BANKSIDE COTTAGES CLONSKEAGH

29/07/2023

This is a row of houses on the South bank of the River Dodder. The street is off Dundrum Road and it is connected to Milltown Road via a very attractive footbridge known as Packhorse Bridge.

A packhorse bridge is a bridge intended to carry packhorses (horses loaded with sidebags or panniers) across a river or stream. Typically a packhorse bridge consists of one or more narrow (one horse wide) masonry arches, and has low parapets so as not to interfere with the panniers borne by the horses. Multi-arched examples sometimes have triangular cutwaters that are extended upward to form pedestrian refuges.

Packhorse bridges were often built on the trade routes (often called packhorse routes) that formed major transport arteries across Europe and Great Britain until the coming of the turnpike roads and canals in the 18th century. Before the road-building efforts of Napoleon, all crossings of the Alps were on packhorse trails. Travellers' carriages were dismantled and transported over the mountain passes by ponies and mule trains.

The Ahlul Bayt Islamic Centre, also known as Al Hussain House, can be seen from the cottages as it is located across the street. It is a Shia mosque that was founded in 1994. It is the largest Shia mosque in Ireland, and can accommodate up to 1,500 worshippers. The mosque offers a variety of services, including religious education, cultural events, and social welfare programs.

MILLTOWN AND THE NINE ARCHES

27/07/2023

Milltown is marked by a spectacular 19th-century railway bridge across the river, which was part of the Harcourt Street railway line which ran from Harcourt Street to Bray. On 30 June 2004, the bridge was re-opened for the Luas light rail system which runs from St. Stephen's Green to Bride's Glen. This bridge, and sometimes the area immediately surrounding it, became known informally as the 'Nine Arches'. Milltown railway station opened on 1 May 1860 and finally closed on 31 December 1958.

The Nine Arches in Clonskeagh (Milltown) is a series of nine stone bridge arches that cross the River Dodder in Dublin, Ireland. The nine arch bridge  was built in the early 19th century by John Rennie, a Scottish civil engineer. Rennie was also responsible for the construction of the Waterloo Bridge in London and the Pont du Gard in France.

The Nine Arches were originally built to carry the Dublin to Kingstown (now Dun Laoghaire) railway line over the River Dodder. The railway line was opened in 1834, and the Nine Arches was an important part of the route. The bridge was also used by pedestrians and horse-drawn carriages.

The railway line closed in 1958, and the Nine Arches was no longer needed for their original purpose. However, the structure was saved from demolition and has since been restored. They bridge is  now a popular tourist destination and a well-known landmark in Clonskeagh.

The Nine Arches are made of limestone and are about 100 feet long. The bridge is supported by nine arches, which are spaced evenly apart. The arches are about 20 feet high and are made of a series of voussoirs. The voussoirs are wedge-shaped stones that are arranged in a semicircle to form the arch.

The Nine Arches are a beautiful example of early 19th century engineering. They are a testament to the skill and craftsmanship of John Rennie. The bridge is  also a reminder of the important role that the railway played in the development of Dublin.

TERENURE INN

24/07/2023

The Terenure Inn is a traditional Irish pub located in Terenure, Dublin. It has been in business for over 100 years, and is a popular spot for locals and visitors alike. The pub is known for its friendly atmosphere, its wide selection of beers and spirits, and its excellent food. However, I have not had a meal there for three or four years.

The Terenure Inn offers a wide variety of food, including traditional Irish dishes like fish and chips, bangers and mash, and steak and Guinness pie. The pub also has a dedicated pizza oven, and serves up some of the best pizzas in Dublin.

RATHFARNHAM SHOPPING CENTRE

24/07/2023

This was my first time to visit Rathfarnham Shopping Centre (even though my ant lived nearby)  and I arrived here because I was slightly lost and not where I thought I was.

• It is a partly enclosed shopping centre or mall located in Rathfarnham.
• It was opened in 1969 and is owned by Green Property Group.
• The centre has a gross floor area of 7,432 square metres (79,950 square feet) and is home to over 40 stores, including Tesco, Dunnes Stores, Boots, H&M, and River Island.
• The centre is open seven days a week, from 9am to 9pm on weekdays and 9am to 10pm on weekends.
• It is accessible by car, bus, and Luas [see below]

I was a bit surprised to see that it was described as being accessible by the Luas tram service so I confirmed the claim by actually getting a tram from Trinity College and to be honest I would not recommend using the tram to get to this particular shopping centre.

In theory, you can take the Luas to Rathfarnham Shopping Centre. The closest Luas stop is Milltown, which is a 22-minute walk from the shopping centre.

The travel time from the city center to Milltown is about 25 minutes. The fare for a single journey is €2.40, or you can purchase a day ticket for €10.