Ballyfermot

Ballyfermot (Irish: Baile Formaid) is a suburb in the city of Dublin, Ireland, located 7 kilometers due west from the city centre, and to the south of the Phoenix Park. It is bordered to the north by Chapelizod, to the south by Walkinstown, to the east by Inchicore, and to the west by Palmerstown and Clondalkin. The River Liffey lies to the north, and the Grand Canal, now a recreational waterway, borders the south. Ballyfermot lies in the postal district Dublin 10.

History

Ballyfermot derives its name from the Old Gaelic for Dermot's Town, Baile Formaid. It was named for a local chieftain, Dermot Mac Giolla Mocholmog, who lived here around the turn of the first millennium. The Mac Giolla Mocholmog were an ancient sept who ruled the cantred of Ui Dunchada. Ancient Ui Dunchada covered much of the medieval Barony of Newcastle. It extended across south west Dublin from the Liffey to north west Wicklow. The sept held sway in commercial activity in and around the Danish city of Dublin.

The 12th century saw the Cambro-Normans expand west from Pembroke in South Wales into Leinster. The knights duly arrived at Wexford in 1169 as allies of Dermot Mc Murrough Ri of Leinster. Mc Murrough was at war with Roderick O'Connor of Connacht, the Ard Ri, and O'Rourke of Breffney. The newcomers moved northwards into the midlands province of Meath. They captured the Danish city of Dublin.

Through feudal grants and intermarriage the Cambro Norman knights came into possession of land in Ballyfermot. Family names associated with the west Dublin area at this time included O'Cathasaidhe, Fitzwilliam, Le Gros (Large), O'Dualainghe, Tyrell, O'Hennessy, O'Morchain, Dillon, O'Kelly, De Barneval (Barnewall), and Newcomyn (Comyn).

Ballyfermot Castle was built in the fourteenth century by Wolfram De Barneval as a stronghold against the formidable O'Byrnes and O'Tooles. They were relatives of the Mac Giolla Mocholmog who by this time had intermarried with the Normans and were called FitzDermot. The Gaelic Irish families had been discommoded from their aboriginal territory around Naas. They were driven south into the wooded hills. Unlike their FitzDermot relatives, they had not integrated with the Norman Irish. They frequently raided, rustled and burned local bawn enclosures from their inaccessible hillside encampments.

Ballyfermot Castle eventually devolved to the Newcomyn family, who held it well into the seventeenth century. Samuel Lewis in his Topographical Dictionary of Ireland places a Captain Lamplin as living there in 1834, possibly the last resident. The castle is reputed to have been destroyed by fire.

The famous 19th century newspaper publisher and writer Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, proprietor of the Dublin Evening Mail lived in nearby Chapelizod. Ballyfermot and Chapelizod feature in his novel The House by the Churchyard and some of his other works. This house still adjoins St. Laurence's parish churchyard in Chapelizod. The eighteenth century church, alongside the original medieval bell tower, is still in use. It serves the united parish of Ballyfermot, Palmerstown, and Chapelizod in the Church of Ireland. Le Fanu Road is named after him, as is Le Fanu Park, referred to locally as The Lawns. Le Fanu was a mentor of the writer Bram Stoker of Dracula fame, whom he employed at The Dublin Evening Mail.

At the south end of Le Fanu Park is a mound which covers a local historical site containing the ruins and graveyard of the chapel of St. Laurence. It is believed to have originated as a Ceile Dé monastic establishment of the Celtic Christian Church, although not on the scale of Tallaght Maelruain or Kilnamanagh. The ruins had interesting beehive shape cells, and the church was reputed to display a Sheela Na Gig ( Sile Na Gighe ) over its main portal. It served Ballyfermot and the surrounding townlands into the late seventeenth century.

