How did Beaumont-Donaghmede LEA come to be? It existed as a local electoral area in Dublin City Council from 2014 to 2019. Political boundaries often shift. Beaumont-Donaghmede LEA is a perfect example.
Before we delve deeper, let’s clarify its location. Beaumont is a suburb on Dublin’s northside. It is near Donnycarney, Santry and Artane. You will find it within the Dublin 9 postal district. Donaghmede lies to the north east of Dublin city centre. It’s part of the Dublin Bay North constituency. Donaghmede sits within the Dublin 13 postal district.
The name Beaumont has French origins. It means “beautiful mount”. Olivia Whitemore and Arthur Guinness chose this name in 1764. They named their new family home Beaumont House. The clean air and views of the Wicklow Mountains inspired them. Today, you can still visit Beaumont House.
Beaumont has a rich history. It was once a farm in the Civil Parish of Coolock. It sat between Kilmore Big and Kilmore Little. From 1764 to 1855, it was the Guinness family home. Arthur Guinness leased 51 acres in Coolock in 1764. He built a house at Kilmore. Later, he named the property Beaumont.
In 1900, the Sisters of Mercy bought Beaumont House. They opened a convalescent home. It provided aftercare for Mater Hospital patients. Today, Beaumont House is a convalescent home for the elderly. The Sisters of Mercy run it. The HSE recently bought it.
Did you know that RTÉ had a radio transmitter in Beaumont? It broadcast RTÉ Radio 2 on 1278 kHz AM to Dublin from 1982. The station stopped broadcasting on December 15, 2003. In the 1980s, RTÉ used the Beaumont facility to jam pirate radio stations.
Beaumont is home to one of Dublin’s main hospitals. It’s called Beaumont Hospital. There is also the Sister of Mercy Convalescent Home. You’ll also find a small group of shops and two pubs. Elm Mount Estate was the first large housing development in the area in the 1960s. Other developments include Beaumont Woods, Collinswood, Ardmore, and Montrose. Catherine McAuley Park is a small park in Beaumont Woods. It is dedicated to the Sisters of Mercy founder.
Donaghmede also boasts its own story. Dublin City Council formed Donaghmede around 1970. They built housing developments on Baldoyle’s inland areas. The name came from Donaghmede House, a “big house”.
Saint Donagh’s Well was once a popular holy well. People visited it for hundreds of years. It was said that the waters healed eyes and improved eyesight. Grange Abbey is in northern Donaghmede. It once served as a chapel for the Priory of All Saints. The chapel has been in ruins since at least 1615.
Father Collins Park is a notable green space in Donaghmede. It is Ireland’s first “sustainable park”. It features five wind turbines that power public lighting.
Donaghmede Shopping Centre stands on the site of the original Donaghmede House. Several housing developments make up Donaghmede. These include Donaghmede Estate, Grangemore, and The Donahies.
Beaumont-Donaghmede LEA served its purpose for five years. It played a role in Dublin’s political landscape. While it no longer exists, its story remains a part of the area’s rich history. It reminds us that even political boundaries are subject to change.