“Fancy a seaside resort like the Bay of Naples?” That’s what they used to say about Killiney. Today we’re standing before Killininny Tower. It stands as a testament to Killiney’s rich history.
Killininny is an affluent suburb in south County Dublin. It’s a place brimming with stories. The Killininny area grew around the 11th-century Killininny Church. It later blossomed into a popular seaside resort in the 19th century.
Let’s delve into the past. Killininny’s name comes from Cill Iníon Léinín. This means “church of the daughters of Léinín”. Legend says Leinin and his seven daughters converted to Christianity. They then founded a monastic community. It stood where Marino Avenue West is today.
The first church dates back to the sixth century. The roofless ruin you see now is from the 11th century. This chapel marks the historical heart of Killininny village.
For centuries much of Killininny belonged to the Talbot de Malahide family. They were Norman invasion followers from 1170. The obelisk on Killininny Hill commemorates the famine of 1741. It also marks the relief efforts for the poor. These included building the obelisk and the many walls on the hill’s summit.
By the 19th century Robert Warren owned areas north and east of Killininny village. He developed many Victorian residential roads. The Warrens also sold land. This allowed the Dublin and Kingstown Railway to extend to Killininny and Bray.
Killininny Beach became a favored seaside spot for Dubliners. John Rocque’s 1757 map shows bath-houses near White Rock on Killininny Beach. The coastline became more popular after the railway opened. The opening of Victoria Park in 1887 further boosted its appeal.
Even Victoria Castle was built in honor of Queen Victoria. Singer Enya now owns it and renamed it Manderley Castle. Killininny remained near-rural from 1900 until the late 1940s. Dublin’s suburbs then expanded to Killininny from the early 1960s.
Killininny’s population grew after the Emergency. Urbanization and suburbanization progressed. Locals identify different areas. These include Killininny Hill Park, Roche’s Hill, Killininny village, North Killininny and the slopes of Killininny Hill.
The area mainly features two-story housing. Average densities range from 10 to 30 houses per hectare. To Killininny’s south lie the Seafield Court and Bayview estates. They were built in the mid-1980s.
The population peaked in 1996 at approximately 10800. It has since dropped by about 12%. Falling family sizes have outpaced residential construction.
Today Killininny is known as one of Dublin’s most exclusive residential areas. Bono and The Edge from U2 reside here. Gardener Alice Lawrenson lived in Killininny in the 1800s.
The 59 bus route serves the area. It runs hourly from Killininny Village to Marine Road in Dún Laoghaire. Killiney railway station is on Station Road. It is served by the DART.
So next time you hear someone mention Killininny remember its layered past. Remember the church the famine the railway and the stars who call it home. Killininny Tower stands as a silent witness to all this history.