Killiney Hill facts for kids
Killiney Hill (Irish: Cnoc Chill Iníon Léinín) is a beautiful hill located south of Dublin Bay in Ireland. It's one of two hills that mark the southern edge of the bay, the other being Dalkey Hill. At the top of Killiney Hill, you'll find a tall stone monument called an obelisk.
The hill stands 153 metres (about 502 feet) high. From its summit, you can enjoy amazing views! You can see the city of Dublin to the northwest. To the east and southeast, you can spot the Irish Sea and even the mountains of Wales on a clear day. Looking south, you'll see Bray Head and the Wicklow Mountains. Long ago, the hill was even taller, but some of its rock was used to build the pier at Dún Laoghaire.
Contents
The History of Killiney Hill
Killiney Hill is located in what was once called Mount Mapas. This name was first used in the early 1600s. Over the years, several important people lived near the hill.
One resident was Captain Edward Maunsell. He was a high-ranking official for County Dublin in 1755. Later, Colonel Henry Loftus lived there. He was a member of Parliament for Bannow in County Wexford. Colonel Loftus helped plant trees on the hill and built roads nearby. In 1790, a man named Lord Clonmell lived here. He created a large park and filled it with deer.
Killiney Hill Park
Killiney Hill and Dalkey Hill are both part of Killiney Hill Park. This is a public park that offers great views of the villages of Dalkey to the north and Killiney to the west.
In 1887, the park was officially opened for everyone to enjoy. This was done by Prince Albert Victor of Wales. It was a special way to remember Queen Victoria's Jubilee, which celebrated her 50 years as queen. The park was even named Victoria Hill for a time. Today, many walking paths cross the park. People from nearby areas love to walk and hike here because of the beautiful views in every direction.
Obelisk Hill Railway Station
There used to be a small train station called Obelisk Hill halt. It was located on the scenic Dublin–Rosslare railway line, between Dalkey and Ballybrack stations. The station was named after the obelisk on the hill above the bay.
The Dublin and Wicklow Railway opened this station in 1855. It was built one year after the railway line from Dún Laoghaire to Bray was completed. The station had only one platform because the train line between Dalkey and Killiney was originally a single track. There was also a footbridge for people to cross. You could reach the station from Vico Road, which runs parallel to the railway.
A walled pathway also existed on the side facing the sea. This path led to a small cove. It allowed people to still reach the shore for swimming, as the new railway would have blocked their access otherwise. Obelisk Hill station closed on January 1, 1858. It was replaced by the first Killiney railway station at Strathmore Road. Today, only one of the footbridge supports remains at the old station site. The old walled pathway on the seaward side is also still there, but it is crumbling.
At the southern end of the old station site, there is a footbridge over the railway at Whiterock beach. At the northern end, you'll find the southern entrance of Dalkey Tunnel. The train line between Dalkey and Killiney was eventually made into a double track in 1882.
| Preceding station | Disused railways | Following station | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dalkey Line and station open |
Dublin and Wicklow Railway | Bray Line and station open |
||
Gallery
-
Killiney Hill on May 22, 2009
Images for kids
-
An obelisk on Killiney Hill bears the inscription: "Last year being hard with the poor, walks about these hills and this were erected by John Mapas, June 1742."
-
Dalkey Island and Killiney Bay on April 25, 2022
-
Bray and its surroundings seen from Killiney Hill on April 25, 2022
-
The Wishing Stone on April 25, 2022
