My ancestors - Flanagan - Contents

Map of the Flanagan estate Miscellaneous buildings "Flanagan's Fields"

The old house in Greenhills Other property in Greenhills Portmahon House Walkinstown House Leicester House Portmahon Lodge

The Flanagan estate of SW Co.Dublin

• References:
  • Crumlin and the way it was, Finola Watchorn, Dublin, 1985.
  • By the sign of the dolphin - The story of Dolphin's Barn, ed. Catherine Scuffil, Dolphin's Barn Historical Society, 1993.
  • Growing up in Crumlin village, Billy French, 1997.

This estate was built up almost entirely by Alderman Michael Flanagan starting in the 1860s, until his death in 1931, as he built his market gardening business to serve the growing Dublin population.
The main estates were:

• The old Flanagan farm, Greenhills, Tallaght.
• Other properties in Greenhills, Tallaght.
• The Alderman's house, Portmahon House, Rialto.
• His brother's house (later his son's house), Walkinstown House, Walkinstown.
• His son's house, Leicester House, Crumlin.
• Portmahon Lodge, Rialto.

[Hannan] found the estate reached a maximum size of 500 acres in 1914, though it was near enough to that size for the whole 1895-1925 period.
At its peak the Alderman had land in Crumlin, Drimnagh, Rialto, Dolphin's Barn, Walkinstown, Greenhills, Tallaght, Kilmainham and Rathfarnham.
They said that all of Crumlin was under cabbage.
[Frank Flanagan's memoirs] said the Alderman farmed almost 1,000 acres.
The estate was gradually sold off by Frank Flanagan in 1931 to 1960.
Most of the estate is built-up suburbs today.

A reference to a "Flannaganstown" that never was.
From [Watchorn, 1985, p.63].

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Map of the Flanagan estate, from N to S

Adapted from [Hannan].

The area round Portmahon House, Rialto.
On 1887 to 1913 map.
See larger and original.
Estate includes Portmahon Lodge and Rialto Lodge.

The estate of Leicester House, Crumlin.
Just N of the estate below.
On 1887 to 1913 map.

Lands held around Walkinstown and Crumlin.
Just S of Leicester House estate above.
On 1887 to 1913 map. See full size.
The Alderman held Walkinstown House and Leicester House and all the land in the middle section above, and more land to the north and south.
See modern map and satellite view.

Southern part of Crumlin.
Just S of the above map.
On 1887 to 1913 map.
The Alderman owned the farm called Cromwell's Fort, Crumlin. It is said that Oliver Cromwell camped here during his Irish campaign (1649-1650).
The Cromwell's Fort house is now gone. The site is now sports pitches. See satellite view.

Northern part of Greenhills.
Just S and W of the above map.
On 1887 to 1913 map.

Southern part of Greenhills.
Just S of the above map.
On 1887 to 1913 map.

Kilnamanagh, Greenhills Road.
Just S and W of the above map.
On 1887 to 1913 map.
Including the old family farm at Greenhills.

Southern part of Greenhills Road.
Just S of the above map.
On 1887 to 1913 map.

Tymon North.
S of the above map.
On 1887 to 1913 map.

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Miscellaneous buildings

Rialto National School (now Rialto Parish Centre), South Circular Rd, built 1921.
SE of Portmahon House. See street view.
The Alderman donated the land on which this was built.
Photo 2012. See full size.
See other shot and other shot.

Old cottages on the N side of Kildare Rd, Crumlin.
These were built from 1904 to 1917 [Hannan].
The Alderman acquired these cottages for his workers.
These cottages were all, at one time, occupied by ploughmen who worked for Flanagans [Watchorn, 1985]. Everything around them was fields.
From Google street view.

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"Flanagan's Fields"

In 2014 a community garden was opened at Reuben Street, Dublin 8, and called "Flanagan's Fields" after the Alderman's estate.

• The Grow Dome Project (and facebook)
• Launch of Flanagan's Fields Community Garden and Grow Dome, press release, Dublin City Council, Sept 2014.

• "Flanagan's Fields: An inner city garden with heart and history", Irish Times, 29 Nov 2014.

Portmahon House (left) and Reuben Street (right) on 1887 to 1913 map.
The Alderman did own land to the E of Portmahon, but it is not clear if he ever owned the site of "Flanagan's Fields" (yellow spot).

2009 screenshot from street view of the site of "Flanagan's Fields".

"Flanagan's Fields" at the location above.
Photo 2014. From The Grow Dome Project.