Ringsend & Irishtown

Ringsend and Irishtown have become a hugely sought-after locations in the heart of Dublin 4, one of Dublin’s most fashionable and vibrant neighbourhoods close to the city centre.   Small period cottages and red-bricked terraced houses in Ringsend and its neighbouring Irishtown make for highly desirable rental options and for first-time buyers in this close-knit Dublin community.

The boundaries of Ringsend and Irishtown are almost impossible to define, with one area merging into the other, although long-established residents have no problem recognising the differences and this entire area has a strong sense of identity.

A host of local amenities include The Chop House, The Old Spot, Ringsend Park, Lotts & Co. supermarket and the Aviva stadium. There is an array of major employers including Google, Facebook and HSBC all close by.

History & Culture

Ringsend was originally separated from the rest of Dublin by a long narrow peninsular and its original name was “Ring’s Ende”. It encompasses all the streets from Grand Canal through the village past the Carnegie Library part of the Pigeon House Road as far as the toll.

In the 16^th and 17^th centuries having reclaimed land from the Dodder and Liffey, the English started to move Irish inhabitants outside the walls of the city into the peninsular area and referred to this area as an ‘Irishtown’.

‘Raytown’ is also another name that was used locally for Ringsend reflecting its history as a fishing village, specialising in the catching of ray.

The bridge in Ringsend situated beside St. Patricks church was built in 1640 and was used to link roads to the city for the transportation of goods. For centuries it was the main dock for ships crossing the Irish sea.

To the westernmost part of Ringsend sits Grand Canal Dock and Boland’s Flour Mill, which employed many in the area. These original two six-storey warehouse buildings were built in the 1830s and the warehouse buildings can still be seen today as protected structures.  The tech giant Google are the new owners of this site and on its completion will be home to new offices, apartments, and commercial units.

Poolbeg lighthouse is a prominent site in the area, constructed in 1767. Although no longer in use since 2010 they remain a city treasure and from a plane mark the homecoming for emigrants and holidaymakers over the decades.

Education

There are four main primary school options in the areas including St.Patrick’s, St. Mathews N.S. Ringsend College, Maitiu NFA Irishtown and Star of the Sea. 

There is one mixed post-primary school in the neighbourhood which is Ringsend College. 

Dine & Drink

The area is host to a variety of eateries and pubs, including the timeless gastropub The Old Spot, and together with many other options to enjoy a great evening out in The Irishtown House, The Oarsman and Charlotte Quay.

Shop

Supermarkets options include Tesco express and small independent retailers. Tesco Superstore in the Merrion Shopping Centre and the Aldi and Lidl in East Wall are nearby options for a weekly shop.

Other neighbourhood offerings

During the summer months, The Poolbeg Yacht/ Boat Club and Marina is an established centre for water-based sporting activities and hosts an eighteen-race sailing series from the marina to Dublin Bay.

Irishtown Nature Park is a man-made park offering several kilometres of walking trails along the Poolbeg Peninsula.

Everyone can enjoy a night out at the dogs at Shelbourne Park greyhound racing stadium with multiple entertainment packages on offer.