Places In South Dublin You Miss

Big Nasty

As kids our parents used to bring us out for 'tea' every Saturday evening and we would often go the the Dalkey Island Hotel. A bit kitsch but it was cool at the time. I remember sitting there one evening during a storm and the waves were rolling up over the bar windows.

Another haunt was the Killiney Court Hotel - used to play in the rockery out front. Both establishments are now apartment blocks.

Used to go on the hop from school and take the Dart out to Dun Laoghaire and go to the little waterpark thing they had there. Can't remember the name of it.

My first gig was Metallica in the Top Hat in Dun Laoghaire in I think '88. The venue is now apartments too.

Any others?

zagmund

Ah, the Top Hat. I remember it as a roller disco back in the day. Life was simple then. Murray records in Stillorgan shopping centre - bought my first record there. I can't remember it - I may have blocked the memory due to poor music taste in my early days.

z

stimpson

MCMLXXV wrote: »

Another haunt was the Killiney Court Hotel - used to play in the rockery out front. Both establishments are now apartment blocks.

The Killiney Court Gone? thats where I first fing had me debs.

The Waterpark in Dun Laoighaire was Rainbow Rapids. I saw some recent photos of the inside - it's in bits now. Will see if I can find them.


Edit: Here ya go

http://www.abandonedireland.com/dlb_1.html

http://www.abandonedireland.com/dlb_2.html

Big Nasty

stimpson wrote: »

The Killiney Court Gone? thats where I first fing had me debs.

The Waterpark in Dun Laoighaire was Rainbow Rapids. I saw some recent photos of the inside - it's in bits now. Will see if I can find them.


Edit: Here ya go

http://www.abandonedireland.com/dlb_1.html

http://www.abandonedireland.com/dlb_2.html

Rainbow Rapids - That's the one!

I can see myself spending a bit of time on that abandoned Ireland site! :eek:

Qualitymark

Dun Laoghaire sea swimming baths. The chattering knocked lumps out of my teeth after every visit when I was learning to swim there. Kids today don't know what icy, miserable misery means.

helimachoptor

The baths
The fun factory
Johnnys Car Park (across from the library) was a playground run by nuns!

Qualitymark

And Fuller's Cafe, with its chocolate-and-walnut cake and proper tea made from tealeaves, in china pots.

homer911

Mrs Mellons Sweet shop in Dundrum, on the hill, across from the Garda station - now a jewellers

homer911

All the green fields that have now been built on!

Big Nasty

Here's another one:

On Stocking Lane, Rathfarnham, there was a venue called Green Acres, a lot of big bands would have played there back in the day. I was only ever in it as a kid with my folks in the early evening so never actually saw it in full flight.

The original Radio Nova was broadcast from here too.

Qualitymark

The Dark Lanes, the winding country lane with overarching trees bathing it in a deep green light, which led out past the Plunkett house at Larkfield, where the Volunteers trained for 1916, to the Green Fields. Now replaced by the semi-Ds of the Sundrive Road.

zagmund

Speaking of roads - I miss the old Brewery Road, Leopardstown Road, Sandyford area. I remember cycling up from Leopardstown to play pitch and putt in Stapaside. The approaches to Stepaside along Kilgobbin Road hasn't changed a whole heap, but they sure demolished anything that was part of Leopardstown Road or Hillcrest Road. Poor old Murphystown Road hasn't been the same for a long time. I often regret not getting my Dads old cine out (or maybe his huge analog camcorder) and recording the route before it went away.

Ah here, I'm all emotional for the old days now.

z

Big Nasty

zagmund wrote: »

Speaking of roads - I miss the old Brewery Road, Leopardstown Road, Sandyford area. I remember cycling up from Leopardstown to play pitch and putt in Stapaside. The approaches to Stepaside along Kilgobbin Road hasn't changed a whole heap, but they sure demolished anything that was part of Leopardstown Road or Hillcrest Road. Poor old Murphystown Road hasn't been the same for a long time. I often regret not getting my Dads old cine out (or maybe his huge analog camcorder) and recording the route before it went away.

Ah here, I'm all emotional for the old days now.

z

Brewery road is still there, albeit three times the width. Hillcrest road is pretty much unchanged. I have a pic somewhere of Stillorgan before they built the N11.

