I came across a great website the other day while searching for information on the history of Ballybrack.
Pól Ó Duibhir has obvioulsy spent quite sometime putting together a Presentation on Ballybrack. Not only does it cover the notable and famous people that lived in the area in the past, it also includes a Millitary History of Killiney Bay from 1793 to 1815. Anyone that lives in the Ballybrack/Killiney area will find this presentation quite intriguing.
I hoping that Pól will present this again to the public at some stage, because I know I definitely won’t miss it!
His website can be found at www.photopol.com and the presentation on Ballybrack at www.photopol.com/dca
One part I really liked was the Photo Tour of Ballybrack that has some historic comments on each photo – http://www.photopol.com/ballybrack_show/index.html
Another interesting part was the Google maps which shows where those “notable” people such as Michael Davitt and Sean Lemass lived.
And just to give you an appetite for more… here’s an old picture of The Ramblers Rest pub in Ballybrack village – 1950….

#1 by Pólo at March 3rd, 2009
| Quote
That picture is taken four years before I came to Ballybrack, so it’s more or less as I found it.
Thanks for the compliments and plug. I hope to do the presentation locally (Ballybrack/Killiney) sometime in the next year. It is always a work in progress and great fun.
#2 by Wayne at August 23rd, 2009
| Quote
Good to see those pics. I actually lived in Edenvale for a time (or the Igo house as we called it)
#3 by Póló at August 24th, 2009
| Quote
@Wayne
Glad you liked the pics. Brendan and Gerard Gilsenan lived in Edenvale during my time with their mother who ran the Igo.
#4 by peter at July 5th, 2010
| Quote
is there any old pictures of the old pond that was filled in back in the 80s …cant find them anywere
#5 by Tom Doyle at July 6th, 2010
| Quote
Which pond now?
The one over close to the Leisure Centre in Loughlinstown or the one across from Cromlech Fields or the one in Kilbogget?
#6 by peter at July 13th, 2010
| Quote
god i didnt know there were 3 ? the pond im on about was just to the left of glenavon pk were the river runs now today .it was actually between were the two schools archbishops mcquaid are today . thanks tom
#7 by Tom Doyle at July 14th, 2010
| Quote
Hi Peter
Unfortunately I don’t have any at all – it would be great if someone had some. I’d love to see them.
It would have disappeared when I was quite young, but I do remember it and of course the tradegy that happened there when a small child drowned.
BUT – here are some modern day pictures of how it is still an effective flood plain – August 2008…. http://www.dunlaoghairecounty.ie/viewtopic.php?f=54&t=786
#8 by peter at July 14th, 2010
| Quote
i remember when that flood took place . some good photos there .but as you said its a pity nobody has photos of the old pond that was there . maybe someone will come up with some . thanks tom keep up the good work ..
#9 by david fahey at May 11th, 2012
| Quote
great picture of the pub. My uncles owned it at the time, until around 1956 I believe. sadly none of them still with us.
#10 by Póló at May 11th, 2012
| Quote
Hi David
Kevin Scanlan had the Ramblers for at least most of my time in Ballybrack (1954-75). What was your uncle’s name?
The Da drank both there and in the IGO, both bona fide pubs.
Pól
#11 by josh gaynor at August 29th, 2012
| Quote
how come no pictures of the coucil housin or have yeh forgot about us down the road from the photos where the proper ballybrack people live insteada houses of posh c**ts that would say they live in killiney
#12 by Tom Doyle at September 3rd, 2012
| Quote
Eh… because it’s the “history” of Ballybrack… a long time before the council houses existed those houses in the picutres were there… The council housing you’re talking about were merely fields…….
#13 by Michael Henry at June 27th, 2013
| Quote
Michael henry old ballybrack born and reared 1962/ Hay boys my granny henry used to work in the ramblers res most of her life. for old tom scannlon. do you remember when the brack was the old brack/ i know you lads/ i remember all the the old folks, the brockens, the bracks, daveses, burns, griffins, O,tools, the fells. and many more.. and i remember when you reached the end of maddens lane. and you walked across the road… do you remember the little old house
just over the wall … like to hear some more lads and girls i will tell you all about my time in old ballybrack. as i knew it then… lets get it on lads love to hear from the old boys/ .
#14 by Joe Mone at October 23rd, 2015
| Quote
Any pictures of Igo Inn from the past – my dad was born above it in 1948 when my grandfather was working in the Inn for his uncle (Hugh McKeever)? Would love to show him if there is?
#15 by Niall Kennedy at December 2nd, 2015
| Quote
Did you remember my dad
He used to drink at the IGO too and he was a very amusing man “Patrick Kennedy”
He lived near Maddens Lane in Dale View Park
I lived there myself till 1989