Shelbourne, Dublin

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Shelbourne is not a formal area of Dublin, Ireland, but rather the use of the moniker Shelbourne became synonymous with the district around Shelbourne Road, Ballsbridge, in the south east part of Dublin city.

Shelbourne Road runs south east from Haddington Road and skirts the site of the former British Army barracks at Beggars Bush. It crosses Lansdowne Road just west of the famous international rugby union and football grounds. From there it runs south west to Merrion Road which it meets at the River Dodder bridge.

The use of Shelbourne Road and Lansdowne Road copies the name street crossings in Kenmare, County Kerry, the origin perhaps being that the Cromwellian army physician Sir William Petty also "moonlighted" as a part time ordinance surveyor/cartographer.

[edit] Shelbourne Football Club

Shelbourne Football Club, founded in 1895, was named as a result of the founders (who included Tom Rowan and 2 Wall brothers) tossed a coin under the Bath Avenue railway bridge to decide whether the name would be Bath FC or Shelbourne FC. The club originally played at St Marys Field close by, then at Shelbourne Park, and later moved to Ringsend("Pnuemonia Park") still terraced in the middle of a housing estate, followed by a short stay at Harolds Cross. Shelbourne FC now play on the northside of the city at Tolka Park.