Douglas (Irish: Dúglas or Dúbhglas, meaning "dark
stream") is a suburb of Cork city, Ireland and the name given to the
Roman Catholic, Church of Ireland and Civil parish in which it is
contained. As its borders are ill-defined and it straddles the boundary
between Cork city and County Cork, it is difficult to ascertain the
exact population. The CSO gives a figure of 19,787 for the parts of
Douglas that lie within Cork County. No figure is provided for the parts
within Cork City, although the combined population of the Tramore A,
Tramore B, Tramore C and Browningstown electoral divisions, which lie in
Douglas, is 5,868. This suggests a total population of approximately
25,655. The 2017 Mackinnon Report proposed that Douglas and surrounding
residential areas be moved to within an extended Cork city boundary,
potentially ending the division of Douglas between the city and county
administrative areas.
There are a number of extant or proposed prehistoric sites in Douglas
and the surrounding area, including a shell midden, ringforts,
souterrains, and a fulacht fiadh. Further evidence of prehistoric
settlement in the area includes the finding of a Bronze Age decorated
beaten gold disc in the townland of Castletreasure; although reputed to
be related to the ruined castle of the same name, it has actually been
dated to 2500-2000 BC.
Douglas was first mentioned in an inquisition on the lands of Gerald de
Prendergast in 1251, and in a 1291 taxation document which records the
lands as being an appurtenance of the Church of Bauvier. It is
alternately listed as "Duffelglasse" and "Duglasse" in 1302 and 1306,
respectively, as part of the parish of Carrigaline. In the year 1603, it
became one of the liberties of Cork City.
In 1615, parochial records mention the chapel of Douglas being laid
waste, reportedly due to theft of the foundation stones, and in a 1700
entry of the same records it is mentioned that the ruined chapel in
question had been the church of the Carrigaline parish for a century
prior to the construction of a new church in Carrigaline.
By the mid-seventeenth century, it had a population of 308 people (of
whom 33 were English) and consisted of a number of large farms.
The area began to develop as an urban settlement in the early eighteenth
century with the opening of the "Douglas factory" in 1726, reported in
August 1755 to be the property of "Messrs. Perry, Carleton and Co.",
with 100 looms initially operational. The mills produced sail-cloth and
supplied sails to the Royal Navy, amongst other clients. The industry
was established by Huguenot weavers and textile workers, such as the
Besnards, who acquired the Mills by 1783 and in 1801 installed the first
powered spindles in Ireland, along with skilled workers from Ulster and
Scotland. In addition to the mill workers, employees included over 1,000
spinners working from their houses, and hacklers, bleachers and
labourers tasked with preparing raw material in Douglas village.
Douglas developed as a suburban area throughout the later eighteenth
century and the nineteenth century, and was noted for the high
concentration of 'big houses'(1). The popularity of the area among the
nobility was such that elevated prices were commanded for the
surrounding lands, and as a result, the acreage of the estates was lower
than average.
Douglas was made a separate Roman Catholic parish sometime before 1768.
St. Columba’s (Roman Catholic) church was built in 1814 by the Rev.
Thomas Barry, according to local legend using the stones of the ruined
castle of Castletreasure. A Douglas "Chapel of Ease" to the Church of
Ireland parish of Carrigaline was established on the 17th September
1786, with the establishment of a full separate parish in February 1875.
In 1855, the Protestant population of the parish was reported as having
been 310, with 150 children attending the parish school.
In the second half of the twentieth century, Douglas underwent major
changes as it became a suburb of Cork. A large amount of new housing was
built and the area between Douglas and Cork City became entirely
built-up. Schools, shopping centres, cinemas and other amenities
developed to serve this new population. Douglas Community School was
built in 1968 and the original Douglas Shopping Centre was completed in
1972. This shopping centre underwent a significant redevelopment at the
turn of the 21st century. A second shopping centre, Douglas Court
Shopping Centre, was built in the late 1980s and a 5-screen multiplex
cinema was also built. Several hotels, including the Rochestown Park
Hotel and Maryborough House Hotel were also developed. Douglas has two
golf courses, Douglas Golf Club at Maryborough Hill and Frankfield Golf
Club in Frankfield. The Frankfield course also contains a driving range.
