(''An Life'' in
Irish ) is a
River in the
Republic Of Ireland , which flows through
Dublin .
The Liffey rises near ''Kippure'', a mountain in
County Wicklow , and flows for around 125 km (75 miles) 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 ,
Leixlip and
Lucan before the river reaches the city of
Dublin at its mouth.
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 '').
A well-known sight on the Liffey up to the s 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.
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 27 km (17 miles) course from
Straffan to Islandbridge.
Dividing the
Northside of Dublin from the
Southside , the Liffey is spanned by numerous
Bridges mostly open to road traffic. These are (listed from West to East):
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
Boardwalk s 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 .
From
Joyce to
Radiohead , the Liffey is often referenced (if prosaically) in literature and song:
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"riverrun, past Eve and Adam's, from swerve of shore to bend of bay, brings us by a commodius vicus of recirculation back to Howth Castle and Environs"
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James Joyce , '' Finnegans Wake '' (first sentence of novel)
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A skiff, a crumpled throwaway, Elijah is coming, rode lightly down the Liffey, under Loopline Bridge , shooting the rapids where water chafed around the bridgepiers, sailing eastward past hulls and anchorchains, between The Custom House old dock and George’s quay
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James Joyce , '' Ulysses (novel) ''
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That there, that's not me - I go where I please - I walk through walls - I float down the Liffey
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Radiohead , ''"How To Disappear Completely" from album Kid A ''
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"Somebody once said that 'Joyce has made of this river the Ganges of the literary world,' but sometimes the smell of the Ganges of the literary world is not all that literary"
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Brendan Behan , '' Confessions Of An Irish Rebel ''
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