The Great North Road PDF Print E-mail Great North RoadMost of us at some stage during our days’ duties, will walk, drive or perhaps cycle up the Swords Road. Next time you do, however, it may be worthwhile to take a moment to think of the fascinating history that belongs to the “Great North Road.” So like many a weary traveller before us we will take a journey up one of the leading highways out of the city. Even going back as far as 1450 when it was known as “the Royal Way”, this road was regarded as an important route. Over the years it has grown both in size and importance. (And you thought it was just a quick route to the Omni!) Let us begin our walk beyond the Parish boundaries atWhitehall Garda Barracks; it is approximately between the barracks and Home Farm Football Club that “Whitehall House” once stood. This is the house that gave its name to the district in the early part of the last century. Before this adoption of the name “Whitehall,” the area was known as “Clonturk.” On our way into the Parish we see the Regency Hotel on the right and just beyond this we pass Highfield a private hospital. Opposite Highfield is Plunket College which like the Church of the Holy Child sees 2007 as a special year. This year the College celebrates forty years of educational provision in our Parish. Where the houses now stand between Plunket College and the Viscount Public House there once stood “Clonturk Castle”. Just beyond, we can see the entrance to Gaeltacht Park on our left. This was one of the first housing estates built in 1930 and it was envisaged by Eamon DeValera to house Irish Speaking Civil Servants, hence the Gaeltacht names on each of the roads – Tourmakeady, Innishmaan etc. Further on we come to the large intersection of Swords Road and Collins Avenue. Collins Avenue was built in 1938 to replace a dirt-track known as “Puckstown Lane.” Just beyond this, turning right onto Collins Avenue was a Public House called The Thatch and not too far from this was another Public House called The Black Bull. Both Public Houses can be found on maps dating back to 1938. Of course we also have the Dublin Port TunnelWorks. Work started on this site in 2001. It is hoped that congestion along the city streets of Dublin will be reduced, as thousands of heavy goods vehicles gain fast toll- free access to Dublin Port. The official opening of Dublin Port Tunnel was December 20th, 2006. Passing the CollinsAvenue junction we now stand with the Holy Child Church on our right. The Church was first mentioned in the Irish Catholic Directory in 1942. It was then a Chapel of Ease in the Parish of Glasnevin. It was not until 1944 that the Holy Child became a Parish in its own right. Behind the Church we find the estate of Ellenfield where once stood a house called “Clonturk Cottage” which was later renamed “Ellenfield House”. Here we also find Ellenfield Park beside the Church. Ellenfield Park can be found marked on maps from as far back 1860. Behind the houses opposite the Church we find Larkhill housing estate. Not only was our original Church “the Tin Church” situated on Larkhill Green from 1942-1957 but the estate now houses the Holy Child Senior Girls’ School, The Holy Child Infants’ School and Larkhill Boys’ National School. Returning to the Swords Road we are now facing the bridge over the motorway. The point where the bridge meets Shantalla Road was once known as “Cold Blow Harbour” where the Nanikan River passed. This river rose in the Crestfield area and then flowed into the sea at St. Anne’s in Raheny. It is possible that this river was once navigated as boats were present on the lakes in Santry Demesne. The Nanikan, later known as the Hollybrook Stream now flows under the motorway. Continuing on, we swiftly stop for a quick pick-me-up in the Comet Lounge Bar – but no dilly-dallying! There are years of history ahead!.... Onwards! Behind the Comet Public House we find the Shanowen and Shanliss area. Opposite the Comet we find the Larkhill and District Credit Union behind which lie the Shanvarna and Shanrath Roads. Further up opposite the entrance to Shanowen we find a group of cottages known as St. Canice’s Terrace. Shanowen itself was once the avenue leading to the “White House,” a grand 2 storey house built in the 1700s and last occupied in 1905. Further on we find the Omni Shopping Centre where once stoodMcCairn’sMotors. McCairns shut its doors for the last time in 1987. The buildings were swiftly demolished and the 21 acre site put up for sale. The Omni Park Shopping Centre, a much needed Complex, opened in October 1991. Still on the Swords Road or the Great North Road, it is clear just how large the Parish has become. We now travel past Magenta Hall, the old house is long gone, but its name is carried on in the name of the estate. We now pass the location of the new A.I.B. Bank on our left and we come to the Swiss Cottage on our right. We are now in Santry Village which was built for Lady Domville, the wife of Sir Charles Domville of Santry Estate. She had seen a similar village in northern Italy, had liked it and sent her architect to copy the plans of the houses. The forge and houses were built in 1848 - the old Forge with its traditional horse-shoe shaped door. (According to many the Forge faced the wrong way – west instead of the more traditional north). The forge had been operated by three generations of the Madden family from 1860 to its closure in the 1960s. A distinctive feature of the village in earlier years was the existence of turnstiles at different locations by means of which the inhabitants gained access to their homes. Before we were lucky enough to have our own National Schools in Larkhill, another National School existed