La Touche bridge in Portobello
While Frank McNally could be forgiven for including Portobello in his description of Dublin place names inspired by Italian culture and geography, the history behind this particular nomenclature is altogether more obscure and indeed interesting.
This area of Dublin’s southside was named following the victory of the British navy and its capture of the town of Portobelo from Spain in 1739 on the Caribbean coast of Panama.
The extent of British elation at this victory resulted in the ascription of this name to locations in both London, Edinburgh and Dublin.
However, in so doing, the spelling was changed in a manner that makes it appear deceptively Italian in origin.
There remains nevertheless at least some association with Italy in that it is believed that Christopher Columbus was the first European to arrive at the site of Portobelo in Panama.
Christopher McMahon,
Castleknock,
Dublin 15.
Bella Irlanda – An Irishman’s Diary about Dublin’s Vico Road (Irish Times letters page)
Pic: Culture Trip
There you go, Janet! Interesting fact.
and the sun is barely over the yard iorn !
And not entirely useless either.
knowledge is never useless young lady
it’s like all those bits of string, cables, rubberbands and paperclips in the drawer
Frank McNally even manages to spell the Dublin Portobello incorrectly too *sighs*
Frank McNally.. there’s a blast from the past.. still absolutely effing clueless and useless..
Except for Christopher Columbus was Spanish.
Born in Genoa.
that’s like saying the hothouse flowers are australian
Ah jaysus!
Good pub quiz question: which are the four areas of Dublin that end with the letter ‘o’?
Marino
Portobelo
Pimmslico (for Milly)
And
In the valley-oh :)
And
I dunno
Rialto.
Some people add a fifth – Phibsboro
And fourth is Rialto (sorry for posting in the wrong order!)
Give these boys a slice of milk – v. good
also, the Zoo