Camac Bridge, also known as Dolphin’s Barn Bridge  is a single elliptical arch limestone bridge built in 1791 by the Grand Canal Company in Dublin. The bridge spans the Grand Canal and connects Crumlin Road to Dolphin’s Barn. Parnell Road and Dolphin Road run perpendicular to the bridge between  Herberton and Parnell Bridge. A plaque bears the 1791 construction date.

Architectural Appraisal
The bridge showcases rough-hewn local stone, producing a visually appealing textured appearance. Expanded during the early 1980s, it now exhibits a freshly constructed west-facing elevation and soffit on its western segment. The east elevation exudes architectural grandeur adorned with cut granite voussoirs, a string course, and a parapet capping with walls crafted from cut calp limestone.

Name

Origin of Name – Camac / Dolphin’s Barn Bridge
The bridge is named after Turner Camac, born in 1751, was a soldier and businessman, who developed mines and canals. Read about Turner Camac. Two terraces of buildings adjacent to the bridge formed Camac Place which was built at the same time but was demolished in the late 1930s to make way for the Crumlin Housing scheme. There was also Camac cottages and Camac house nearby. Like many bridges along the Canal, it has a second name which is quite simply named after the local area, Dolphin’s Barn.

Attempts to rename the bridge
In both 1938 and 1948 attempts were suggestions to rename some of the bridges to Irish patriots. In 1938, Joseph Carroll from South Circular Road wrote to the newspaper to suggest the Bridge should be named after Liam Mellows.

Sir—With reference to the above, would suggest that Rialto or Dolphin’s Barn bridges be renamed Liam Mellows Bridge. It is the duty of Liam’s comrades to see that this is done. The name of this great Irishman is absolutely forgotten In Dublin. I only hope the Committee of the National Graves will see this as in my opinion they are the only competent body to undertake this work. I would like Io have the views of your readers on this.

In 1948, on the suggestion of the Association of Old Fianna Eireann, Dublin Corporation Streets and Town Planning Committee  recommended the renaming of Dolphin’s Barn bridge after Con Colbert; Herberton bridge after Sean Burke, and Rialto bridge after Eamonn Ceannt.

While neither of these suggestions were ever implemented, Liam Mellows and his brother Barney, spent a lot of time at the Nolan homestead in Camac Place, so perhaps that may have been a more appropriate suggestion.

Maps
 

The bridge is shown on the 1816 Taylor and 1821 Duncan maps and the First Edition OSI Maps(1843) as Camac(k) Bridge and then as Dolphins Barn Bridge in the Third(1912) and Fourth Edition(1938) of the OSI Maps.

The bridge throughout time
The bridge was built as part of the development of the Grand Canal and was used extensively by cargo and leisure boats, connecting with the River Liffey with the rest of the country.

Boat loads
In 1812, a complaint was made about the number of turf boats along the Portobello stretch of the river. The boats were said to “block up the houses and ‘windows, and obstruct the free circulation of air from the  inhabitants of Wellington-place, Clanbrassil.bridge, on the bank”. The suggestion was to move the boats near Dolphin’s Barn bridge where no houses would be interfered with by the turf boats. A small docking harbour named after Huband was built near the bridge to allow boats to dock. This was present until the 20th century until it was infilled. You can find out more about the harbour here in the Joseph Huband profile.

Dividing City and Rural Dublin
Up to the 1900s, the bridge marked the end of the city in Dolphin’s Barn and the start of the countryside at Crumlin Road. The bridge was used as a reference point for people coming to visit local farms to but dairy products, play or watch sporting events or look at property to buy.

Meeting point
The bridge was used a meeting point for clubs for activities like hunting(Bray and County Dublin Braghounds), Music (Crumlin Independent Fife and Drum Band), running (Donore Harriers and Rathmines Harriers), cycling(Lorian cycling club) and football matches in the local grounds along the canal and in nearby Dolphin park.

