Albert College Park (Dublin)

Albert College Park
Hampstead Park
Albert College Park Show map of Dublin Albert College Park Show map of Ireland
Type	Municipal
Location	Dublin, Ireland
Coordinates	53°22′55″N 6°15′45″W
Area	15 hectares (0.15 km^2; 0.058 sq mi)
Operated by	Dublin City Council
Status	Open all year
Website	Dublin City Parks - Albert College Park

Albert College Park (Irish: Páirc Choláiste Ailbhe),^[1] also known as Hampstead Park, is a public park owned by Dublin City Council and managed by the council's Parks and Landscape Services division. It is located in northern Glasnevin, in the mid-northern suburbs of Dublin.

Location and access

The park is located on Ballymun Road in northern Glasnevin, next to the main campus of Dublin City University (DCU), and has been called an "oasis" in the area.^[2] It is bordered to the north and east by DCU, by Hampstead Private Hospital and the Elmhurst convalescent home to the southeast, Hampstead Avenue to the south, and Ballymun Road to the west.

Cuilín House

In the middle of Albert College Park is Cuilín House. This was the original building, used from 1838 by Glasnevin Model Farm (sometimes called The Glasnevin Institute) prior to its being renamed Albert College, and the development in 1851 of the larger, Albert College Building. Now part of DCU, it was used into the twentieth century as a residence for professors of the college. A listed building, owned by Dublin City Council, it was used by community groups for a while, however it fell into disuse and was boarded up. Sports changing rooms were developed on the site adjacent to the house.^[3]

In 2021, Dublin City Council installed public toilets and cafes in several parks around Dublin, including in Albert College Park. The toilets are located in the Tram Café, which opened in 2021 in the previously disused courtyard of Cuilin House.^[4]

Sporting facilities and walks

The National Tennis Centre is based in the park. Established in 2003, with additional courts added in 2005 and 2008, the National Tennis Centre was developed replacing existing tarmac courts.^[5]

There are Gaelic football and soccer pitches, used by a variety of clubs, such as Na Fianna, Glasnevin Soccer Club, Stella Maris and Bohemian F.C. youth teams. There are Boules (pétanque) courts and a cricket crease.^[2]

A 3.5 km Slí na Sláinte exercise trail route links the park and the DCU main campus.^[6] The park is also a venue for junior parkrun.

There is also a children's playground and a "Native Tree Trail".^[7]

References

1. "Páirc Choláiste Ailbhe / Albert College Park". logainm.ie. Placenames Database of Ireland. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
2. "Dublin City Council: Albert College Park/Hampstead Park". Dublincity.ie. Archived from the original on 29 September 2020.
3. "Cuilin House - Albert College/Hampstead Park Whitehall". abandoneddublin.ie.
4. "Courtyard café breathes new life into derelict park building on northside". independent.ie. Independent News & Media. 13 June 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
5. "National Tennis Centre". tennisireland.ie. Tennis Ireland.
6. "DCU/Albert College Park/Hampstead Park Slí na Sláinte" (PDF). Retrieved 21 March 2017.
7. "Dublin City Parks - Albert College Park". dublincity.ie. Dublin City Council. Retrieved 23 May 2022.