Blessington Street Basin, Reservoir and public park in northern central Dublin, Ireland
Blessington Street Basin is a rectangular water reservoir and public park in northern central Dublin with walkways and green spaces surrounding the water. The basin measures approximately 120 meters in length and 60 meters in width, holding around 15 million liters of water.
The basin was built in 1810 as the Royal George Reservoir to supply water to Dublin's north side and local distilleries through connections with the Royal Canal. It served this purpose until the 1970s when its role as a water source ended.
The basin appears in James Joyce's Ulysses and features in The Coroner's Daughter, which was selected as Dublin UNESCO City of Literature One City One Book 2023. This literary connection draws readers and writers who want to walk the locations mentioned in these works.
The park is open daily, with closing times that vary between 17:00 in winter and 22:00 during summer months depending on daylight. A paved path runs around the basin, making it accessible and easy to walk at your own pace.
A Tudor-style gate lodge built in 1811 stands at the entrance to the park, marking its historical gateway. An artificial island within the water provides a refuge where resident swans and ducks can be seen by visitors throughout the year.
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