History of the Property

Pembroke Road and Ballsbridge have an incredible history that stretches from the Viking invasion of the 8th & 9th centuries through to the creation and occupation of 55 Pembroke Villa, Pembroke Road in 1835.

Number 55

Number 55 Pembroke Villa on Pembroke Road was built in 1835 by George Herbert the 11th Earl of Pembroke. George Herbert inherhited the Pembroke Estate in 1833. Prior to the Pembroke Estates these extensive lands were owned by the powerful Fitzwilliam Dynasty.

In the early years, 55 Pembroke Villa was owned by the founders of the wealthy Jameson whiskey family.

Ireland’s first Gaelscoil, Scoil Bhride

Scoil Bhride was founded by Louise Gavin Duffy and Aine Nic Aoidh in 1917 at Number 70 St. Stephen’s Green. It was founded as a secondary school for girls through the medium of Irish. Until this time, education through Irish had been outlawed in Ireland. The Gaelscoil flourished and when it reached 100 pupils it moved to 55 Pembroke Road in 1921. It was evenetually taken over by the Department of Education and still exists today in its present location at Oakely Road, in nearby Ranelagh, Dublin 6.

Its founder, Louise Gavin Duffy was not only an educator, Irish language enthusiast and gaelic revivalist, she was a suffrogette who was actively involved in the 1916 Rising.

“I was brought to Pearse and had the temerity to tell him that I thought the rebellion was very wrong as it would certainly fail but that I wished to be there if there was going to be anything doing.”

— Louise Gavin Duffy, Suffrogette, Educator, & Gaelic Revivalist, who set up the first Gaelscoil in Ireland

More Recent History

In later years the house was owned by the Murnane family up to 1989. Adam Clayton of U2 spent a few summers at 55 Pembroke Villa, as did Irish singer-songwriter Luka Bloom. The house was purchased by Frank and Michael Quinn in 1995 and was lovingly restored. It is now open to the public during summer months.