| Powerscourt Waterfall | |
| Alt Name: | Eas Chonaill |
| Location: | Powerscourt Estate, Ireland |
| Watercourse: | River Dargle |
| Height: | 121m (397feet) |
| Number Drops: | Cascade waterfall |
| World Rank: | 687 |
| Type: | Horsetail-fan |
Powerscourt Waterfall (Irish: Eas Chonaill)[1] is the second highest waterfall in Ireland at high,[2] [3] it is located at the base of Glensoulan on the River Dargle near Enniskerry, County Wicklow.
Powerscourt is overlooked by the peaks of Djouce (725m (2,379feet)) and Maulin (570m (1,870feet)), and flows continuously all year in a horsetail-fan pattern. The waterfall is part of the Powerscourt Estate, which is open to the public for an entrance fee.
Powerscourt Waterfall, known in Irish as Eas Chonaill, lies at the base of the Glensoulan valley, a hanging valley, through which the River Dargle flows from its source on the southern slopes of Tonduff mountain, eventually falling into the steep corrie in which the waterfall lies.
Several mountains surround the upper section of the Glensoulan valley in a "horseshoe-shape", being: Maulin 570m (1,870feet), Tonduff 642m (2,106feet), War Hill 686m (2,251feet), and Djouce 725m (2,379feet). The waterfall is bounded by Crone Woods on its northern section.[4]
Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI) regard the waterfalls an "important site for both the glacial feature and for the geological influence of the rocks themselves on the formation of the waterfall"; and describe the Powerscourt corrie, in which the waterfall sits, as "a fine example of glacial erosion, where accumulated ice has scoured out a deep basin, with a waterfall flowing down the steep backwall".[5]
The Powerscourt waterfall flows over Irish Ribband Group schists, which sit in a metamorphic aureole of Leinster granite.[5] The cleavage (or schistosity) dips steeply outwards, paralleling the sides of the granite pluton, which forms the surface over which the water cascades; however, the GSI note the contact between schist and granite is some distance upstream of the waterfall.[5]
Both boulders of schist (a silvery-sheen appearance), and of granite (a speckled crystalline appearance), can be seen in the pools at the base of the waterfall.[6]
The waterfall is part of the Powerscourt Estate, who grant paid-access to the public through a separate visitor entrance (6 miles from the main estate entrance) during set times. At the base of the waterfall are visitor facilities, car parking, picnic and barbecue area, and various concessions.[7]
The waterfall can also be viewed from Ride Rock in Crone Woods, which also offers trails to the summit of Maulin.[8] [9] A 7-kilometre 3-hour hill-walking route known as the Maulin Circuit, takes in Crone Woods, Maulin and the Powerscourt waterfall.[4]
In August 1821, during the visit of King George IV to Ireland, Richard Wingfield, 5th Viscount Powerscourt dammed the waterfall so he could release a torrent while the two stood on the bridge below the falls. For reasons unknown, the king did not leave the banquet at Powerscourt House to view the waterfall, which was fortunate as, when the water was finally released, the bridge was washed away.[10]
The waterfall appears in the medieval fantasy film Excalibur (1981)[11] and the television historical drama series Vikings (2013–2020).[12] [13]
Some of the waterfalls scenes for Willow (film) were shot at these falls, and Burney Falls in Northern California was also used for filming.[14]