When eighteen-twenty-seven came,
it seemed as any year the same.
But Barrow Street will ne’er forget
that in that year the scene was set
to build there on some vacant land
a gasometer ‘to beat the band!’

No common gasometer would it be,
like some around for all to see.
No. The news left the locals elated
for they heard it was to be decorated.
A lovely iron frame, what’s more
would be built around its central core.

The huge core (a sort of upside down saucepan construction)
But telescopic, my dear, quite a new introduction.
This centre core, all made of steel,
unlike the others, had much appeal
for as the gas filled it, it would rise
up and up towards the skies.

But when gas-stoves got busy around Ringsend Town,
The telescopic core would go down and down.
And then the iron frame came into its own,
when its lacey beauty was truly shown.
Against the sky the tracery stood out,
proving the people of old knew what they were about.

Feeling much pride in their work we are sure,
but much tedious repetition they had to endure.
Obviously they kept at it, they didn’t stop,
and at last one great day, they came out at the top.
They finished it with iron fingers pointing up to the skies
And packed up their tools with very contented sighs!

But time moves on, the years went past,
and when the city was ‘naturally’ gassed,
our lovely gasometer was no longer needed
The central core gone, it lay cold and unheeded
Until the Gas Company with brains so bright
had a great idea ‘We’ll sell the site’.

A builder was glad to buy such a treasure
‘To build on such land will be my great pleasure
The round ironwork frame is really tremendous
and filled up with apartments it will look stupendous.’

We are glad the old landmark was kept in its place
To melt down or dump it would have been a disgrace.
A gasometer filled with people will be something new
But we’re sure they’ll be happy to look out at the view
They’re near Dublin City, canal, park and river
No car, they can walk, a great help to their liver.