Ballsbridge

Ballsbridge ("Droichead na Dothra" [translates as "Dodder Bridge" after the River Dodder ] in Irish) is a suburb of Dublin, Ireland, named for the bridge spanning the River Dodder on the south side of the city. The sign on the bridge still proclaims it as "Ball's Bridge" in recognition of the fact that the original bridge in this location was built and owned by a Mr. Ball [ [http://www.newstalk.ie/podcasts/library/hidden/hd2410a.mp3 Dublin historian Pat Lidddy on Newstalk 106 series "Hidden Dublin"] (mp3 file)] .

Ballsbridge was once part of the Pembroke Township.

The bridge itself forms the centre of the Ballsbridge suburb which extends northwards towards the Grand Canal along Northumberland Road and Shelbourne Road, extends southwards along the Merrion Road towards Merrion and along Anglesea Road towards Donnybrook, and westwards to encompass the area around Pembroke Road, Clyde Road, Elgin Road, and Herbert Park. The park also forms part of Ballsbridge's nebulous border with Donnybrook.

The RDS has its grounds here, and the IRFU's Lansdowne Road headquarters (slated for re-development with full planning approval as of March 2007) is on the boundary between Ballsbridge and Irishtown. AIB also has its corporate headquarters in Ballsbridge.

The bulk of Dublin's embassies and many diplomatic residences are located in the southern part of Ballsbridge on and around Ailesbury Road.

Ailesbury Road, along with adjacent "Shrewsbury Road" comprise the blue (most expensive) properties in the Dublin edition of the board-game Monopoly.

Transport

The DART train passes nearby, stopping at Lansdowne Road and Sandymount stations.
Ballsbridge is also serviced by the following bus routes:
* 4 Ballymun to Blackrock
* 5 Sandyford Industrial Estate to Dublin
* 7 Loughlinstown to Dublin
* 7A Mackintosh Park to Dublin
* 7E Blackrock to Dublin
* 8 Dalkey to Dublin
* 18 Palmerstown to Donnybrook
* 27X Clare Hall to Belfield
* 45 Bray to Dublin
* 63 Kilternan to Dublin
* 84 Newcastle, Kilcoole and Greystones to Dublin
* Circle Line route CL1 Nutgrove and Dundrum to Dublin, Lucan and Celbridge

ee also

* Lansdowne Road sports stadium

References