EDIT: Voila!

zagmund

Ah I know that Brewery Road is still there alright, but it's been very much modified since I was there. There's a photo somewhere showing two old ladies, stone walls and an 86 coming down it. I can't find it at the moment, but it's been on this forum before. As for Hillcrest Road, I thought it had been straightened, had the junctions relocated, etc . . .

z

Big Nasty

zagmund wrote: »

Ah I know that Brewery Road is still there alright, but it's been very much modified since I was there. There's a photo somewhere showing two old ladies, stone walls and an 86 coming down it. I can't find it at the moment, but it's been on this forum before. As for Hillcrest Road, I thought it had been straightened, had the junctions relocated, etc . . .

z

I know the pic you're talking about. Yeah, to be fair the Sandyford end of Hillcrest Road has been modified but the rest of it is pretty much untouched.

Found that pic:

Luckycharm

MCMLXXV wrote: »

Here's another one:

On Stocking Lane, Rathfarnham, there was a venue called Green Acres, a lot of big bands would have played there back in the day. I was only ever in it as a kid with my folks in the early evening so never actually saw it in full flight.

The original Radio Nova was broadcast from here too.

Where in Stocking lane was it- was it near where the car for the Hell fire club is?

Qualitymark

And the beautiful little pier with the glass pavilion over it where the boat train used to go out on the rails up to the mailboat - Dun Laoghaire council sneakily knocked that recently, the swines.

Big Nasty

Luckycharm wrote: »

Where in Stocking lane was it- was it near where the car for the Hell fire club is?

Not that far, about 1km up from Scholarstown Road on the RHS.

Tragedy

Luckycharm wrote: »

Where in Stocking lane was it- was it near where the car for the Hell fire club is?

https://maps.google.com/?ll=53.273859,-6.311844&spn=0.002165,0.006539
It was there afaik.

Heroditas

The Upper Glenageary Road end of Monkstown Farm and the Upper Glenageary Road have been completely and utterly butchered with the purchase and subsequent demolition of the golf club and half-assed construction of the housing in the area.
Instead of a little roundabout, there's a multi-lane traffic light controlled junction and the drive up the hill where you were flanked on both sides by a grey wall and lovely trees is now an ugly scar with half-built housing estates on either side.

The old view is still on Google Maps but it's a lot different now.

helimachoptor

Good point hero, lived on OP road there and tbh it really is a sad sight

policarp

Blackrock baths and high diving platforms.

There used to be water polo games played there during the summer.

Clanket

MCMLXXV wrote: »

Here's another one:

On Stocking Lane, Rathfarnham, there was a venue called Green Acres, a lot of big bands would have played there back in the day. I was only ever in it as a kid with my folks in the early evening so never actually saw it in full flight.

The original Radio Nova was broadcast from here too.

Luckycharm wrote: »

Where in Stocking lane was it- was it near where the car for the Hell fire club is?

MCMLXXV wrote: »

Not that far, about 1km up from Scholarstown Road on the RHS.

There's a house on Stocking Lane called Green Acres. Did it use to be a venue? Can't find any reference on Google to it being a venue at any stage

Tragedy wrote: »

https://maps.google.com/?ll=53.273859,-6.311844&spn=0.002165,0.006539
It was there afaik.

Big Nasty

Clanket wrote: »

There's a house on Stocking Lane called Green Acres. Did it use to be a venue? Can't find any reference on Google to it being a venue at any stage

http://www.google.ie/search?q=green+acres+radio&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a#hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&hs=6z5&rls=org.mozilla:en-US%3Aofficial&sclient=psy-ab&q=green+acres+radio+nova&oq=green+acres+radio+nova&gs_l=serp.3...9756.10960.0.11483.5.5.0.0.0.1.1291.2043.2-3j7-1.4.0...0.0...1c.ImdXddJBvGU&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=79ff5e69f7a9d4b0&biw=1280&bih=861

Exclamation Marc

Blakes Restaurant in Stillorgan was a great place I used to love going with the family when I was younger.

As was DeSelbys in Dun Laoghaire


But most of all....


THE PLAYWRIGHT in Blackrock! Loved that place so much for a drink and a carvery, and then TGI's bought the site and killed it off....

Big Nasty

FireballPitcher wrote: »

Blakes Restaurant in Stillorgan was a great place I used to love going with the family when I was younger.

As was DeSelbys in Dun Laoghaire


But most of all....


THE PLAYWRIGHT in Blackrock! Loved that place so much for a drink and a carvery, and then TGI's bought the site and killed it off....

Blakes! :eek:

My God - how could I have forgotten that. Had plenty a family dinner there.

