Poulaphouca
Encyclopedia
Poulaphouca, officially Pollaphuca , is a townland in County Wicklow
, Ireland
, on the border with County Kildare
. It is primarily known for its hydroelectric
generating station and artificial lake, known as Poulaphouca Reservoir
, Poulaphouca Lake, or Blessington
Lake. The once famous Poulaphouca Waterfall has little water running over it any longer because of the hydroelectric project.
population. The reservoir was created in the late 1930s and early 1940s by damming the River Liffey
as part of a collaboration between the Electricity Supply Board
and Dublin City Council
to build a second hydroelectric station in Ireland while the reservoir could be used to supply water to the Dublin region.
was built by the Blessington and Poulaphouca Steam Tramway, with its end-of-line terminus at Poulaphouca, and opened on May 1, 1895. The line was closed in 1932. The ticket office still exists and is a private residence located on the eastern side of the N81 road, that formerly overlooked the Poulaphouca Waterfall on the River Liffey before the construction of the dam.
County Wicklow
County Wicklow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wicklow, which derives from the Old Norse name Víkingalág or Wykynlo. Wicklow County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, on the border with County Kildare
County Kildare
County Kildare is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county...
. It is primarily known for its hydroelectric
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...
generating station and artificial lake, known as Poulaphouca Reservoir
Poulaphouca Reservoir
Poulaphouca Reservoir, officially Pollaphuca , is an active reservoir and area of wild bird conservation in west County Wicklow, Ireland...
, Poulaphouca Lake, or Blessington
Blessington
Blessington, historically known as Ballycomeen , is a town in County Wicklow, Ireland. It is located on the N81 road, which connects Dublin to Tullow.- History :...
Lake. The once famous Poulaphouca Waterfall has little water running over it any longer because of the hydroelectric project.
Reservoir
The reservoir at Poulaphouca has been designated as a Special Protection Area by the National Parks and Wildlife Service and is of international importance for its Greylag GooseGreylag Goose
The Greylag Goose , Anser anser, is a bird with a wide range in the Old World. It is the type species of the genus Anser....
population. The reservoir was created in the late 1930s and early 1940s by damming the River Liffey
River Liffey
The Liffey is a river in Ireland, which flows through the centre of Dublin. Its major tributaries include the River Dodder, the River Poddle and the River Camac. The river supplies much of Dublin's water, and a range of recreational opportunities.-Name:The river was previously named An Ruirthech,...
as part of a collaboration between the Electricity Supply Board
Electricity Supply Board
The Electricity Supply Board , is a semi-state electricity company in Ireland. While historically a monopoly, the ESB now operates as a commercial semi-state concern in a liberalised and competitive market...
and Dublin City Council
Dublin City Council
Dublin City Council is the local authority for the city of Dublin in Ireland. It has 52 members and is the largest local authority in Ireland. Until 2001, it was known as Dublin Corporation.-Legal status:...
to build a second hydroelectric station in Ireland while the reservoir could be used to supply water to the Dublin region.
Railroad
A four and a half mile extension to the Dublin and Blessington Steam TramwayDublin and Blessington Steam Tramway
The Dublin and Blessington Steam Tramway , later the Blessington and Poulaphouca Steam Tramway, operated steam-powered trams between Terenure in Dublin and Blessington in Co. Wicklow from 1888 until 1932.-History:...
was built by the Blessington and Poulaphouca Steam Tramway, with its end-of-line terminus at Poulaphouca, and opened on May 1, 1895. The line was closed in 1932. The ticket office still exists and is a private residence located on the eastern side of the N81 road, that formerly overlooked the Poulaphouca Waterfall on the River Liffey before the construction of the dam.
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland