Many of our best-known landmarks in the Pale and beyond have a fascinating tale to tell Fleet Street The Ouzel Galley stone carving Strokestown’s Broad Avenue Misery Hill Sick & Indigent Roomkeepers Society Baggorath Castle 10 Anglesea Street 10 fascinating stories from the Pale and beyond: Baggorath Castle With such a distinctive name, I knew there must be an interesting story behind “Baggot”, and I was right. I went down a rabbit hole into old city maps, and it turns out that Upper Baggot Street, near present-day Searsons Pub, was the location of Baggotrath Castle — a medieval fortress that was the toughest stronghold in Dublin and the scene of many bloody battles, notably, the Battle of Rathmines in 1649. “Baggot” comes from the surname of Sir Robert Bagod, an Irish judge and landowner in the 13th century.
This is where he built his fortress. Later, it passed to the Hiberno-Norman Fitzwilliam family. It existed for five centuries before the ruins were demolished to make way for the familiar red-brick terrace we know today.
But of course, Baggot Street is the modern name. Back then, it was called something different..
. Here’s one to tell your mates the next time you’re having a pint in Toners. Present-day Lower Baggot Street, just up the road from Baggotrath Castle, was called Gallows Road up until 1773.
It was here where Ireland saw some of its grizzliest executions. This is where brothel madame, purported serial killer and suspected witch Darkey Kelly was .