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'The Liffey' (''An Life'' in Irish) is a river in the Republic of Ireland, which flows through the centre of Dublin. Its major tributaries include the River Dodder, the River Poddle and the River Camac.

Contents

Name

Course

Navigation and use

Crossings

Quays

In print and song

Name

The river was previously named ''An Ruirthech'', meaning "fast (or strong) runner". The word ''Liphe'' (or ''Life'') referred originally to the name of the plain through which the river ran, but eventually came to refer to the river itself.

Course

The Liffey rises near ''Kippure'', a mountain in County Wicklow, and flows for around through counties Wicklow, Kildare and Dublin before entering the Irish Sea in Dublin Bay.
There are three ESB hydroelectric power stations along the river, at Poulaphouca, Golden Falls and Leixlip, as well as a number of minor private installations.
Towns along the river include Ballymore Eustace, Newbridge, Caragh, Celbridge, Leixlip and Lucan before the river reaches the city of Dublin at its mouth.

Navigation and use

The River Liffey in Dublin city has been used for many centuries for trade, from the Viking beginnings of the city up to recent times. (''see History of Dublin, and Dublin Port, and Poolbeg Marina'').
A well-known sight on the Liffey up to the 1990s, the ''Lady Patricia''[1] and Miranda Guinness[2] cargo ships were used to export Guinness from the St. James's Gate Brewery.
In recent years, the only regular traffic on the river within the city is the ''Liffey Voyage'' water tour bus service, which runs guided tours along the River Liffey through Dublin City centre. Departing from the boardwalk downstream of the Ha'penny Bridge, the ''Spirit of the Docklands'' runs under O'Connell Bridge, Butt Bridge and the Talbot Memorial Bridge on a journey downstream, passing the Custom House before turning at the Grand Canal Basin and back up stream. Built by ''Westers Mekaniska'' in Sweden, this 50 passenger water taxi, has variable ballast tanks (not unlike a submarine) and an exceptionally low air draught which means that at low tide it can float high, but at high tide it can ride low and pass below the Liffey Bridges.
High speed trips out the historically unnavigable mouth of the Liffey are also available by way of Sea Safari
Downstream of the East-Link bridge, the river is still mainly used for commercial and ferry traffic, with some recreational use also.

Upstream from the city, at Chapelizod, the river is used by both university and Garda rowing clubs. The Liffey Descent canoeing event, held each year since 1960, covers a course from Straffan to Islandbridge.

Crossings

Dividing the Northside of Dublin from the Southside, the Liffey is spanned by numerous bridges mostly open to vehicular traffic. Notable are the West-Link Bridge on the M50 motorway, the Sean Heuston Bridge, the O'Connell Bridge, and the Millennium and Ha'penny foot bridges. All of the crossings are listed (from mouth to source) at List of Dublin bridges and tunnels.

Quays

The song about ''Seamus Rafferty'' refers to the "bowsies on the quay" - However, recent years have seen much development on the quays, with the addition of linear parks and overhanging boardwalks which give the river banks renewed life.
The quays of the Liffey include: Custom House Quay, Bachelor's Walk, Sir John Rogerson's Quay, Eden Quay and Merchant's Quay.

In print and song

From Joyce to Radiohead, the Liffey is often referenced in literature and song: