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BLESSINGTON STREET BASIN KNOWN LOCALLY AS THE DUCK POND

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A SECRET RETREAT WITHIN A VERY BUSY PART OF THE CITY

Here’s a description of this little park in Dublin’s Northside known as Blessington Street Basin:

Setting and History

Location: Nestled within a residential area, Blessington Street Basin is bordered by Blessington Street, Berkeley Street, and Royal Canal Bank (Phibsborough).
Former Reservoir: Built starting in 1810, it provided drinking water to the northside of Dublin for a significant period. It later served distilleries in the area.
Transformation: Dublin Corporation turned it into a public park around 1891, and it underwent a major refurbishment in 1994.

Park Features

Central Water Feature: The basin itself is the park’s heart, making up about 80% of the area. It’s home to swans, ducks, and other water birds.
Walled Oasis: High stone walls surround the park providing a sense of seclusion and a unique “secret garden” atmosphere.
Greenery & Seating: Landscaping includes grassy areas, mature trees, and plenty of benches to relax and enjoy the tranquil atmosphere.
Recreational Amenities: Children’s playground, outdoor gym equipment, and a multi-use games area.
Artistic Touch: Bronze sculptures and beehives add visual interest and a touch of whimsy to the space.
Tudor Gate Lodge: A charming touch – the park entrance features a restored Tudor-style gate lodge dating from 1811.

The Vibe

Blessington Street Basin offers a charming blend of:

Quiet Refuge: Perfect for escaping city bustle, reading, picnicking, or a leisurely stroll alongside the water.
Community Hub: The amenities attract families, fitness enthusiasts, and locals of all ages.
Historical Charm: The basin’s past and the preserved gate lodge offer a glimpse into Dublin’s history.

How to Find It

From Dublin’s city center, you can reach Blessington Street Basin by:

Bus: Several routes serve the nearby Phibsborough Road.
Luas: The green line Luas stops at either Phibsborough or Broadstone, both within walking distance.
Walking: A pleasant walk along the Royal Canal is possible from the city centre.

Additional Notes

Locals often call it “the duck pond” because of the resident waterfowl population.

While beautiful, it’s a small park, so don’t expect a sprawling, all-day experience.

MY FIRST TIME TO VISIT EAMON CEANNT PUBLIC PARK IN CRUMLIN

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23 APRIL 2023 – I USED A SIGMA DP1 QUATTRO CAMERA

Eamonn Ceannt Park in Crumlin is named after one of the executed leaders of the 1916 Rising.

Eamonn Ceannt Park is located between Sundrive Road and Clogher Road, in the Crumlin area of South Dublin City. It includes numerous mature trees, an athletic track, playing fields, tennis courts, basketball court, children’s playground and a state of the art cycling velodrome.

Crumlin covers the area from the River Poddle near the KCR (Kimmage Cross Roads) to Sundrive Road and Crumlin Cross at The Submarine Bar to Crumlin’s village core and the Drimnagh Road, to Bunting Road, Crumlin Road then along the Grand Canal from Rialto Bridge to Sally’s Bridge. It is situated near to the city centre, on the Southside of Dublin city. Neighbouring areas include Walkinstown, Perrystown, Drimnagh, Terenure, and Kimmage. Crumlin is contained within postal district Dublin 12.

A few years ago i was offered a Sigma DP1 Quattro at a very good price and while I had a bad experience with all my previous Sigma cameras I decided to accept the offer especially as the camera could produce .dng images but, as you may have guessed, there were many problems that can be really annoying.

The DP1 Quattro is a fixed lens camera aimed at enthusiasts who demand the best image quality in a reasonably portable form factor. Announced in September 2014, it’s a unique camera in many respects, employing an unusually-shaped body, a fixed focal length lens and a sensor unlike any outside of Sigma’s range. It also eschews modern features we take for granted on other new cameras such as Wifi or even a movie mode. The DP1 Quattro is all about still photo quality.

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