RINGSEND

'Ringsend' is a southside inner suburb of Dublin, the capital of Ireland. It is located on the south bank of the River Liffey, about three kilometres east of the city centre, and is the southern terminus of the East Link Toll Bridge.
Formerly the point where ships arriving across the Irish Sea would dock, Ringsend went into decline in the 19th and 20th centuries, when the shipping moved to ports further south along the coast, although there is still some local container shipping.

Contents

The Great South Wall and Poolbeg Peninsula

History and name

Recent times

Amenities

Sport

Character

People from Ringsend

The Great South Wall and Poolbeg Peninsula

Ringsend and the southern part of Dublin Port are also home to the Great South Wall, connecting the Poolbeg Lighthouse to the mainland. The lighthouse lies at the extreme east end of the wall and was constructed in 1767. The stone wall that now stands was constructed over a period of many years and was completed in 1795. The wall and lighthouse are a popular walk destination. The area around Poolbeg also contains Dublin's main power station, with two huge chimneys for steam, which are Dublin landmarks, the former Pigeon House Fort and a range of industrial buildings.
South of the Poolbeg peninsula and the Great South Wall lies the sandy area known as the South Bull.

History and name

Ringsend was originally a long narrow peninsula separated from the rest of Dublin by the estuary of the Dodder river. Since the Irish for peninsula is ''Rinn'', pronounced 'Ring', it seems likely that the name means 'the end of the peninsula'.
Ringsend has long been known colloquially as ''Raytown'' reflecting its history as a fishing village.

Recent times

With the growth of Dublin since 1990, ''Ringsend'' has become a popular location for students and younger workers. Recent years have seen significant growth in the area, with the Grand Canal Dock Project and U2 Tower due for completion in 2008/2009. Local residents include Colin Farrell, the actor, Paul Durcan, the poet, and the current Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Green Party leader, John Gormley.

Amenities

Ringsend has a range of shops, pubs and businesses. It has a branch of Dublin Public Libraries in a Carnegie Library building, a Dublin City Council recycling depot and a substantial leisure area, Ringsend Park, which contains a renovated stadium, formerly "Ringsend Stadium", now "Irishtown Stadium" in honour of the neighbouring area of Irishtown.
Pearse's Pub, located on Pearce Street is a well known landmark in the Ringsend area, attracting a mixed clientele of both locals and lost tourists.

Sport

Ringsend also has a long connection with sport. Two major Irish football clubs Shelbourne F.C. and Shamrock Rovers F.C. were founded in the area. There is also a long tradition of rowing with two clubs ''St. Patrick's'' and ''Stella Maris'' and the traditional ''Ringsend Regatta'' still takes place annually. More recently, the Poolbeg Yacht, Boat Club, & Marina has established a centre for all forms of water-based sporting activity in the area and hosts an eighteen-race sailing series from the marina to the Dublin Bay area during the summer months each year.

Character

Ringsend traditionally had a reputation for being quite clannish and residents of the small village can trace their ancestry back many generations, with especial boating links.

People from Ringsend

★ Jimmy Dunne

★ Jim Daly (Irish International footballer)

★ Bob Fullam

★ Dermot Gallagher

★ Val Harris

★ Fran Rooney