Rathgar

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Rathgar (Ráth Gharbh in Irish) is a well to do,fashionable suburb of Dublin, Ireland, lying about 3 km south of the city centre. The housing stock largely comprises red-brick Victorian terraces. Much of the area lies within a conservation zone. Rathgar is largely a quiet suburb with good amenities,primary/secondary schools,nursing homes,child-care and sports facilities,good public transport to the city centre.It has a variety of retail outlets as well as a good choice of restaurants and pubs in the village. Saint Lukes hospital,Highfield Road,specialises in cancer treatments.Mount Carmel general/maternity hospital is at the end of Orwell Road.

Rathgar has a number of fine architectural features, notably Christchuch Presbyterian Church at the junction of Rathgar Road and Highfield Road in the village centre. The Roman Catholic Church of The Three Patrons on Rathgar Road is known as "The Servants' Church" because in the late 19th and early 20th century it was the place of worship for the large number of servants who worked and lived in the large houses in the area.

The suburb's most famous son is James Joyce, who was born in Brighton Square. Mr. Jack Lynch, who was Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland intermittently from 1966 to 1979 had his home at Garville Avenue, Rathgar. Also Bram Stoker, author of Dracula, lived in Rathgar on Orwell Park in the later part of his life.


The name Rathgar derives from the Irish Ráth Gharbh, meaning "Rough Ringfort".

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    Coordinates: 53°19′N, 6°16′W