History

War Of Independence -Joseph Dolan An Ellesmere Residents' account.

As we look towards the centenary of 1916 it is interesting to read the account of an Ellesmere Avenue resident . The opening account of the assignation of commissioner Redmond is it self featured in the the film Michael Collins.

http://www.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie/reels/bmh/BMH.WS0663.pdf#page=1

In addition find an account of action around Ellesmere by Emmet Dalton a good friend of Michael Collins( see page 126)

http://www.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie/reels/bmh/BMH.WS0511.pdf#page=127

Some interesting Maps of Ellesmere and Adj Avenues

A map of Redmonds Farm in the Manor of Grangegorman, Barony of Coolock & County of Dublin. Belonging to the Prebendaries and VIcars Chorals Of Christchurch Cathedral in the tenure of Edward Woods Esq surveyed in 1804

This is an older survey. Note the mention of James ons House (of whiskey fame) on Prussia street

A Survey of Redmonds Farm in the townlands of Cabragh and Grangegorman & county of the city of Dublin March 5th 1829. The property of the Prebends and Vicars of Christchuch Cathedral Scale 10 Plantation

This a map I came across recently .Prior to to the development of the lands beyond the North circular road the plot of land between Old Cabra Road and Black Horse Avenue was known as Redmonds farm . The lower part of the farm is the plot of land where the victorian and edwardian section of Ellesmere and adjoining avenues were built. while a seperate plot to the the top of the farm would become the new houses built in 1933.

Once again Dick Hearns (Champion Boxer)

Richard (Dick) Hearns was a Garda and Boxer who lived on Ellesmere Avenue for many years.

He boxed as a light heavyweight and heavyweight and at the height of his powers in the 1930s, during which time he held successive Leinster and Irish light heavyweight champion titles and became British Open Amateur Champion and European Police Light Heavyweight Champion in 1935.

During his career he fought some of the biggest names in world boxing, including Olympic champion Erling Neilson and longstanding professional British heavyweight champion Jack Peterson.In 1935 Dick beat France's Roger Michelot in the pre-Olympics in Paris. Michelot went on to Berlin the next year and won the Olympic gold medal,however Ireland did not send a team to compete.In a Golden Gloves tournament in Chicago in 1933, Dick was beaten on the casting vote of the referee (Jack Dempsey) by Max Marek, who had beaten the then amateur Joe Louis in an earlier round of the tournament.Over a career of 12 years as a boxer, Dick was victorious in 173 of 198 fights. A quarter of those bouts were internationals. Of the 25 contests that ended in defeat, Dick was victorious in 10 re-bouts.He was an all round athelete and he played senior inter-county football for six counties (Mayo, Roscommon, Cork, Donegal, Longford and Dublin), trained the Mayo All-Ireland winning team of 1936, and trained Shelbourne FC for 14 seasons, including the cup winning year of 1960 when they went on to play against Belenenses of Portugal in their first European encounter.Dick served as Drill Instructor for new recruits at the Garda Depot in Phoenix Park, Dublin from 1939 to 1964 when he retired.!Dick died on September 3, 1993. He is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin.

1930s Photo

I received the first submission today for the history section of the blog and its quite a beautiful one . For many years Ellesmere looked over the cattle market and the North Circular Road Tram tracks as the drovers herded their cattle and the trams hurtled by.Thank you Milo for this colorized photo at the corner of North Circular Road and Ellesmere Avenue.

A quite famous photo was also taken from a similar view in the early 1900s . I am reliably informed that the little girl in the photo used to lived on Everton Avenue and that her mother was none too impressed at seeing her in the photo. She had been under clear instructions to never leave the Avenues. After a firm scolding she, I am also reliably informed, took her mothers advice literally and lived the rest of her life on Everton Avenue.

Here are a few maps of the area that will become Ellesmere and Adjoining Avenues

1797
The North Circluar Road was laid in 1763

1843 Map
While there may be confusion as to whether Ellesmere is Cabra, Phibsboro or North Circular Road there can be no confusion from this map its Grangegorman. As can be seen from the map Ellesmere and Adj Avenues will follow the boundary between two estates off the bend of the North Circular Road between old Cabra road and Blackhorse avenue.

1880 Map
Everton house from which Everton Avenue gets its name can be clearly seen. The cattle market was opened in 1863

1906 Map
By 1906 the Victorian street and side avenues are complete .

2014 Map
Right up to date

We're looking for articles , photos , and personal stories from people who are connected to the avenues. Please send same and we will post them.
Email articles or photos to
Ellesmereavenue@gmail.com

Ellesmere Avenue & Adjoining Avenues

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