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Perhaps one of the finest man-made harbours to be
found anywhere in the world, Dun Laoghaire Harbour symbolises an
engineering achievement of spectacular proportions. However, a little
known fact is that by the time the port was considered complete in 1859,
its original purpose - to act as an asylum harbour for sailing ships
entering the port of Dublin - had been rendered pretty much redundant by
the coming of steam and with it the substantially reduced risks faced by
merchant ships attempting to enter Dublin in bad weather.
The actual site for the new harbour on Dublin Bay's rock
strewn coast was selected by a Captain Richard Toucher on account of its
depth of water and sound bottom. In 1815 an Act was passed giving powers
for "the erection of an asylum harbour and a place of refuge at Dunleary."
A parliamentary grant of £505,000 was raised by duties on shipping, and
the design was entrusted to the Scottish engineer, John Rennie.
The first stone was laid by Earl Withworth on 31st
May, 1817 and 600 men were employed upon the work. Granite was obtained
from the quarries in Dalkey and transported to the site along a track
known locally today as 'The Metals' - a funicular system enabling the
full trucks to haul up the empty ones. By 1821 the East Pier was
generally complete and the harbour was put to effective use. Meanwhile,
the construction of the West Pier followed, and work continued on the
harbour until 1859 when the Carlisle Pier was completed.
Renamed Kingstown in 1821,
after a visit by King George IV, it carried this name for 100 years when
it reverted to its ancient Irish name by resolution of the town council
in 1921, one year before Irish independence.
Today, in addition to its
impressive ferry terminal, Dun Laoghaire boasts the largest marina in
the country, which was opened in 2001 following resistance for over 15
years. A 240-berth extension, involving an investment of €3 million, was
approved in June 2006. Completed in April 2007 this extension increased
the number of berths to over 800. Boats of up to 30 metres in length and
up to 80 tonnes can now be accommodated. Out in the West Bight is
a stand alone pontoon serviced by the marina launch.
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