Discover Donnybrook

Donnybrook offers a range of points of interest for a stay: a burial ground dating back to around 800 AD, rugby home Energia Park, and routes that take in Herbert Park and the River Dodder. If you are considering Donnybrook as a destination, you can organise the local attractions according to your interests: the area’s long history, rugby or outdoor exercise. The places and routes below provide concrete, clearly distinct points of reference.

History and the place name

Donnybrook Graveyard, also known as Reilig Dhomhnach Broc, is one of Dublin’s oldest burial grounds; its origins date back to around 800 AD. According to the traditional account of its founding, the graveyard first developed around a Celtic church founded by Saint Broc. Donnybrook’s name is derived from him and means “Church of Broc.” Several historical layers therefore come together at this site: the approximate date of the burial ground, the story of its church’s founding and the origin of the place name. If you are interested in local history, the explanation of the name offers a point of interest in its own right, alongside the site’s age.

Rugby at Energia Park

Another point of interest is Energia Park, formerly known as Donnybrook Stadium. It is the home ground of Leinster Rugby’s women’s team. If rugby plays a part in your travel plans, this connection gives Donnybrook a specific sporting association. It is clearly distinct from the history of the graveyard: Energia Park is defined by its connection to a current team, while the graveyard is associated with its long history and the origin of the place name.

Herbert Park and the walking trail

Nearby, Herbert Park has football pitches, tennis, boules and croquet courts, a duck pond and a playground. The Donnybrook Walking Trail passes through Herbert Park and crosses the River Dodder. It starts in Donnybrook and passes numerous places of historical interest. This offers a different way to explore the area’s history than the graveyard: the graveyard is a single historical point of interest, while the trail passes several historically interesting places.

Cycling the Dodder Greenway

One section of the Dodder Greenway is clearly defined by its endpoints: it runs from Eglinton Terrace, beside the entrance to Herbert Park, to Donnybrook Road, beside Anglesey Bridge. The section offers protected, continuous and safe cycling facilities for people of all ages and abilities. Herbert Park is also a point of reference for both routes: the walking trail passes through the park, while the specified Greenway section starts at Eglinton Terrace beside its entrance. For planning your routes, the descriptions therefore differ according to mode of travel and points of reference: the walking trail is defined by its route and historical sites, while the Greenway section is defined by named endpoints and cycling facilities.

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