Dunboyne

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Dunboyne
Dún Búinne

Location

WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates:
53.419866° N 6.475067° W

Irish Grid Reference
O010422

Statistics

76 m (249 ft)

Population (2006)

8,691

Dunboyne (Dún Búinne in Irish) is a town in County Meath in the Republic of Ireland. It is a dormitory town for the city of Dublin.

Although its history stretches back to the Middle Ages, it has seen major transformation since the early 1980s, as suburban housing estates were developed around the fringes of the traditional village. John Bruton, Ireland's Taoiseach (Prime Minister) from 1994 to 1997, lives about 5 kilometres outside this village. Some people may be surprised to find that they recognise the village as they go through it; Dunboyne was the backdrop for the fictional village of Leestown in the very successful television series of the 1970s called The Riordans.

In Stockholm, Sweden there is an unusual youth hostel; it is a ship that used to go go by the name "Dunboyne", now called "af Chapman". Baptised "Dunboyne" by her original Dublin owners, Charles E. Martin & Co., she participated in trade with Australia in her early years. Sold to Norway in 1909, the Dunboyne was renamed the G.D. Kennedy in July 1915 when she was bought by the Swedish shipping company Transatlantic who sold her to the Swedish government in 1924, when it was renamed af Chapman. She has been operating as a youth hostel since 1949.

Dunboyne is due to be reconnected to the national rail network in 2009 as part of the reopening of the Navan Clonsilla railway line.

Dunboyne is also known for its rich GAA tradition. The Dunboyne team won the Meath senior county football championship in 1998 and 2005. Dunboyneman Sean Boylan was the longest serving county manager in GAA history and led Meath to four All Ireland victories in 1987, 1988, 1996 and 1999. He was awarded 'Freedom Of Meath' in 2006 for his contributions to the Meath GAA scene. All Ireland winners from Dunboyne representing Meath include Enda McManus, Brendan Reilly, Nigel Crawford and David Gallagher.

It has been suggested that Dunboyne is the only town in Ireland that could be an inland island, as the only way into and out of the town is over bridges, directly outside the town on each road. The town played a minor but important role in the 1798 rebellion.

Extract from A topographical Dictionary of Ireland by Samuel Lewis, 1837.

DUNBOYNE, a parish and village, (formerly an incorporated town), in the barony of DUNBOYNE, county of MEATH, and province of LEINSTER, on the road from Dublin to Navan; containing, with the post-town of Clonee, 2419 inhabitants, of which number, 470 are in the village. This place, which is on the confines of the county of Dublin, appears to have been an ancient borough. In the reign of Henry VI., a writ was issued, dated July 28th, 1423, ordering "the Provost and Commonalty of the town of Dunboyne to be at Trim with all their power for its defence." The town was burnt down in the disturbances of 1798; the present village contains 82 houses. The manufacture of straw hats is carried on here, and in the neighbourhood; and a fair, chiefly for horses and cattle, is held on July 9th, and is much frequented by the Dublin dealers. The parish is principally grazing land; there are about 50 acres of common, and a bog of about 40 acres, called the " Moor of Meath." The gentlemen's seats are Wood Park, that of the Rev. J. Auchinleck; Roosk, of -- Wilson, Esq.; Ballymacall, of H. Hamilton, Esq.; Hammond, of C. Hamilton, Esq.; Court Hill, of H. Greene, Esq.; Sterling, of 11. Barker, Esq.; Norman's Grove, of J. Shanley, Esq.; and Priestown, of the Rev. J. Butler. The living is a vicarage, in the diocese of Meath, united in 1400 to the chapelry of Kilbride, and in the patronage of the Crown; the rectory is impropriate in Miss E. Hamilton. The tithes amount to £835. 7. 8., of which £535. 7. 8. is payable to the impropriator and £300 to the vicar; and the tithes of the union to £347. 19. The glebe-house was built by aid of a gift of £300, and a loan of £500 from the late Board of First Fruits, in 1.814; the glebe comprises three acres, subject to a rent of £3 per acre. The church is an ancient edifice, for the repair of which the Ecclesiastical Commissioners have recently granted £159. The R. C. union is co-extensive with that of the Established Church, and in each parish is a chapel. About 40 children are taught in the public schools of the parish; and there are two private schools, in which are about 120 children. A dispensary is supported in the village, and adjoining it are some remains of an ancient castle, which gives the title of Baron of Dunboyne to the family of Butler.