The Blessington Lakes

The Blessington Lakes in Blessington, County Wicklow were formed 50 years ago by the building of the Poulaphouca Dam and hydro-electric power station and today serve a dual purpose of providing power and water supply to the Dublin region.

There is now a lakeside luxury hotel complex in the Blessington area, with its own helipad, and lakeside facilities which have helped to develop tourism in the area. The lake is also extensively used by boatmen and fishermen, and is a training location for the Irish Air Corps HQ divisions from Baldonnel, 15 km north of Blessington, and also Local Civil Defence Water rescue teams.