Former lock keeper’s home on the Grand Canal for sale

NINTH Lock House, a former lock keeper’s home on the Grand Canal in Clondalkin, is to be offered for sale on the market by owners of the property Waterways Ireland.

Located at the bridge beside the Waterside Pub, the building is a Protected Structure.

A couple of councillors Francis Timmons (Ind) and Trevor Gilligan (FF) asked the council to look into securing the property, as it is vacant and has been subjected to break-ins and vandalism.

Cllr Timmons said whoever buys the building would have to retain it as a Protected Structure under the County Development Plan.

“The concern is that it has been broken into. It looks derelict and that attracts the wrong attention. It’s in nobody’s interest for that to happen,” he said.

The Echo contacted Waterways Ireland for comment.

In correspondence to Cllr Timmons on Tuesday, Waterways Ireland anticipate that the property will be placed on the market “next month” with Ray Cooke the “appointed agent who will handle the sale on our behalf”.

They also confirmed they are in the “process of seeking quotations for both the removal of graffiti and the cutting back of vegetation “at the 9th lockhouse”.

However due to the bird nesting season there may be restrictions on the removal of vegetation until September.

In a previous email to Cllr Timmons in April, Waterways Ireland said they were in discussions with South Dublin County Council to “ascertain if they wish to acquire the property”.

Cllr Timmons said: “The architect conservation area has been extended from Clondalkin Village to include the lock keepers house and up to Thomas Byrne cottages, but it needs a bit of work, you can’t expect to send tourists down the way it is at the moment.”

He cites another lock house further up the canal – Omer’s Cottage – home of former canal innovator and engineer Thomas Omer – which will form part of a future recreational outlet.

“These things take time, but the more people that use the canal, the less opportunity for anti-social behaviour,” said Timmons.

At the Ninth Lock House, he says the last lock keeper Mr O’Brien raised his family there, but has since passed away years ago.

“I’d love to see anybody in it but it will be a huge job to get it right.”