Following the release of the MacKinnon Report in 2017, covering a
possible extension of Cork city's boundary, it was proposed that the
Douglas area (including Douglas, Frankfield, Grange and Donnybrook)
would be moved to the administrative area of Cork City Council. This, if
implemented, would move all of Douglas to the city, ending the divide of
the town between the city and county.
In the 2011 census, the percentage of Irish nationals living in Douglas
was 88.8%. UK nationals accounted for 1.7%; Polish nationals 3.2%;
Lithuanians 0.6%; Other EU nationals 2.1%; Other nationals 2.9%; 0.7%
did not state their nationality.
In the 2011 census, 84.7% of Douglas residents identified as Catholic;
7.9% were members of other religions; 6.2% were irreligious; 1.2% did
not state a religion.
Notes:
1. Amongst the 'big houses' were Douglas Hall and
Douglas House.
Douglas Hall with its tiled outer walls, is mostly
noticed from the rear as one moves along the Well Road, after leaving
the Douglas Road. It was the home of Dr. Francis Moylan, 1735-1815, born
in Douglas the son a 'Merchant Prince'. Because of Penal Laws
restrictions on education for Catholics, Francis was sent to France and
graduated from the University of Toulouse with a doctorate in theology.
He was ordained in 1761, and firstly administered as a priest in Paris
before returning to serve in Cork, from where he was appointed Bishop of
Kerry in 1775. In 1787 he became Bishop of Cork, and ruled that diocese
until his death.
As Bishop of Cork, his flock had divided opinions on his legacy. He was
an outspoken Unionist, and denounced the French force's arrival in
Bantry, and on Christmas Day 1796 issued a pastoral letter urging
loyalty and obedience to the English Crown. He subsequently received the
Freedom of the City for his support. At Douglas Hall he entertained his
friend from student days in France, Abbe Edgworth, confessor to King
Louis XV1, who was at the monarch's side at the guillotine.
On the plus side, he was responsible for encouraging Edmund Rice and
Nano Nagle to provide education for the Catholic poor, the latter
founding the North Presentation Convent in Philpott Lane, and Rice
founding the North Monastery. Moylan is best remembered for the
construction of the Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Anne, which was
completed in 1808, and also founding nearby St. Mary's College, which
was the forerunner of Farranferris Seminary. He was also a prime mover
in the establishment of Maynooth College, and was one of its founding
trustees.
In the early 1900s the property was purchased by the Duggan family, who
farmed the land, before selling parts to provide for the building of
Douglas Hall Lawn housing estate, and Douglas tennis club. It was
purchased in the 1970s by its current owner Mr. Sean Cooper.
Douglas House was occupied by the Horgan family for
most of the 1900's. Previously occupied by Daniel S. Stoker. In the
photograph, above, the house appears to have been recently modernised.
Are those bars on the windows? It may now be owned by Sean Cooper.
Alternative description
DOUGLAS, a chapelry, comprising that portion of the parish of
CARRIGALINE which is in the county of the city of CoRk, and in the
province of MUNSTER, 1} mile (S. E.) from Cork, on the road to
Carrigaline ; containing 816 inhabitants.
This village, which is situated at the head of a small bay called
Douglas channel, on the eastern side of Cork harbour, is irregularly
built in two detached portions respectively on the upper and lower roads
from Cork. Its origin is attributed to the settlement of a colony of
linen weavers from Ferma nagh, who in 1726 commenced here the
manufacture of sail-cloth, which obtained such celebrity in the English
market, that unlimited orders were received for all that could be made.
This establishment continued to flourish till after the introduction of
machinery into the English factories, which enabled the English
manufacturers to undersell those of Ireland, and the trade consequently
declined greatly, though the manufacture is still carried on. A very
extensive rope-yard has long been esta blished, and the patent cordage
made here is in very great repute.
