I knew nothing about the River Dodder. For me it was simply a reference point, somewhere that you passed hastily on your way to Donnybrook or Lansdowne in order to arrive before kick-off.

On other occasions it was a sort of personal Rubicon, a river that you passed on your way into town. Once past the Dodder there was no turning back. The differences being that, unlike Caesar, I was on the 46A bus with loud fellow teenagers behind me instead of on a horse with several Roman legions in my command.

The meeting of the Ballsbridge, Donnybrook and Sandymount Historical Society changed all that. The Society is a year old and was born out of what the Chairman, John Holohan, described as “a desire to find out more about the area.” There is already a membership of about 200.

When I arrived, there was already a queue forming outside and by the time the lecture started there were at least eighty to ninety people packed into the assembly hall of St. Mary’s National School on Belmont Avenue, Donnybrook.

Mr Holohan introduced the guest speaker, Dr Christopher Moriarty. Dr Moriarty described himself as a ‘naturalist’. He is a retired Trinity College lecturer and has written several books including ‘Down the Dodder’.

With the aid of some lovely photographs and a deep, soothing voice, Dr. Moriarty, took us on a relaxed and witty journey along the 21 kilometres downstream from the Dodder’s source at Kippure, in the Wicklow Mountains, all the way to Ringsend and into the Irish Sea.

The Dodder was a busy river in the mid 19th Century and had no fewer than fourteen mills on its short run. Its brief, direct course makes it a powerful and therefore at times treacherous waterway, as demonstrated most recently in August of 1986 when it flooded so dramatically.

Due to all this industry, many bridges were built over the Dodder, each of them with their own history. During the Second World War, for instance, the bridge at Rathfarnham was fitted with an anti-tank device in order to repel unwanted invaders. Indeed, so concerned were the Irish Government that they even bored holes into it, in order to blow it up if necessary.

From Rathfarnham we wandered down the river past the nine arches and the old chimney of the Dublin Laundry, today a haven for the cormorant. Dr Moriarty told us of the flora on the river such as the Alexanders, which, were until the arrival of parsley used in salads. He spoke about the Butterbur also known as ‘rats’ umbrellas’ due to their wide, low-lying leaves.

We passed and imagined the site of Donnybrook Fair whose opponent, Fr P.J. Nowlan, banned in 1855 and consecrated his Church on the green eleven years later. We ambled along Anglesea Road and pictured the men and women of the Ballsbridge Horseshoe Pitchers Club who still to this day play horseshoes on the tiny hidden green opposite Pembroke Library. As the sunset began to appear in his slides, Dr. Moriarty took us through Ringsend and concluded his talk.

I really wasn’t sure what to expect from this evening. I admit to imagining scenes from the Vicar of Dibley but what I experienced was a congenial and vibrant gathering of a community that enthusiastically longs to be made aware of the abundant historical treasures around it. A thoroughly enjoyable, rewarding and different way to spend an evening.

If you wish to become a member of the Ballsbridge, Donnybrook and Sandymount Historical Society you will find membership forms at the Pembroke Library, Anglesea Road. Events are free to members of the Society and a charge of €3 is made for visitors.