Clanket

Had my Confirmation dinner in Blakes. Only time I was ever in the place but it was lovely.

patrickbrophy18

In no particular order, here are a few places that I do miss in South Dublin:

1. Music City in Dun Laoghaire (now Elverys Sports). It was the biggest shop of it's kind for miles.
2. Xtra-Vision in Dalkey (now Roberts Of Dalkey). I got years of enjoyment hanging out, buying and renting movies there. Plus, it was a great place to seek shelter from the rain.:D
3. The Killiney Court Hotel. I had a pint there shortly before it closed. Such a pity that it was converted into apartments as it had huge potential for an excellent public amenity.:(
4. The Killiney Towers Roundabout before the council ruined it.:mad:
5. Bewley's in Frascati Shopping Center. Back in 2001, there was a stair case down to the basement and up to the restaurant which gave off a nice open feeling to the place. As well as that, there were some seats which gave customers a great view of Dublin Bay.
6. In 1994, when I was 9 years old, I was gutted when they decided to close "Joy Stick" in Frascati Shopping Center. They used to sell games there back when the SNES and Sega Mega Drive where considered "state of the art":rolleyes:. I think it has been "The Beauty Store" ever since.
7. The Fun Factory has been mentioned a few times in this thread. However, I will re-iterate that many a good time was had by me while it was open. The "Free Fall" was brilliant craic.
8. Bambams in Stillorgan was a close second to The Fun Factory when it was situated behind the Texaco Garage. Mind you, the "Free Fall" in Bambams was only half the size I think. They also had a miniature cinema where they played Disney Movies mostly.
9. Wally Wabbits was a leisure center in Dundrum, not too dissimilar to The Fun Factory and Bambams. While my memories of the place are now somewhat vague, they used to have these weird self propelled carts. Since then, Wally Wabbits and the PYE Factory have been engulfed by Dundrum Town Center. Nevertheless, Dundrum Town Center is awesome!:D

OMG! I feel old!:)

Big Nasty

Patrick - you just reminded me of this with your talk of Dundrum and the PYE Centre:

Dundrum Bowl! :eek:

dogmatix

Dundrum and Ballinteer before the the M50, various bypasses and the "Town centre" gutted the area. In particular:
1. The old ballinteer road from Wesley to the View - a narrow, twisty tree lined country road.
2. The "view" - a small granite cliff giving great views out over the area - until it was dynamited for the M50.
3. The farms in the area - I think the last one sold up in the late 80's.
4. Dundrum mainstreet before the bypass went in and the town centre ruined it.
5. The 48A!


As a previous poster mentioned - I wished I had a camera to record all these lost sights back in the years.

Big Nasty

dogmatix wrote: »

The "view" - a small granite cliff giving great views out over the area - until it was dynamited for the M50.

Where are you talking about, up the top of Kingston?

Larbre34

Qualitymark wrote: »

And the beautiful little pier with the glass pavilion over it where the boat train used to go out on the rails up to the mailboat - Dun Laoghaire council sneakily knocked that recently, the swines.

Be careful where you swing that handbag, the Harbour Company did that

It is amazing how much the whole DLR - South Dublin has changed even in 20 years, mainly due to the M50 and its tributaries I suppose

Ive just glanced through a few posts and theyve made me very nostalgic. Some things have changed for the better, many have not. The unforgiving footprint of the Celtic Tiger

I miss -

Dundrum Bowl - Saturdays defined

Stillorgan Park Hotel nightclub - It had many guises - Hollywood Nights, Deep etc but the craic was all the same

Dun Laoghaire events - The town used to be buzzing in the 80s, festivals, busy shops, regattas, motor racing. Used to have some decent boozers and clubs. Its dead on its feet now, junkies, nimbyism and Dundrum have killed it.

Record Shops - proper ones selling all the formats and stereo parts with knowledgable staff

The Deerpark Lounge in Clonskeagh - a million great nights - erased for apartments

In fact, any site at all that used to have or do something interesting or quirky before it was sold for development - welcome to blandsville

Larbre34

Heroditas wrote: »

The Upper Glenageary Road end of Monkstown Farm and the Upper Glenageary Road have been completely and utterly butchered with the purchase and subsequent demolition of the golf club and half-assed construction of the housing in the area.
Instead of a little roundabout, there's a multi-lane traffic light controlled junction and the drive up the hill where you were flanked on both sides by a grey wall and lovely trees is now an ugly scar with half-built housing estates on either side.

The old view is still on Google Maps but it's a lot different now.

