South Circular Road, Dublin
Encyclopedia
The South Circular Road is a road
in Dublin, Ireland
, one of the longest in the city. It runs from Kilmainham
in the west of the city, through Rialto
and Dolphin's Barn
to Portobello
, near the centre. As it runs mainly through residential areas, it is used by numerous bus routes.
was originally known as Grimswoods Nurseries. The first buildings on the site were those of a Remand Prison or Bridewell begun in 1813 by the architect Francis Johnston
. It was then known as Richmond Gaol and later became Wellington Barracks. Now the Griffith Barracks are part of Ireland's largest private college, Griffith College.
Residential development of the South Circular Road began in earnest at Portobello around 1860 when estates such as Emorville and Portabello Gardens were put up for sale as development land. It quickly continued along the length of the road into the 1890s.
Harrington Street (St. Kevin's) Catholic church was completed in 1871, and the Church of Ireland
St. Kevin's in 1883. The Donore Presbyterian Church
(now the Dublin Mosque
) was built in 1884 (in the 1860s).
In 1887 Richmond Gaol was transferred to the War Department and became Wellington Barracks.
The first Jews fleeing conditions in Lithuania (then part of the Russian Empire
) arrived in the early 1870s and eventually settled off Lower Clanbrassil Street. In the following decades many of them settled along the South Circular Road, both sides of Leonard's Corner, and in the side-streets off it. There was a Jewish dairy opposite what was then Wellington Barracks.
On July 1, 1943, the South Circular Road was the scene of a robbery
by the IRA
, then hard-pressed by the Irish Government of Éamon de Valera
due to the on-going war
. Charlie Kerins
, IRA Chief of Staff at the time, and his fellow militants Archie Doyle
and Jackie Griffith arrived on bikes at the gates of Player Wills factory on the South Circular Road. With scarves around their faces they stopped at gunpoint the van with some £5,000 for wages, and drove away with the van and the money, which was used to finance the organization's operations.
In 1939 part of the Griffith Barracks was leased to the Irish Amateur Boxing Association
as the site for the National Boxing Stadium which was opened by Frank Aiken
.
"Had Bloom discussed similar subjects during nocturnal perambulations in the past?
In 1884 with Owen Goldberg and Cecil Turnbull at night on public thoroughfares between Longwood avenue and Leonard's corner and Leonard's corner and Synge street and Synge street and Bloomfield Avenue." (ie, they walked along South Circular Road, Portobello).
Road
A road is a thoroughfare, route, or way on land between two places, which typically has been paved or otherwise improved to allow travel by some conveyance, including a horse, cart, or motor vehicle. Roads consist of one, or sometimes two, roadways each with one or more lanes and also any...
in Dublin, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, one of the longest in the city. It runs from Kilmainham
Kilmainham
Kilmainham is a suburb of Dublin south of the River Liffey and west of the city centre, in the Dublin 8 postal district.-History:In the Viking era, the monastery was home to the first Norse base in Ireland....
in the west of the city, through Rialto
Rialto (Dublin)
Rialto is a suburb of Dublin's southside. It is located along the abandoned extension from the Grand Canal to James Street Basin which was once again built to serve the Guinness Brewery....
and Dolphin's Barn
Dolphin's Barn
Dolphin's Barn is an inner city suburb of Dublin, Ireland, situated on the Southside of the city in the Dublin 8, and partially in the Dublin 12, postal district. Its name derives from a family named Dolphyn who once owned a storehouse there. Surrounding areas include The Liberties, Inchicore,...
to Portobello
Portobello, Dublin
In Dublin, Portobello is an area stretching westwards from South Richmond Street as far as Upper Clanbrassil Street bordered on the north by the South Circular Road and on the south by the Grand Canal....
, near the centre. As it runs mainly through residential areas, it is used by numerous bus routes.