Among the local people buried here are members of the Newcomyn and Barnewall families. Sir Jacob Newcomyn, Baron of Newcastle is buried here. He was a casualty of the civil wars then raging in Britain and Ireland. His wife, Elizabeth (Barnewall of Drimnagh Castle) who died in 1643 is buried alongside him. The Newcomyns were influential in Irish governance and legal circles. They resided at Ballyfermot Castle which stood in the great park nearby, now Le Fanu Park. The great park was complete with moat, deer herd, and an aquaculture pond. This influential noble family intermarried with the Barnwalls of Drimnagh, the Plunketts of Malahide and the St. Lawrences of Howth. They also married into the Fitzgeralds of Maynooth, and the Nugents, Husseys, Geoghegans and Nagles of Meath and Westmeath. They lost much of their authority, holdings and titles after the defeat of King James by the forces of William and Mary in 1691 during which they supported the defeated Jacobites. Dublin City Council covered the remaining ruin with topsoil, keeping its contents intact for future historical research. Close by was the desmesne home farm, last occupied by the Corrigan family. It was originally surrounded by the walled orchard and gardens.

Local manor houses of note include Johnstown House (St. John's College), Colepark House, Sarsfield House, Sevenoaks, Floraville, Auburn Villa and Gallanstown House. The Ballyfermot townlands were transferred from the Barony of Newcastle to the Barony of Uppercross in the nineteenth century.

The dairy and stud farms in the townlands of Ballyfermot were acquired by the authorities in the 1930s.They were developed into suburban housing estates needed to alleviate the post war housing shortage. This development, along with estates at Drimnagh, Crumlin, Walkinstown in the south city, and Cabra, Finglas and Donnycarney in the north city also provided modern accommodation to facilitate the city slum clearance programs. The first estate was built in the late 1940s at Ballyfermot Lower and was originally called the Sarsfield Estate. The street names reflect this historical theme. The adjacent townlands of Ballyfermot Upper, Johnstown, Blackditch, Cherry Orchard, Raheen and Gallanstown were subsequently developed, and incorporated in Dublin 10.

Today

The area is a centre of national commercial distribution, with easy access to the national trunk roads. Ballyfermot is bordered to the north by the N4, to the south by the N7 and to the west by the M50. There is also relative ease of access to the city centre. Some of the major Irish motor distributors are based in Ballyfermot. They include Toyota, Nissan, General Motors, J. C. Bamford (JCB), Harris Assembly and Hilux. They are centred around Kylemore Road, home to many large companies including Thornton's Recycling, C&C, FBD, and Royal Liver Insurance. The industrial estates include Park West and JFK.

There are several hotels in the area. Days Hotel at Park West and Sheldon Park on Kylemore and Bewleys at Newlands are popular.

A community based CCTV monitoring scheme for Ballyfermot was launched in early 2003. This is part of the Department of Justice Town Centre CCTV monitoring initiative.

Transport

Currently, Dublin Bus ( routes 78, 78A, 79, 79A, 76, 76A, 76B, 26, 210 ) and Dualway( 123 ) serve the area. An hourly commuter train service is offered by Irish Rail, to Heuston station at Kingsbridge. The local station is located at Cherry Orchard. A proposed Dublin Metro route passes to the south. The Luas light rail system also serves Ballyfermot. The south side stop is near the Kylemore and Naas Road intersection.

Amenities

Parks

The California Hills Park is the largest recreational park in the area. The name originated as a colloquialism - there were few designated play facilities in the very early days and the California Hills was the name used by local movie going kids who played Cowboys and Indians there. The name later became official by popular public request, described as a welcome change from the custom of naming parks after political figures. The park covers part of the great esker and overlooks the Liffey Valley from the south. From Le Fanu and Kylemore Roads to the east, it falls away into the landscaped valley of a Liffey catchment. It runs west parallel with the Old Lucan Road. Glenaulin and Drumfin Roads adjoin the park as it stretches in a crescent to Palmerstown. The Chapelizod Bypass runs North West alongside. Kylemore Road joins the motorway near the West County Hotel. California Hills Park has superb high views north over the Strawberry Beds to the Phoenix Park. The Farmleigh desmene clock tower at Castleknock is prominent. The park is used for football, golf practise, cross country runs and walks and includes a children's play area.

