| The name Finglas means a clear streamlet, getting | | | | name and possibly its healing powers! Due to the |
| its name from the tributary that flows through | | | | Patron Saint of Ireland, St Patrick, he rested and |
| the village and later joining up with the River | | | | drank from the Well when he visited Finglas. |
| Tolka. | | | | A self-professed Turkish Doctor exploited the |
| History of Finglas | | | | Wells healing properties in the 1700's. People came |
| Finglas is steeped in history and culture and dates | | | | from all over to drink from the Well and be |
| back to St Canine in 560AD who founded a Celtic | | | | healed at the spa. It was finally realised that the |
| Abbey here. St Canine was the patron saint of | | | | Turkish doctor was in fact a Kilkenny man and |
| Kilkenny and later became the patron Saint for | | | | the healing spa was subsequently closed. The well |
| Finglas. It's said that St Patrick visited the area | | | | is now surrounded by a gate and fence, but you |
| and sanctified the land stating that a great town | | | | can still visit and see some of the remarkable |
| would emerge from here one day, and indeed | | | | statues situated around the well. It's situated to |
| that is exactly what happened. The village of | | | | the east of the vicarage. |
| Finglas developed around the Abbey growing in | | | | Interesting Buildings |
| size over the centuries. William of Orange camped | | | | Unfortunately many of the older buildings and |
| in Finglas on his way to Dublin city following the | | | | castles in the Finglas area were destroyed over |
| Battle of the Boyne in 1690. | | | | the Centuries, however some amazing 18th |
| St Canice's Graveyard/Nethercross... | | | | Century properties still remain today such as |
| The graveyard itself has nearly a thousand | | | | Rosehill House. |
| graves with 1647 being the earliest dated | | | | Rosehill House |
| gravestone, however both Catholics and | | | | This house is both stunning to look at and |
| Protestants were buried here long before that. To | | | | steeped in history. Rosehill House is thought to |
| visit you'll need to get the key from the cottage | | | | have been designed by Edward Lovett Pearce |
| beside the steps to the graveyard on Barrack | | | | (1699-1733), a well-known Irish architect of the |
| Street. | | | | 18th Century who later became known as the |
| On first entering the graveyard you'll be met by | | | | Father of Irish Palladian architecture. It's a |
| the 3 metre tall Nethercross. The monks of St | | | | remarkable Georgian three-storey house with a |
| Canice's Abbey erected the Nethercross in the | | | | tower to the side. The drawing room is an |
| tenth century; it's made from granite and has a | | | | interesting place as it's oval in shape and has |
| circular top with spiral carvings. The Nethercross | | | | wood carved cornices on the ceiling, unusual for |
| has an interesting history with its resting place in | | | | Georgian times. |
| St Canice's graveyard not being its original home. | | | | It was home to many influential families over the |
| The cross was firstly erected in the Abbey | | | | years; the prominent Dublin Bayley family lived |
| grounds itself, however the local people dismantled | | | | here in the late 1800's and you can see the family |
| the cross in the 17th century when they heard of | | | | vault in St Canice's graveyard. Rosehill is now |
| Cromwell's army approaching. Here the cross lay | | | | home to Finglas Cabra Community Development |
| buried for the next 160 years. | | | | Partnership. It's situated on the Finglas Road. |
| The Rev Robert Walsh was vicar here in the | | | | Other properties to watch out for in Finglas are |
| early 19th century and he showed a great | | | | St Helena's, a spectacular Georgian Manor House |
| interest if finding the cross, he finally found out | | | | situated in St Helena's Road, South Finglas, and |
| where the cross had been hidden from an elderly | | | | the well-known Gofton Hall formerly known as |
| Finglas man who's Grandfather had been present | | | | Eagle Lodge, which was originally a lunatic asylum. |
| at the burial of the cross some 160 years | | | | Famous People... |
| previous. The cross is now situated in the south | | | | Finglas has been home to many famous people |
| east corner of St Canice's graveyard; you can | | | | throughout the years, you may bump into two |
| enter from the Wellmount Road just off the dual | | | | very popular footballers on your travels Frank |
| carriageway. Just north of the cross is what | | | | Stapelton or Ronnie Wheelan. Also keep an eye |
| remains of the ruins of St Canice's church. | | | | out for Irish actor Colm Meaney and Bono lead |
| St Patrick's Well | | | | singer with the world famous band U2. |
| The ruins of St Patrick's Well are thought to date | | | | How to get to Finglas |
| back to the pagan era. The Well was used as a | | | | By car: If driving to Finglas you can take the N2 |
| healing place in the earlier centuries; it was | | | | (Finglas Road) which can be accessed off junction |
| renowned for curing ulcers and sore eyes. People | | | | 5 of the M50 motorway. |
| came from all over Ireland to be healed by the | | | | By bus: the following bus routes operate in the |
| water from the Well, they were advised to both | | | | Finglas area - 104, 140, 17a, 220, 40, 40a, 40b, |
| drink from the Well and put some water from | | | | 40c, 40d, 40n, 88n. |
| the Well on the affected area. It was given its | | | | |