Donnybrook, Dublin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Donnybrook
Domhnach Broc
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Urban district
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Donnybrook Road, looking towards Stillorgan
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 Donnybrook
Location in Ireland
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| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Leinster |
| County | Dublin |
| Dáil Éireann | Dublin Bay South |
| European Parliament | Dublin |
| Elevation | 11 m (36 ft) |
| Eircode (Routing Key) |
D04
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| Area code(s) | 01 (+3531) |
| Irish Grid Reference | O169318 |
Donnybrook (Irish: Domhnach Broc, meaning The Church of Saint Broc) is a district in Dublin, Ireland. It is located on the southside of the city, in the Dublin 4 postal area. Donnybrook is well-known as the home of Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ), Ireland's public TV and radio broadcaster. Its nearby areas include Ballsbridge, Sandymount, Ranelagh, and Clonskeagh.
Donnybrook is also a civil parish, which is an old type of local area. Most of it is in the historic area called the barony of Dublin.
Contents
Donnybrook's Past: A Look at History
Donnybrook is famous for its history, especially the Donnybrook Fair.
The Famous Donnybrook Fair
The Donnybrook Fair started way back in 1204, thanks to a special permission from King John of England. It happened every year until 1855. At first, it was a market for animals and farm goods. Over time, it became more like a funfair or carnival.
However, the fair became very rowdy and chaotic. People in Donnybrook wanted it to stop because of the trouble it caused. Eventually, its bad reputation led to its end. From the 1790s, people campaigned against the fair. A group of local residents and church leaders raised money to buy the fair's rights. This finally brought the fair to an end. The fair used to take place on land where the Donnybrook Rugby Ground is now. The word donnybrook is still used today to describe a noisy fight or brawl.
Donnybrook Castle: An Old Mansion
Donnybrook Castle was a grand house from the time of Queen Elizabeth I. It was home to the Ussher family. James Ussher, a famous member of the family, became the Archbishop of Armagh. The original mansion was taken down in 1759. A new Georgian house was built in its place in 1795. Today, this building is used by the Religious Sisters of Charity.
Donnybrook Cemetery: A Historic Burial Ground
Donnybrook Cemetery is a very old place, dating back to the 8th century. It was once the site of a church started by St Broc. Both Catholic and Church of Ireland churches, both named St Mary's, also stood here. Many important people are buried in this cemetery. These include Dr Bartholomew Mosse, who founded the Rotunda Hospital. Sir Edward Lovett Pearce, the architect of the Irish Houses of Parliament, is also buried here.
It is thought that the wall on the south side of the cemetery is the oldest man-made structure in Donnybrook. Interestingly, two ancestors of Meghan Markle, Mary McCue and Thomas Bird, were married at St Mary's Church of Ireland church in Donnybrook in 1860.
Donnybrook's Geography: Rivers and Lands
The river Dodder flows through Donnybrook. Long ago, there was a shallow crossing point, called a ford, here. The river can sometimes flood seriously. In 1628, a member of the Ussher family from Donnybrook Castle drowned while trying to cross it.
Donnybrook is also a civil parish made up of sixteen smaller areas called townlands. Most of these townlands are in the Barony of Dublin. Donnybrook is the largest parish in that barony. Some southern townlands, like Annefield, Simmonscourt, and Priesthouse, are part of the barony of Rathdown. Today, much of Priesthouse is home to Elm Park Golf Club and the RTÉ studios.
Donnybrook Today: What's Here Now
Donnybrook is a busy area with many important places.
Media and Transport Hubs
The television and radio studios of Ireland's national broadcaster, RTÉ, are located in the Priesthouse area of Donnybrook. There is also a large Dublin Bus garage in the area, which is where buses are stored and maintained.
Learning in Donnybrook: Schools
Donnybrook has several schools for young people:
- Muckross Park College is a secondary school for girls.
- St. Mary's is a primary school for both boys and girls, located on Belmont Avenue.
- The Teresian School is an all-girls school that includes Secondary, Junior, and Pre-School levels.
Famous People from Donnybrook
Many well-known people have lived in or had connections to Donnybrook:
- Writers:
- Patrick Kavanagh
- Anthony Trollope
- Flann O'Brien (also known as Myles na gCopaleen or Brian O'Nolan), who lived on Belmont Avenue.
- Brendan Behan
- Other Notable Figures:
- Jack B. Yeats (a famous painter)
- Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton (a brave explorer)
- John Boyd Dunlop (inventor of the pneumatic tyre)
- Guglielmo Marconi (pioneer of wireless radio, who lived in Montrose House, now on the RTÉ grounds).
- Éamon de Valera (a former President of Ireland)
- Pádraig Pearse (a leader of the 1916 Easter Rising)
- Michael Collins (a key figure in Irish history, involved in the Provisional Government).
- Garret FitzGerald (a former Taoiseach of Ireland, which is like a Prime Minister).
- Albert Reynolds (another former Taoiseach of Ireland).
- Shane MacGowan (singer and lyricist for the band The Pogues).
Sport in Donnybrook
Donnybrook is a very important place for rugby union in Leinster. The main office for the Irish Rugby Football Union Leinster Branch is across from Donnybrook Stadium. The professional Leinster team used to play their home games here. Most games are still hosted at Donnybrook Stadium. Some important school rugby matches are also played here.
Rugby clubs like Bective Rangers and Old Wesley have their home grounds at Donnybrook Stadium. Many secondary schools, such as St Conleth's College, Blackrock, and Belvedere College, play rugby at the stadium during the school year.
Donnybrook also has several tennis clubs, including Donnybrook Lawn Tennis Club (LTC), St. Mary's LTC, and Bective LTC. Belmont Football Club plays its home games in Herbert Park. Merrion Cricket Club is located in Donnybrook, near Anglesea Road and the River Dodder.
