COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

MOTION NO. 1

MOTION: Councillor Eoin Ó Broin

"South Dublin County Council contains at least two examples of 'mill ponds', artifical ponds created in the 19th century for the purposes of milling. One is in the area between Clondalkin Park and Moyle Park College, while the other is in Saggart, and borders Rathcoole Park and the Millrace Estate. Both Mill Ponds are believed to be owned by NAMA. Given that it is highly unlikely that the private sector will find a commercially viable use for these ponds, and thus the only logical owners of the ponds are South Dublin County Council, who could in turn use them for recreational activities from punting to fishing, this Area Committee calls on the Chief Executive to discuss with members how these mill ponds (and any other that exist in the county) can be acquired by South Dublin County Council."

REPORT:

The Swiftbrook Paper Mills were founded around 1700, the mills underwent redevelopment and expansion over the years: the old, lower mill was refurbished in 1795, and a second upper mill was added in the mid-nineteenth century. For much of their history the mills were driven by a huge water wheel on the River Camac, at the Upper Mill. Mill ponds and a Mill Race were created to supplement the river’s water supply, and a series of filtration ponds purified water intended for use in paper production. The Mill closed in 1972, and the Swiftbrook buildings were cleared in 2001. Since then the site and surrounding lands incorporating the Mill Ponds in Saggart/Rathcoole are owned by a private developer and are incorporated into a housing development which has not to date been offered for Taking in Charge by the Council.

In Clondalkin, the Mill Ponds associated with the Paper Mill are connected to the Mill Shopping Centre and under a condition of planning provide for additional fire attenuation to supplement the fire safety system there. As such the acquisition of same would be compromised.