Abbotstown () is a
townland
A townland (; Ulster-Scots: ''toonlann'') is a traditional small land division used in Ireland and in the Western Isles of Scotland, typically covering . The townland system is of medieval Gaelic origin, predating the Norman invasion, and mo ...
in the
civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a type of administrative parish used for local government. It is a territorial designation which is the lowest tier of local government. Civil parishes can trace their origin to the ancient system of parishes, w ...
of
Castleknock
Castleknock () is an affluent village in County Dublin, Ireland, located west of the centre of Dublin city. It is in the modern county of Fingal.
In addition to the village, the name "Castleknock" also refers to older units of land division: a ...
in
Fingal
Fingal ( ; ) is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster and is part of the Eastern and Midland Region. It is one of three successor counties to County Dublin, which ...
,
Ireland
Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...
. It is also the name of an historical
demesne
A demesne ( ) or domain was all the land retained and managed by a lord of the manor under the feudal system for his own use, occupation, or support. This distinguished it from land subinfeudation, sub-enfeoffed by him to others as sub-tenants. ...
and country estate that is close to
Blanchardstown
Blanchardstown () is a large outer suburb of Dublin in the modern Counties of Ireland, county of Fingal, Ireland. Located northwest of Dublin city centre, it has developed since the 1960s from a small village to a point where Greater Blanchards ...
. Historically the estate belonged to a number of aristocratic families. When these neighbouring families intermarried, their combined estates in Abbotstown and the townland of Sheephill were usually, though informally, called "Abbotstown". Despite a significant level of suburban development in the wider
Dublin 15
Dublin 15, also rendered as D15, is a List of Dublin postal districts, postal district in the suburbs of Dublin, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is west of the General Post Office, Dublin, GPO in Dublin city.
Geography and political subdivisi ...
area from the 1980s onwards, Abbotstown and Sheephill remained largely undeveloped, as the demesne was held by several state bodies. Today, the majority of the combined demesne remains unspoilt and now accommodates the administration offices and sporting grounds of the various bodies associated with Ireland's
National Sports Campus
The National Sports Campus ()- (sometimes known as Sports Campus Ireland, Sport Ireland Campus or Irish Sport HQ) is a large site in the western suburbs of Dublin, Ireland, which contains a number of sporting facilities. It is operated by the Na ...
. Abbotstown proper, however, does not contain any part of the campus nor the eponymous Abbotstown House itself. Instead, almost the whole of the land is given over to
Connolly Hospital
The Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown () is a teaching hospital in Blanchardstown, Dublin, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is managed by RCSI Hospitals.
History
The hospital, which was initially established as a tuberculosis sanitarium, wa ...
and the "St Francis Hospice".
History
Barons of Castleknock
Abbotstown Demense in the
barony Barony may refer to:
* Barony, the peerage, office of, or territory held by a baron
* Barony, the title and land held in fealty by a feudal baron
* Barony (county division), a type of administrative or geographical division in parts of the British ...
of
Castleknock
Castleknock () is an affluent village in County Dublin, Ireland, located west of the centre of Dublin city. It is in the modern county of Fingal.
In addition to the village, the name "Castleknock" also refers to older units of land division: a ...
remained in the ownership of the Tyrell family up to the late 14th century when John Sergent and his wife Joan Tyrell, sister to the last Tyrell Baron of Castleknock, took up residence.
Clements family
By the 17th century the estate had passed to Sir John Dungan who owned one thatched house, several cottages and an old church at Abbotstown.
[Lacey, J. 1999. A Candle in the Window: A History of the Barony of Castleknock. Dublin. Marino Books. p. 84] Later, the lands at Abbotstown were owned by the Clements family, ancestors to the Earls of Leitrim and famous for the fact that one of their number was Nathaniel Clements, Chief Ranger in the Phoenix Park where his residence later became the official residence of the
President of Ireland
The president of Ireland () is the head of state of Republic of Ireland, Ireland and the supreme commander of the Defence Forces (Ireland), Irish Defence Forces. The presidency is a predominantly figurehead, ceremonial institution, serving as ...
,
Áras an Uachtaráin
(; "Residence of the President"), formerly the Viceregal Lodge, is the List of official residences, official residence and principal workplace of the President of Ireland.
It is located off Chesterfield Avenue in the Phoenix Park in Dublin, ...
.
Baronets of Abbotstown
The most famous family to live on the lands at Abbotstown were the Falkiner family who became
Baronets of Abbotstown in 1812. The Falkiners married into the Hamilton family who lived on the neighbouring estate of Sheephill and in 1832 both estates were amalgamated by the Hamiltons and a new residence, Abbotstown House, was built as the family seat.
Barons HolmPatrick of Abbotstown
Ion Trant Hamilton was the
Lord Lieutenant of County Dublin and
Member of Parliament for
County Dublin
County Dublin ( or ) is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland, and holds its capital city, Dublin. It is located on the island's east coast, within the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster. Until 1994, County Dubli ...
. He was ennobled in 1897 by Queen Victoria as
Baron HolmPatrick and Abbotstown House remained the principal seat in Castleknock until 1947 when James Hans Hamilton, 3rd Baron HolmPatrick (1928–1991), lost part of his lands under a Compulsory Purchase Order to allow for the building of
James Connolly Memorial Hospital.
The Barons
HolmPatrick of Abbotstown continued to be associated with Castleknock until quite recently and are buried in the graveyard at St. Brigid's Church (Church of Ireland) in Castleknock, however the current baron, the Hon. Hans James David Hamilton, resides in
Cornwall
Cornwall (; or ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is also one of the Celtic nations and the homeland of the Cornish people. The county is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, ...
,
England
England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...
.
State ownership

Lord HolmPatrick sold Abbotstown to the Marine Institute of Ireland, who were located at Abbotstown House until 2005, while much of the demesne was used by the Department of Agriculture for agricultural research including cattle and other breeding programs, the whole being managed by the Office of Public Works.
In 2005, the house was acquired by the
Government of Ireland
The Government of Ireland () is the executive (government), executive authority of Republic of Ireland, Ireland, headed by the , the head of government. The government – also known as the cabinet (government), cabinet – is composed of Mini ...
for
Sports Campus Ireland. In the late 1990s half of the original lands acquired from Lord HolmPatrick by the health board were sold for the construction of
Waterville, a private housing development.
[Development Plan. 1999.]
References
{{Dublin residential areas
Castleknock
Blanchardstown
Townlands of the barony of Castleknock