These two storey houses opposite the Castleknock gate of the Phoenix Park, were built c. 1885. Courtesy National Inventory Architectural Heritage.
When I was growing up, ‘Fawn Lodge,’ the dashed house on the left in the photo above, was home to Dr. Merrick, a former British Army doctor. Both houses are gone now and the apartment block that stands there now carries on the name, ‘Fawn Lodge.’ This was the grant of planning permission for ‘Fawn Lodge’:-
PLANNING PERMISSION – DECISION TO GRANT – 31st August 2008:
Location: Deerpark House and Fawn Lodge, Castleknock Road, Dublin 15. Proposed development: demolish house and outhouses/stables for a three-storey block with 18 apartments (five two-beds and one three-bed at ground floor, first floor and second floor level). Car-parking, landscaping and site works. Applicant: Fiancon Builders Ltd.
An elderly couple, Mr. and Mrs. Sikes, lived in Deerpark House beside Fawn Lodge. It was said that they had been tea planters in India. Mrs. Sikes used a large basket chair to get around – of course, there was virtually no traffic on the road back then. An opening to one side of Deerpark House led to a large stable block at the back. Over the years, many race-horse trainers including the Grassicks operated from here as it was ideally located beside the Phoenix Park and the race-course. In the early morning, the race horses were brought to ‘the gallops,’ a ploughed area at ‘The Fifteen Acres,’ which extended in front of the American Legation and beyond where the Pope’s Cross now stands.
On the opposite side of Fawn Lodge, just around the corner, the Robinson family lived in a large old house. I remember two sons of the family – Frank Robinson was in my class at school and his brother, Christy Robinson, was a member of the scouts and involved in the community. He used to do some gardening for my father.
Beyond Robinsons was a block of three two storey houses – the local Jubilee nurse worked from the last house and further on was Mahady’s cottage. At a point near where Castleknock Garden Centre once stood, was the lodge leading up to the ‘Rasher’ Byrne’s house and horse training establishment.
Photo of W.J. (‘Rasher’)Byrne. Courtesy Irish Racehorse Trainers Association
Beyond that was a wide entrance to the Phoenix Park Racecourse which operated between 1902 – 1990. The grounds once housed a branch of Squash Ireland as well as Silks Nightclub.
The more familiar entrance to the Racecourse was on a bend opposite the Ashtown entrance gate to the Phoenix Park, with ornate railings and a tudor lodge style kiosk, now demolished.
History of Castleknock 