Why did they carve up Drumcondra like a cake? We are standing at the former boundary of Drumcondra Rural No. Two DED 1971. It’s a place that exists only in history books and old maps.
Let me paint you a picture of Drumcondra. It is an inner suburb on Dublin’s Northside. The River Tolka and Royal Canal flow through it. In 1971, Drumcondra Rural was divided into Number One and Number Two.
The village of Drumcondra was central to the civil parish of Clonturk. Both names were used for religious and civil parishes. Modern Drumcondra includes the old Parish of St. Mary. Clonturk was an alternative name for Drumcondra.
The Cat and Cage Pub marks a spot of rebellion. Rebels seized a postal cart here in 1798. They signaled others in North County Dublin to revolt.
The Slige Midluachra passed through Drumcondra. It crossed the Liffey at the “ford of the hurdles”. Drumcondra’s main road follows this ancient route. It was one of five ancient roads to meet at Tara.
Richmond Road links Fairview and Drumcondra. It provided access to Drumcondra Castle. Francis Jacob Grose built Richmond House in the mid-1700s. The road may be named after it. His son, Francis Grose, is buried at Drumcondra Church.
In the 19th century, Dublin faced a housing crisis. Private development expanded beyond the Royal Canal. Local authorities began planning housing development.
Dublin Corporation bought farmland west of St Patrick’s College. They developed a tenant purchase project around 1928. Roads were named after Archbishop William Walsh and Irish scholars. The Irish Sailors and Soldiers Land Trust built housing on Home Farm Road and Griffith Avenue in the 1930s.
The Irish Sailors and Soldiers Land Trust was formed in 1923. It was to house ex-servicemen. It built 2720 cottages by 1930 across Dublin. Drumcondra was a major scheme with 66 dwellings. The houses are on Lambay Road. Plaques mark the ISSLT’s identity in Drumcondra.
The Drumcondra, Clonliffe, and Glasnevin Township Act of 1878 created a township. It encompassed Drumcondra, Clonliffe, and Glasnevin. The portion outside the township became Drumcondra Rural. In 1900, the township was absorbed into Dublin. Part of Drumcondra Rural was transferred to the city in 1931. The remainder was split in 1971. Thus Drumcondra Rural No. Two DED 1971 was born.
Drumcondra railway station serves the district. It opened in 1901 but closed in 1910. It reopened in 1998. Many Dublin Bus routes serve Drumcondra.
Croke Park is a main sight. It hosts Gaelic football and hurling. It is one of Europe’s largest sports stadiums. Fagan’s Public House hosted Bill Clinton in 1998. Tolka Park is home to Shelbourne Football Club.
Belvidere House was home to the Coghill family. It became a Christian Brothers training center in 1874. St Patrick’s College relocated to Belvidere House in 1883. It is now part of Dublin City University.
Clonturk House has stone balustrades from Carlisle Bridge. It was once a school and orphanage. Thomas Dudley “Bang Bang” lived there.
Drumcondra Castle was built around 1560. Hugh O’Neill, Earl of Tyrone, married Mabel Bagenal here. It became St. Joseph’s Asylum for the Male Blind in 1870.
Drumcondra House was purchased by Rev. John Hand. All Hallows College was established in 1842. All Hallows was sold to Dublin City University in 2016.
Hampton Lodge held the Carmelite Monastery for 150 years. The order sold the land in 2016. A distillery was founded in the 1870s on the River Tolka. It closed in 1946.
Drumcondra has several primary and secondary schools. Two Dublin City University campuses are in Drumcondra. Drumcondra Church is the oldest church. James Gandon is buried in its graveyard.
The “Old Church of St. George” was built around 1668. Its tower can still be seen on Hill Street. The “New Church of St. George” was built in the early 1800s. Drumcondra is a Roman Catholic parish. The Archbishop of Dublin’s palace is here.
There are several small burial places in Drumcondra. Drumcondra is home to Croke Park and Tolka Park soccer stadium.
Many notable people have lived in Drumcondra. They include Bertie Ahern and James Joyce.
So, as we stand here on this historical boundary, remember Drumcondra Rural No. Two DED 1971. It may be gone but it is not forgotten. It is a slice of Dublin’s past.