The Poolbeg Chimneys

The Poolbeg Chimneys are part of Dublin’s fabric.
No longer in use, it was decided to not demolish them. Forever will they be part of the Dublin skyline.
I use them sometimes to get my bearings as to where the hell I am, if I am somewhere in Dublin I am not familiar with. Between these stacks, the spire and the new Lansdowne Road it’s easy to figure out… Not that I’m normally lost mind you.
Definitely a fan, they are even more impressive up close, so get down to Poolbeg if you are interested in checking them out. And while you’re there, hike the Great South Wall (when conditions are safe of course, which they normally are) and see the Poolbeg lighthouse at the end of it. There’s also the beach and Irishtown Nature Reserve. So lots to see while you are there.
Defintely worth a look.

I find it strange that I’m writing a review here of what is essentially an electricity generating station, but really I’m talking about two of the most familiar sites in Dublin. No I don’t mean raucous hens in Temple Bar or signs saying Guinness, I’m talking about The Poolbeg Chimneys, or as an uncle of mine used to call them: ‘The Ringsend Hornpipes!’
If you’re not a Dub you won’t be familiar with their name, but you’ll have seen them for sure. You can’t miss em’, from plane or ferry these twin thin 270 metre chimneys have dominated Dublin Bay ever since they were constructed in the late 1960’s.
Like two red & white candy-​striped sticks bellowing out often sinister looking smoke clouds, they kind of stand guard. If I was an invading Viking now I’d turn tale back immediately at the frightening twin spectacle of these! Of course a lot of people have always hated them,
The generating station here on the ‘Poolbeg Peninsula’ at Ringsend is still helping to power Dublins substantial electrical needs but not for much longer. 2010 is supposed to be the last gasp of smoke for the pair of them.
I remember the first time I saw them coming on the ferry from Liverpool, I was only about 4, and they reminded me of some pillar like wooden soldier skittles that I had, so I never took them as looking intimidating. Ever since they’ve welcomed me to Dublin many times, and I’ve bid a sad goodbye to them as often, particularly by sea which is my preferred choice of departure, and I’ll be up on decks if I’m allowed to, gazing back as we clear the poolbeg lighthouse until they’re quite lost, before heading down below to the bar to drown me sorrow at departing!
Now they’ve plans to light them up at night with around 20,000 special strobe bulbs, creating in the words of Irish sculptor Patrick O’Reilly, a twinkling, tinsel-​like effect!
Quite honestly coming from someone who doesn’t like tall buildings and views future enthusiasm for highrise in Dub with dismay, these two can stay please, and lets not become as ‘sky-​crazed’ as London for example has become. There’s enough ‘Stiffy’s on the Liffey, and ‘liberty-​taking-​Hall’ high stuff already!
These big fellas may be set to become Dublins kind of unlikely Eiffel Tower, or for me as it is very often, more like a pair of sore-​eyeful towers!