Dartry | PARKS AND GARDENS

DARTRY DUBLIN 6

Nestled in the Dublin suburb of Dartry, Palmerston Park offers a tranquil escape with its blend of open green spaces and landscaped gardens. Located at the top of Palmerston Road, the park is divided into two distinct sections. The eastern side features expansive lawns ideal for leisurely strolls or picnics, leading to a children’s playground. The western section, with its serene pond, vibrant flowerbeds, and meandering pathways, invites quiet contemplation.

Opening and closing times, which vary seasonally, are posted at the park gates.

Historical Context

The park occupies the site of the former Rathmines Castle, built circa 1636 upon the ruins of an earlier tower house. This hilltop location, overlooking the River Dodder, likely stood near the original ‘rath’ (ringfort) that gave Rathmines its name.

Severely damaged during the Battle of Rathmines, the castle was later restored by George Radcliffe and occupied by Captain William Shore until his death in 1668. In 1746, Henry Temple, 1st Viscount Palmerston, leased the castle to Sir William Yorke, 1st Baronet. Consequently, the path to Milltown was marked as ‘Yorke’s Path’ on some maps of that era.

By 1789, the castle housed a boys’ school run by Reverend Charles Barry. Around 1840, the castle was demolished, making way for the present-day Palmerston Park. A successor school, Rathmines School, was established nearby.

A new Rathmines Castle, a castellated house, was built around 1820 at a different location. This structure was also demolished in the mid-1960s to accommodate the Church of Ireland College of Education in Rathmines.

The Palmerstown/Palmerston Conundrum

The coexistence of Palmerston Park in Dartry adds another layer to the ongoing confusion surrounding the naming of Palmerstown, a suburb in west Dublin officially known as Palmerston. While locals predominantly use “Palmerstown,” the legal name remains “Palmerston.” A 2015 plebiscite officially changed the name of the village area within Palmerston to “Palmerstown Village,” but the broader suburb retains its legal name, perpetuating the ambiguity.