Dublin is home to two canals that connect to the Shannon river. On the northside, the Royal Canal, and on the southside, the Grand Canal. They’re both steeped in history – work on the Grand Canal began back in the 1750s; and the first part of the Royal Canal came into being in the 1790s. They’re both lovely, in their own distinctly unique ways, and on the banks of both you can find some of my favourite bronzes.
Poet, playwright, novelist and borstal boy Brendan Behan sits quietly on the banks of the Royal Canal chatting to a pigeon.
The Royal Canal
Locks on the Royal Canal
Brendan and the pigeon
“I respect kindness in human beings first of all, and kindness to animals. I don’t respect the law; I have a total irreverence for anything connected with society except that which makes the roads safer, the beer stronger, the food cheaper and the old men and old women warmer in the winter and happier in the summer.”- Brendan Behan
On the southside, poet Patrick Kavanagh sits, hat by his side, pondering the waters of the Grand Canal that he loved so dearly.
The Grand Canal
Patrick and his hat
O commemorate me where there is water,
Canal water, preferably, so stilly
Greeny at the heart of summer. Brother
Commemorate me thus beautifully
Where by a lock niagarously roars
The falls for those who sit in the tremendous silence
Of mid-July. No one will speak in prose
Who finds his way to these Parnassian islands.
A swan goes by head low with many apologies,
Fantastic light looks through the eyes of bridges –
And look! a barge comes bringing from Athy
And other far-flung towns mythologies.
O commemorate me with no hero-courageous
Tomb – just a canal-bank seat for the passer-by.
Lines Written on a Seat on the Grand Canal, Dublin – Patrick Kavanagh
Where's my backpack? 
Blog world is so wonderful, you come across some beautiful things. And this post of yours is wonderful. Thanks a lot for sharing.
You’re welcome! Thanks for taking the time to stop by.
Lovely. Enjoyed the tour.
Thanks for stopping by at OMBH… I see you found a few of my favourite things in Ireland! I’ve walked both the Royal and the Grand, from the Liffey to the Shannon… you can read all about in over at the blog! 😉
Nice one, AJ, the canals are amazing, spent many childhood summers along the banks of them oul’ canals. I shall be checking out your blog posts defo! xxx
I sat next to Patrick yesterday afternoon… doing a ditty for my good lady on the mobile phone. I was tempted to ask a passer-by to take a picture… too chicken! What I will do is get a proper pad and sit and write something… then ask a passer-by to take a picture!
Thanks again for stopping by OMBH… your travel theme this week has pointed many toward my blog! 😉
Keep up your good work… and do give me a shout when you’re next in Dublin… we can both join Patrick on the bench… a bit tight but a great idea… 😀
I really enjoyed the pics and the poetry.
The canals are so beautiful, John, I can see how poets would be inspired just sitting on the banks watching the world go by! 🙂