Burials still take place here today. This is Kilbarrack, a residential suburb with layers of history. Kilbarrack is about 8 km from Dublin city centre. The name Kilbarrack comes from the Irish Cill Bharróg. It means Church of St. Berach or Church of young Barra.
Kilbarrack is an old district. You can find its name on maps and sea charts going back hundreds of years. Historically, it was a large area of fields. Many fields were grange lands. These lands were held by Dublin church establishments. Over time, two hamlets emerged. There was Kilbarrack proper near the seafront. It was close to the Kilbarrack Church and Graveyard complex. There was also Little Kilbarrack on the road inland, now Tonlegee Road.
The Kilbarrack Stream or Donough Water crosses the district. It enters the sea in two branches. The coastal church and graveyard were a point of call for mariners. Some records note the church as the Chapel of Mone. Ships entering Dublin Bay once paid monies to city authorities. This money went towards the chapel’s upkeep. The cemetery still accepts burials in existing graves. The grave of the Sham Squire is here.
The site of Kilbarrack hamlet is now known as Bayside. It stretches from inside Kilbarrack Road to Baldoyle Road. Today’s Kilbarrack and the Greendale shopping complex are near where Little Kilbarrack stood. The Tesco shopping centre is near the site of Kilbarrack House. This was the big house of the area.
In the 1970s, Dublin Corporation built Swans Nest Court. This was a complex of tower blocks of flats. It fell into disrepair. In the early 2000s, it was demolished and redeveloped. Now it is social and affordable housing.
Kilbarrack has a local Dublin City Council office. It has two shopping areas. These are Greendale and Kilbarrack. Greendale has a large Centra. Kilbarrack is dominated by Tesco. Tesco has renovated it twice. There are also a range of shops and pubs. A major Health Services Executive centre is here. Near Raheny and Donaghmede is a municipal fire station. It also has a practice yard.
Kilbarrack is well known for its sporting clubs. These include Bay City Boxing Club. There is also Naomh Barrog GAA Club. Kilbarrack United FC plays intermediate football. They are in the Leinster Senior League. Kilmount Boys FC were Amateur Football League champions in 2006-07.
Roddy Doyle captured the spirit of Kilbarrack in his fiction. He disguised it as Barrytown. The 1996 film The Van was filmed in Kilbarrack. It was part of Roddy Doyle’s Barrytown trilogy.
An eerie story printed in 1892 featured Kilbarrack Cemetery. The Irish Society paper apologized for printing a ghost story. They said ghosts are so common nowadays. They printed this truest of true spirit stories. They cautioned that many similar stories connect to Kilbarrack.
The story tells of Mr. R. He was on his way from Raheny to Howth. He missed his train. He set off on foot. He mistook his bearings. He ended up at Kilbarrack cemetery. He met an old man in quaint garb. The man led him into the chapel ruins. Mr. R saw a company of men in chain armor. The earth opened. He was carried down into a grotto. He met a crowned figure who welcomed him. He was forced to join a wild war dance. He was told of an attack on Ben Edar. He made an uncomplimentary remark. He was forced back up the shaft. He awoke to find a coastguardsman.
Some say Mr. R slept. Others say he was the victim of spirits. He believed he was compos mentos. So, should you find yourself lost near Kilbarrack Cemetery, avoid strange apparitions. Especially avoid those who try to lure you into the ruins. Kilbarrack holds onto its stories. They echo through the ages.