There is a large boulting-mill belonging to Mr. G. White, capable of
manufacturing 6000 barrels of flour annually, and which might be easily
made to produce twice that quantity; there is also a mill on the road to
Monkstown belonging to Mr. Power, of equal capability. A large quantity
of bricks, of a bright ash colour, is made in the immediate vicinity of
the village, and sent to a considerable distance inland; and great
numbers are conveyed by small craft to the port of Cork.
A penny post to Cork has been established, and a constabulary police
force is stationed in the village. The environs of Douglas are
exceedingly pleasant and the scenery richly diversified and embellished
with nu merous elegant seats and tasteful villas; the surface is
undulated, rising in some places into considerable emimences and
commanding extensive and interesting views.
To the north and west are seen the course of the river Lee, the
peninsula of Blackrock, the hills of Glanmire and Rathcooney, with
others in the distance, the city of Cork, and the beautiful country
towards Inniscarra. To the east and south are the mountains beyond
Midleton and Youghal, the harbour of Cork with the town of Cove, the
course of the Carrigaline river and the rich scenery on its banks.
The principal seats are Marybo rough, the residence of E. E. Newenham,
Esq., a noble mansion in a spacious demesne embellished with stately
timber; Old Court, of Sir Geo. Goold, Bart., an elegant residence
beautifully situated on a commanding eminence embosomed in woods of
luxuriant growth; Monsfieldtown, of T. C. Kearney, Esq.; the Hill, of A.
O'Driscoll, Esq.; Vernon Mount, of O. Hayes, Esq.; Thornberry, of T.
Townsend, Esq.; Belmont Cottage, of Capt. S. H. Lawrence; Windsor, of G.
Cooke, Esq.; Rowan's Court, of Mrs. Evanson ; Frankfield, of S. Lane,
Esq.; Montpelier, of the Rev. M. O'Donovan; Alta Villa, of J. Woodroffe,
Esq., M.D.; Charlemont, of C. Evanson, Esq.; Bloomfield, of W. Sheehy,
Esq.; Shamrock Lawn, of W. P. Robinson, Esq.; Grange Erin, of W. E.
Penrose, Esq.; Tramore, of T. S. Reeves, Esq.; Grange, of H. Conron,
Esq.; Mount Conway, of H. Sharpe, Esq.; West Grove, of Mrs. S. Baylie ;
Ballybrack, of J. Heard, Esq.; Atkin Ville, of Mrs. Atkins; Mount Emla,
of J. Barmes, Esq.; Garryduffe, of Mrs. Allen; Wilsfort, of Mrs. Dowman;
Rose Hill, of W. Lane, Esq.; Douglas House, of T. Fitzgerald, Esq.;
Castle Treasure, of C. Lloyd, Esq.; Ballinrea, of the Rev. J. Beesteed;
Ballincurrig Cottage, of W. C. Logan, Esq.; Eglantine, of J. Leahy,
Esq.; Villa Nova, of J. Lombard, Esq.; Knockreagh, of L. Nash, Esq.;
Donnybrook, of L. Jones, Esq.; Factory Ville, of J. C. Bernard, Esq.;
Hampstead, of Lieut. Boyle Hill; Bellevue, of E. Lucette, Esq.; Alton
Ville, of A. C. Villa, of S. Harrison, Esq.; and Grange House, of J. R.
Day, Esq.
The chapel is a small meat edifice, and the Ecclesiastical Commissioners
have lately granted £230 for its repair. In the R. C. division this
place is the head of a union or district comprising also the parish of
Ballygarvan; the chapel is a meat building, and there is also a chapel
at Ballygarvan. The parochial male school is chiefly supported by the
rector; a female school by Mrs. Reeves and a few ladies; and an infants'
and female school are supported and superintended by Miss O'Donovan, of
Montpelier: there is also a National school in the village, and a
dispensary.
There are raths at Old Court and Moneas, and some slight remains of
Treasure castle.
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