PHOTOGRAPHED BY WILLIAM MURPHY USING A SONY FX30
![28 BROOKFIELD ROAD IN KILMAINHAM [A HISTORIC COTTAGE IN THE SHADOW OF A HUGE NEW HOSPITAL]-247814-1](https://excellentstreetimages.com/SouthOfTheRiverWordPress/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/28-BROOKFIELD-ROAD-IN-KILMAINHAM-A-HISTORIC-COTTAGE-IN-THE-SHADOW-OF-A-HUGE-NEW-HOSPITAL-247814-1-1422x1067.jpg "28 BROOKFIELD ROAD IN KILMAINHAM [A HISTORIC COTTAGE IN THE SHADOW OF A HUGE NEW HOSPITAL]-247814-1")
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![28 BROOKFIELD ROAD IN KILMAINHAM [A HISTORIC COTTAGE IN THE SHADOW OF A HUGE NEW HOSPITAL]-247810-1](https://excellentstreetimages.com/SouthOfTheRiverWordPress/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/28-BROOKFIELD-ROAD-IN-KILMAINHAM-A-HISTORIC-COTTAGE-IN-THE-SHADOW-OF-A-HUGE-NEW-HOSPITAL-247810-1-1422x1067.jpg "28 BROOKFIELD ROAD IN KILMAINHAM [A HISTORIC COTTAGE IN THE SHADOW OF A HUGE NEW HOSPITAL]-247810-1")
![28 BROOKFIELD ROAD IN KILMAINHAM [A HISTORIC COTTAGE IN THE SHADOW OF A HUGE NEW HOSPITAL]-247811-1](https://excellentstreetimages.com/SouthOfTheRiverWordPress/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/28-BROOKFIELD-ROAD-IN-KILMAINHAM-A-HISTORIC-COTTAGE-IN-THE-SHADOW-OF-A-HUGE-NEW-HOSPITAL-247811-1-1422x1067.jpg "28 BROOKFIELD ROAD IN KILMAINHAM [A HISTORIC COTTAGE IN THE SHADOW OF A HUGE NEW HOSPITAL]-247811-1")
This charming, attached three-bay, single-storey cottage with attic accommodation, dating back to approximately 1780, stands at 28 Brookfield Road, Kilmainham. A recent glazed sun-room addition to the rear (north-east) elevation complements the original structure. The cottage features a pitched slate roof, complete with a rendered chimneystack, coping, and cast-iron rainwater goods. Clay ridge tiles and painted rubble stone walls contribute to its unique character. Square-headed window openings, framed by masonry lintels and granite sills, house timber frame windows. A square-headed door opening leads to the front, featuring a timber battened door opening onto a granite step.
This modest vernacular dwelling represents a traditional architectural style increasingly scarce in urban environments. It retains much of its original form and fabric, with its small windows and high roof-pitch more reminiscent of rural than urban residences. The painted rubble stone walls, which would originally have been whitewashed, offer a delightful contrast to the prevalent red brick of the street, making it a distinctive feature of the streetscape. However, this historic cottage now faces a dramatic change to its surroundings. Brookfield Road and its immediate environs are currently undergoing a significant transformation with the construction of the vast new Children’s Hospital, a project nearing completion. This imposing development will undoubtedly dominate the landscape, significantly altering the character of Brookfield Road and casting a long shadow, both literally and figuratively, over this small piece of Dublin’s architectural heritage.