Ship Street
Ship Street, a historic area in Dublin, captures the essence of the city’s rich past. The division of Ship Street into “Little” and “Great” occurred around 1700, as shown on Sir Bernard Gomme’s 1673 map, which depicts it as undivided. By April 1711, the name “Little Ship Street” appeared in the will of Isaac Vauteau, reflecting its significance.
Historically known as Vicus Ovinus and na Caorach, the area was a bustling trading hub where shepherds brought their herds to the banks of the Poddle River. This site was crucial for trade and interactions with foreigners, protected by the Liffey on one side and the Poddle on the other.
In the past, the Poddle River was a prominent feature of Dublin’s landscape. It boldly entered the city at New Street, swept around St. Patrick’s Cathedral, washed the sides of Dublin Castle near Ship Street, and flowed into the Liffey close to Damas Gate. The Coombe area benefited from its presence during those times.
Gomme’s 1673 map illustrates a pool at the junction of Little and Great Ship Streets, believed to be the source of the Poddle River’s name. The 1678 Statement of Case by St. Andrew’s Parish authorities noted that the sea once reached Ship Street, meeting the stream from Pole Gate Bridge. This tidal influence on the Poddle preceded the filling in of Dublin’s ancient harbor at Parliament Street.
The Poddle’s impact on the city continued well into the 18th century. In January 1784, severe floods caused the Poddle to overflow, inundating Ship Street, Lower Castle Yard, and Dame Street, and joining the swollen Liffey. This event caused significant damage, highlighting the river’s historical and environmental influence.
Today, the hollow where Little and Great Ship Streets converge is still seen as the original pool or “puddle” from which Dublin’s most historic river took its name.
Association with Poddle
The River Poddle run underground at Ship Street into Dublin Castle.
Photo Gallery
What the Newspapers Say
- The Poddle in the days of Queen Bess and Pragmatical King James did not sneak beneath streets and houses as if ashamed of itself. ‘It boldly entered the city at New streete, swept around St Patrick’s, washed the sides of the Castle, near Ship street, and fell unconcernedly into the Liffey close to Damas Gate. The Coombe had the full benefit of its mellifluous in those halcyon days.
- The. city walls, pierced with gates and towers, admitted the inhabitants and travellers on this side by the Pole, or Poddle, gate at St. Werburgh St. In Great Ship (Sheep) St. stood the quaint round towered church of St. Michael-la-Pole (St. Mac Thail) whose history is the most interesting of all our Dublin churches
- Thirty years later floods again caused much damage and distress in Dublin and the vicinity of the metropolis. The heavy and incessant rains which fell in January, 1784, caused the Poddle to overflow, the water rising to six feet at the Cathedral. Ship Street, the.Lower Castle Yard, and Dame Street, as far as Sycamore Alley, were covered, and the torrent flowed through Crampton Court and Crane Lane (filling the cellars and kitchens on the way) until it joined the swollen waters of the Liffey. At the same time” vast has been the destruct
- 1962 “An arm of the Liffey” continues this writer, “came through Crampton Court to Lower Castle Yard and beat at full tide against the rising ground at Ship Street. On the northern side the same river swelled up far in Fishamble Street; and the Poddle, before it was confined, overflowed Bridge Street so that the ancient rathe was peninsular and formed about 800 feet on each side.”ion of the River Dodder, having almost swept away everything before it.”
- Looking down Little Ship Street towards the Castle gate, one observed a historic part of old Dublin. The division of Ship Street into “Little” and “Great” likely occurred around 1700, as it was undivided on Sir Bernard Gomme’s 1673 map. By 1711, the name “Little Ship Street” appeared in Isaac Vauteau’s will. Medieval records referred to the area as Vicus Ovinus and na Caorach, indicating its history as a trading site for shepherds. Gomme’s 1673 map showed a pool at the junction of Little and Great Ship Streets, believed to be the original source of the Poddle river’s name.
