The Lucan Tram

Sackville Street c. 1900 showing a tram and tramlines

Sackville Street (now O’Connell Street) c. 1900 showing a tram and tramlines

From the postcard collection of Kieran Swords

Sackville Street c. 1900 showing a tram and tramlines
From the postcard collection of Kieran Swords

Sackville Street c. 1900 showing a tram and tramlines

Sackville Street (now O’Connell Street) c. 1900 showing a tram and tramlines

From the postcard collection of Kieran Swords

Enlarge image

The first tramway to open in Dublin was that of the Dublin Tramways Company. This commenced on the 1st February 1872 and ran from Nelson's Pillar in the city centre to Terenure. The authority to provide this service was the Dublin Tramway Act of 1871.

By acquisition and consolidation this was to become the largest tramway system in the country. In the process it went through the usual horse to steam to electric tram stages of development. However, there were areas where it was not economically feasible to operate, even though there was an obvious need for a service. In 1887 the Light Railways (Ireland) Bill was passed which allowed for the promotion of Light Railways to be subsidised out of local (baronial) rates.