Blame the greed of the Golf Club members and filthy lucre, they couldnt wait to get a developer in and to hell with the history of the club and geography of the area

Larbre34

patrickbrophy18 wrote: »

In no particular order, here are a few places that I do miss in South Dublin:

1. Music City in Dun Laoghaire (now Elverys Sports). It was the biggest shop of it's kind for miles.
2. Xtra-Vision in Dalkey (now Roberts Of Dalkey). I got years of enjoyment hanging out, buying and renting movies there. Plus, it was a great place to seek shelter from the rain.:D
3. The Killiney Court Hotel. I had a pint there shortly before it closed. Such a pity that it was converted into apartments as it had huge potential for an excellent public amenity.:(
4. The Killiney Towers Roundabout before the council ruined it.:mad:
5. Bewley's in Frascati Shopping Center. Back in 2001, there was a stair case down to the basement and up to the restaurant which gave off a nice open feeling to the place. As well as that, there were some seats which gave customers a great view of Dublin Bay.
6. In 1994, when I was 9 years old, I was gutted when they decided to close "Joy Stick" in Frascati Shopping Center. They used to sell games there back when the SNES and Sega Mega Drive where considered "state of the art":rolleyes:. I think it has been "The Beauty Store" ever since.
7. The Fun Factory has been mentioned a few times in this thread. However, I will re-iterate that many a good time was had by me while it was open. The "Free Fall" was brilliant craic.
8. Bambams in Stillorgan was a close second to The Fun Factory when it was situated behind the Texaco Garage. Mind you, the "Free Fall" in Bambams was only half the size I think. They also had a miniature cinema where they played Disney Movies mostly.
9. Wally Wabbits was a leisure center in Dundrum, not too dissimilar to The Fun Factory and Bambams. While my memories of the place are now somewhat vague, they used to have these weird self propelled carts. Since then, Wally Wabbits and the PYE Factory have been engulfed by Dundrum Town Center. Nevertheless, Dundrum Town Center is awesome!:D

OMG! I feel old!:)

Lol, are you 27? Not old. Although you do sound it. If you dont let it go about that flippin roundabout youll end up interred in it

patrickbrophy18

Larbre34 wrote: »

Lol, are you 27? Not old. Although you do sound it.

I'm only joking when I say that. It's a figure of speech. Hence, the smiley face!

Larbre34 wrote: »

If you dont let it go about that flippin roundabout youll end up interred in it

Hostile much?

Out of everything I posted, you chose a rather minute section of it and lashed out!

Big Nasty

Was just talking to someone about old nightclub haunts:

Bull & Bear (Bar) Stillorgan Park Hotel
Hollywood Nights / The Deep (SPH)
Pink Panther - above Bolands Stillorgan (I think - before my time)
Ziggys - Bakers Corner
Paparazzi - Dun Laoghaire
Mistys - above Lamb Doykes (before my time too)
Marlays - Three Rock Hotel
Club Apres - Kilternan Hotel

How many of these have you been to?

DEVEREUX

I remember queing for "back to the future 2" as a wee lad of six or seven.....god im old! They tore it down in 2007

http://myhome.iolfree.ie/~ccdublin/classic_gallery/index.htm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GB6AeHpOvuY

ted1

MCMLXXV wrote: »

Was just talking to someone about old nightclub haunts:

Bull & Bear (Bar) Stillorgan Park Hotel
Hollywood Nights / The Deep (SPH)
Pink Panther - above Bolands Stillorgan (I think - before my time)
Ziggys - Bakers Corner
Paparazzi - Dun Laoghaire
Mistys - above Lamb Doykes (before my time too)
Marlays - Three Rock Hotel
Club Apres - Kilternan Hotel

How many of these have you been to?

all except the pink panther...

dogmatix

MCMLXXV wrote: »

Where are you talking about, up the top of Kingston?

Aye - it was across the grange road from Kingston. Don't know what is was officially called but all the local kids called it the view. This link to a late 19th century map shows it marked with a red cross.

http://maps.osi.ie/publicviewer/#V1,716686,725609,6,9

Big Nasty

dogmatix wrote: »

Aye - it was across the grange road from Kingston. Don't know what is was officially called but all the local kids called it the view. This link to a late 19th century map shows it marked with a red cross.

http://maps.osi.ie/publicviewer/#V1,716686,725609,6,9

There's actually a viewing point exactly there now still although I never noticed on in the old days!

Linky

Larbre34

patrickbrophy18 wrote: »

I'm only joking when I say that. It's a figure of speech. Hence, the smiley face!



