Investment enhances public space, accessibility, and biodiversity between Leeson and Baggot Street bridges.

Waterways Ireland and IPUT Real Estate Dublin today unveiled a major public realm upgrade on the Grand Canal, the results of a significant public-private partnership that has transformed the northern towpath at Wilton Terrace, between Leeson Street and Baggot Street bridges.

This transformational project, co-funded by Waterways Ireland and IPUT Real Estate, has delivered an urban space designed to celebrate the canal, its rich cultural heritage and biodiversity. The project delivers on the shared ambition of both organisations to emphasise the strong sense of place along the canal and create an outdoor space in the city to facilitate a number of uses, which people will want to return to time and time again.

Visitors to this revitalised stretch of the Grand Canal can now enjoy a wider pathway replacing two narrower paths and featuring spurs extending outwards towards the canal. Public seating along the canal bank has also been increased and reorientated to maximise views of the water, with newly commissioned contemporary seating installed alongside nine recently restored, original cast-iron benches.

The enhancements have been sensitively and carefully designed to ensure the character and heritage of the area is preserved and protected. This stretch of canal is a unique area in Dublin city, boasting one of the widest urban canal towpaths and a number of Dublin city’s finest tree specimens. It is located within a Georgian Conservation area and is strongly associated with literary Dublin – the iconic Patrick Kavanagh statue by John Coll is located on this stretch, which is one of the most photographed locations in Dublin. The statue was conserved in-situ throughout the works and now sits on a new granite base.

Landscaping works were undertaken with particular care for the unique biodiversity of the area. A primarily native planting scheme was introduced alongside the new hoggin (self-binding gravel) path, which will support the root health of the fine mature trees along the route allowing them to thrive for the enjoyment of generations to come. Additional biodiversity measures have been incorporated to protect and enhance habitats for urban wildlife such as otters and bats.

Pedestrian counters record some of the highest footfall in the city in this area, which will increase further when nearby office developments open, with up to 5,000 new workers in the area. An additional sculpture, Man on Trestle, by renowned Armagh-born artist Carolyn Mulholland, RUA And RHA, now welcomes visitors at the Leeson Street Bridge end of the canal bank.

Designed by Dublin-based Bernard Seymour Landscape Architects and delivered by award-winning international firm Maylim, the works commenced in January 2025, having been in preparation since 2021.
Waterways Ireland’s 10-Year Plan and 2025 Business Plan call out Greater Dublin as its most transformative opportunity to deliver for the public good: to reimagine how locals and visitors experience and traverse the city and surrounding areas; to make a climate positive impact through traffic reduction by hosting more journeys on the Grand Canal and Royal Canal Greenways.

John McDonagh, CEO of Waterways Ireland, said:

“Our ambition is to deliver transformative projects for the public good. This collaboration with IPUT Real Estate enhances a much-loved part of the Grand Canal, balancing improved accessibility and amenity with the protection of biodiversity and heritage. Stakeholder feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and we trust the works will be enjoyed by Dubliners and visitors alike for many years to come”

Niall Gaffney, CEO of IPUT Real Estate Dublin, added:

“We were delighted to partner with Waterways Ireland on this important initiative to deliver these upgrades to the canal in the heart of Georgian Dublin. Together, we have contributed to the preservation of the area’s historical links, while developing it as a welcome urban green space for the communities who walk the towpath today. We are proud of our work in restoring Wilton Park and the naming of Mary Lavin Place, overlooking the magnificent Grand Canal which is deeply embedded in Dublin’s cultural and literary history.”