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The Tuesday Night Club on Tour
Tour 2007
April 2007
6 - Lock 12 to Dublin, Ringsend Basin - Grand Canal Dublin Line and Circular Line.
Thursday 5th April 2007
Martin Fogarty the lock keeper that had been booked for our passage down to Dublin was due at 07:30, so we moved down to the lock at
07:00. It was yet another brilliant sunny morning. While we were waiting we cleared the floating rubbish away from the top gates. Martin arrived just before 07:30 and set to work removing the padlocks holding the paddle rack lock pins on. These padlocks are set up in a large sturdy steel square section shroud, the only way to easily get your hands up was to lay down of the gate walkway. Soon the lock was filled and we were descending. As we knew Earnest was a
tightish fit in the locks and we did not know what we would find in the way of rubbish, Neil steered and kept the rear outer doors closed, as there was rather a lot of water going over the top gates of these by-weir less locks. Neil also wanted to do a rather spirited run down as this was a fine day in school holidays and we wanted to clear the areas with the potential of trouble as early as possible.
The long pound below Lock No 12 was deeper than above but with much blanket weed, rather frightening for this early in the year. Just above Lock No 11 is the skeleton of one of the characteristic Omer lock houses. To the right of the canal are playing fields leading to the estates of Clondalkin. At
Lock No 11 we were greeted by more W.I. staff in a more Roughty Toughty black 4x4, a change from the now, rather beat up little blue Kangoo vans.
We made steady progress down, the main hold up was the speed of getting off enough of the dreaded paddle locks off. There certainly was a lot of water going over the gates, some of which was covered with so much vegetation, they resembled a
water garden, with none of the gate structure visible! Below the double lock No 9 there was signs of recent dredging. Beyond the M50 motorway bridge the famous Guinness filter beds are on the left hand side, this is where the canal water was drawn off to make the black stuff! Around the filter beds the Park West business centre has grown up. We continued to make good progress, but by Lock No 7 we were feeling rather hungry,
sustenance was soon spotted in the form of the factory estate "Big Chef" fast
food establishment...and fast it was, but the time we were down and out of the lock Martin arrived back with three jumbo breakfast rolls (for the uninitiated this is an entire Irish Breakfast in a half a French stick roll.)
Beyond here the canal opens out with a bit of waste ground on the left hand side and playing fields on the right. Just above Blackhorse Bridge is another Double Lock No 3. Beyond here the Luas tram line joins the canal, and follows it to the junction with the Circular Line. At Lock No 2 we had the only "trouble" on the entire journey down to Dublin a couple of inquisitive kids jumped on the gunwales at the back, we were not worried about anything being stolen, as the front doors were shut, the cratch cover down and the rear inner
doors locked shut! Anyway, they jumped off before the boat had gone down in the chamber.
Lock No 1 is another double, beyond this the Circular Line swings round to the right, under the Luas tramline, which follows the filled in course of the St James Branch of the Grand to St James harbour, which was near the Guinness brewery. So at 13:00 we said good-bye to Martin Fogarty and the W.I. lads. Martin had been lumbered with our return passage up the Main Line Locks.
The top of the Circular Line is lock free and we found this the worse section of the trip down, it was shallow with much trashed plastic and weed. After five bridges we were at Portobello and the top Lock No 7 of the Circular Line. being a warm sunny afternoon there were soon many gongoozlers out watching us go down under the control of Stephen Brierly, the Circular Line Locky. Neil had a chat with Gerry O'Hara, the IWAI Dublin Branch Chairman, unfortunately it was one of those few minute conversations you have while going down in a lock.
The seven locks on the Circular Line are all just about walkable, the next lock down, No 6 Charlemont Street was also busy with gongoozlers as shops and bars were close by. Just below Lock No 6 the new Luas tram bridge
passes overhead , the tram stop being on the bridge. From here the canal is not near bars and the gongoozlers died away, with people now enjoying the walk along this linear tree lined park.
