty on the Grand Canal, and we have merely selected one that is of daily occurrence. It is hard to imagine what Dublin was like before this canal was made. The city was so small, and fields (now covered with streets and houses) stretched away into the country. Toll-gates stopped the traveller on his way to or from the city, and several of them were situated near to where the canal later formed the boundary. The fashionable folk who frequented the Ranelagh gardens knew no canal, and the few resi...