In 1889, the Crumlin Independent Fife and Drum Band used the Bridge as a meeting point when travelling to play music around Dublin and nationwide. From the early 1900s, Donore Harriers and Rathmines Harriers used the the bridge as a starting point for some of theirraces, the course would go from Dolphin’s Barn, over the bridge, turn left up the towpath and turn up towards an area called the Ramparts(now Clogher Road/Eamonn Ceannt Park area) and down the Dark Lanes to Crumlin Road and return back to Dolphins barn. In the mid-`1920s, the Caoimhghin (presumably Kevins) GAA team met at the bridge for matches. In the 1930’s, the Loraine Cycling Club used the bridge as a meeting point for cycling events to rural Dublin and Wicklow.

In the 1930s and 1940s, Dublin witnessed a rapid expansion beyond the confines of the canal, as rural landscapes gave way to burgeoning housing estates. This transformation reshaped the city’s fabric, rendering the bridge, once a boundary marker between urban and rural domains, less pivotal as a meeting point.

Flooding and the River Poddle(City Watercourse)
A man-made branch of the Poddle River, called the City Watercourse, flowed alongside Rutland Avenue and crossed the canal close to the bridge It travelled from the Stoneboat (nowin the Mount Argus estate) through what is now Eamonn Ceannt park and down Rutland Avenue. During storms and high rainfall, the river would flood the Crumlin Road and the areas surrounding the bridge. The river served many or the tanneries and mills that were located along the river. The flooding was only resolved when the river was put underground in the 1930s with the building of the Crumlin Housing scheme and the mills and tanneries were a distant memory. The area transformed from rural to urban setting in a very short period at this time.

Widening and refurbishments

The bridge was situated the main road to Limerick and Cork. In 1891, an irate ratepayer wrote to the Freeman’s Journal

• The Footpaths near Dolphins’ Barn, Crumlin:  During this winter while of the footpaths on the Crumlin road and in the neighbourhood of Dolphin’s barn was, and is, a disgrace to the officials who should look to them being properly kept. The footpaths on the Crumlin Road was for the past week, in many places, impassable owing to mud. The same ma be stated so far as regards those about Dolphin barn bridge. The most extraordinary thing is that the scavengers both in the county and city sweep the streets clean but never much the footpaths. Complaints have been made both to the county and Corporate officials by ratepayers, but those whose duty it should be to create a remedy are either too neglectful to attend to business or have no power in a high time that the ratepayers should take prompt action.”
• In 1910, said they would employ an additional 50 men to complete the roadway from Parnell Bridge to Dolphin Bridge.
• In 1924, residents were complaining about the thoroughfare between Parnell Bridge to Dolphin Bridge comparing it to a mud bank. Many thought it was owned by  the Corporation, however it was owned by the Grand Canal Company. Despite this, Commissioner Murphy and the City Engineer, who were accompanied by Mr. Rafferty an official of the Department of Ministry of Local Government, visited the site and agreed that central government would pay for the works including the construction of a concrete carriageway and footway and the piping of the ditch adjoining the road.
• In 1938, the bridge was reconstructed and widened.
• In 1982, the main Cork to Dublin gas pipeline along the Grand canal was being re-fitted and the road was reduced to one-way traffic.
• In May 1985,  the bridge was widened by 26.5 foot and reinforced by Paul construction.

Traffic

With the advent of the motor vehicle, the road traffic increased, as did fatalities, accidents and near misses. Ironically, today Calm Crumlin Road as still looking to reduce traffic and speeds to improve road safety. We provide some brief information about the incidents below:

