“Conra’s Ridge” is what they called Drumcondra back then. It means something to us today. But in 1888, Drumcondra Ward was more than just a name. It was a place in flux a place of change and growing pains. Drumcondra was a township then. It included Clonliffe and Glasnevin. Businessmen wanted local control and Drumcondra got it.
Imagine the streets then. Horse-drawn carriages clip-clopping along. People bustling about their daily lives. The air filled with the sounds of commerce and community. Drumcondra Ward was a hub a center of activity.
Housing was a major issue. Dublin was growing fast. Drumcondra felt the pressure. Private developers built beyond the Royal Canal. But it was not enough. The late 19th century saw the authorities stepping in. They finally actively planned housing development.
Picture Dublin Corporation purchasing farmland west of St Patrick’s College. This was to become a tenant purchase project. It mirrored projects in Marino and The Tenters. Roads were named after Irish scholars. Names like James Hardiman and Samuel Ferguson were chosen. The area north of here went to private developers. Building Societies and Trusts also took part.
The Irish Sailors and Soldiers Land Trust or ISSLT was created. It was originally for ex-servicemen. World War I changed its priorities to war veterans. The British government funded the ISSLT. They built over 2720 cottages by 1930 across Dublin. Drumcondra was one of their major schemes.
The ISSLT built on land provided by Dublin Corporation. These houses are on Lambay Road. They look much like other houses in the area. Plaques on the houses show the ISSLT’s identity clearly in Drumcondra.
Drumcondra Road was and still is the main artery. It runs from the canal to the River Tolka. Drumcondra village stretched to the Skylon Hotel. Lower Drumcondra Road had shops on one side. Trees lined the meridian. The Dart station was at the top.
Consider the Cat and Cage Pub. It was a postal stop. Rebels seized a postal cart there in 1798. They signaled others in North County Dublin to revolt. History is etched into these streets.
Think about the churches here. Drumcondra Church is the oldest. James Gandon the architect is buried in its graveyard. St. George’s Church also has a long history here.
Croke Park looms large in Drumcondra. It is home to Gaelic games. Imagine the roar of the crowd. The passion of the players. The All-Ireland finals are held here.
Drumcondra’s story is one of constant change. From rural village to bustling suburb. From housing crisis to community development. Drumcondra Ward in 1888 was a place on the rise. It was a place shaping its own future. A future we now stand in today.