Glenville House – Keeping it in the family
WITH its whitewashed walls, water pump, out houses and cows, you could be mistaking for thinking that Glenville House was a thousand miles away from the busy, urban community of Tallaght.
Nestled on the Kiltipper Road, Glenville House and its three farm buildings were built in the early 1800’s by a Mr Wildridge – before it became home to a local family called the Byrnes, generations of whom have lived in the house to this day.Over the years, the main purpose of Glenville House and its land was farming. However, according to the family, the buildings were innovatively used for a number of different activities such as Byrne’s Tea Rooms, Byrne’s Dance Hall and a sweet factory which made jellies. Duncan’s Map of 1821 also shows how the road turned at Glenville House and, before the Old Bawn bridge was built, this was the only way to cross the Dodder river.
Tallaght resident Sharon Byrne, one of the many Byrne grandchildren who spent time on the farm growing up, told The Echo how her grandad James and grandmother Bridget inherited Glenville House from her great-grandmother in 1967.
The couple, who reared eight children, Ronald, Terence, Eivor, Fergus, Mary, Trudy, Pauline and Bridean, ran a dairy farm from their Kiltipper Road home.
Alongside cows, James and Bridget also kept other animals such as sheep, pigs and hens and grew their own vegetables.
However, due to competition, running the farm as a business was not viable as the years progressed – with the family closing its dairy business in 1980.
James Byrne did however, have another income for his family after he rented out land in 1969 that was to become home to Glenville Pitch and Putt Club – a thriving clubhouse which has grown into an important part of Tallaght’s social and sporting landscape.
In 1980, the first bar was built in the clubhouse and James Byrne bought the first pint pulled – which cost him 67p.
Sharon Byrne, who lived on the farm until she was four, said: “Some of my earliest childhood memories are helping my dad Fergus milk the cows and feed the animals, there was also a barn dance or two and many barbecues.
“At the time it was just normal life to us but looking back we were very lucky to experience such things growing up.”
She added: “The house is now owned by Bernie Byrne who lives there with her family.
“She has a few hens and there are still a few cows out in the back fields.”
The Byrne family remain the landlords to Glenville Pitch and Putt to this day.
