HISTORY OF BALLYFERMOT

The word "Ballyfermot" comes originally from the Irish name of "Baile Diarmuid" which means the "town of Dermot". Over the years the name changed because of language and spelling.

At the time of the Norman Invasion of Ireland around 1170ad an Irish chief Diarmuid MacGillamocholmoo lived in the area. The Normans took control of this area led by William Fitzwilliam. The land changed ownership over the generations because of death or marriage, eventually going to the family "De Barnwell". Other families include Robert Burnellan, Reginald Wolfran, Richard Butler, John Dillon and Richard Wespey.

A castle was built on a site near the present day Le Fanu road by the Normans during the 14th century, but nothing remains today although a graveyard existed there when the houses where built in that area around 1975. A grass mound is all that is left.

Up untill about 1930 Ballyfermot consisted of small country roads, fields and a few large farm houses with cottages for the workers.

In 1940, Dublin Corporation purchased land to build a sanatorium for the treatment of T.B. (Tuberculosis). The project was abandoned and the purchased land went to the housing department. 1,180 houses where built at the Sarsfield estate between 1948 and 1951

They got the name "Sarsfield" from Peter Sarsfield, the Earl of Lucan. His life and times gave them a theme to name the rest of the roads of Lower Ballyfermot.