in Santry, from 1850 – 1925. The lane where it once stood is still known as “Schoolhouse Lane” beside the Swiss Cottage. Further on we come to St. Pappin’s, Church of Ireland which was built in 1709. The grounds of the Church contain the graves of many of the Domville family, their workers and tenants as well as the graves of one or two outlaws. In the 1800s Santry had an extremely high crime rate. Coaches were regularly held up by highwaymen. The North Road was notorious for highwaymen. One of the lawless incidents noted in the vicinity of Santry concerned an outlaw, who set up a line of dummy figures, each holding a rifle, to await the passing coach. The occupants of the coach frightened by the overwhelming odds were relieved of their valuables by Collier who was never caught and settled in a house bought with his ill-gotten gains (no Criminal Assets Bureau in those days!) Now we come to what was at one time the epicentre of Santry. The history of Santry is intermingled with the history of its main estate. Originally owned by the Lords Barry of Santry, the Domvilles succeeded through intermarriage. The Domville family have what seems to be an inexhaustible supply of eccentric members with more money than wit. The stories that have been written about various members range from surprising to absurd. From generous donations of money to strangers, to mysterious meetings in the Hellfire Club, it seemed that with the Domvilles there was never a dull moment. One very popular story is probably the most well known. Lady Margaret was late in preparing to go out with her husband Lord Charles. He became very angry and impatient for having been made wait and shot her favourite horse, “Abeian”. This is one account of the story, and there are many others. In all stories Lord Domville is immediately repentant for killing the animal and erected a stone monument in honour of the horse. This monument is well remembered by locals. Today, on this land that was once owned by the Domvilles of Santry Court, Fingal County Council has created a magnificent park with beautiful walks and many fine trees remaining from the time of the Domvilles. The park, which also contains a river and the ruins of an old house, was opened in 2004 for the use of the people of Santry and surrounding districts. The Crowne Plaza Hotel is also built on land owned by Santry Court. This Hotel was opened in 2003 and contains 204 bedrooms and 25 meeting rooms. Also close by are Temple Gardens, where there are hundreds of luxury apartments. On this land we also have T.L.C. Nursing home which caters for many senior citizens and was opened on Monday 17th Jan 2005. Opposite what were once the grand gates of Santry Demesne is the road to Coolock. As the parish grew to include new estates such as Oak Park, Royal Oak, Larch Hill and Aulden Grange it became apparent that the building of a Chapel of Ease to our own Church would be necessary. The result was the building of Blessed Margaret Ball. This Chapel was opened on 18th December 1994 and is now a vibrant part of our Parish. Returning again to our original route up the Great North Road we now pass on our rightMorton Stadium. Built on land which was also part of Santry Court the stadium facilitates many sporting events and was the brainchild of the late Billy Morton. Further North is Turnapin which got its name from the Gaelic “Tor na Buinne”, meaning “the town of the pinnacle”. Continuing forward we come to Dardistown Cemetery which opened in June 1990. The iron gates and stone pillars at the entrance previously stood at the entrance to St. Paul’s Cemetery on the Finglas Road and date back to 1860. The thatched cottage we see on the site has been restored and is being preserved. So now we stand having walked through the Parish and through the years. It is now we think of the famous people who have travelled this road and passed our Church. In the early sixties, the first well known person to visit our Church was Cardinal Agaginian, the Papal Legate. He stopped to pray on his way from Dublin Airport on a visit to Archbishop John Charles McQuaid. The Cardinal was later mentioned as a possible candidate for the Papacy following the death of Pope John 23rd. And who can forget the bright evening in June 1963 when the American President, John F. Kennedy drove down the Swords Road in an open-top car, waving and apparently smiling at each individual. He was on his way home from his triumphal visit to Germany, stopping to seek out his ancestral roots in Co. Wexford. However, our joy turned to sadness when we heard of his death in Texas later that year. It was a damp evening when Princess Grace of Monaco drove down the Swords Road a few years later. She too was anxious to discover the home of her ancestors in Co.Mayo. Once again, waving parishioners lined the paths en route to the Church. Of course we all stood and cheered our sporting heroes. Stephen Roche after his great success in the Tour de France and who can forget the welcome we gave Jack Charlton’s “Boys in Green” after the fantastic World Cup in 1990. But our most famous visitor of all was the late great Pope John Paul II, who travelled this path not once but three times during his Irish visit in 1979. The euphoria lasted long in the wake of his visit. All in all, we belong to a parish that is constantly changing, growing and incorporating new ideas and new people. It is wonderful to think we stand on such historical paths from the minute we leave our houses. The Church of the Holy Child has reached its 50th year so as a community let us move forward together with hope into the next 50.
Posted on: Sat, 08 Mar 2014 22:13:23 +0000
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