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GROTTO AVENUE AND GROTTO PLACE

February 2, 2023 by infomatique

BOOTERSTOWN AREA OF DUBLIN

I was unaware of Grotto Place until I was in the Booterstown area today and was also unaware of St. Mary’s Boys National School.

St. Mary’s was built in 1852 funded by a Board of Education Grant and local subscriptions. The granite building is still in use for educational purposes, currently housing a Montessori school and a Youth Club.

The first roll book of the school is dated 1861. The old school originally consisted of one room of 13 m. x 10 m x 7m in which children whose ages ranged from three to fourteen years were taught. Another room 4m x 4m x 2m was added later. It is interesting to note that in 1918 the average number of boys on the roll was 60.7, approximately one-fifth of the number at present attending now.

The present school building was opened in 1968 and continued to have an enrolment of approximately 300 pupils until the middle of the 1980s when it declined to 50 pupils. Since 1987, enrolment numbers have gradually risen back up to approximately 300.

HAD A VERY GOOD SUNDAY LUNCH AT GLEESONS

January 30, 2023 by infomatique

BOOTERSTOWN AVENUE 30 JANUARY 2023

My mother will be 103 years old in May 2023 but for various reasons we have had cancel any celebrations planned for 2020, 2021 and 2022. To compensate we had planned a large event this year but once again it had to be cancelled so my sister and myself decided to organise a meal at Gleesons on Booterstown Avenue but life got a bit confused as the staff thought that it was a birthday party. However, we had a wonderful time and my mother really enjoyed herself.

“Located in the leafy suburb of Booterstown, Co Dublin, Gleesons of Booterstown is an award-winning family run boutique hotel, restaurant and bar. Home to 16 luxurious en suites, which compliment the multi award-winning Bar, Pub, Restaurant, deli and off license.”

SANDYMOUNT OPEN AIR SWIMMING BATHS

January 29, 2023 by infomatique

DERELICT FOR ABOUT 100 YEARS

Designed by Frederick Morley, the Merrion Pier, Promenade and Baths in 1863. The baths did not operate all year round but were usually open from late May until September. A national publication noted in 1863 that the cost of admittance was well beyond what a labourer could afford, particularly if accompanied by his wife and children.

The baths measured approximately 40 by 40 metres, with a 75-metre pier added in 1884. The pier featured a bandstand halfway along it and summer concerts were regularly held there for many years. By 1920, the pier had deteriorated so much that it had to be demolished. The concrete baths section, which resembles a small harbour, remains.

CUCKOO LANE IN DUBLIN 7

January 21, 2023 by infomatique

THE BLUE BUILDING WAS A SCHOOL

Lána na Cuaiche is the Irish name for this laneway.

The school which was located on this very narrow lane was associated with the nearby Roman Catholic church of Saint Michin’s, this was one of several primary schools in the area, and is of significance as a repository of memory for local people who attended. Its current use by a long-established fruit and vegetable wholesalers continues the markets tradition of the area.

THE REFURBISHED BATHS BUT WHERE IS THE POOL

January 8, 2023 by infomatique

DUN LAOGHAIRE 8 JANUARY 2023

After an almost twenty year local campaign Dún Laoghaire baths reopened as a public amenity in December 2022 but without a pool. Apparently a rectangular concrete void has been left below the surface of the amphitheatre and will allow for the inclusion of a tidal pool in future works.

My birthday was on New Years day and my brother had organised a party for me at his home not far from Scotsman’s Bay and I had planned to photograph the recently refurbished baths while I was in the area. Unfortunately, on the last day of 2022, my brother and his wife discovered that they had contracted Covid so my visit to Dun Laoghaire as well as my birthday party was cancelled and I did not get an opportunity to visit until today.

When I arrived the first thing that caught my attention was the number of dogs and I mention this because three dogs jumped over a wall into the water without knowing what was on the other side. One owner was very distressed but the dog survived and did not appear to be in any way distressed. The other two dogs were on leads and did not hit the rocks and were easily recovered.

Two separate bathing areas existed in, what is now, Dun Laoghaire in the 1790s. Baths were built by the Royal Hotel in 1828 but were removed to make way for the construction of the railway in 1836.

In 1843, John Croswaithe built baths on the corner of Scotsman’s Bay. Originally known as the Royal Victorian Baths, they were only used by those who had the means to afford them. This is the site of today’s Dun Laoghaire baths.

Victoria Baths were public baths on Queens Road. Over the years, they had a number of different configurations. They provided salt-water or fresh water baths, baths for swimming or baths for washing or “turkish” baths for cleansing the pores, hot, cold, or tepid baths, individual or shared baths. In their last configuration as Rainbow Rapids in the 1980s, they provided water slides and other ways of enjoying the water.

Restoration Works at the Dun Laoghaire Baths were substantially completed on 2nd December 2022. Works included the retention and securing of the existing Baths Pavilion and the removal of dilapidated structures to the rear of the Pavilion to create a new route between Newtownsmith and the East Pier. This walkway is at a level that provides a safe and secure walk offering panoramic views over Scotsman’s Bay.

The walkway features sitting and viewing points and the land adjoining this walk has been be regraded to create sloping grassed areas.

The long derelict Baths Pavilion together with a smaller outbuilding was retained, weathered and secured while the remaining dilapidated outbuildings to the rear and side of the Pavilion were removed.

The original Baths entrance along Windsor Terrace was restored to provide access. An outdoor ‘café terrace’ linked to the new café will provide an attractive sitting area for viewing eating and relaxing.

THE REFURBISHED BATHS IN DUN LAOGHAIRE BUT WHERE IS THE POOL 013