A Brief History
Marino was developed for housing in the 1920s on the former estate lands of the Earl of Charlemont.
James Caulfield, the Earl of Charlemont (1728 – 1799) inherited the estate in 1755 and built Marino House and the Casino. The house, which stood at, what is now, the junction of Brian Avenue and Brian Road, was demolished in 1923.
The entrance to the estate was at the present Marino Mart, where the gates, decorated with dragons and the motto from Charlemont coat-of-arms, were located. They are now at Marino Institute of Education.
1920’s Development
In 1924, Dublin Corporation commenced the development of Marino Housing Scheme, the Irish Free State’s first major suburban housing project. Inspired by England’s garden city movement, the plan for Marino emphasised quality housing surrounded by gardens and open spaces. Read more on the development of the estate here.
Marino 100
In 2024, Marino Residents Association held a number of community engagement workshops with residents which resulted in ideas to inform events to celebrate the centenary of the estate.
The events celebrated:
- A connected and vibrant community;
- The vital role of our Residents Association;
- Our pride in Marino as an exceptional place to live;
- The cultural diversity of our community;
- Collective action towards a sustainable future for all.
Celebrations included a Mid-Summer Festival, An Art & Culture Parade (with Marino College); Heritage Exhibition at Marino Casino; Culture Night Concert; Mid-Winter Music Event at Marino Institute and a number of relevant history talks.
Storymap
A number of Show & Tell Story Sharing Events were organised as part of the Marino 100 celebrations. Residents shared stories about the area and brought along objects or artefacts from the past.
This project, (funded by The Heritage Council and Dublin City Council,) developed an online story-sharing platform to allow people to contribute information about people who lived in the area or events that took place, memories, photographs and audio clips, enhancing our understanding and awareness about the area’s development.
To find out how to contribute information, click on the ‘Add to the Story’ tab in the above link.
To explore stories and memories that have been created, you can click on the dots on the map to learn more.
Oral History
Donnie MacPherson, Master Silversmith & Marino Resident
In 2001, Dave MacPherson, a former Marino resident, made a number of recordings of his uncle, Donnie MacPherson. Donnie was born in 1914, moved to Marino in 1924, emigrated to England, served in WW2 and later returned to Marino where he worked as a Master Silversmith. Some examples of his work can be seen in the National Museum of Ireland.
This first recording recalls his childhood in Dublin’s inner city, and the family move to Marino in 1924. It covers his life from 1914 to 1931, when at the age of 17 he emigrated to England.
Marino Residents' Association 