Finglas Historical Society

St Patrick passed through finglas as he travelled around Ireland converting the irish people

while standing on one the hills around finglas he looked out across the valley towards the sea and said that one day a great city would arise (Dublin).while in finglas he took water from a cool spring,it is believed his powers were transferred to the spring.this spring we know today as St Patricks well ,now on mellows court.

The name Finglas (Fionn Ghlas), meaning a clear stream, comes from the small river, which flows through the village (mostly underground now) and joins the Tolka River at Finglas Bridge. Finglas first appears in history, in The Annals of the Four Masters, as the site of a Celtic abbey, which has been linked with St. Canice, who died in 598 AD. According to an ancient legend, the ground on which the abbey stood was chosen and sanctified by St. Patrick, who is said to have made prophecy that a great town would arise at the ford of hurdles in the valley beneath. The village remained a rural country village until urban development in the 1950s when many houses were built by the government to ease overcrowding in the city centre. This development has continued and now, while Finglas is a thriving suburb of the city with many industries, sadly, much of old Finglas has disappeared.

The nether cross is believed to date from early Christian times.the cross is about is about 12 feet feet high,and is made from granite.there are carved panels on the cross,but many of these panels are worn and are unclear

It is thought that there were two crosses the other known as upper cross which was in tallagh

the barony of nether(lower)cross covered the area around finglas

the barony of uppercross covered the area of tallagh

The cross we see today had an interesting past.

When Cromwell came to Ireland in 1648-1649.the local people decided to bury the cross to it protect from Cromwell’s men it was buried in great secrecy.it remained hidden for over a century.

In 1816 the revd.robert walsh heard the story of the cross from an elderly parishioner.He told the revd, that his grandfather had helped bury the cross in the glebe field. The revd.gathered together a group of men and started to dig in the locaton of the field.They found the cross and had it erected in the graveyard .

Jamestown Road may be named after King James II. In July 1690 the Battle of the Boyne took place. The armies of King James II and William of Orange fought. King James was defeated and fled from King William. King William stayed in Finglas for four days after the battle. He then left Finglas and marched with his army south to Limerick to defeat Sarsfield and the Irish brigade of King James’s army. King William’s Ramparts look like a huge ditch and it is said that King William’s army built this ditch for protection while they were camped in the area. the remains of the ramparts can still be seen today ,just off church st.close to st.canices church.

Gofton hall formally Eagle Lodge dates back to the early 18th century the last person to live in the house was ms o donnell ,once owner of the duck inn (the widows)

Farnham house ,along with Rosehill,Ashbrook,St Helenas,and Eagle lodge(later known as Gofton Hall).these large houses were built during the 18th century.Farnham house was the home of of lord Farnham (john maxwell).

The house was sold to Dr.Duncan for use as an asylum.for the "treatment of upper and middle classes" .We know that in 1843 Farnham house had 41 patients.As finglas village fell into decline towards the end of the 19th century,Farnham house saw its fortunes decline,and was demolished in 1954. The Farnhan name lives on in the housing estate that was built close to where the old house once stood.all that remains of the old Farnham estate is the former gate lodge now towsons cottage

Dunsink Observatory is the oldest building of its type in ireland ,it was built in1735-1785.the site was chosen because of its elevated position,and was at the time of building in a perfectly dark location.william rowan hamilton was appointed to dunsink in 1827.he was a mathematics and language genius,and his work in the field of quaterion algebra made him world famous.he had a eureka moment while out walking along the royal canal,he made notes on the only place available at the time,on the wall of broombridge,a plaque to him is on the bridge to this day

The Barn Church was the parish church from the early 19th century until 1922 when it was replaced by the new church.for the rest of the 20th century served as a parish hall and meeting rooms ,it was also used by scouts and guides.it was demolished in the late 1970s

Finglas golf club was founded near the end of the 19th century.it was one of the earlist golf clubs in the country.At its peak in 1912 it had a membership of 270.Its professional was patrick doyle.members were local business people and landowners from all around north county dublin.visitors were allowed to play at the invitation of members green fees cost 1s6d on weekdays and 3s on sunday and holidays.at the outbreak of world war 1 many members went away to fight some never returned,and with the civil war here,the club fell on hard times,by 1920 the club closed .The fairways estate takes its name from the old club

finglas post office..the luby sisters ran finglas post office for many years.mary and anne,served the people all their working lives.the post office was for many a place to meet, and chat. it is said the sisters would often pay out the pension early to hard pressed people when times were tough.the site where the post office stood is now the main centre car park.

st canices church was built between 1920 and 1922 it was opened by archbishop walsh it replaced the old"barn church" which had served the village for many years.The church was extended in the mid 1950s to serve the ever growing new suberb of finglas.The new church which is the one we use to this day ,was blessed and opened by archbishop mc quaid in 1955,

the duck inn corner (the widows) was a well known pub in finglas it closed opn 31st of may 1976.replaced by maries newsagents prop:mr coleman.it is now a centra store

kathleen keenans bakery ..keenans bakery was famous for its home baking,all done on the premises.the shop has changed hands over the years and now sells bedlinen.

Liptons shop was on main st until the late 1960s when it lost out to the new wave of supermarkets

The first wave of new residents to move into the new parish of finglas west arrived at the start of the 1950s.most were moving out from the inner city to a new life ,into houses with hot and cold running water.a garden ,front and back :to many it was the start of a better life with a house of their own which they could call home.

Work began on the "tin church"in january 1958.the church which had served the people of larkhill,was taken down and re erected on cappagh road.the cost of this work was £26000:the church was blessed and opened on 1st of march 1958.In 1962 the parish of finglas was split in two and finglas west got its first parish priest Fr.daly, who served until1971:Fr daly stayed on to see the building of the new permanent church.work began on the church in 1965,and was opened on the 8th of october 1967

At the start of the 1960s Finglas was a busy and thriving village.this was at a time before supermarkets,or fast food outlets.Eating out ment a visit to di lucias fish and chip shop for a one and one.Below are some ads for finglas shops of the time.

finglas parochial news feb 1961(a selection of items from this monthly parish newsletter)