• 1930 – Dublin tragedy. Child killed by bus:  Kathleen Patterson, aged 9, of Camac Place, Dolphin’s Barn Bridge was knocked down by a ‘bus in Cork street and died while being conveyed to Meath Hospital’
• 1931 – Cyclist injured: 17 year old cyclist named Francis Gormley, 9 Camden Street, Dublin, received serious injury as the result of a collision with a bus at Dolphin’s Barn, yesterday. Cycling near Dolphin’s Barn bridge in the direction of Crumlin and was travelling alongside a bus which was going in the same direction, and in attempting to close the door of a stationary motor car he was thrown against the. bus. He received severe internal injuries but was progressing favourably in Meath Hospital from his injuries.
• 1939 – Car in canal. Mishap in Dublin this morning:  Miss Kathleen Kent and three other people returning to Dublin escaped after a day’s outing had a terrifying experience about 3 o’clock this morning, when the motor car in which they were travelling plunged into the Grand Canal near Dolphin’s Barn Bridge.
• 1939 – Four Injured in Bus Crash: Four persons were injured when a bus skidded and crashed into a wall near Dolphin’s Barn Bridge last night. Brigid Carey cov Prussia St -s detained in the Meath Hospital _suffering from. shock, and Mrs. May Burns from Kilworth Rd.. Crumlin was detained suffering from shock and leg injuries Her two sons. Thomas (7) and Bernard (.3) were treated for cuts.
• 1940 Bus Crashes into Pub – A ‘BUS, diverted from its _rl course after being in collision with a private motor car at Dolphin’s Barn Bridge, Dublin, at 7.10 last evening, crashed into a licensed premises.  The driver of the private car, Mr. James Gleeson, Tyrconnell Rd., Inchicore, who was rendered unconscious, was taken to the Meath Hospital. .Six women, out of the eleven passengers in the bus. suffered shock, but were discharged from the Meath Hospital after treatment. The driver of the bus, Mr. John Saunders, though badly shaken, sustained no serious injury and. with the conductor. Mr. Joseph Galvin,: facilitated the Gardai. The bus crashed into the licensed premises of Mr. Joseph Maher, Bridge House, broke down the front counter and the nearest partition, and came to a halt when its top had Jammed against the lintel. About 12 feet of .the bus penetrated the house. The private car, proceeding along the canal-side towards the city from the direction of Herberton Bridge, was crossing on the county side of the bridge when the collision occurred. The people treated and discharged from. the Meath Hospital were: Mrs. Margaret Tate, Dolphin’s Barn St., Bridget Duff. Faughart Rd. Crumlin; Angela Sutton, Upr. Leeson St.; Letitia Foley, Durrow Rd., Crumlin; Winnie McCarthy, Clonard Rd., Kimmage; Vera Moore, Kildare Rd., Crumlin. Early this morning Mr. Gleeson had regained consciousness and was improving somewhat.
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• 1942 – Cyclist to pay £88:  Judge Davitt in Dublin yesterday awarded £88 and costs to Mrs. Mary Mooney, farmer, Springfield, Clondalkin, in her claim against Miss Kathleen Hammond, 17 Ashdale Road, Terenure, for negligence in riding a bicycle between Dolphin’s Barn Bridge and Emmet Bridge, with the result that a lorry driven by Mrs. Mooney’s son crashed into a pole.
• 1946 – Car overturns, engine goes on fire:  A small Ford car driven by Mr. Edward Phelan, 73 Meath St., was overturned and its engine went on fire, when it collided with a large saloon car driven by Mr. Conor Noel Fitzgerald, Dunfield, Ailesbury Road, at Dolphin’s Barn Bridge last night. The driver and conductor of a passing bus got the flames under control. . Mrs. Margaret Phelan, who was accompanying her husband, was treated at the Meath Hospital for head injuries but was not detained.
• 1946 – Motor van and lorry collide:  The occupants of a motor van and a lorry laden with turf had a narrow escape from serious injury when their vehicles were in collision at Dolphin’s Barn Bridge today. Christopher Ellis (20), Richard Bloomer escaped uninjured.
• 1947 – Collision sequel. Damages award at High Court:  In the High Court, Dublin, Mr. Justice Davitt and a jury, in an action by Edward Phelan, 73 Meath St.. Dublin, provision merchant, against Fitzgerald & Co. Ltd., 4 Westmoreland St., Dublin, wine merchants for damages for injuries sustained by plaintiff when a motor car, property of the defendants, was driven into and collided with plaintiff’s motor car at Dolphin’s Barn Bridge, Dublin, on the 5th May, 1945. negligence being admitted_, the jury awarded plaintiff £275 damages, and judgement was entered for this amount with costs.
• 1947 – Plan to ease traffic problems: The erection of traffic lights at Doyle’s Corner, Dolphin’s Barn Bridge, Charlemont Bridge, Emmet Bridge, Amiens Street, Seville Place, Earlsfort Terrace, St. Stephen’s Green, and the provision of more pedestrian refuge islands are proposed.
