DONNYBROOK

In 1868, the parish of Donnybrook contained the following places:

"DONNYBROOK, (or St. Mary's), a parish and post town in the baronies of Dublin, Rathdown, and Uppercross, in the county of Dublin, province of Leinster, Ireland, 2 miles S.E. of Dublin. It is situated on the river Dodder, which is crossed here by Anglesea Bridge, and on the Kingstown and Dublin railway. It contains the villages of East and West Donnybrook, Ringsend, Clonskeag, Baggotrath, Ballsbridge, Irishtown, Beggarsbush, Merrion, and Sandymount. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Dublin, value with another, £145, in the patronage of the archdeacon. The church is situated at Simmon's Court, and was rebuilt in 1820 by means of a loan from the late Board of First Fruits. It is a commodious structure in the early English style, and has tombs to the Fitzwilliam family and Archbishop King. There are Roman Catholic chapels in the village of Donnybrook, at Sandy mount, and Irishtown, which are united. There are also Wesleyan and Presbyterian meeting-houses, and several schools, one of which is attached to the nunnery, and another supported by Erasmus Smith's Charity. Donnybrook contains the hospital for incurables, formerly the Lock hospital for Dublin, a lunatic asylum, police station, and a dispensary within the South Dublin Poor-law Union. The residences of the neighbourhood are Mount Errol, Annefield, Montrose, Swanbrook, and several others. At Sandymount was held the far-famed Donnybrook fair. This fair was granted by King John to he held for fifteen days, from the Monday before the 26th August, and was intended for the sale of cattle, but became so disorderly that it was suppressed by the authorities. Chief-Justice Downes was a native of Donnybrook.

"BAGGOTRATH, a village in the barony of Dublin, and county of Dublin, province of Leinster, Ireland, 2 miles S.E. from Dublin."

"BALL'S BRIDGE, a village in the parish of St. Mary, Donnybrook, barony and county of Dublin, in the province of Leinster, Ireland, 1 mile from Dublin. It is pleasantly seated on the west bank of the river Dodder, a branch of the Liffey. The Dodder is crossed by a bridge of three arches. Near the village are some extensive calico print-works, which give employment to several hundred persons. These works were established about 1740. Not far off are the Hammersmith iron-works, and the Botanical Gardens of Trinity College."

"BEGGAR'S BUSH, a village in the barony and county of Dublin, in the province of Leinster, Ireland, near Dublin."

"CLONSKEAGH, a hamlet and townland, in the parish of Donnybrook, in the county of Dublin, province of Leinster, Ireland. It is situated 2 miles to the S.E. of Dublin, on the river Dodder. There are extensive corn-mills. Clonskeagh Castle is the principal residence."

"IRISHTOWN, a post-office village in the parish of Donnybrook, barony and county of Dublin, province of Leinster, Ireland. It is a watering-place on the S. side of Dublin Bay, and contains the church of Ringsend, a Roman Catholic chapel, dispensary, schools, and almshouses."

"MERRION, a post-office village in the parish of Donnybrook, in the barony and county of Dublin, province of Leinster, Ireland, 3 miles S.E. of Dublin. It is a station on the Kingstown railway. It is situated on the S. side of Dublin Bay, and is resorted to as a bathing-place in the summer season. Merrion Castle, Merrion Hall, and Elm Park, are the chief seats of this locality."

"RINGSEND, a post-office village in the parish of St. Mary, Donnybrook, county Dublin, province of Leinster, Ireland, 1½ mile E. of the general post-office, Dublin. It is situated upon the river Dodder, near Irishtown, at the point where that river empties itself into the Liffey. The road to Sandymount and the Pigeon House fort crosses the parish. The village consists of several poor streets in a neglected condition. The Grand Canal Docks are on the opposite side of the Dodder. There are a Roman Catholic chapel, a Wesleyan meeting-house, and National school. There are glass-works, salt-works, and boat-building yards, also coastguard stations at Pigeon House road and Ringsend point."

"SANDYMOUNT, a post-office village in the parish of St. Mary, Donnybrook, county of the city of Dublin, province of Leinster, Ireland, 2 miles S.E. of Dublin. It is situated on the S. side of Dublin Bay, and is a suburb. There are a parish school, library, savings-bank, and a branch establishment of the Sisters of Charity, with its chapel."

 

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018