Donnybrook

[don-ee-brook]

Donnybrook, parish and suburb of Dublin, Co. Dublin, E central Republic of Ireland. It was famous for its annual fair, licensed by King John of England in 1204 and suppressed in 1855 because of its disorderliness. The disorder gave rise to the term "donnybrook," meaning an uproarious brawl.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia Copyright © 2004.
Licensed from Columbia University Press

Donnybrook, Dublin

Donnybrook (Irish Domhnach Broc, meaning The Church of [Saint] Broc) is a district of Dublin, Ireland. It is situated on the southside of the city, in the Dublin 4 postal district, and is home to the Irish state broadcaster RTÉ. It was once the location of Donnybrook Fair, a fair held from the time of King John onwards which was notorious for drunkenness and violent disorder. This gave rise to the word donnybrook, meaning a brawl or fracas. The fair was banned in 1855 and there is little trace of the village's disreputable past; the only reminder of its raucous history is a supermarket called Donnybrook Fair on the main street. Donnybrook is now one of the most affluent suburbs of Dublin.. Though it contains a great mix of housing both social and privately owned.

Donnybrook is the home of rugby union in Leinster. The head office of the Irish Rugby Football Union Leinster Branch is located opposite Donnybrook Rugby Ground, where the professional Leinster team play their home games. Kiely's pub in Donnybrook village is a traditional social point for rugby fans. It was once part of the Pembroke Township.

Geography

The River Dodder runs through Donnybrook. It is popular with amateur fishermen and boasts a multitude of wildlife.

Famous Inhabitants

Writers

Patrick Kavanagh
Anthony Trollope
Flann O'Brien aka Myles na gCopaleen aka Brian O'Nolan, lived on Belmont Avenue
Benedict Kiely
Padraic Colum
Brendan Behan
Denis Johnston and his wife, the actress/ director Shelah Richards

Others

Jack B. Yeats
Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton
John Boyd Dunlop (pneumatic tyre)
Guglielmo Marconi (wirless radio - lived in Montrose House , a family home of his mother's family the Jamesons of whiskey fame, on the grounds of the state broadcaster RTÉ)
Eamon de Valera (President of Ireland)
Pádraig Pearse (a leader of the 1916 Easter Rising)
The O'Rahilly (Patriot killed in the 1916 Easter Rising)
Michael Collins (Freedom-fighter killed during the Irish Civil War in 1922)
George E. H. McElroy (WWI fighter ace RFC/RAF)

Sports

Belmont Football Club has its home ground in Herbert Park.

Rugby clubs Bective Rangers and Old Wesley have their home ground in Donnybrook Stadium.

Merrion Cricket Club is located in Donnybrook. During the school year secondary schools such as Gonzaga,Clongowes,Kings Hospital, and much more play rugby in Donnybrook Stadium.Juniors 13-16 and Seinors 16-18. Donnybrook L.T.C is right beside Donnybrook. There are several Tennis Clubs in Donnybrook. Donnybrook L.T.C,St.Marys L.T.C and Bective L.T.C.