Have you ever heard about the public toilets hidden under a waterfall in Dublin city?

On The Pat Kenny Show this morning, reporter Emma Tyrrell visited Palmerston Park in Dublin 6 – where an old set of Victorian toilets hidden under a waterfall could be getting a new lease of life.

The long-closed amenity is located under a mound of earth and vegetation that once boasted a waterfall flowing into a duck pond and rockery.

It is one of dozens of “public conveniences” opened around Dublin in late 19th and early 20th Centuries that have since been shut off to the public.

At least 14 of the facilities remain in different areas of the city and there are now calls to bring them back into use – whether as public toilets or in some other creative way.

Dublin’s Palmerston Park. Image: Emma Tyrrell/Newstalk

Green Party Councillor Carolyn Moore told Emma the city’s old bathrooms came back under the spotlight when shopping centres and restaurants shut down during COVID.

“They all have the potential to be brought back into use, whether as public toilets or some other creative use,” she said.

“A lot of cities around the world have kind of started looking at that because they do have very unique heritage properties and they're a very classic design with the white subway tile interiors and all of that kind of thing.

“So they are very characterful and there's a lot of potential there I think with some creative thinking.”

Coffee shops

She said an obvious use would be to convert the facilities into small coffee shops.

“There have been at least 12 that have been demolished, so those are obviously gone, but as I say, there's 14 still standing and I think definitely it's worth exploring what we could do with them,” she said.

“They are important parts of the city's history and it would be great to see them brought back into use.”

Palmerston Park

Back at Palmerston Park, the toilets under the waterfall remain a mystery to many residents – with some who have lived in Dartry for years telling Emma they knew nothing about them.

Richview Resident’s Association member Marian Cashman said the duck Pond and waterfall used to be a real feature in the park.

“I think every parent in the neighbourhood would take their children to the playground on the far side and over here, years ago to come and see the Ducks,” she said. “But the Ducks are long gone and the waterfall is not working.

She said the toilets have been closed a “very long time” – adding that the fact they are slightly underground “probably wasn't the most hygienic or the most conducive to use, really”.

Work is already underway in the park on a new tearoom and public toilet – so residents are now seeking other options for the 130-year-old facility.

Dublin City Council has said it will carry out an assessment of the toilets’ current condition, which will then allow it to investigate options for its future use.

Additional reporting Michael Staines.