My ancestors - Flanagan - Contents

Portmahon House, Rialto, Co.Dublin

Near Rialto Bridge (which is over a now-drained extension of the Grand Canal), South Circular Rd, Rialto, Co.Dublin (now really SW Dublin city).
Not far S of the Royal Hospital Kilmainham.

Portmahon House, front view (from S).
Photo 2007. See full size.

Alderman Michael Flanagan moved here prob. 1869
(not living there in 1867, listed there in [Thom's] 1870, his son born there 1870).
The Alderman built up market gardening business over surrounding area, there were vegetable gardens in front of Portmahon House, lot of local women had jobs gathering in vegetables.
[Liam Cosgrave] says there were "only" about 14 acres with Portmahon House, the Alderman's other land was elsewhere.
The Grand Canal used to run past at back of Portmahon House, down to Guinness' Brewery, running under old Rialto bridge,
would have been beautiful in old days, Grand Canal running alongside back of house, steps up into garden.
[Liam Cosgrave] remembers it from 1920s, water in the canal at the back, says it was lovely - back garden went straight onto canal,
kitchens in basement, many dinner parties upstairs - the Alderman had a great reputation for entertaining.
The Alderman died at Portmahon House in 1931.
P.A. O'Farrell died at Portmahon House in 1933.
Portmahon sold soon after by Frank Flanagan.

New Ireland Road built across the front of the house c.1935.
The avenue leading up to house has now become "Portmahon Drive".
The canal was drained 1970s.
Portmahon House was sub-divided into tiny flats in the 1980s to 2000s, was in a bad state.
As at 2008 it is unoccupied but is being properly refurbished for the first time in decades.
It will probably be made into new, larger apartments.
The Luas red line now runs down the old canal at the back of the house. The "Rialto" stop is at the bridge.

Portmahon House area.
Click to toggle map/satellite view. Click to zoom in/out. Drag to move.
From Google Maps.

"Port Mahon House". Sketch by Mary O'Carroll, 1987.
In "The Bird Flanagan" pub, Rialto.
Not sure if this is artist's impression, or if she was working from an old picture.
Photo 2007. See full size and other shot.

Portmahon House, front view, 1985.

Portmahon House, front view, 1997.

Movie of the front (from S), 2007.
Pans from W to E.
Shows the tiny yard left at Portmahon.
From here. Hosted at my YouTube account.
Download AVI file.

---

The rear

The Luas now runs down the dried-up canal at the rear.

Portmahon House, back view (from the N, from the dried-up canal), 1985.

Portmahon House, back view, 1997.

Portmahon House, back view, 2007. See full size.

Portmahon House, back view (from NW side), 2007. See full size.

Movie of the rear (from N), 2007.
Pans from W to E.
Shows how close the back would have been to the canal (now LUAS line).
From here. Hosted at my YouTube account.
Download AVI file.