Stoneybatter

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for the historic New Zealand fort, see Stony Batter

Stoneybatter (Irish: Bóthar na gCloch) is a suburb of Dublin, Ireland, situated on the Northside of the city between the River Liffey, the North Circular Road, and Smithfield Market. It is located in the Dublin 7 postal district.

James Collins' 1913 book, 'Life in Old Dublin', notes that 'Centuries ago (Stoneybatter) was called Bothar-na-gCloch. In Joyce's Irish names of places we find the following interesting information as to the original name of the place: "Long before the city had extended so far, and while Stoneybatter was nothing more than a country road, it was -- as it still continues to be -- the great thoroughfare to Dublin from the districts lying west and north-west of the city; and it was known by the name of Bothar-na-gCloch (Bohernaglogh), i.e., the road of the stones, which was changed to the English equivalent, Stoneybatter or stony road."'

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[edit] More on Stoneybatter

There was an ancient royal highway passing through the area. It ran from the Hill of Tara to Glendalough. It was paved with stones, much like Roman roads had been. So the Irish for it was Bothar na Gloch or Stoney Road. From this we got Stoney Bothar which was later to become Stoneybatter.

The Irish folk song "The Spanish Lady" mentions Stoney Batter in the 5th verse.

[edit] Viking Names

Apart from the striking artisan dwellings, the area is also known for the prominent Viking street names. For example, there is Viking Road, Olaf Road, Sitric Road, Norseman Place, Ard Ri Road, Malachi Road, Ostman Place, Sigurd Road and Harold Road. In the twelfth century when Viking Dublin was well established. At the time of the Norman invasion, the Vikings or Ostmen (men of the East), as they called themselves were exiled to the north of the Liffey where they founded the hamlet of Ostmenstown later to become Oxmantown.

[edit] Little John

Later in the twelfth century the area became famous for the brief appearance of another notable visitor: Little John (of Robin Hood fame). It is widely known that he fired an arrow from a bridge on the Liffey as far as Arbour Hill, a distance of 700 yards. However, his visit, unlike him, was rather short. He was to be hanged for robbery close to where his arrow had landed in Arbour Hill and many miles from the forest of Sherwood!

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