Did you know...?

That Towering Feeling
Williamstown Martello Tower is now half-buried in Blackrock Park. When the tower was built in the early 1800s it was surrounded by sea water at high tide as it was built in the inter-tidal beach area. The area became marshy when the railway was built. The marsh was subsequently filled in to form Blackrock Park. 

Blackrock Bandits
The Blackrock Road was once a hotspot for highway robberies. In 1787, they were so commonplace that a local meeting was chaired by Lord Viscount Ranelagh to find a solution. They resolved to 'give a reward of £20 to any person who will apprehend and prosecute to conviction any person guilty of a robbery upon the Blackrock-road, from Dublin to Dunleary, Bullock, Dalkey, Rochestown, Cabinteely, and Loughlinstown.'

A Novel idea
Irish novelist, playwright and satirist, Flann O’Brien (1911– 1966), lived at 4 Avoca Terrace and later at 81 Merrion Avenue in Blackrock. His real name was Brian O’Nolan and his day job was in the civil service until 1953.

Some of his well-known novels include At Swim- Two-Birds and The Third Policeman. He also wrote many satirical columns in The Irish Times (and an Irish language novel, An Béal Bocht) under the name Myles na gCopaleen.

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