Gambling for the Grand

Posted on Sunday 23 July 2017 | 2 Comments

In the 1770s a group of trustees conducted an annual lottery to raise funds for a “canal of communication” between the Grand Canal and the River Liffey in Dublin. The intention was to go north from the area of the Grand Canal Harbour to reach the Liffey opposite the barracks. It seems that some construction work was done but no lottery was organised in 1780 or thereafter, perhaps because an Irish state lottery was instituted. The plan to build a link to the north was abandoned; the Circular Line was built instead.

Here is an incomplete account of the Grand Canal lottery. I would be glad to hear from anyone who knows more about it.

This entry was posted in Ashore, Built heritage, Canals, Economic activities, Engineering and construction, Extant waterways, Forgotten navigations, Historical matters, Industrial heritage, Ireland, Operations, Sea, Unbuilt canals, waterways, Waterways management and tagged , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

2 responses to “Gambling for the Grand”

  1. Thomas Paul McCann | Sunday 23 July 2017 at 13:51 |

    Out of curiosity why did you highlight Rainsford Street in the second pf the two maps illustrated ?

  2. bjg | Wednesday 26 July 2017 at 15:55 |

    Note the para reading …

    Construction seems to have continued in 1777: in an ad largely devoted to condemnation of independent ticket sellers, the trustees told the public that, “as a Proof of their Performance of Covenant”, they were working on the canal of communication from the City Bason to Rainsford Street, at great expense. They were bringing in earth by boat to form the banks and intended that the canal would meet the Liffey opposite the barracks.

    … which mentions Rainsford Street. bjg

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