Kilmainham & Inchicore: A History

Although Kilmainham and Inchicore have medieval origins, it is the institutions of the 18th and 19th centuries and the transportation network of the same period that have formed the natural boundaries in which both villages developed. Historical maps of Dublin show Kilmainham at the city's edge. Development in the 18th century was along James and Bow Lane West, as far as Cromwell Steps.

The Royal Hospital Kilmainham and Dr. Steeven's Hospital formed the beginnings of an "institutional precinct". The "New Canal" defined the southern boundary. Ordnance Survey maps of the mid 19th century show the further development of this institutional precinct with the inclusion of Kilmainham Jail and Courthouse.

The north boundary is formed by the new railway line and Inchicore village is more defined. A railway housing estate was designed near Inchicore village. Victorian expansion ends at the junction of the South Circular Road at Inchicore and Kilmainham Lane, with some further expansion along Inchicore Road. Most of these developments are two-story red brick terraced houses, some with bay windows.

The early part of the 20th century saw the beginning of local authority housing in the 1920's and the more expansive schemes of the 1930's and 40's centred at Bulfin Road and extended to the Canal. Other schemes include those to the west of Inchicore Village. These schemes were terraced houses with pitched, slated or tiled roofs in blocks of 6 to 8 units with front gardens forming streets. The last major development was St. Michael's Estate, a flat complex built in the 1970's.