• 1949 – New traffic lights:  Dublin traffic lights are to be greatly extended In the near future. Some tenders for their installation have already been submitted and it Is understood that orders for their erection will be placed within the next few weeks. Important traffic junctions to have lights fitted include: The Five Lamps, North Strand;. Doyle’s Corner, Phibsboro; the junction of Church St. and North . King St.; Dolphin’s Barn; Dolphin’s Barn Bridge; Emmet Bridge, Harold’s Cross, and Charlemont St. Bridge.
  Car, lorry and bus drivers are looking with approval on the efforts of Dublin Corporation to place traffic lights at _rvery important street intersection’ in the central city. Life will be made easier for those who drive-, the humble pedestrian and the Garda. A cluster of lights is being provided for that maelstrom of traffic—the junction of the South Circular Road with Dolphins Barn bridge, a humpbacked dangerous crossing. The lights, of course, have their disadvantages, but no ” one will doubt that they have brought order from chaos in city streets. They have lightened demands upon police time .for point duty, releasing the Garda for other work, and a certain degree of discipline has been inculcated among drivers whose Celtic temperament is too often shown in disregard for road rules. Sometimes the lights can be exasperating, when, for instance, red is shown for five or more minutes against a stream of traffic although the other roads leading to the junction may be entirely devoid of traffic. Greatest defenders of the traffic lights system are the taxi owners, who profit by every minute they are delayed on a trip with a fare.
• 1949 – £50 fine and five years ban on driver: Sean O’Farrell (35), commercial traveller, married, Meathvllle Terrace, Long Lane, was fined £50 and had his driving licence suspended for five years by District Justice W. Molony in the Dublin District Court this afternoon for the dangerous driving of a motor van between Sally’s Bridge and Dolphin’s Barn Bridge at 10.40 p.m. on ,March 28 last. The case had been adjourned. Mr. B. J. McQuaid (instructed by Mr. M. McGinley), said defendant could not appear on this occasion either, as he was suffering from tuberculosis. He submitted a medical certificate to that effect. No evidence, he said, would be offered for ‘ the defence, in the circumstances. Patrick Fitzpatrick, barman, St. Vincent Street, Inchicore, stated that on the occasion he was cycling along the road, having a lighted lamp and reflector on his bicycle, when a motor vehicle, coming behind him. struck and knocked him down. He knew no more until he came to in hospital. Harold Usher, clerk, Galtymore Road, Crumlin. said that when he was cycling on this road on the occasion he heard a crash -behind him and looking back, saw the lights of a motor van being switched off. The van later passed him and he followed it quickly. When at Dolphin’s Barn Bridge it approached the junction of the lights were switched back on again and Usher took a note of them.
• 1949 – Cyclist’s action settled:  An action of Peter McKenna, labourer, Downpatrick Road, Crumlin, against the Minister for Finance, which had been at hearing before Mr. Justice Haugh in the High Court, Dublin, was settled to-day for £150 and costs. Mr. McKenna had claimed damages for injuries caused to him by having been struck by a State owned motor car while he was cycling at Dolphin’s Barn bridge on September 15, 1949.
• 1949 – Most remarkable of all is the casualness with which the majority of citizens regard fatal and near-fatal accidents. On a Saturday evening recently I was in a bus crossing Dolphin Barn bridge. Close to the bridge an empty bus was standing, all interior lights being out. Our conductor was asked the usual question, “What happened?” His reply was: “Old man killed.” A few passengers in the bus in which I was travelling looked out with a little curiosity at the stationary bus but most of them continued to read their evening papers. Street fatalities are so frequent that most people in the city have come to regard them as inevitable. Almost every day someone is injured in this population of 50,000 people in street accidents.
• 1960 – Crash Witness wanted:  Any person who witnessed  an accident at traffic _lights Dolphins Barn Bridge involving a motorcyclist and a. station wagon on Saturday the 24th November, 1959. at. 1.30 p.m. please communicate with Ryan and O’Brien. Solicitors, 35 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin.
• 1961 – Motor scooter accident: Bernard Gilson(3), 40a Dolphin House, Dolphin’s Barn, was slightly injured’ when struck by a motor scooter at Dolphin  Barn Bridge last night. He was taken to Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick. Children; Crumlin.
• 1966 – Car Crash: This car crashed into traffic lights at Dolphins Barn Bridge, Dublin, yesterday.
  
