Leopardstown Baile na Lobhar
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Suburb of Dublin | |
The stand at Leopardstown Racecourse
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Location in Ireland | |
Coordinates: 53°16′12″N 6°12′18″W / 53.270°N 6.205°WCoordinates: 53°16′12″N 6°12′18″W / 53.270°N 6.205°W | |
Country | Ireland |
Province | Leinster |
County | Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown |
Elevation | 93 m (305 ft) |
Population (2006) | |
• Urban | 2,067 |
Eircode (Routing Key) | D18 |
Irish Grid Reference | O202259 |
Leopardstown (Irish: Baile na Lobhar, meaning "Town of the Lepers") is a district in Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown, county Dublin, Ireland, located at the foot of the Dublin Mountains. A residential suburb in the east of the greater Dublin area, it is divided by the course of the M50 motorway, and adjoins the neighbouring areas of Sandyford, Stepaside, Ballyogan, Foxrock and Stillorgan. Leprosy was common in Dublin in medieval times and in the 14th Century a leper hospital was built near St Stephen's Green. It was later moved out to the Dublin mountains - the area where it was sited became known as Leopardstown.
Places of interest in Leopardstown include Glencairn House (the residence of the British Ambassador to Ireland), Leopardstown Park Hospital, and Burton Hall, childhood home of Hollywood actress Kathleen Ryan.
The area is home to the famous Leopardstown Racecourse, second most important racecourse in Ireland after the Curragh, as well as the Kilmacud Crokes' Hurling pitch at Silverpark.
Leopardstown gets a mention in the movie Spy Kids, in which a road sign for Baile an Liopaird is seen outside Machete's shop.