The Grand Canal Greenway Traditional Cache

To get to this cache you have to go past the hawthorn, not an easy task especially when everything is in full growth!!!!

Green Pedestrian & Cycle Route

The construction of an 8.5km high quality safe pedestrian and cycle route over the power ducts provides a secure option for cyclists, pedestrians, joggers and impaired mobility users. The route provides an alternative mode of transport for commuters to work, school or for leisure purposes. The route is almost completely off-road and commences at Davitt Road, Inchicore, crosses the Kylemore Road, Killeen Road, Parkwest Avenue, Ninth Lock Road by use of ramps and newly installed pedestrian crossings and ends at the 12^th Lock, Newcastle Road. The route links into the Adamstown Pedestrian and Cycle Route which is currently being constructed and joins the existing pathway from Inchicore along the Grand Canal to the Grand Canal Basin. It will also link to the Portobello to Clontarf Route which is being designed and constructed by Dublin City Council and which links to the existing route to Howth. The finished products will provide a safe almost completely off-road route from Lucan to Howth in the near future.

Security & Lighting

To ensure maximum use of the Green Route public lighting consisting of 308 lights and a 24 hour monitored CCTV system consisting of 66 cameras have been installed along its entire route. The lighting incorporates the latest in computer aided monitoring and dimming systems. Access to the route is secured by kissing gates whilst facilitating access by the mobility impaired.

Natural Environment

Specific measures have been taken to protect the ecology and natural landscape of the towpaths including the carrying out of an extensive bat survey, provision of bat boxes, otter holts, an extensive landscape planting of 844 extra native Irish trees and 44,000 shrubs and a litter control plan involving the placement of litter bins along the route. This is the first project in Europe to dim lights to accommodate the food gathering patterns of bats, the sleep patterns of otters as well as other nocturnal species.

Brief History of Grand Canal

1756 Grand Canal construction commenced at 11^th Lock.

1803 The Grand Canal was connected to the Shannon River.

1804 The first boat passed from Dublin to Shannon

1852 The last passenger boat was withdrawn. They had become unnecessary due to the advent of steam trains.

1960 The last trade boat was withdrawn by Coras Iompair Eireann.

1986 Grand Canal System transferred to the Office of Public Works

1996 Grand Canal system transferred to the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht and then to the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and The Islands.

1999 Grand Canal System transferred to Waterways Ireland, a North/South Body established after the Good Friday Agreement.

2010 The Grand Canal Way, Green Route 3^rd Lock to 12^th Lock opens.

Small cache, log only, BYOP