The Old Coach Route
The first regular coach service from Dublin to Wexford started in 1785. The service that existed before this was erratic and unreliable, particularly during the winter months. The new service departed from Duke Street in Dublin, running on the Thursday of each week. The coach travelled through Bray village to Kilruddery House, and then over Bray Head to Windgates. The route continued on past the ancient village of Rathdown to the Black Lion Inn. This building houses the Blacklion Veterinary Practice today. Interestingly, Bray had a White Lion Inn.
From Black Lion the Route swung inland passing the Wayside Inn in Killincarrig. Built around 1750, the inn was later divided into two two houses, one is still named Wayside. There was a decline in business for the inns and taverns when the road through the Glen of the Downs became the main Wexford Road in 1813.
The Coach Route continued on from Killincarrig to Kilcoole, for a stop at another coaching inn. Mary Delaney from Glasnevin describes having dined in 1752 at an inn in Kilcoole. The inn was located on the eastern side of the village street. The coach then travelled on to Killoughter, a half- mile outside Kilcoole. Another tavern called Black Bull was located in the area of Killoughter. From Killoughter the route led on to Newrath and then to Hunter’s Hotel. Before joining Rathnew before climbing to Glenealy. An hour later, passengers would alight at the Inn in Rathdrum before finally travelling on to Wexford. Here the coach would pull up outside one of the three inns in Wexford Town – Patrick Furlong’s at Ferrybank, Sutherland’s on Anne Street or White’s on Main Street.
The Change of route in 1813.
The inns and taverns around Kilcoole and Killincarrig experienced a decline in business when the route changed in 1813, when the road through the Glen of the Downs became the main Wexford road at this stage. On leaving Bray the coach would follow the Glen of the Downs road and then turn to the right and uphill to the Grove Bar, and then on to Kilpedder, where the Kilpedder Inn was located. The coaches would proceed on into Newtown Mount Kennedy, and through Ashford and onto Rathnew, before climbing to Glenealy. An hour later, passengers would alight at the Inn in Rathdrum before finally travelling on to Wexford. Here the coach would pull up outside one of the three inns in Wexford Town – Patrick Furlong’s at Ferrybank, Sutherland’s on Anne Street or White’s on Main Street.
Bibliography
Scudds, Colm; Old Coach Roads from Dublin 1745-1821, Dublin Historical Record, Vol. 54, No. 1 (Spring, 2001), pp. 4-15
No Comments
Add a comment about this page