• 1986 – Bus diversion: Due to major roadworks between Dolphin’s Barn Bridge and Dolphin’s Barn Cross, C.I.E. buses are diverted over Herberton bridge.

Military focal point
The road acted as a main throughfare from the city to the army barracks in Baldonnel and it became a hotbed of activity for hold-ups, sabotages and attacks of Army personnel and vehicles. We outline some of the Army  Police and other activity at the bridge.

• 1858 – Drilling and Military exercises: On November 5th, 1858, James Magee, a magistrate, reported to Sergeant Cavanagh that a gentleman had seen a group of about twenty men, two playing fifes, near Dolphin’s Barn Bridge the previous night, appearing to drill and perform military exercises. To verify this, Sergeants Hughes and Cavanagh investigated and found eighteen boys aged ten to sixteen, seven of whom were playing fifes, walking along the canal bank and through various streets. The boys were deemed harmless and appeared to be from a very poor background.
• 1914 – Rifles stolen – The banks of the Grand Canal near Dolphin’s Barn was on Saturday night between 7 an 8 o’clock, the scene of a novel incident when an attack was made on a cart laden with about ninety rifles, which were being conveyed from the Rathmines district to the National Volunteers headquarters at Kilmainham Courthouse. The load was in charge of four men, two belonging to the National Volunteers and the other two being the carters and an assistant. When they arrive a point between Dolphin’s Barn Bridge and Herberton Bridge some 25 or 30 men attacked them. One of the assailants drew a revolver. The carter’s assistant was knocked to the ground. A scramble was made for the contents of the cart and over 40 of the guns which were loose in the body of the car disappeared. The attackers scattered and made off in different directions. The bulk of the rifles were delivered at their destination. The police are investigating the matter but up to the present no action has been taken.
• 1921 – Attack on soldiers – On Thursday morning, troops in lorries were ambushed and fired upon from about two hundred yards while travelling on the north side of the canal between Dolphin’s Barn and Rialto Bridge. The troops returned fire, but the outcome is unclear. The attack, which happened between Herberton Bridge and Dolphin’s Barn Bridge, involved revolver shots from fields alongside the canal. A horse-driven military wagon, escorted by soldiers, was fired upon, but the driver managed to escape. One soldier was reportedly wounded and taken away by a private car. Despite a search by arriving Crown forces, the attackers escaped. Three bicycles left by the attackers were found. The incident caused significant alarm among local residents due to the heavy firing.
• 1921- Escape from Kilmainham In February 1921, Brigadier Oscar Traynor met the Fourth Battalion Council in Dolphin Park near Dolphin’s Barn Bridge to discuss an escape plan for Frank Teeling and Ernie O’Malley from Kilmainham Jail. With inside help from cooperating garrison members, bolt cutters and a rope ladder were prepared. An initial attempt to free them was thwarted when bolt cutters failed and a rope ladder broke, but the tools were successfully hidden. After British soldiers were misled with hospitality to protect the hidden tools, a second attempt succeeded. Despite the fear of discovery, the prisoners stealthily escaped, passing Richmond Barracks and hiding from an armored car before safely reaching the city. —Condensed from “War by the Irish,” by John McCann, in “National”. Shown in 1946 newspaper
• 1949 – Easter Rising memories 1916  In 1949, the Dáil’s decision to declare Ireland an independent Republic was a historic move, replacing the term “Éire” with “Ireland.” The author recounts memories from Easter Week 1916, describing his return to Dublin amidst the uprising. He navigated the deserted streets from Dolphin’s Barn Bridge to Portobello Barracks, secured a pass amid ongoing gunfire, and witnessed the chaos and destruction in the city. Despite challenges, he managed to publish accounts of the events in his hometown newspaper, capturing the turbulent experiences of that week.
• 1956 – Some memories of Portobello Barracks 1916 The passing of ex-Supt. William Burns in Galway, following an unsuccessful operation, marked the end of a distinguished career in Belmullet and other Irish towns. His funeral in Glencastle cemetery saw a large turnout, reflecting his popularity. The narrative then shifts to the author’s journey to Dublin during the Easter Rebellion, where he navigated through military checkpoints. He reached the outskirts at Dolphin’s Barn Bridge, encountering British military fully armed and sheltering at corners, with gunfire and snipers’ bullets in the distance. On the bridge itself stood a machine gun surrounded by sandbags, where the author was peremptorily halted and questioned. After securing a pass, he traveled to Portobello Barracks amidst constant challenges from soldiers. Amidst the chaos, he learned of the tragic fate of three journalists shot by Captain Bowen Colthurst, who was later found guilty but insane. The author’s account provides a vivid snapshot of the turmoil and personal connections during this historic period. – By Captain Bowen

