Rialto, Dublin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rialto
Rialto
|
|
|---|---|
|
Inner suburb
|
|
Clockwise from top: Tudor Revival terraced houses in Rialto; Rialto's Luas tram station; looking southeast from Rialto
|
|
 Rialto
Location in Ireland
|
|
| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Leinster |
| County | Dublin City Council |
| Dáil Éireann | Dublin South-Central |
| European Parliament | Dublin |
| Elevation | 20 m (70 ft) |
| Eircode (Routing Key) |
D08
|
| Area code(s) | 01 (+3531) |
Rialto (Irish: Rialto) is a lively area located close to the heart of Dublin, Ireland. It's on the city's south side and gets its name from the old Harcourt Bridge. People often called this bridge the "Rialto Bridge" because it looked a bit like the famous Rialto Bridge in Venice, Italy.
Contents
Exploring Rialto's Past and Location
Rialto is surrounded by interesting parts of Dublin. To the east and north, you'll find areas like The Liberties and St. James's Hospital. A very old part of the Grand Canal also runs through here. This section of the canal was built a long time ago to help transport goods, especially for the nearby Guinness brewery at St. James's Gate.
The Grand Canal's Role
This original part of the Grand Canal stopped being used for boats in 1976. However, it later found a new purpose! Today, this old canal path is where the Luas Red Line tram runs. The Rialto Bridge itself crosses this former canal section, which is now part of the tram line. St James's Walk, a local path, looks over this historic canal spur that once led to the city's main basin.
Getting Around Rialto
Rialto is located within Dublin's "canal ring," which means it's pretty central. It's also at the western end of Dublin's South Circular Road. This makes it easy to walk to Dublin city centre and to one of Ireland's main train stations, Dublin Heuston.
Trams and Buses
The old Grand Canal path on Rialto's northern side has been transformed into the Luas Red Line. This modern tram system connects Dublin's Docklands (at The Point) with the city's southwestern suburbs like Tallaght. The Rialto Luas stop is very close to the Rialto Bridge. It serves not only Rialto but also the nearby area of Kilmainham and the site of the new National Children's Hospital.
Many Dublin Bus routes also serve Rialto. These buses can take you to the city centre and other places like University College Dublin and Blackrock in Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown. You can also travel to Greenogue in South Dublin.
Building Homes at Colbert Fort
There's a small, triangular area in Rialto known as St James's Walk/Colbert Fort. It's surrounded by interesting features like the Grand Canal and the River Poddle.
Back in 1915, there was a lot of interest in building houses here. The city already owned the land, and everyone agreed that new homes were really needed. After 1916, the land was sold at an auction to a Mr. Alexander Hull. The plan was to finish building the houses in just nine months.
Challenges and New Names
However, the project faced many problems. There were plans to make the road wider, a shortage of workers and building materials, and even a strike by the craftsmen. Because of these setbacks, the houses weren't finished on time. Finally, after many delays, the homes were handed over to the city on March 21, 1921.
When the streets were named, it was decided to honor those who had fought in the 1916 rebellion. St James's Walk became Colbert's Fort, and other streets were named after figures like Mallin, Clarke, and MacCarthy. Many of these historic houses on Colbert's Fort are still standing today, adding a special touch to the area.
Famous People from Rialto
Rialto has been home to several well-known individuals:
- Des Bishop: An Irish-American comedian who lives in Rialto.
- Gay Byrne: (1934–2019) A very famous Irish broadcaster who grew up in the area. He was the first host of the popular TV show, The Late Late Show.
- Emma Dabiri: An Irish-Nigerian author, broadcaster, and historian who also grew up in Rialto.
- Louisa Flanagan: (1882–1959) She was the daughter of Michael Flanagan and the wife of W. T. Cosgrave, who was the first leader of the Irish Free State.
- Michael "The Alderman" Flanagan: (1833–1931) A local politician who was elected to the Dublin City Council.
- Willie "The Bird" Flanagan: (1867–1925) Michael Flanagan's son, known for being a practical joker. A local pub is named after him!
- Kevin Moran: A former football player for Dublin GAA and Manchester United, and also played for the Republic of Ireland national team. He was born in Rialto.
Landmarks
- Former Rialto Cinema
- The Bird Flanagan (a famous local pub)
- Rialto Parish Church
