Medical matters – Local History Castleknock

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.