Crab Lane

Crab Lane gets its name from the Irish phrase ‘Ceathrú an Ab.’This phrase means ‘The Abbot’s quarters.’ It is believed that the abbot of one of the monasteries in the city centre built a retreat house for himself on the lane. Here he could pray in peace, removed from the hustle and bustle of monastery life and watch the monks walk the prayer path.Contrary to popular belief, the lane has nothing to do with wild apples (crab apples).

Boreenmanna Road

Boreenmanna Rd gets its name from the Irish phrase ‘bótharín na manach’ which means the ‘little road of the monks.’ During the Middle Ages monks used this road as a walkway from their city centre monasteries to a little church which was situated on Temple Hill.

Ballintemple ( Baile an Teampaill)

Ballintemple means ‘place of the church.’ No trace of the church remains today but
it is believed that this church was situated where the old graveyard on Temple Hill is situated.

Diamond Hill

Diamond Hill is situated on the Blackrock Road near the S.M.A. church. In the late eighteenth century, locals believed that they had found diamonds while digging a roadway from the city centre to Blackrock. News of their find quickly spread and soon people from far and near rushed to the area and began to dig for their fortune.
Diamond fever had set in and armed guards were hired to protect the site. However the diamond fever died away as quickly as it had started when it was discovered that the ‘diamonds’ were not diamonds but a worthless rock called ‘amethyst.’

Well Road

During famine times a public well on this road provided fresh water for the many hungry visitors to the city.

Blackrock (An Charraig Dhubh)

The result of weathering and of salt water on the normally grey limestone of the area gives it a distinctive black colour. This is particularly evident in the area around Blackrock Castle.

Maryville Estate, Janeville Estate, Lynville Estate.

The Lindsey family, a wealthy family who lived in the Ballintemple area in the last century, built three large houses for each of their three daughters on the land on which these estates now stand