Oldbawn

Oldbawn (or Old Bawn, Irish: An Seanbhábhún) is a small suburban area now within Tallaght on Dublin's Southside. Formerly a small village in its own right, it is situated between the Sean Walsh Park and the River Dodder.

A bawn is the defensive wall surrounding an Irish tower house. It is the anglicised version of the Irish word bábhún, meaning "cattle-stronghold" or "cattle-enclosure"

History

Old Bawn was the site of an estate for several centuries, and later of a small village, whose population reached over 380 in the mid-19th century to the Current numbers of near 14,000.

McInerney Homes began construction of the Old Bawn Housing Estate as it lies today, in the 1970s.

These 3 Bed Semi detached homes with Garages first sold for on average £3,700 Irish Pounds or €4,700.

Old Bawn House

Old Bawn House was built in 1635 by Archdeacon William Bulkeley, son of Launcelot Bulkeley the Archbishop. It was situated where the St. Maelruan's school now stands.

It was almost unique in architectural style, being one of the first Irish houses that was not built purely for defence. Oldbawn had extensive pleasure gardens that survived, albeit in a neglected state, until 1900. "From a rude, desolate, and wild land he brought it to a most delightful patrimony" Handcock quoted Blacker as saying of Bulkeley's house.

Old Bawn House was damaged in the rebellion of 1641 but was restored immediately at a cost of £3,000. The house was designed in an H shape with high pointed gables, and had many windows and twelve chimneys which was unusual at that time. It had many internal features such as the chimney piece and a carved oak staircase, both of which are in the National Museum of Ireland. The chimney piece reached to the ceiling and depicted the building of the walls of Jerusalem, dating back to 1635. There was also an unusual lodge house built to the front of the house. Old Bawn House was enclosed by a wide fosse with a drawbridge. To the south of the house there was a large pleasure garden laid out with walks, ponds and tree-lined avenues.

The house passed to Lady Tynte who leased it. In 1830, Old Bawn was bought by the McDonnell family who established a paper mill behind the house. This was one of many mills along the Dodder in the nineteenth century. The house fell into disrepair during the early 1900s and was used as a storehouse when the lands were being developed in the 1960s, and eventually Old Bawn house gave way to the new developments in the area, now the site of the Maelruans Primary School.

Population & Dwelling Census Info

Central Statistics Office Census 2011

Oldbawn- Tallaght-, Tallaght-Millbrook, Tallaght-Kiltipper, Bohernabreena, Co. Dublin.

Population (Number) 13,480

Males (Number) 6,591

Females (Number) 6,889

Private households occupied (Number) 4,711

Private households unoccupied (Number) 268

Vacant dwellings (Number) 156

Housing stock (Number) 4,979

Vacancy rate 3.1%

Source CSO.ie

Oldbawn Locality Makeup

• Old Bawn Estate
• Watergate
• St Maelruans
• ''The Irish Estate'' - Cois na Habann/ Gleann na Smol / Cill Cais
• Aylesbury
• Parkwood
• Drysdale

Amenities

• Sean Walsh Park
• Tallaght Stadium
• The Old Mill Bar
• Ahernes Pub
• Aylesbury Shopping Centre
• Oldbawn Shopping Centre
• Dodder Valley Park
• Bohernabreena Pitch & Putt

Oldbawn Community School

Old Bawn Community School is a secondary school located adjacent to Sean Walsh Park and the Tallaght Bypass in Oldbawn.

The school website is http://www.oldbawncs.ie/oldbawncs/Home.html

Notable former students include former Republic of Ireland & Premier League footballer, Keith Fahey and footballers Stephen Kenny and Daniel Purdy.