12th Lock

Can you imagine a lock so grand, it could lift a boat eighteen feet? Here at the 12th Lock of the Royal Canal, you’re standing by the largest lock on the entire waterway. The 12th Lock isn’t just big, it’s a double lock, a feat of engineering designed to conquer the eighteen-foot rise. This lock is a key point in the canal’s history, a testament to the ambition of its creators. Imagine the barges laden with goods, slowly rising and falling as they journeyed between Dublin and the west. The 12th Lock also witnessed the rise and fall of Blanchardstown Mill. In 1822, Thomas Bryan leased land beside the 12th Lock to build a woollen mill. The mill provided jobs for 80 to 100 local people, a significant boost to the small village of Blanchardstown. The mill operated for over a century, finally closing in 1994 after a devastating fire. The new apartments you see near the 12th Lock incorporate some of the original mill stones, a nod to the site’s industrial past. From the 12th Lock, you can almost picture the mill workers watching the boats pass by. They perhaps envied the boatmen’s freedom, their journeys to distant towns. Close your eyes and you can almost hear the creak of the lock gates, the shouts of the workers, the gentle lapping of the water against the stone walls. The 12th Lock marks a significant point in the canal’s journey. From here, the canal stretches for 7.5 miles without another lock, a long, peaceful stretch leading to the 13th Lock between Leixlip and Maynooth in County Kildare. Look west and you can imagine the boats disappearing into the distance. Perhaps you’ll follow their path, continuing your journey along the tranquil waters of the Royal Canal. The 12th Lock remains, a silent witness to centuries of history.