Baggot Street, first mentioned in 1773 and designated upper and lower in 1819 and 1839 respectively, is named for Sir Robert Bagod, Chief Justice of the Kings Bench in Ireland who in 1280 acquired they land upon which Baggotrath Castle was subsequently built. Precisely when seems unclear but shortly after Bagod acquired the land he received permission to cut timber for the building from the forest at Maynooth. By 1489 the Castle was in ruins but was subsequently rebuilt to become the chief residence of Thomas Fitzwilliam, great grandson of, William Fitzwilliam and son in law of, Sir Edward Perrer, who had held the Castle in 1403.

The chief historic event associated with Baggotrath Castle was of course the Battle of Rathmines, fought, August 2nd 1649 between the Duke of Ormonde's Royalist and Confederate Irish Army and the victorious Parliamentarian forces of the Cromwellian Col. Michael Jones. On the night of August 1st 1649 Ormonde ordered Major Patrick Purcell with an advance force of 1,500 foot, 2,000 horse and 800 pioneers to fortify the strategically vital Baggotrath Castle. However, during the ensuing confrontation Jones's 12,000 horse and 4,000 foot overwhelmed the position before marching on Rathmines the following day for the final decisive battle. In 1787 "Lewis's Dublin Guide" informs us, "The uppermost part. . . was in 1785 taken down and what small fragments of the tower was left, was entirely filled up with stones, earth and other matter, and the whole enclosed at the top, so it is now almost as solid and compact as a rock and may bid defiance to the shocks of time.

But not of progress. By 1800 a Commissary barracks occupied the site while shortly afterwards one Richard Hobart built 27 houses on the site under lease from the Pembroke Estate. Provisionally called; "Macartney's Houses", for Sir John Macartney, Chairman of the Grand Canal Company in 1791 and for whom "Macartney Bridge", popularly, Baggot Bridge is also named. The site of the ancient Baggotrath Castle is presently represented by No. 44-46 Upr. Baggot Street.

Other buildings of historic importance includes, the future St. Catherine Mary McCauley's, "House of Mercy", est. 1828, "The Royal City of Dublin Hospital", est. 1832, enlarged 1851, rebuilt 1890-1900 and closed as a general hospital in 1987, "The Episcopal Chapel", later, "Baggotrath Church", built 1835, converted to a factory by 1947 and later demolished to make way for, "St. Martins House", 1968-1969, and "Bridge House", built, 1916 and home until May 31st 1989 of May Parson's bookshop, literary haunt of legends such as Brendan Behan, Patrick Kavanagh, Liam O'Flaherty, Frank O'Connor, Flann O'Brien, Ben Kiely, Mary Lavin and last but not least, John Broderick.

Baggot Street, moreover, figures in the works of James Joyce, Samuel Beckett, Patrick Kavanagh and George Moore -who, declares in, "Hail and Farewell", that, "nowhere in the world does the sun set more beautifully that at the end of Baggot Street". On a more sombre note it was at the northern portion of Baggot Street between Rock Lane and Lad Lane, the latter dating from 1816, that all public executions for the city of Dublin were carried out down to 1782. Hence the designation, "Gallows Hill" on, Rocques Map of the County of Dublin, 1765.

Those who paid the supreme price included, John Audoin hanged in 1728 for the alleged murder of his maid servant, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Costello, 1750, "for filing and diminishing guineas and half guineas and, Nicholas Murphy, 1772 for the armed robbery of no less a person than, Lord Mornington, father of, Arthur Wellesley, later; 1st Duke of Wellington, born incidentally at No. 24 Upper Merrion Street, April 29th 1769.

Upon the last execution there, apparently of Michael Greet, Highwayman on November 2nd 1782 the Gallows Hill or Mount from whence Mount Street takes its name, was leveled, the earth carried away to embank the new canal docks at Ringsend and a new street, Pembroke Street opened in 1791 from Lr. Baggot Street to FitzwilIiam Square then about to be laid out.

Famous residents of Baggot Street included, Henry Sheares, Patriot, No. 128 Lr., Thomas Davis, Poet, Patriot, No. 16 and No. 61 (now 67) Lr., William Howard Russell, War Correspondent, No.40 Lr., Edward Bunting, Music Collector, No. 45 Lr., and Philip Cogan, Music Tutor to Dubliner, Michael Kelly, who at Mozart's request, sang the first Basilio in, "The Marriage of Figaro" in Vienna on May 1st 1786.

Interestingly No. 73 Lr.. Baggot Street, built in 1828 by Denis Keogh, who built most if not all of the houses on Lr. Baggot Street, has housed the Health Research Board since January 1987. Among those who resided at that address were Keogh himself, end successively, Lennox Robinson arid Lady Gregory.

Mention must also be made of the renowned Medical Practitioners who also resided in Baggot Street. These included, Bethel Solomons (mentioned in "Finnegan's Wake") Master of the Rotunda, President, RCPI, who commenced practice at No. 30 Lr. Baggot Street, James Apjohn, part founder of, "The Royal City of Dublin Hospital", No: 28 Lr. Baggot Street, Dr. Henry Wilson, illegitimate son of Sir William Wilde (father of playwright Oscar Wilde) No. 29 Lr. Baggot Street.

And last though not least, Dr. Robert Wilson, MA, MD, FRCPI, FRS, former Consultant to "The Royal City of Dublin Hospital" and Pioneer in Cholesterol in Ireland and abroad. The latter conducted his practice at both No. 70 and No. 69 Lr. Baggot Street. He was succeeded at No.69 on July 1st 1987 by Dr. Paul Gueret, MB, BCH, BAO, Dublin, 1982, MRCPI, 1984.

JAMES MOLLOY