The magnificent Irish War Memorial, Memorial Gardens and Park, designed by Edward Lutyens, are accessible from the Sarsfield Road via East Timor Park.

Other parks located in the area include Le Fanu Park, Glenaulin Sports Park, Markievitz Park, East Timor Park, and Cherry Orchard Park. Cherry Orchard Park area is the proposed site for a new Village Centre. It is currently pending Council approval.

Le Fanu Park houses the swimming pool. Markievitz Park is a small square enclosed park referred to locally as the Matchbox. A small block building on the east side of the park was built to store builder's and painter's supplies and equipment during construction. It has since served the locality in a variety of activities. It was temporary church during the construction of the parish church. An active community centre with weekly hops, it the housed the O.L.V. youth club. It also served as a food centre providing inexpensive hot meals to needy families and seniors.

The Grand Canal

The Grand Canal was a legacy of James FitzGerald, 1st Duke of Leinster. Fitzgerald was a dynamic economic progressive. His Grand Canal company was a state of the art facility for Irish trade, commercial and personal transportation in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The Canal is now a recreational waterway. It passes along the south side of Ballyfermot. Verdant towpath walkways extend continuously to Hazelhatch, Co. Kildare. An historic bridge crosses the canal near the seventh lock at Killeen.

Medical facilities

Cherry Orchard Hospital houses the National Infections Monitoring Centre. The centre played a pivotal role in diagnostics and control during the Foot and Mouth Crisis. It also monitors the Bird Flu epidemic. The hospital also plays a major role in the analysis and diagnoses of MRSA. MRSA is a major health hazard for Irish hospitals.

Public institutions

Cloverhill Courthouse and Remand Centre comprises the district justice complex. It is located between Clondalkin, Palmerstown, and Ballyfermot in Dublin 10. Wheatfield Prison is nearby.

Education

Primary schools include:

• De La Salle National School
• Mary Queen of Angels National Schools
• St. Louise's Junior & Senior National Schools
• Dominican Convent Primary School (The Dominican Primary School complex includes St Raphael's, St Michael's and St Gabriel's National Schools)
• St. Ultan's National School

Secondary schools include:

• Kylemore Technical College
• St John's College De La Salle
• Dominican Convent Secondary School
• Caritas College

Third level colleges include:

• Ballyfermot College of Further Education

Culture

Ballyfermot Community Festival

The Ballyfermot Community Festival takes place annually. It has developed into a major event over the last few years.

Social Life

Pubs and restaurants in the area include Downeys, Fitzgerald's, Chasers, Tim Youngs, Decies County, and Fowlers County Bar.

The Gala is the largest bingo venue in the area. It also houses a large snooker hall. The Gala has seen many recreational uses since its heyday as the major local cinema and concert venue. It opened in 1953. People who grew up here have fond and nostalgic memories of childhood Saturday matinees, complete with weekly episodes of Batman and Super Man. This serial movie was called ' The Follier Upper '. The De La Salle Boys Band under the baton of bandmaster Brother Cyprian played its annual Christmas ' Rocking Spotlight Concert ' at the Gala.

The junction of Le Fanu Road and Ballyfermot Road was known as Grange Cross. This was the location of champion boxer Eddie Downey's Ritz Ballroom. A popular venue in the early rock and roll era, it featured the capital's top rated rock and showbands. Major attractions included John Hardy's Blue Clavons and The Melochords featuring Dickie Rock. The Young Shadows, a local showband that went on to national fame began here in the early sixties. It made its national debut on RTÉ's Showband Show in August 1963 live in black and white. Pat Long sang with Liam Campelli and Eamon Pollard on guitars, Paddy O' Keefe on bass, Paddy Holgate on drums, Jimmy O' Neill on trumpet and Joe Geoghegan on sax. The ballroom site now houses a complex of modern retail shopping outlets.

There are a variety of seniors activities, which are sponsored by churches, pubs and clubs. Some of the most successful events and outings are organized by the seniors themselves.

