Four statues stand here at the Windy Arbour Grotto. One of them is quite small. This wayside shrine in Dublin offers a place for reflection.
Windy Arbour Grotto sits near Glasson Court Park and Windy Arbour Village. It is located in a triangular park. This park is at one end of South Gall Gardens.
Windy Arbour is part of the Parish of St Columbanus, St Gall and the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The smaller townland of Farranboley surrounds Windy Arbour. Maps from the 18th century show Farranboley.
Windy Arbour’s history is interesting. The Irish name for the area was Na Glasáin. This means “the green land.” The name Glassons came from the Anglicized version of Na Glasáin. Later, people called it Windy Harbour or Sandy Arbour. This name referred to a landing point on the River Slang. The word “Arbour” once meant grass plot, lawn, or garden. It may have been a direct translation of Glasáin.
Several housing estates surround Windy Arbour. The village lies between Dundrum and Milltown. The Slang River, also known as the Dundrum or Slann River, runs nearby. The Windy Arbour Luas stop serves the area. Buses 17, 44, and 61 also stop here.
Irish rebel Robert Emmet once lived in Windy Arbour. He grew up in The Casino, now called Emmet House. The Secretariat of Secondary Schools in Ireland is housed there now. It stands next to the Church of the Miraculous Medal on Bird Avenue. In the past, it was known as Carton House.
The Central Mental Hospital is near Windy Arbour. It was built around 1850. The hospital offers treatment in high, low, and medium-security conditions. Courts, prisons, and local hospitals refer patients for assessment and treatment.
This Marian statue at Windy Arbour Grotto provides a place for prayer. Take a moment to appreciate this special spot. Consider the history and the peaceful surroundings. The Windy Arbour Grotto stands as a testament to faith and community.