Crime

• 1900 – Extraordinary Disclosures On Tuesday evening, Mr. J.H. Harty, J.P., County Coroner, held an inquest on the body of Margaret Hayden, a 40-year-old married woman, found drowned at the Brick Works’ Quarries, Park Lane, Kimmage. The case was extraordinary due to several peculiar circumstances surrounding her death.A gentleman reported to Newmarket police station that he had met Hayden on the Circular Road, and that she invited him for a walk beyond Dolphin’s Barn Bridge into a field. There, they were accosted by a man demanding money. After a struggle in which the man searched the gentleman’s pockets, four more men arrived, and they threw the gentleman into a quarry-hole. He managed to swim across the river and report the incident, showing his blackened eyes.James Calender, aged 11, discovered Hayden’s body on Sunday around noon and informed two men, leading to the police being alerted. The body was found in a quarry-hole with a gentleman’s cane and bits of ribbon nearby, suggesting a struggle. Hayden’s body bore a mark under one eye. Upon retrieval, police found £11 10s in gold, 11s in silver, and 6d in copper in her pockets.Richard Monks, on duty at the Brick Works, did not hear any cries for help during his shift, while Constable Patrick Murphy arrived to find the body surrounded by hundreds of onlookers. Joseph Hencock identified the body as his sister, Margaret Hayden, who had been missing since Saturday evening. She had a brief marriage, lived by doing occasional jobs, and had no known large sums of money.Station Sergeant Murphy recounted another report from Mr. M’Naghton, who claimed to have been thrown into a drain by five men the previous night. Arthur M’Naghton, under caution, testified that he met a woman in Clanbrassil Street and walked with her to Dolphin’s Barn. In the Tonguefield, a man demanded money from him, leading to a struggle. Four more men arrived but found nothing of value. M’Naghton, who left his cane at the scene, did not see the woman after the struggle began.
• 1912 – Assault. A violent prisoner. Exciting scene at Dolphin’s Barn bridge: In the Southern Police Court today, presided over by Mr. Swifte, a youth named James Morris was charged with assaulting the police on Saturday evening.Sergeant 1SE testified that he arrested Morris between 4 and 5 PM at Dolphin’s Barn Bridge after receiving a complaint. Morris, who was drunk, resisted arrest, kicking the sergeant on the legs and butting him in the stomach and face. They eventually managed to get Morris into a passing cart and transported him to the station.
  Constable 74E, who assisted the sergeant, stated that Morris also assaulted him by striking him on the legs and face. James Cassidy, whose complaint led to Morris’s arrest, testified that Morris had struck him on the back of the head while he was sitting on a fence on the Crumlin Road. Cassidy did not know Morris and had given him no provocation.For the assaults on the police, Morris was sentenced to one month in jail for each officer. For the assault on Cassidy, he was sentenced to an additional two months in prison.
• 1937 Armed hold-up sequel seven years sentence on Dublin man In the Central Criminal Court, George Walsh (26), a labourer from Reuben Street, Dublin, was sentenced to seven years of penal servitude for wounding James Bracken, an accountant, with intent to do grievous bodily harm on August 28, 1936. Walsh was acquitted of wounding Bracken with intent to murder. The State entered a nolle prosequi on charges of robbery, possession of a revolver without a permit, and conspiracy with another man, which the jury disagreed on.James Bracken, employed by Moracrete Limited, Dolphin’s Barn, was taking two wage cheques to a bank when two men attacked him. Pepper was thrown in his eyes, his case containing the cheques was seized, and he was shot through the left knee. Mr. Justice O’Byrne described the attack as “audacious” and the wounding as “a most unnecessary piece of blackguardism.”Bracken testified that while carrying the firm’s wage cheques to the bank, someone called “Hey, Mac!” near Clonard and Crumlin Roads. He turned around and had something thrown in his eyes. He was ordered to drop the bag, refused, and was then shot in the knee during the struggle. Witness Miss May Felton, who was cycling past, identified Walsh as the shooter and his companion as the one who threw pepper in Bracken’s eyes.Additional witnesses, including Thomas Doyle and Miss Mary O’Brien, testified about Walsh’s attire and whereabouts on the day of the attack, confirming he wore a grey sports coat and trousers and had no noticeable scratches on his face before the incident.Detective-Sergeant J. Moran and Detective-Sergeant M. Lynch, investigating the hold-up, found Walsh on Crumlin Road later that evening with a small scar on his face, which he claimed was from shaving. Detective-Officer J. Sherlock found the attache case with the cheques still inside near “Old County” Road.

