Leopardstown

Leopardstown comes from Baile na Lobhar which means "Town of the Lepers" and arose because in the middle ages people with leprosy were kept outside the city to avoid infection. Leprosy was common in Dublin in the medieval period 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 village 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 Leopardstown Racecourse, the second most important racecourse in Ireland after the Curragh, as well as the Kilmacud Crokes' hurling pitch at Silverpark.

Leopardstown is mentioned in the feature film Spy Kids, a road sign for Baile an Liopaird being seen outside Machete's shop.[2] The Bob Geldof song "The House At The Top Of The World" includes the lyric "Soon I'd come to the Leopardstown dual carriageway ... I don't remember a town being there and I never saw no leopards."

Leopardstown is served by Luas Green Line stops: Central Park, Glencairn, The Gallops, Leopardstown Valley and Ballyogan Wood.

Dublin Bus routes 44, 47, 63, 114 and 118 serve Leopardstown.

Aircoach route 700 links Leopardstown with Dublin Airport.