'New Dublin' at its finest.

Work started in the Grand Canal Dock basin in 1791 and the grand opening was on the 23rd of April 1796 when the Lord Lieutenant, the Earl of Camden performed the opening ceremony, coming into the basin on his yacht, the Dorset, followed by 20 barges and pleasure boats.

Today, the Grand Canal Dock is managed by Waterways Ireland and is a recreational resource for the city centre. 

Located in Dublin’s city centre between the most easterly point of Dublin 2 and the most westerly point of Dublin 4, it can accommodate 150 seagoing vessels. 

A docking enclosure located between the majestic river Liffey and the historic Grand Canal, the Grand Canal is the southern-most of a pair of canals that connect Dublin. 

While the idea of connecting Dublin to the Shannon was proposed as early as 1715, work on a canal only began in 1757 when the Irish Parliament granted Thomas Omer £20,000 to start construction. 

The last working cargo barge passed through the Grand Canal in 1960. While there may not be many barges on this beautiful man-made stretch of water anymore, business certainly has not slowed down. 

Both Irish and international investment in Grand Canal Dock has led to it evolving into the commercial and cultural capital of Dublin.

Companies such as Google, Facebook and LinkedIn have made the area their home, leading to it being dubbed ‘Silicon Dock.’ 

Since the turn of the millennium, Grand Canal Dock has undergone major redevelopment as part of the Dublin Docklands redevelopment project. Amenities include several public bike hire stations, to see the area on two wheels. 

At night the Grand Canal Dock is striking to behold and an elegant lighting scheme adds to an already eclectic atmosphere. 

The area is scattered with great pubs, restaurants and cafes, some of which offer the diner the opportunity to dine al fresco and enjoy the modern surroundings.

This area of Dublin is immensely popular with tourists yet it has managed to maintain the genuine qualities that made it so popular in the first place. 

Grand Canal Dock represents what the locals call ‘real Dublin’ with its unique marriage of contemporary and historical architecture and a vibrant cultural atmosphere.

To explore more in Grand Canal Dock click here.