History
Until the early 18th century most of the area covered by the road was countryside. The site of Griffith BarracksGriffith Barracks
Griffith Barracks is a former military barracks located on the South Circular Road, Dublin, Ireland.-History:The site of Griffith Barracks was originally known as Grimswoods Nurseries. The first buildings on the site were those of a Remand Prison or Bridewell. Begun in 1813 by the architect Francis...
was originally known as Grimswoods Nurseries. The first buildings on the site were those of a Remand Prison or Bridewell begun in 1813 by the architect Francis Johnston
Francis Johnston (architect)
See Francis Johnson for English architect of similar name.Francis Johnston was an Irish architect, best known for building the General Post Office on O’Connell Street, Dublin.-Life:...
. It was then known as Richmond Gaol and later became Wellington Barracks. Now the Griffith Barracks are part of Ireland's largest private college, Griffith College.
Residential development of the South Circular Road began in earnest at Portobello around 1860 when estates such as Emorville and Portabello Gardens were put up for sale as development land. It quickly continued along the length of the road into the 1890s.
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
St. Kevin's in 1883. The Donore Presbyterian Church
Presbyterianism
Presbyterianism refers to a number of Christian churches adhering to the Calvinist theological tradition within Protestantism, which are organized according to a characteristic Presbyterian polity. Presbyterian theology typically emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of the Scriptures,...
(now the Dublin Mosque
Dublin Mosque
Dublin Mosque is a mosque on the South Circular Road, Dublin in Ireland. The building was previously in use by the Presbyterian Church in Ireland...
) was built in 1884 (in the 1860s).
In 1887 Richmond Gaol was transferred to the War Department and became Wellington Barracks.
The first Jews fleeing conditions in Lithuania (then part of the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
) arrived in the early 1870s and eventually settled off Lower Clanbrassil Street. In the following decades many of them settled along the South Circular Road, both sides of Leonard's Corner, and in the side-streets off it. There was a Jewish dairy opposite what was then Wellington Barracks.
On July 1, 1943, the South Circular Road was the scene of a robbery
Robbery
Robbery is the crime of taking or attempting to take something of value by force or threat of force or by putting the victim in fear. At common law, robbery is defined as taking the property of another, with the intent to permanently deprive the person of that property, by means of force or fear....
by the IRA
Irish Republican Army (1922–1969)
The original Irish Republican Army fought a guerrilla war against British rule in Ireland in the Irish War of Independence 1919–1921. Following the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty on 6 December 1921, the IRA in the 26 counties that were to become the Irish Free State split between supporters and...
, then hard-pressed by the Irish Government of Éamon de Valera
Éamon de Valera
Éamon de Valera was one of the dominant political figures in twentieth century Ireland, serving as head of government of the Irish Free State and head of government and head of state of Ireland...
due to the on-going war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Charlie Kerins
Charlie Kerins
Charlie Kerins was a prominent Irish Republican, who following his killing of policeman Dennis O'Brien, was named the Chief of Staff of the IRA...
, IRA Chief of Staff at the time, and his fellow militants Archie Doyle
Archie Doyle
Archie Doyle was one of three anti-Treaty members of the IRA who on July 10, 1927 assassinated the Irish Justice Minister Kevin O'Higgins. He had had a long subsequent career in the organisation's ranks....
and Jackie Griffith arrived on bikes at the gates of Player Wills factory on the South Circular Road. With scarves around their faces they stopped at gunpoint the van with some £5,000 for wages, and drove away with the van and the money, which was used to finance the organization's operations.
In 1939 part of the Griffith Barracks was leased to the Irish Amateur Boxing Association
Irish Amateur Boxing Association
The Irish Amateur Boxing Association is the governing body of amateur boxing in Ireland. It was founded in 1911 following a meeting in Dublin.-Structure:...
as the site for the National Boxing Stadium which was opened by Frank Aiken
Frank Aiken
Frank Aiken was a commander of the Irish Republican Army and later an Irish politician. A founding-member of Fianna Fáil, Aiken was first elected to Dáil Éireann in 1923 and at each subsequent election until 1973...
.
Literary allusion
In the "Ithaca" chapter of Joyce's Ulysses, the question is posed:"Had Bloom discussed similar subjects during nocturnal perambulations in the past?
In 1884 with Owen Goldberg and Cecil Turnbull at night on public thoroughfares between Longwood avenue and Leonard's corner and Leonard's corner and Synge street and Synge street and Bloomfield Avenue." (ie, they walked along South Circular Road, Portobello).