Ballybough is an inner city district of north east Dublin city, Ireland. Situated north of the Summerhill Parade /N.C.R. intersection to Drumcondra and east of the that N.C.R. to the River Tolka at Fairview, adjacent areas include the North Strand and Clonliffe.
The term Bailebough in Irish is derived from the 'Baile' Town and 'Bocht' meaning 'poor'. Prior to its urbanisation in the late nineteenth century, Ballybough was known as Mud Island, owing to its proximity to the mud flats that now form Fairview and environs. In 2013, Dublin City Councillor Nial Ring started a controversial campaign to change the official Irish name from Baile Bocht to Baile Bog, on the grounds that 'Poor Town' was insulting to the residents. A counter-campaign was started by some Irish-speaking residents.
There is an old Jewish Cemetery, Ballybough Cemetery on Fairview Strand near Ballybough Bridge.
In the distant past, this was a district that attracted characters of ill-repute, drunks, prostitutes and pirates. It was here that the authorities designated an area of burial known colloquially as 'the Suicide Plot' from which Bram Stoker derived the idea of the cross for his novel 'Dracula,' the cross being the junction of Clonliffe Road and Ballybough Road.
During the land reclamation project of the 19th century, Mud Island was also known, interchangeably, as Friend's Field or French Field, before it became known by its current name. The village of Ballybough traces its origins to a series of small dwellings known as Ballybough Cottages, which were later demolished to make way for the Dublin Corporation housing project known as Ballybough House.
The area was home to such famous people such as Luke Kelly of The Dubliners folk group for whom Ballybough Bridge over the River Tolka is named. The film director Jim Sheridan (My Left Foot, The Field) is also from the area. Curtis Flemming from Tolka Road played International football for Ireland as did Paddy Moore from Clonliffe Avenue.
Close by at Jones's Road is Croke Park, the headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association. This sports stadium is among the most modern in Europe with a capacity of 83,000. In addition to hurling and gaelic football it is also used as a rock concert venue. It is here that U2 has played to some of its largest audiences. The stadium was also the venue where world boxing champion Muhammad Ali defeated 'Al Blue' Lewis in a non-title fight in 1972.