Due to road widening quite a few of the bottom lock gates are now beamless and a series of capstans and chains are used to open and close the gates. Above Lock No 3 the "Riasc" trip boat was plying its trade, it normally
being moored mid channel set off from the mooring above Lock No 3. By the time we got to Lock No 1 the canal had become much more private.
After leaving the lock and passing under the bridge the canal follows a dogleg and after passing between some offices and under the tight railway bridge, suddenly opens out into the wide expanse of Ringsend Basin. It did not come as any surprise, that apart from a rather beat up W.I.
rubbish boat the multitude of pontoon were only the haunt of geese. The "Box In The Docks" W.I. visitor centre is close at present, due to a lot of re-development work going on around the basin. We knew that the exit from the moorings had a key code magnetic lock and that we would also have to "register" with the security guard, as the exit is through the
side of a building site. We got the code from Stephen, the Circular Line locky, but this was
unnecessary, due to the magnetic clamp being broke. We introduced ourselves to the
security guard, who threw a bit of a wobbly as W.I. had not told him of our impending arrival. After that he simmered down and was
OK. The method of gaining his attention on the way back was to knock on the round window beside the entrance door into the visitor centre.
Arrival was at 14:45, a 7.25 hour passage down from Lock No 12 on the Dublin Line. Seeing as it was Good Friday the next day (no pubs open) we thought that we would stock up on food, Neil
hung about and filled Earnest up with water and tried to wash off some of the duck poo from the pontoon. Feeling somewhat knackered we chilled out, then went out
for a wander into town to find the Porterhouse pub.
After Martin asked at the police station, we eventually found the Porterhouse at the end of Temple Bar. Predictably it was heaving and we could not get a table, so after a pint or two of the excellent Oyster Stout we decided to eat elsewhere and managed to get a table in the rather good Ciao Bella Roma Italian restaurant just opposite.
Waiting for the lock keeper above Lock 12. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
Waiting for the lock keeper above Lock 12. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
Waiting for the lock keeper above Lock 12. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
The locky arrives and we prepare to start the decent to Dublin. Lock No 12.
Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
Lock No 12. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
Leaving Lock No 12. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
A derelict Omer Lock House beside Lock No 11. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
Looking over at the Clondalkin estates from Lock No 11. Grand Canal, Dublin
Line.
A derelict Omer Lock House beside Lock No 11. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
"Super power" arrives at Lock No 11. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
Lock No 11. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
Lock No 11. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
Leaving Lock No 11. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
Lock No 10. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
Lock No 10. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
Lock No 10. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
Lock No 10. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
Lock No 10. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
Lock No 10. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
Lock No 10. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
Lock No 10. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
Looking back at Lock No 10. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
Double Lock No 9. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
Double Lock No 9. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
Double Lock No 9. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
Double Lock No 9. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
Leaving Double Lock No 9. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
Looking back at Double Lock No 9. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
The M50 motorway. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
The Guinness Filter beds above Lock No 8. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
Looking back at the M50. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
The Park West business centre by the Guinness Filter beds. Lock No 8 in the
distance. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
Lock No 8. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
Looking back at Lock No 8. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
Ballyfermot. Lock No 7 in the distance. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
Looking back at Lock No 8. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
Lock No 7. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
The bridges below Lock No 7. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
Looking back at Lock No 7. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
Looking back at Lock No 7. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
Ballyfermot. Lock No 6. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
Ballyfermot. Lock No 6. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
Lock No 4. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
Looking up from Lock No 4 at Lock No 5. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
Black Horse Bridge and Double Lock No 3. Inchicore. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
Looking back at Black Horse Bridge and Double Lock No 3. Inchicore. Grand Canal,
Dublin Line.
The Luas tram. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
Looking back at Black Horse Bridge. Inchicore. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
The water is rather clear! Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
Inchicore. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
Approaching Lock No 2. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
Looking back at the new footbridge to serve the tram stop. Grand Canal, Dublin
Line.
