Killester Garden Village Committee

21/08/2026

Today, the Killester Garden Village Committee in association with the Irish Fit Coach unveiled a history board giving an insight into the history of the Legion Hall in Killester from its inception as a wooden hut structure in the late 1920's to the permanent hall built in 1932 up to recent times such as being a Judo Club during the 1990's/early 2000's and then with our groups campaigning for the hall to be saved, refurbished, preserved and brought back into a community use out of dereliction since 2013 (Killester WW1 Memorial Campaign).

The Legion Hall was used as the Killester Branch of the Royal British Legion right up to the 1970's as a focal point for the community and open to all. Some of the original WW1 ex-servicemen lived in Killester right up to the late 1980's. This Legion Hall was the hub of the community and used for multiple activities and was a core part of the social life of the community and in assisting with those who were suffering with mental health or physical health such as the veterans themselves.

A photograph of the orginal committee for the veterans estate is included on the board and their descendants are today an integral part of the Killester Garden Village Committee. Our committee today is also made up of veterans of the Irish Defence Forces.

Thank you to Francis Chance for organising the new history board.

Thank you to Fran from the Irish Fit Coach for the support with this and we look forward to feedback on the new history board especially with an open day for the gym happening on Saturday 5th September.



Royal British Legion Republic of Ireland Óglaigh Náisiúnta na hÉireann ONE Veterans Charity

21/08/2026

'Homes for Heroes - The Killester WW1 ex-servicemens estate'.

Today the Killester Garden Village Committee was filming with the The Irish Military Heritage Foundation/Ireland's Military Story for a short video about the local history and military heritage of the Killester WW1 ex-servicemen veterans estate.

We walked and talked around the Garden Village through The Demesne, Middle Third and Abbeyfield discussing the unique and interesting history of the veteran's estate, some fascinating profiles of some of the veterans themselves, life for the veterans and families and discussed the various facilities, services and social aspects of the estate.

Stay tuned for when the video is launched.

Dublin City Council - Clontarf Dublin City Council Parks and Biodiversity Dublin City Council Heritage Office The Heritage Council Heritage Week

21/08/2026

This may be of interest 👇

🎓Lord Mayor’s Certificate course in Local Studies 2026/27 🎓

The Lord Mayor’s Certificate course in Local Studies is offered by Dublin City Council (DCC) as part of its commitment to life-long learning. The course examines the local dimension of Ireland’s past and is taught in an engaging and accessible manner by DCC Historian in Residence Cathy Scuffil.

You can apply online for the course from Monday 31 August until Friday 11 September at 5pm.

Click the link in our bio to read more about the Lord Mayor's Certificate course in Local Studies 🔗

14/08/2026

Have you checked out the 1926 Census yet?

If you do you can have a look at who lived in the Killester Garden Village in 1926 as per the Census of 1926.

This is an outstanding resource and archive and even just a quick look at some of the families will give you an insight into life in the veteran's estate 100 years ago, the majority of the WW1 ex-servicemen in our communities book feature in the Census.

We have the Officer In Charge of the Killester Estate featuring in the Census with also many of the WW1 ex-servicemen working in the Civil Service, Guinness Brewey, various trades, some for the Royal British Legion and Irish Sailors and Soldiers Land Trust, while one families Census was As Gaeilge.

You can also see some of the sons of WW1 ex-servicemen featuring in the census, some of which served in WW2 and who did not return home.

You can also see from the perspective of the various religious beliefs calling Killester home.

We'd encourage you all to have a look when you get a chance and let us know below what you find 👏☘️🌹

https://nationalarchives.ie/collections/search-the-1926-census/search-results/ =Dublin&townland__icontains=Killester&limit=30

National Archives of Ireland National Library of Ireland The Heritage Council Irish Genealogical Research Society Federation of Local History Societies Our Irish Heritage Irish Family History Society Royal British Legion Republic of Ireland Óglaigh Náisiúnta na hÉireann ONE Veterans Charity

12/08/2026

05/08/2026

Here is a beautiful message and photographs we received from Maree which she wishes to share in relation to Rifleman James Hursey, Royal Ulster Rifles from Killester Dublin, who died aged only 22 on 9th June 1944 near Caen Normandy just after D-Day & was buried in Cambes-En-Plaine War Cemetery Basse-Normandie. James's story also features in our book and his name etched into the WW2 Cross at Clontarf.

"During a recent trip to Normandy we found the grave of a soldier, James Hursey, from Killester. He is buried in Cambes-en-Plaine. Is it possible to make a post about this on your FB page to see if he still has family in the area? We would like them to know that he is not forgotten and the French impeccably maintain these graves. I have already been successful in contacting the families of two other fallen soldiers from Drimnagh and Carlow. If I it not possible to post could you tell me a site where I could. Many thanks, Maree Fleming."

05/08/2026

The Killester ARP (Air Raid Precaution) Unit during the Emergency 1939 - 1945 (Second World War).

Known to be one of the most professional and well ran units in the country mainly due to some experienced members having served in the First World War.

If you can identify anyone in the photograph please let us know in the comments below?