Belfield

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This article is about a suburb of Dublin. For the Sydney suburb, see Belfield, New South Wales

For other uses, see David Belfield.

Belfield is a very small enclave, not quite a suburb, located in the south of Ireland's capital city Dublin. Belfield is in close proximity to Donnybrook, Ballsbridge, Clonskeagh, Goatstown and Stillorgan and takes its name from Belfield House and Demesne where University College Dublin is located.

Belfield is synonymous with University College Dublin, being the location of that institution's main 106 acre (429,000 m²) campus. University College Dublin dates back to its foundation at 86, St. Stephen's Green in 1851 as the Catholic University of Ireland founded by John Henry Cardinal Newman who was its first rector. In 1934, UCD bought Belfield House and from 1949 to 1958 purchased a group of adjoining properties. In 1960, the Government recommended that the College move from the city centre to Belfield. The first buildings to be completed on the new campus were those of the Faculty of Science in 1964. The other faculties moved to Belfield on a phased basis as their new buildings were completed.