Weslin Construction has completed the restoration project at Dublin's newest visitor attraction, Dublin Port's Diving Bell.

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe TD, officially opened the attraction.

Following a four-month restoration project by Dublin Port Company, the orange metal structure on Sir John Rogerson's Quay is an important addition to the public realm in the Docklands.

It will appeal to local people who have always wondered about the purpose of the odd-looking bell structure, and visitors to the city keen to learn more about Dublin as a port city.

Transformed into an interpretive exhibition, visitors can now learn in detail about the origin and history of this important artefact in Dublin's maritime history. An ingenious feat of Irish engineering, the Diving Bell was essential in building Dublin's quay walls for 87 years.

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The Diving Bell was designed by the port engineer Bindon Blood Stoney (1828 to 1907) and built by Grendon and Co., Drogheda. It was delivered to the Port in 1866, entered service in 1871 and was used in the building of the Port's quay walls until 1958.

Among Stoney's achievements were the building of the Boyne Viaduct in Drogheda, the construction of O'Connell Bridge and the building of many of the Port's quay walls, including Sir John Rogerson's Quay and North Wall Quay Extension.

The restoration project involved elevating the 13m tall, 90-tonne Diving Bell onto a two metre steel structure to create a ramped public access route underneath. A water feature now runs beneath the structure accompanied by a series of interpretative panels explaining the historical, social and engineering significance of the Diving Bell. The exhibition is also illuminated at night time using energy efficient LED lighting.

(CD/JP)