Hostile much?

Out of everything I posted, you chose a rather minute section of it and lashed out!

Yeah apologies on a re-read that sounds much more harsh than I meant it. I just meant its turning into your Moby Dick, life's too short

brayblue24

Ballintyre Hall when it was just that!

Lark in The Park (Blackrock Park)

Top Hat Roller Disco/Skate City/Skateboard City

Murrays Records DL Shopping Centre

Murphy's and Ryan's shops, Ballybrack (for the 1/4 of cola cubes etc)

58 buses (coz you could jump off the back before the conductor gut your fare)

H Williams, Killiney SC


I could go on.....

Great thread by the way

homer911

Anyone remember Pat Quinn's club up in the Kiltiernan hotel (early 1970's) - basically an enormous playground and boating lake (which is still there). I can remember the opening day when they were giving free helicopter rides..

Big Nasty

homer911 wrote: »

Anyone remember Pat Quinn's club up in the Kiltiernan hotel (early 1970's) - basically an enormous playground and boating lake (which is still there). I can remember the opening day when they were giving free helicopter rides..

Born in 75 and only remember that area as a golf course.

brayblue24

Unfortunately I'm old enough to remember the Pat Quinn Club, it was a big Communion dinner venue in the '70s. Then in the '90s it became Club Apres. Now that was some spot;)

Big Nasty

brayblue24 wrote: »

Unfortunately I'm old enough to remember the Pat Quinn Club, it was a big Communion dinner venue in the '70s. Then in the '90s it became Club Apres. Now that was some spot;)

Had many's the night in Club Apres in the 90's. Open 5 nights a week with £1.50 pints on Thursday & Monday. Bar open until 3am every night and later if you 'knew the lads'

What was the DJ's name - Richie I think!

christmas2010

Blakes in Stillorgan but also the chicken restaurant that was there before it, I think it was the Swiss Chalet. I remember their red check tablecloths and the very exotic chicken in a basket.

The caves in the rocks in Deerpark, Mount merrion, rocks still there but caves have been filled in.

Stella cinema Mount Merrion and Ormonde cinema Stillorgan

Small local shops before supermarkets and Spar took over though most of them were probably manky.

Freedom as children to go out all day, play in fields that are now the luas line and stillorgan industrial estate

Seeing the jersey cows on the Upper Kilmacud Road

vard

patrickbrophy18 wrote: »

In no particular order, here are a few places that I do miss in South Dublin:

1. The Killiney Towers Roundabout before the council ruined it.:mad:

Totally agree with you there. That roundabout is an utter ****ing joke. I can't help but shake my head every time I drive up to it.


Not only is it ugly as sin, completely stupid and a huge waste of money, but it's dangerous. Just yesterday I saw a cyclist almost get knocked down by a car who either didn't see him, or wasn't aware that he was stop in the middle of a roundabout and yield right of way.


It would have been an unfortunate accident, but I couldn't honestly have blamed the driver if an accident occurred. It's only a matter of time before someone is killed there.


I take it there was money that the council would have had to return at the end of the year, so rather than burning it or throwing it down the nearest toilet they went one step further and built that stupid thing.

Big Nasty

Here's another venue that is still on the go but only an X-Ray of what it was in the day:

The Wicked Wolf!

My god that place was BANGING in the late 90's! Used to rock up around nine, have a few beers and a chat, then around 10.30 Rush would arrive and the lights would dim. Rush would crank up the volume, belt out the intro to some tune then stop. Place in darkness, everyone hyped, then BANG - tunes blaring, lights flashing, Bernard jumping out of the food lift out of his mind, place going wild. This would go on for a few hours then you either stayed as one of the late crowd or hit '92 and maybe came back later to powder your nose.

Crazy, crazy times!

Run_to_da_hills

Dose anyone remember the art deco Imco building on Merrion Road?

It was demolished in the mid to late 70's .

Splendour

zagmund wrote: »

Ah, the Top Hat. I remember it as a roller disco back in the day. Life was simple then.

Had many great nights in the Top Hat rollerskating-an awful pity there's no such venue now for kids.

The Forum cinema in Glasthule was another favourite of mine. I had a great aunt who lived very close to it and sometimes I'd call in before going to see a film. On many occasions she'd give us fairy cakes to bring to the cinema and of course myself and friends wouldn't be seen dead bringing cakes to the cinema so we'd dump them in the nearest bin once we rounded the corner. Ah... what sweet memories...