My wife's ancestors - Fitzwilliam - Contents

Donnybrook Castle, Co.Dublin

References:
- DONNYBROOK (and text) in [Ball, vol.2, 1903]

Donnybrook Castle, shortly before 1757.
The castle had already fallen into decay by this time, and was demolished 1759.
Drawing by Thomas Ashworth (died 1757). Preserved in Beranger's Sketch Book.
From Royal Irish Academy. Image from here. Creative Commons Non-Commercial use.
See full size.

Donnybrook Castle was built in 16th century by the Ussher family.
It was at S side of Donnybrook village (where Sisters of Charity now is).
A stream ran past it. See [Sweeney, 1991].
Sir William Ussher lived there before 1637.

Oliver Cromwell, shortly after his infamous massacre at Drogheda on 11 Sept 1649, marched south and camped at Donnybrook, Co.Dublin, for a night on 22 Sept 1649, on his way to a new massacre at Wexford on 11 Oct 1649.

Donnybrook Castle was the home of Thomas Twigg in 1702.
It was by 1710 the home of John Stoyte.
Jonathan Swift's friend (and maybe love) Stella Johnson stayed there.
It features in the Journal to Stella (also here) (1710-13) by Swift.
See references to Stoyte and Donnybrook.

Swift writes in 15 May 1711 entry: "I tell you what, if I was with you, when we went to Stoyte at Donnybrook, we would only take a coach to the hither end of Stephen's Green, and from thence go every step on foot, yes, faith, every step; it would do DD" [Stella] "good as well as Presto" [Swift].

Donnybrook Castle fell into decay and was demolished 1759.

"The Crescent" (formerly "Church Lane"), the laneway running along the S side of Donnybrook graveyard.
Looking W.
The wall to the LHS (S side of lane) would be a wall belonging to the vanished Donnybrook Castle, or an old building on the castle site.
The wall to the RHS (N side of lane) is the outside wall of Donnybrook graveyard.
Click to rotate.
From Google Street View.
See screenshot.

Photo 1999 of above view.
See 2014 shot.

Photo 2021 of above view.
See larger and full size.

Donnybrook on John Rocque's map of Dublin, 1757.

Donnybrook Castle would be on the SE side of the village, by the stream. The buildings marked in blue here.

Donnybrook Castle site on 1829 to 1842 map.
The site was bought by the Sisters of Charity 1837.
The old Donnybrook Castle had been demolished in 1759. This would be a new building, though some walls or parts of the old castle might remain.
The stream running past the site is visible.

Ordnance Survey of Ireland map. Date created: 1865. From here.
Nothing obviously left from the old Donnybrook Castle.

Donnybrook Castle site on 1887 to 1913 map.
Note old building on the laneway.
The lane is called "Church Lane".
The stream running past the site is visible.

The view today of the site.
The old buildings are cleared but the wall remains.
45 degree view looking N from Google Maps.
See 2014 shot of the white wall in the yard on the RHS.

45 degree view looking W from Google Maps.

This is the N-S part of the laneway. The avenue that formerly led to Donnybrook Castle.
Donnybrook graveyard on LHS.
Site of Donnybrook Castle would be straight ahead (we are looking SE).
From Google street view.

The corner in the lane.
Graveyard on LHS. Castle site on RHS.
Photo 2014. See full size.
See shot turning the corner and looking E down the E-W part of the lane.
And shot slightly further down.

Shot looking down the laneway (looking E).
Graveyard on LHS. Castle site on RHS.
Photo 2021. See larger and full size.

Shot looking further down the laneway (looking E).
Graveyard on LHS. Castle site on RHS.
Photo 2014. See full size.
And shot slightly further down.

View looking up the other way (looking W).
Photo 2014. See full size.

Donnybrook
There is a modern apartment block called "Donnybrook Castle" further out of town on the dual carriageway. See street view.