Albert College Park

Name: Albert College Park
Address: Ballymun Road, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Glasnevin, Dublin, IE
Telephone: 01 222 5278

Overview

Albert College Park, also known as Hampstead Park, is a large park on the Ballymun Road in Glasnevin, next to Dublin City University. It has a playground, soccer and GAA pitches, tennis courts, a boules green, a cricket crease and an outdoor gym.

The park takes its name from the Albert Agricultural College, which farmed these lands for more than a century.

History

In 1838 about 50 acres in Glasnevin were acquired for a model farm, which trained teachers to teach agriculture. After a visit by Prince Albert in 1853 it took his name, and it later became the Albert Agricultural College. University College Dublin's Faculty of Agriculture moved here in 1926 and stayed until 1979. The college lands were later sold to Dublin Corporation, and part of them became this park. The college's 1851 main building still stands on DCU's Glasnevin campus.

Getting there

The park is on the Ballymun Road, Dublin 9, beside Dublin City University. Dublin Bus routes run along the Ballymun Road. The National Botanic Gardens and Glasnevin Cemetery are about 20 minutes' walk south, and Griffith Park is nearby.