Glenasmole Valley, where stories, myths and legends intermingle with wonderful scenery

Glenasmole is the location of many of the mythical stories of Fionn Mac Cumhaill  and his band of Irish warriors, Na Fianna, who protected the king.

According to legend, one of Fionn’s favourite pastimes was hunting in Glenasmole. Fionn hunted with his two favourite dogs, Bran and Sceolan. They mainly hunted the red deer and the now extinct Great Irish Elk.

One of the mountains overlooking Glenasmole is called Seefin, which means “the seat of Finn”. Fionn and Na Fianna were reputed to have feasted there after the hunt.

The Dublin Historical Record says that up to 1800, few people in the valley spoke English and the Irish language was spoken there well into the 20th century.

So what’s the story behind the Bohernabreena Reservoirs? The Reservoirs, or Waterworks, were constructed in the late 19th century to harness the River Dodder for three main reasons: to control flooding, supply drinking water to Dublin and to provide water to mills.

Constructed between 1883 and 1887, the Reservoirs originally only provided water from the River Dodder for the area of Rathmines. The Dodder begins in Glenasmole and travels in a northerly direction until it empties 14 miles down at Ringsend.

There are two reservoirs or lakes in Bohernabreena. The upper lake provides clear, non-peaty water for drinking, which is treated 7.5km away in Ballyboden. The lower lake is made up of murky, peaty water and was used to power the dozens of mills along the River Dodder and Poddle during times of low flow, as water provided power for diverse industries.

The Reservoirs bring a vital service to South Dublin – supplying an estimated 35,000 homes with water. This amounts to 1.8 million litres a day, or three per cent of Dublin’s water supply.

The Dodder is known as a ‘flashy’ river, meaning that it’s prone to flooding quickly after a rainstorm. In the 18th century, many drownings occurred near the fords on the lower Dodder as people attempted to cross the river, as it was difficult to predict when the river was overflowing.

In 1986, floods caused by Hurricane Charlie led to devastation for homeowners in the area, with over 300 properties affected by flooding. After more flooding in 2002, new spillways were completed in 2006 to protect the reservoir dams against a ‘Probable Maximum Flood’.

St Anne’s Graveyard

St. Anne’s graveyard is a truly picturesque feature in Glenasmole Valley. The graveyard belongs to the Church of Santan, named after a Bishop, and was mentioned as far back as 952 by Pope Innocent the III.

The ‘Strangers’ Corner’ in the graveyard is where people who were unknown to the area were buried. The graveyard is no longer in use, but the ruins are a great place to walk around, with markings dating back centuries – and a stunning view overlooking the reservoir.

Local farmer Donie Anderson spoke to The Echo about a successful campaign to protect the memory of the people buried there.

Anderson, traces his family five generations back, said: “The Dublin Mountains Way used to pass through the graveyard until locals opposed it. It’s very hard to know where our ancestors are buried, so we didn’t want people walking over them.”

Despite the Department of Health closing the graveyard to burials due to its proximity to the reservoir, Anderson said an annual Mass still takes place on the last Sunday of July.

Anyone living in Tallaght or close by with an affinity for nature and wildlife need not travel far. Glenasmole and the surrounding grounds near the reservoirs have an impressive variety of trees and birds. Bird species include gulls, kingfisher, heron and moorhen. Trout is the main catch in this part of the Dodder, though only fly fishing is allowed with a permit from a local angling club.

Apart from their important service, a visit to Bohernabreena Reservoirs is certainly worth the short 5km drive from Tallaght for the wonderful scenery. Visitors can take the Upper Reservoir Loop, which is waymarked as part of the Dublin Mountains Way.

This walk takes you parallel to the Dodder and on a loop around the upper reservoir shores, where you can watch the channel bring the peaty water to the lower reservoir and past St Anne’s Graveyard.