Aerial phototography of Blessington - Before the Waters

The upper Liffey and King's river valleys in the greater Blessington and Ballymore Eustace areas were flooded during the early 1940s following the construction of dams at Poulaphouca and Golden Falls. The reservoirs created by the dams covered a large area and displaced many local residents. Since the 1940s the area has also been heavily forested which has obscured much of the landscape.

Immediately prior to the flooding of the valleys the Irish Air Corps took a series of over 50 aerial photographs of the greater Blesssington area. These aerial photographs recorded much of the area which was to be later covered by the waters of the reservoirs. Local historians and archaeologists have recently gained access to the aerial pictures and have begun to review the pictures in detail. The review reveals many details in the landscape which are now covered either by the waters of the reservoir or by plantations of conifers.

The exhibition provides a overview of the ongoing research project which employs a mixture of GIS Software, photogrammetry (create 3d models using photographs) and information from historical sources. This information and analysis is combined with modern data collection, drone images and field walking to reveal the pre-reservoir landscape of the Liffey and King's river valleys.

Exhibition is presented on a daily basis in the Blessington Tourist Office from Saturday 16th August until Sunday 24th August.
'Before the Waters' exhibition is a partnership project supported by the Heritage Office of Wicklow County Council and co-funded by The Heritage Council.