Kingstown

Kingstown, a populous and important suburb of Dublin, 7 miles SSE. from the G.P.O. Trains run in 15 minutes to Dublin. Previous to 1817, when the harbour-works were commenced, it was merely a fishing-village known as Dunleary. On the occasion of the visit of George IV. in September 1821 its name was changed to Kingstown. The situation of the town and the invigorating air have made Kingstown a favourite residence for the well-to-do classes having business in Dublin. The mail-packets sail from Kingstown to Holyhead twice a day, morning and evening. There is little general trade, though the harbour, completed by the Admiralty in 1859 at a cost to the imperial treasury of £825,000, is one of the finest in the United Kingdom. The east pier is 3500 feet in length; the west, 5000 feet, enclosing an area of over 250 acres, with a depth of from 13 to 27 feet. Vessels drawing as much as 24 feet can come alongside the quay at any state of the tide. Kingstown is within the parliamentary division of South Dublin. Pop. (1890) 25,000.