Did You Know? Blackrock was known as Newtown until the early seventeenth century, when its name was changed. The old name lives on in Newtownpark. Blackrock railway station, opened in late 1834, was a stop on the world’s first commuter railway line. The whole village of Williamstown was shifted from one side of the Rock Road to the other in 1909 to facilitate expansion at Blackrock College. Blackrock is a noted residential area on Dublin’s south side, close to Dublin Bay. Once a small fishing village, its modern streets are lined with centuries of historical interest, from old houses and churches to one of the oldest roads in the country. From schooldays to sporting greats, a host of famous people have had their beginnings here. Éamon de Valera, Seamus Heaney and Bob Geldof have all taught at various academic institutions in the area, and Brian O’Driscoll learned to play rugby at Blackrock College. A reliable reference and handy guide to Blackrock’s past, The Little Book of Blackrock book can be dipped into time and again to reveal something new about the people, heritage and secrets of this vibrant suburb.