  Walsh denied involvement in the shooting, claiming Miss Felton must have mistaken his presence. He stated he was not capable of such an act, having been recently released from a mental institution. His mother corroborated his statements, noting his history of mental health issues. Despite his claims, the court found Walsh guilty, and he received a severe sentence as a deterrent against armed offences.

• 1992-1994 – Bag snatching
  Between 1992 and 1994 there was a scourge of handbag snatching at Dolphin’s Barn bridge fuelled by a drug epidemic. Cars stopped at the traffic lights would find their car windows smashed and bags and other contents snatched. A number of arrest in 1993 and 1994 put a halt to the problem in the local area.

Water tragedies, rescues and stories

Drownings and rescues

• 1894 – Attempted Suicide
  A woman, identified as Mrs. Tarr, made a determined attempt to commit suicide by drowning herself in the Grand Canal near Dolphin’s Barn Bridge on Saturday evening at about seven o’clock. It appears that Mr. James Richardson, a veterinary student and son of Mr. Richardson, Turn Street, was passing the canal at the time and noticed the unfortunate woman jump into the water and sink twice. Mr. Richardson, not even waiting to divest himself of his coat, plunged in to rescue her and, after much difficulty, succeeded in bringing her to the bank. However, she made a second attempt to enter the water. Police Constable 80 A then came on the scene, and she was taken into custody. Her determination to commit suicide was shown by a letter her husband received subsequently, stating her intentions and bidding him goodbye. Mr. Byrne highly commended Mr. Richardson for his gallant conduct and will report the matter to the Royal Humane Society. At the Police Court, she was sentenced to six weeks’ imprisonment.
• 1897 – Suicide
  Mary Farrell was sentenced to six weeks’ imprisonment with hard labor by Mr. Swifte, divisional police magistrate, for attempting suicide by jumping into the Grand Canal at Dolphin’s Barn Bridge. She was bravely rescued by Lawrence M’Cauley.
• 1908 – Drowning
  Last night about 11 o’clock, a woman was taken from the Grand Canal near Dolphin’s Barn Bridge by Constable Scully, of Crumlin, whose attention was drawn to the scene by the struggle of the victim in the water. She was taken in the ambulance to the Meath Hospital, where, on arrival, it was found she was dead. Her identity is not known.
• 1911 – Suicide
  Dr. Louis Byrne, Coroner, held an inquest in the Meath Hospital yesterday on a man named Joseph Little, who, as already reported, was found drowned last evening in the Grand Canal at Dolphin’s Barn Bridge. Mary Little, 11 Lara Street, identified the body as that of her brother, a single man, aged about 43 years. He was a common laborer and had not been in constant employment for a couple of years. He lived with her and was in good health and very quiet in his manner. He never showed any signs of insanity. On Tuesday night, he asked her not to go out, saying there were men in the room. There were no men in the room. Yesterday morning, between half past 12 and one o’clock, the deceased went out, saying he would not be away a minute.To a Juror—Witness thought the want of employment affected the deceased’s mind to a certain degree.

