MILLTOWN 11 JULY 2025
NEAR THE MILLTOWN TRAM STOP [11 JULY 2025]
I had to cut short my visit to Milltown today for a variety of reasons.
Milltown, a charming suburb on the southside of Dublin, Ireland, boasts a rich industrial heritage evident in its notable landmarks: the old Shanagarry Chimney and the Nine Arches Bridge.
The Shanagarry Chimney is a striking red-brick industrial chimney, rising to 94 feet (approximately 28.6 metres) and standing as the last remaining structure of the Old Dublin Laundry. Once a symbol of the area's industrial enterprise, this landmark has found a new purpose. It is a protected structure and also serves as an income-generating asset, accommodating mobile phone masts which were licensed for a significant annual fee and the chimney was sold at auction in 2018. Its presence is a testament to Milltown's past as a hub of activity, with various mills operating on the River Dodder from as early as the 14th century.
The Nine Arches Bridge, also formally known as the Milltown Viaduct, is a prominent 19th-century railway bridge that spans the River Dodder. Completed in 1854, it was originally built for the Harcourt Street railway line, which connected Harcourt Street in Dublin to Bray. This impressive stone viaduct, with its distinctive nine arches, was considered a significant engineering feat at the time. The railway line closed in 1958, and the bridge lay derelict for over 40 years. However, it was given a new lease of life and officially reopened on 30th June 2004, as a crucial part of Dublin's Luas light rail system (the Green Line), carrying trams over the river. The bridge, made from limestone cut into blocks, is a protected structure, highlighting its architectural and historical importance. Interestingly, during World War II, holes were drilled into the base of its pillars to facilitate demolition in case of an invasion, a measure thankfully never needed.
I had to cut short my visit to Milltown today for a variety of reasons.
Milltown, a charming suburb on the southside of Dublin, Ireland, boasts a rich industrial heritage evident in its notable landmarks: the old Shanagarry Chimney and the Nine Arches Bridge.
The Shanagarry Chimney is a striking red-brick industrial chimney, rising to 94 feet (approximately 28.6 metres) and standing as the last remaining structure of the Old Dublin Laundry. Once a symbol of the area's industrial enterprise, this landmark has found a new purpose. It is a protected structure and also serves as an income-generating asset, accommodating mobile phone masts which were licensed for a significant annual fee and the chimney was sold at auction in 2018. Its presence is a testament to Milltown's past as a hub of activity, with various mills operating on the River Dodder from as early as the 14th century.
The Nine Arches Bridge, also formally known as the Milltown Viaduct, is a prominent 19th-century railway bridge that spans the River Dodder. Completed in 1854, it was originally built for the Harcourt Street railway line, which connected Harcourt Street in Dublin to Bray. This impressive stone viaduct, with its distinctive nine arches, was considered a significant engineering feat at the time. The railway line closed in 1958, and the bridge lay derelict for over 40 years. However, it was given a new lease of life and officially reopened on 30th June 2004, as a crucial part of Dublin's Luas light rail system (the Green Line), carrying trams over the river. The bridge, made from limestone cut into blocks, is a protected structure, highlighting its architectural and historical importance. Interestingly, during World War II, holes were drilled into the base of its pillars to facilitate demolition in case of an invasion, a measure thankfully never needed.