Milltown, Dublin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Milltown
Baile an Mhuilinn
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Suburb
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The Nine Arches Viaduct over the River Dodder
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 Milltown
Location in Ireland
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| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Leinster |
| County | Dublin |
| Population
(2011)
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| • Urban | 1,973 |
| Irish grid reference | O168302 |
Milltown (Irish: Baile an Mhuilinn) is a lively suburb located on the south side of Dublin, Ireland. It gets its name from the many mills that used to operate here along the River Dodder. Milltown is also where the River Slang joins the Dodder. It's surrounded by other areas like Windy Arbour, Ranelagh, and Donnybrook.
Contents
A Look at Milltown's Past
Milltown has been known by this name since at least the 1300s. Back then, it was a special area of Dublin, along with Clonskeagh, after the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland in the 1200s.
Early Industries in Milltown
Historians say that Milltown was a busy place for businesses a long time ago. As early as the 1300s, there was already a mill here. People also dug for stone in Milltown. This stone was used to help repair Dublin's famous Christ Church Cathedral.
By the 1700s, Milltown was home to several different types of mills. There were mills that ground corn, an iron mill, and even a paper mill. Water for these mills came from the River Dodder. You can still see parts of an old mill in what is now Dodder Park.
Milltown's Historic Bridges
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The River Dodder in Milltown was once a place where people and animals could cross the river easily. In the 1600s, a bridge was built here. This old bridge is known as "Old Milltown Bridge" or "Packhorse Bridge." It is a protected structure, meaning it's important to keep it safe.
Later, a newer bridge was built in Milltown. By the early 1900s, the older bridge was mostly used only by people walking. The newer Milltown Bridge was built where the old river crossing used to be.
Getting Around Milltown
Milltown is easy to spot because of a large railway bridge from the 1800s. This bridge crosses the river and was once part of a railway line that went from Harcourt Street to Bray. This bridge is often called the 'Nine Arches' because of its design.
The Luas Light Rail
The Milltown railway station first opened in 1860 but closed in 1958. However, on June 30, 2004, the Nine Arches bridge was used again! It became part of the Luas light rail system. The Luas is a tram system that connects different parts of Dublin. There is a Luas stop in Milltown, just a short walk from where the old station used to be.
Bus Services
Milltown also has good bus connections. The Dublin Bus route 44 serves the area. This bus can take you from Dublin City University (DCU) all the way to Enniskerry.
Sports and Recreation
Milltown is well-known for its sports history.
Shamrock Rovers Football Club
The famous Shamrock Rovers football club used to play in Milltown. They played at a stadium called Glenmalure Park from 1926 until 1987. The club later moved from the area.
Milltown Golf Club
If you enjoy golf, Milltown has its own golf club. The Milltown Golf Club celebrated its 100th birthday in 2007, showing its long history in the area.
Milltown's Local Government
Milltown is located along the River Dodder. This river acts as a border between two different local council areas: Dublin City Council and Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council. This means that parts of Milltown are managed by Dublin City Council, and other parts are managed by Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council. The main village area of Milltown is part of Dublin City.
Learning in Milltown
Milltown is home to several important schools and colleges.
Schools and Religious Centres
Alexandra College is a girls' school in Milltown. It is a Church of Ireland school. Milltown is also home to the Ahlul Bayt Islamic Centre. This is the only Shia mosque in Ireland.
Jesuit Presence
The Jesuits have had a long history in Milltown. They have a boys' secondary school called Gonzaga College on their lands at Milltown Park. The Jesuit Training College later became the Milltown Institute of Theology and Philosophy. This institute was a recognized college of the National University of Ireland. The National College of Industrial Relations was also started by the Jesuits in Milltown. It later moved to the IFSC and is now known as the National College of Ireland.
Historical Education
The Franciscan Brothers of the Third Order Regular also had a monastery and school here. They were known for secretly teaching Catholic boys for many years when it was against the law. In 1818, they moved their monastery to Mountbellew in County Galway.
Mount St. Mary's was once a seminary for the Marist Fathers. Students studying to become priests would learn theology with the Jesuits in Milltown Park. They would also study for degrees in Arts or Science at UCD while living at Mount St. Mary's.