  A Thomas Sinclair, 7 St. Joseph’s Terrace, Dolphin’s Barn, deposed that yesterday evening, between three and four o’clock, he saw a man come off the Grand Canal Bank at the south side. He walked along the towpath until he got under the eye of the bridge at Dolphin’s Barn, when he suddenly threw down his hat and pipe and plunged into the water. Witness shouted for help. Two men named James Hellerman and James Fleming, who were walking close by, jumped into the canal without divesting themselves of their clothes and took him out. He was unconscious and was brought to the Meath Hospital.

  Thomas Fleming, 102 Francis Street, deposed that last evening a man named James Hellerman and he heard shouts to the effect that a man was in the canal. They immediately jumped into the water without taking off any of their clothes and brought him to the bank. Artificial respiration was resorted to until the arrival of the ambulance.

  Dr. Kenny, house surgeon at Meath Hospital, deposed that death resulted from drowning. The jury returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased committed suicide while temporarily insane.

• 1911 – Drowning
• 1911 – Drowning inquest
• 1919 – Death Parnell Bridge
• 1917 – Downing Inquest
• 1919 – Canal tragedy
• 1932 – Rescue
• 1932  – Drowning
• 1932 – Rescue
• 1935 – Clothes found
• 1937 –
• 1938 –
• 1939 – Drowning Rescue
• 1939 – Grateful Father: Robert Burton, Crumlin Road, wrote to the Evening Herald to thank sincerely the man who rescued his boy, aged six years, from drowning yesterday eyening in the Grand Canal at Dólphin’s Barn Bridge; also the kind friend who carried the boy home.
• 1944 – Rescue of Child
• 1945 – Personal Injury
• 1962 – Woman rescued
• 1963 – see herberton bridge

Shops

• Moores
• 
• Meaghers
• McKinney
• Dolphins Furniture
• Sophiscut
• Autoglaze
• Craft Upholster

Stories

• 1906 –  Surprised Swimmer’s Strange SprintOn a false alarm that the police were at hand, a group of young boys who were swimming in the Grand Canal at Griffiths Bridge, near Dolphin’s Barn Bridge, Dublin, on Sunday, rushed out of the water and hastily donned their garments. One excited bather, however, did not wait to get into his clothes. Seizing them, he plunged into the canal, swam to the opposite bank, completely wetting his various articles of dress. Quickly mounting the bank, he made off as fast as he could through the fields, carrying his soaked bundle of clothes under his arm.
• 1945 – Runaway Horse
  James Watts, of 170 Clonard Road, Crumlin, stopped a runaway horse with a van attached and was dragged about 100 yards along Kimmage Road, Dublin, before bringing it to a halt near Dolphin’s Barn Bridge.
  
• 1946 – Swan killed horse and dog
  A swan flying along the Grand Canal in Dublin collided with an overhead electric cable at Dolphin’s Barn Bridge. The cable snapped, fell, and electrocuted a horse and a dog. The horse’s driver, Mr. Arthur Myles, narrowly escaped serious injury, receiving only a slight electric shock. Despite the collision, the swan continued its flight unharmed.
• 1949 – Playground and Community Center
  A public inquiry was held regarding Dublin Corporation’s plan to compulsorily acquire land for housing, a playground, and a community centre between Dolphin’s Barn Bridge and Herberton Bridge. The area has 58 decaying dwellings and much virgin land, allowing for housing displaced families and additional ones. The estimated cost is £210,000. Various officials provided evidence for the Corporation, while multiple property owners lodged objections. The inquiry concluded after hearing these objections.
• I remember it well, an fishin for pink – eens with our nets. The summers where better for defo! swimming

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