Ard na Greine, Castleknock. Photo courtesy Dr. Mark Humphrys.
The Dispensary in Castleknock is still there, located opposite the traffic light junction at Auburn Avenue. In my early years, Dr. Cullen lived in the doctor’s residence behind the Dispensary; later on, it was Dr. Lavelle. Many a time I was sent off on my bicycle to fetch the doctor. The doctor’s practice covered an area extending across to Porterstown and Clonsilla. Back then, doctors were available 24/7, house visits by car were commonplace. There was no such thing as having to make an appointment with the doctor.
Eastern Health Board Child and Family Centre. Photos courtesy niah.ie
Two storey houses c. 1885 opposite the Castleknock gate of the Phoenix Park, courtesy National Inventory Architectural Heritage.
Dr. Merrick, who was formerly a British Army doctor, lived with his wife at ‘Fawn Lodge,’ the dashed house on the left in the photo above, which was situated beside Deerpark House, opposite the Castleknock gate of the Phoenix Park. The apartment block built there now carries the name, ‘Fawn Lodge.’ Dr. Merrick and his wife are recorded as being buried in the cemetery at St. Brigid’s:
Merrick, Dr. W.J, d. 22 May 1950, h/o Irene Edna, [AR]
Merrick, Irene Edna, d. 13 Oct 1938, w/o Dr W J, [AR]
The Jubilee nurse for the Castleknock area was a jolly woman who lived around the corner from Dr. Merrick in the row of two-storey houses facing the wall of the Phoenix Park. That row of houses is long gone. Her clinic was based at Castleknock Dispensary. When a new Jubilee nurse took over, she lived in a brand new house in the row alongside Kelly’s pub, the Half Way House on the Navan Road. Many a time I called over there for her to dress various gashes sustained while participating in sporting activities and in the workplace. The Jubilee nurses worked alongside the doctors in the community and cycled all over the district on home visits, armed with their Gladstone bags. 
This wordpress site has been set up for the purpose of sharing photographs of familiar landmarks in the neighbourhood of Castleknock, school photographs and other groups and other items of interest by way of blogposts:-
https://reynoldshistorycastleknockblog.wordpress.com
In due course, a hard copy folder of photographs of local landmarks as well as group photographs will be submitted to the Local History Section of Fingal County Council Library, Blanchardstown, with the hope of bringing forth more photographs and records for the benefit of all those interested in the local history of the area.
The book ‘Castleknock – Memories of a Neighbourhood‘ by Tony Reynolds, is currently for sale in the following outlets:
*Spar Supermarket, Carpenterstown Road, Castleknock
*The Newsagents at Roselawn Shopping Centre, Castleknock
*Kennas Centra Supermarket at Laurel Lodge Shopping Centre, Castleknock
*Pat Carey Newsagents, Main Street, Lucan.
The book is also available to purchase on-line at Amazon.com.
Updates regarding retail outlets selling the book will be posted on this site.
History of Castleknock 
Yet again a fascinating account which gives a glimpse of times gone by. I love the photos. They really bring it to life. I hadn’t heard of Jubilee nurses either!
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