Ballymun 1500-1960
The origins of Ballymun can be traced as far back as the sixteenth century. It is known that in 1537 Ballymun was a townland (a small feudal enclosure) in the parish of Santry which was then part of the Barony of Coolock. Some feudal connections can be seen to this day, particularly in the names of Ballymun’s fellow townlands in Santry parish such as Belcamp, Clonshagh and Huntstown.The origins of Ballymun can be traced as far back as the sixteenth century. It is known that in 1537 Ballymun was a townland (a small feudal enclosure) in the parish of Santry which was then part of the Barony of Coolock. Some feudal connections can be seen to this day, particularly in the names of Ballymun’s fellow townlands in Santry parish such as Belcamp, Clonshagh and Huntstown.
Ballymun has traditionally been associated with St. Pappin, son of Aengus Mc Nathfraid who was the first Christian King of Munster. It is believed that St. Pappin and his brother St. Folloman originally founded the parish of Santry early in the sixth century. The Feast of St. Pappin also known as the Pattern, was celebrated on 31st July under an ancient tree in the townland of Belcurris until the time of the Famine.
The development of Santry parish from the sixteenth to the twentienth century owes much to Barry family and their successors the Domvilles. The Barry family who controlled the parish from c. 1620 until 1751 built roads, schools, houses and churches in the area, most notably the third Lord Barry who started construction of the impressive Santry Court manor house in 1702 and in 1709 built the parish’s Protestant Church. After the death of the notorious fourth Lord Barry in 1751 control of the demesne passed to the Domville family who were to continue the parish’s development. Sir Charles Compton Domville undertook a substantial programme of building and improvement. In 1839 work began on the “Swiss Village”, a series of “chalet” styles houses completed the following year. At Santry Court the landscape artist Ninian Niven was commissioned to carry out an ambitious remodelling of the gardens and St. Pappin’s Church, Ballymun’s oldest surviving building was completed circa 1864.
Education has played an important part in the life of the parish since the early eighteenth century. The Protestant Parochial School at Schoolhouse was completed circa 1706. Ballymun’s Charter School opened in 1739 until its closure over a century later. St. Pappin’s school (later to become Ballymun National School) opened in 1808 and in 1837 the Albert Agricultural College was established.