Kenilworth Square

Kenilworth Square

A vista along North Kenilworth Square
Native name	Cearnóg Kenilworth (Irish)
Namesake	Kenilworth (novel) [1]
Owner	Houses (Private)
Area	3.0 hectares (7.4 acres)
Location	Rathmines, Dublin, Ireland
Postal code	D06
Coordinates	53°19′6″N6°16′33.16″W / 53.31833°N 6.2758778°W / 53.31833; -6.2758778

Kenilworth Square is a Victorian square in the Rathgar area of Dublin 6, Ireland. It was developed by several different developers between 1858 and 1879. ^{[2] [3]} The houses are in a variety of different Victorian styles although all are finished in red brick.

History

The Ordnance Survey map of 1867 shows that most plots surrounding the square had already been laid out and built upon at that stage. Development of the surrounding area had begun initially after the establishment of the township of Rathgar and Rathmines in 1847.

The square is named for the romantic novel Kenilworth by Walter Scott.

Many of the large houses on the square were developed in the 1860s. ^{[4] [5]}

St Mary's College privately own the green area inside the square which they acquired in 1947 from a property developer named Mr White. The developer had originally acquired the interest of a majority of home owners in the square.

This area contains three rugby pitches which is converted to a cricket pitch in the summer months as well as some changing rooms. ^[6]

Kenilworth bowling club was established in the square in 1892 in the back garden of Charles Eason, founder of Eason & Son at 29 and 30 Kenilworth Square. The club acquired a 25-year lease on nearby Grosvenor Square in 1909 and have remained there ever since despite retaining the Kenilworth name. ^[7]

1999 Private key access

In 1999, Judge John O'Hagan ruled that a group of residents were not entitled to a permanent right of way or access to a private key for the park based on previous licence agreements with owners stretching back to 1860 as there was no current contractual agreement in place. ^[8]

2024 Redevelopment plans

In 2024, St Mary's College revealed plans to redevelop the square, removing one of the pitches to create two larger pitches on the square with one being an all weather rugby pitch. They also planned to demolish the existing changing rooms and construct a new larger set of changing rooms as well as modern floodlights and a carpark within the previous grass area of the square. ^[9] Locals, conservationists and environmentalists have raised concerns about the impact to the environment and community as well as the proposed commercialisation of the square. ^[10]

Notable residents

• William Evelyn Wylie, judge, military officer and administrator was born at Kenilworth House ^[11] (likely number 3 Kenilworth Square).
• Thomas Devereux Pile, Lord Mayor of Dublin, lived at Kenilworth House ^{[12] [13]} (likely number 3 Kenilworth Square).
• Pádraig MacKernan, diplomat, lived at number 22.
• Percy Oswald Reeves, artist, lodged at number 25. ^[14]
• Frederick Eason, founder of Eason & Son, lived at number 30. ^[15]
• Ludwig Hopf, German-Jewish theoretical physicist, lived at number 65. ^{[16] [17]}

References

1. Daly, Mary E.; Hearn, Mona; Pearson, Peter (12 March 1998). Dublin's Victorian houses. A. & A. Farmar. ISBN   9781899047420 – via Google Books.
2. "1 Waverley Terrace, Dublin 6 - Architectural Heritage Impact Assessment" (PDF). www.dublincity.ie. 31 December 2019. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
3. Burns, Alan. "Architectural Heritage Impact Assessment - 32 Kenilworth Square West" (PDF). dublincity.ie. Dublin City Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 June 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
4. "Dictionary of Irish Architects - pair of houses on S". www.dia.ie. Retrieved 23 October 2025.
5. "Dictionary of Irish Architects - English mansion". www.dia.ie. Retrieved 23 October 2025.
6. "HISTORY OF CRICKET IN ST. MARY'S COLLEGE". www.stmarys.ie. 2 January 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
7. "Kenilworth Bowling Club - A Little History". www.kenilworthbc.ie. 3 January 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
8. "Rathgar residents lose case over access to park". The Irish Times. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
9. "Project Kenilworth". Project Kenilworth. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
10. "Proposed Redevelopment of Kenilworth Square by St Mary's College, Rathmines". Protect Kenilworth Square. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
11. Marshall, Robert D. "Wylie, William Evelyn" . Retrieved 22 October 2025.
12. MacAodhagain, Ray. "Sir Thomas Devereux Pile: The Ringsend Born Lord Mayor of Dublin" . Retrieved 22 October 2025.
13. Comerford, Patrick. "Kenilworth Square, Rathgar, 'a very beautiful … and very expensive corner of Europe'" . Retrieved 22 October 2025.
14. "Census 1911" . Retrieved 22 October 2025.
15. "Kenilworth Bowling Club - A Little History" . Retrieved 22 October 2025.
16. Comerford, Patrick. "Ludwig Hopf, one of 'the greatest geniuses of his time' and his short exile in Rathgar" . Retrieved 13 January 2021.
17. Scally, Derek. "How Ireland failed refugees from Nazi Germany" . Retrieved 22 October 2025.