From 1480 a branch of the Plunket family held the manor of Cabra. Another branch became the Earls of Fingall. Their main residence was Dunsoghly Castle near Finglas. This is Cabra.
Cabra in Dublin boasts a rich history. It wasn’t always the bustling suburb we see today. It was once known as Cabragh meaning ‘the poor land’. This land saw significant changes. The Industrial Revolution arrived. The Royal Canal was built in 1790. Railway lines followed.
Imagine Cabra in the 19th century. It was a market garden. Cattle were kept in pens and grazing fields. This was before the large housing developments of the 1920s. Many people moved here from the city centre slums. They sought a better life in Cabra.
Quarry Road wasn’t always Quarry Road. It was Quarry Lane. A small quarry existed there. It’s near the statue of Our Blessed Lady. The quarry was filled in early in the 1900s. A family living nearby planted cabbages on the reclaimed land. A small detail but it tells a story.
Cabragh House stood at the crossroads of Ratoath Road and Fassaugh Avenue. Completed in 1598 it was first occupied by the Segrave family. The infamous ‘hanging judge’ Lord Norbury lived there. He died in 1831. The Segrave family regained the house. Charles Segrave lived there until 1912. His son was the famous racing driver Henry Segrave. Dublin Corporation bought Cabragh House in 1939. They demolished it to build local authority housing.
The Church of Christ the King opened in 1933. It followed the Eucharistic Congress of Dublin in 1932. John J. Robinson designed the church. He also designed structures for the Congress. This cross-shaped church stands tall. Its red brickwork speaks of its time. A huge statue of Christ adorns the tower. It shares features with St Therese Mount Merrion.
Cabra has more than just historical buildings. Mount Bernard Park provides tennis courts a basketball court and a playground. The Royal Canal flows through. It offers a towpath for walking and cycling. The Luas Green Line has three stops in Cabra. This makes it easy to explore Dublin.
Naomh Fionnbarra GAA Club provides facilities for Gaelic games. Deaf Village Ireland provides support services. The Batchelors beans factory remains. Several secondary schools and primary schools serve Cabra’s residents. The area also houses libraries and other services.
Famous people have come from Cabra. This includes singer Eleanor McEvoy boxer Steve Collins and actor Michael Gambon. Liam Whelan a Manchester United player who died in the Munich air disaster also came from Cabra. A bridge was named in his memory.
And finally don’t forget Broom Bridge. Sir William Rowan Hamilton is commemorated there. He discovered quaternions while walking by the Royal Canal. A plaque marks this discovery. A true Cabra story. So let’s explore more of this fascinating place.