Lock No 2. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
Lock No 2. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
Looking back at Lock No 2. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
Double Lock No 1. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
Double Lock No 1. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
Double Lock No 1. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
Below Double Lock No 1 the course of the main line to St James is filled in, the
Circular Line to Ringsend goes off to the right.. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
Looking back at Double Lock No 1. Grand Canal, Dublin Line.
Grand Canal, Circular Line, Dublin.
Grand Canal, Circular Line, Dublin. Looking back at the junction.
Grand Canal, Circular Line, Dublin.
Grand Canal, Circular Line, Dublin.
Grand Canal, Circular Line, Dublin.
Grand Canal, Circular Line, Dublin.
Grand Canal, Circular Line, Dublin.
Grand Canal, Circular Line, Dublin.
Looking down at Lock No 7, Portobello. Grand Canal, Circular Line, Dublin.
The characteristic Dublin single story villas. Grand Canal, Circular Line,
Dublin.
Lock No 7, Portobello. Grand Canal, Circular Line, Dublin.
Lock No 7, Portobello. Grand Canal, Circular Line, Dublin. Another of the Grand
Canal Hotels.
Lock No 7, Portobello. Grand Canal, Circular Line, Dublin.
Lock No 7, Portobello. Grand Canal, Circular Line, Dublin.
Lock No 7, Portobello. Grand Canal, Circular Line, Dublin.
Lock No 7, Portobello. Grand Canal, Circular Line, Dublin.
Looking back at Lock No 7, Portobello. Grand Canal, Circular Line, Dublin.
Portobello. Grand Canal, Circular Line, Dublin.
Lock No 6. Grand Canal, Circular Line, Dublin.
Lock No 6. Grand Canal, Circular Line, Dublin.
The new Luas Tram Bridge below Lock No 6. Grand Canal, Circular Line, Dublin.
Lock No 5. Grand Canal, Circular Line, Dublin.
The new Luas Tram Bridge below Lock No 6. Grand Canal, Circular Line, Dublin.
Leaving Lock No 5. Grand Canal, Circular Line, Dublin.
Lock No 4. Grand Canal, Circular Line, Dublin.
Lock No 4. Grand Canal, Circular Line, Dublin.
Looking back at Lock No 4. Grand Canal, Circular Line, Dublin.
Looking down from Lock No 4. Grand Canal, Circular Line, Dublin.
The trip boat is moving! Lock No 3. Grand Canal, Circular Line, Dublin.
Lock No 3. Grand Canal, Circular Line, Dublin.
Below Lock No 3. Grand Canal, Circular Line, Dublin.
Below Lock No 3. Grand Canal, Circular Line, Dublin.
Looking back at Lock No 3. Grand Canal, Circular Line, Dublin.
Looking down at Lock No 2. Grand Canal, Circular Line, Dublin.
Lock No 2. Grand Canal, Circular Line, Dublin.
Lock No 2. Grand Canal, Circular Line, Dublin.
Grand Canal, Circular Line, Dublin.
Lock No 2. Grand Canal, Circular Line, Dublin.
Lock No 2. Grand Canal, Circular Line, Dublin.
Lock No 2. Grand Canal, Circular Line, Dublin.
Lock No 2. Grand Canal, Circular Line, Dublin.
Looking back at Lock No 2. Grand Canal, Circular Line, Dublin.
Looking up at Lock No 2. Grand Canal, Circular Line, Dublin.
Lock No 1. Grand Canal, Circular Line, Dublin.
Lock No 1. Grand Canal, Circular Line, Dublin.
Lock No 1. Grand Canal, Circular Line, Dublin.
Lock No 1. Grand Canal, Circular Line, Dublin.
Lock No 1. Grand Canal, Circular Line, Dublin.
Looking back round the "dog leg" at Lock No 1. Grand Canal, Circular
Line, Dublin.
The last bridge before the Grand Canal Ringsend Basin. Circular Line, Dublin.
Grand Canal Ringsend Basin. Circular Line, Dublin.
Spoilt for choice! Grand Canal Ringsend Basin. Circular Line, Dublin.
Grand Canal Ringsend Basin. Circular Line, Dublin.
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