Drimnagh

Drimnagh is a suburb of Dublin, Ireland, situated on the Southside of the city between Walkinstown, Crumlin and Inchicore, bordering the Grand Canal.

Medieval History

Drimnagh derives its name from the old Irish word druimneach which means ridged lands. The lands of Drimnagh were taken from the natives by Strongbow who gave them to the Barnwell family. The Barnwells had arrived in Ireland with Strongbow in 1167 and had settled in Berehaven in Munster. The natives of that province promptly attacked their home and killed off the family except a youth called Hugh de Barnwell. The youth was then given the lands of Drimnagh as compensation. The lands and castle were considered safe as they were far enough away from the Dublin mountains which was a native stronghold.

Modern History

Drimnagh is in postal district Dublin 12. The first houses were built in Drimnagh in the mid 1930s with the roads named after Irish mountains. The suburb consists of one area close to Walkinstown and Drimnagh Castle, on land adjacent to Landsdown Valley, consisting of 3 bedroom private housing built by Associated Properties, and a Dublin Corporation area (the larger part) consisting of two bedroom 'Parlour Houses' bordering on the Grand Canal and Crumlin. This part of Drimnagh was once known as North Crumlin, this name was to last for a while. Both areas meet at the Parish Church of Our Lady of Good Counsel, in the centre of Drimnagh, built in 1943.

Famous Residents

Some famous Irish personalities grew up in Drimnagh including athlete Eamonn Coughlan, international footballers Jimmy Holmes, Kevin Moran, Jimmy O'Neill, Brendan McNally, Tony Dunne and former Irish International football team manager Brian Kerr. In 1954 the Good Counsel Gaelic Football Club was formed which has since produced a host of players going on to county level including Kevin Moran and Thomas Mulligan. The mythical Irish warrior, Mac Eodhasa (the bearded one), as well as the actors Gabriel Byrne, Patrick Bergen, Emmet Bergin and the musician Sean Keane also Sonny Knowles, Patricia Cahill, Helen Jordan and the late Loretta O'Connor.

Landmarks

Drimnagh is home to Drimnagh Castle, famous for being the only castle in Ireland which still has a moat encircling it, and Dublin's only authentic medieval castle. The castle dates back to the 12th century and was built by the Barnwalls.

Drimnagh Castle C.B.S. is a primary and secondary school for boys which was built in 1954 right next to the site of the castle. Over the past fifty years it has had such famous students as politician Charlie O'Connor, and footballers Kevin Moran, Niall Quinn, Dean Delaney and Graham Barrett grace its corridors.

Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlim is, strangely, entirely located within Drimnagh.

This article is licenced under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Drimnagh".

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