Beaumont, Dublin facts for kids
Beaumont is a lively area on the north side of Dublin city, Ireland. It's surrounded by places like Donnycarney, Santry, and Artane. You'll find Beaumont in the Dublin 9 postal district.
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What's in a Name?
The name Beaumont comes from French words meaning "beautiful mount" or "beautiful hill." This is because the area is on a slight hill, offering nice views across Dublin all the way to the Wicklow Mountains. People also thought the air was very clean here.
The name was supposedly given by Olivia Whitemore and Arthur Guinness in 1764. They built their new family home, Beaumont House, in the area. You can still visit this historic house today!
A Glimpse into History
Beaumont started as a farm in the old area of Coolock. From 1764 to 1855, it was home to the famous Guinness family. You can even see the original agreement from 1764 between Charles Gardiner and Arthur Guinness at the National Library of Ireland.
Arthur Guinness rented about 51 acres of land in Coolock. He built a house there, which he later named "Beaumont."
In 1900, the Sisters of Mercy bought Beaumont House. They turned it into a special home to help patients recover after being in the Mater Hospital.
For a while, from 1982 to 2003, RTÉ (Ireland's national broadcaster) had a radio transmitter in Beaumont. It was used to broadcast RTÉ Radio 2 to the Dublin area.
Cool Places to See
Beaumont is home to one of Dublin's main hospitals, Beaumont Hospital. The Sisters of Mercy Convalescent Home, which used to be Arthur Guinness's house, is also here. It's now a place for elderly people to recover.
The area is mostly made up of large housing estates. Some of the first big developments were Elm Mount Estate in the 1960s. More recent areas include Beaumont Woods, Collinswood, and Ardmore.
You can also find a small park called Catherine McAuley Park in the Beaumont Woods estate. It's named after the person who founded the Sisters of Mercy.
Fun Activities and Clubs
The Artane and Beaumont Family Recreation Centre is a busy community hub. People use it for many things like music, childcare, and after-school homework clubs. You can also play sports there, including basketball, volleyball, and badminton.
Rockfield Park is another great park in Beaumont. It's used by people from the Elm Mount, Whitethorn, and Thorndale estates. It's home to the Rockfield Park Tennis Club and the Artane Beaumont Football Club.
If you're into scouting, the 140th Scouts Beaumont group is based in Montrose Park. Several football clubs, like Celtic Park F.C. and St. Kevin's Boys Club, also play games in Beaumont. There's even a Beaumont Tak Kwon do centre!
Local Schools
Beaumont has several schools for young people. Our Lady of Mercy College, Beaumont, is an all-girls school founded in 1957 by the Sisters of Mercy. It's right next to the hospital.
St. Fiachra's Junior and Senior Schools, established in 1978, are also located near the hospital and church. St. Pauls Special School is here too. For boys, secondary schools serving the area include St. Davids CBS in Artane and St. Aidans CBS in Whitehall.
Famous Faces from Beaumont
- Arthur Guinness, the famous brewer, lived in Beaumont. His home is now the Beaumont convalescent home.
- Paddy Mulligan, a former football player for Chelsea and the Republic of Ireland, grew up in Beaumont.
- Gavin Kilkenny, a footballer for Bournemouth, is from the area.
- Orla de Brí (born 1965) is a well-known Irish sculptor.
- Robert Watt, a civil servant, also grew up in Beaumont.