The Civic Centre shares space with the Ballyfermot Residents Association. A ground breaking Irish movement, B.R.A. has been a popular venue for local events since its inception in the seventies, and features a popular weekly disco.

Library and reading clubs

The area is served by Ballyfermot Public Library. There are several reading clubs in the area. Details of these can be found in the Public Library, The Civic Centre, and the various community centres. The Library also hosts the Nature Club.

Sport

Soccer

The Cherry Orchard Football Club takes part in the FAI Carlsberg Senior Cup soccer competition. Many players who started with this team have gone on to play professional football in the English Premiership and it's associated Divisions. Footballers Andy Reid of Charlton Athletic, Willo Flood of Cardiff City, Alan Quinn of Sheffield United Glenn Whelan of Sheffield Wednesday and Patrick McKenna played for Cherry Orchard. Irish international Seán O'Connor plays for Saint Patrick's Athletic in Ireland's Premier League. John Wilkes, the recently retired manager, has been credited with nurturing some of Cherry orchard FC's notable successes. Ballyfermot United FC shares the origins of Cherry Orchard FC with Joe Kelly. The Ballyfermot United FC Social Club is located close to Le Fanu Park. Other clubs include the Black Diamonds, C.I.E. Ranch, O.L.V and the newly formed Orchard Celtic.

GAA

There are two senior Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) clubs. Ballyfermot De La Salle, formed in 1953 as Ballyfermot Gaels, and Liffey Gaels. De La Salle play their home games in the Drumfin/Glenaulin Sports Park, located on the west side of California Hills Park. They also play their juvenile matches in the De La Salle pitches located behind the De La Salle School on Ballyfermot Road. The Liffey Gaels play their home games at East Timor Park on Sarsfield Road.

Rugby

Guinness Rugby Football Club (Guinness R.F.C.) is located at the Iveagh Sports Grounds, Crumlin.

Other Sports

The Pigeon Club near Sarsfield Park reflects a local tradition.

Badminton, martial arts, snooker, pool, bowling, squash, handball, raquetball, indoor go-karting, tennis, pitch and putt, fishing, boules, rock-climbing, River Liffey rowing, and table tennis are represented by local clubs.

Local gyms and fitness centres include the Ballyfermot Sports Complex, Sheldon Park Fitness Centre on Kylemore Road, Liffey Valley Fitness on Coldcut Road, Jackie Skelly Fitness in Park West, and the Clarion Hotel Fitness Centre. The new Ballyfermot Sports Centre is under construction and is due to open at two separate times. The five a side football pitches will opened in September 2008 and the swimming pool, gym and sports hall opened in November 2008

Religion

Religious institutions serving the area include the Roman Catholic Church of the Assumption and the Church of St. Matthew in Ballyfermot, St. Laurence's Chapelizod in the Church of Ireland, and a number of Christian Evangelist denominations.

Notable personalities

Claddagh Road is a folk song about the area written by The Fureys, a local family folk band which achieved major international success.

Notable figures with residential or educational connections to the area include Spiddal Park's Joe Duffy, a T.C.D. graduate. Eamonn Keane and Shay O'Reilly formed The Indians showband here. Musicians Joe Geoghegan, Aaron Mooney, Maurice Walsh, and singers Declan O'Rourke, Mick Roach, Pat Morris, and Michael O'Doherty began their careers here. The author and activist Liam Ledwidge attended St. John's College.

In Irish theatrical circles, former residents include playwright Aosdána Jimmy Murphy and Fair City actor Pat Nolan.

Research scientist Joseph Ó Ruanaidh, and Archbishop Diarmuid Martin also have connections with Ballyfermot.

Ballyfermot is home to The College of Further Education. This music, radio, and television arts college is commonly referred to the Rock School. Graduates include the Seoige sisters, Lorraine Keane,Damien Dempsey, Mickey Joe Harte and Mundy. Many current Irish media personalities have studied here.

The De La Salle Boys Band nurtured young musicians here in the 1950s and 60s. Many band members went on to notable success at home and abroad.