Killester Garden Village Committee

01/09/2026

WW1 veteran Mr. Thomas Milner and his family of 112 Abbeyfield.

Mr. Milner lived from 1874 to 1952 and his wife Mrs. Christine Milner nee Sheffield from 1879 to 1952. Mrs Milner was a multi award winners for her Abbeyfield garden, especially for her tulips here is some beautifully restored photos sent in by Peter Kelly of her beautiful garden and her awards in Abbeyfield.

Thomas Milner and his families story and even stories about gardening competitions in the Killester Garden Village feature in our book 'The Killester Garden Village: The Lives of Great War Veterans and Their Families'

'Thomas Milner enlisted with the Army
Service Corps (Number M2/074611) and was
posted to the Western Front on 29th August 1915
at the age of 41. He later served with 360 Motor
Transport Company, part of the 4th Bridging
Train, stationed at Pontoon Park in Aldershot.
Corporal Thomas Milner was transferred to
the Class Z Army Reserve on 27th March 1919
and does not appear to have been in receipt
of a disability pension. After they moved to
Abbeyfield, they named their bungalow ‘Mount
St Eloi’. Thomas Milner was a committed trades
unionist being a member of the National Union
of Vehicle Builders (NUVB). Thomas and Christina Milner were keen gardeners and were regular winners in garden competitions, a picture
of the bungalow and garden being published in the Saturday Herald in September 1936. In 1939, Christina won the Darker Memorial Cup
for ‘Best Front Garden’ in the competitions organised by the Killester Horticultural Society and the Killester Branch of the National Garden
Guild. Thomas died of liver failure at Mercer’s Hospital on 22nd April 1952, aged 76, and is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery. Christina Milner
died at Mercer’s Hospital on 25th May 1952 aged 72 and is buried in St. John the Baptist Cemetery in Clontarf.'

The residents of Killester Garden Village took pride in their gardens, whether they were beautifying them with flowers or supplementing their income by growing fruit and vegetables. Residents were
frequently listed as winners in local and city-wide competitions. In July 1931, Thomas and Christina Millner of 112 Abbeyfield were the
overall winners in the Garden Competition organised by the Killester Branch of the Dublin Garden and Window Box Guild. The runners up were Patrick McCormack of 83 Abbeyfield, Richard Lindsay of 28 Middle Third, and Daniel Thomas Brady of 20 Abbeyfield.

01/09/2026

WW1 veteran, Mr. Samuel Clarke and his family of 12 Middle Third.

The first photo is of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Clarke at 12 Middle Third. The next photo is of Samuel Clarke with his grandchildren on O’Connell Street bridge and lastly a photo of Samuel Clarkes Memorial Card. Thank you Joyce McLeer for sending these beautiful photos in.

Samuel and his families story features in our book 'The Killester Garden Village: The Lives of Great War Veterans and Their Families'.

'Samuel Clarke enlisted with the Royal Irish Regiment (Regimental Number
3/8206) and was posted to 2nd Battalion on the Western Front on 21st June 1915. He subsequently served with 6th Battalion before being transferred to the Labour Corps (Regimental Number 576779), serving with 953 Company. Sergeant Samuel Clarke was serving with 17th
(Garrison) Battalion Worcestershire Regiment (Regimental Number 64677) when he was discharged on 3rd March 1919. In February
1922, Samuel Clarke received a £45 grant from the Military Service (Civil Liabilities) Department towards establishing a cabinet making
business. Samuel Clarke was a carpenter when he died of pulmonary thrombosis and acute cardiac failure at Jervis Street Hospital on 5th August 1957, aged 67, and Catherine Clarke died at 12 Middle Third on 21st June 1969, aged 77. Kathleen Clarke was a machinist and living at 12 Middle Third when she died at St Laurence’s Hospital on 11th July 1959, aged 50.Samuel and Catherine Clarke are buried in Kilbarrack Cemetery (Section CJ Grave 13). Also buried in the plot are their daughters, Martha Elizabeth, Joyce Ann, and Kathleen'.

29/08/2026

The Killester Garden Villages nameplate signs were once all the green historic nameplate signs like the surviving one seen here from the Demesne 🪧📌

Today two of the green historic nameplate signs survive, one in the Demesne entrance from Howth Road opposite Killester Village and the other one on a house in Middle Third near the 'Tin Shops'. There was also one for Abbeyfield attached to the Legion Hall on Abbeyfield Green but it went missing.

Unfortunately over the years they were replaced with the standard blue/white nameplate signs but as the Killester Garden Village is zoned as Z2 - Residential Conservation Area due to the veterans estates unique history, heritage, architecture and character of the area all the nameplate signs in the area should be green historic nameplate signs.

The Killester Garden Village Committee has launched a project submitted to Dublin City Council to replace all of the standard blue/white nameplate signs in the Killester Garden Village to the green historic nameplate signs and have requested the Abbeyfield green historic nameplate sign to be reattached to the Legion Hall on Abbeyfield Green.

We are looking forward to collaborating and working with Dublin City Council on this project as well as local City Councillors who we hope will support the project.

Dublin City Council - Clontarf Dublin City Council Heritage Office

29/08/2026

The location of the current Killester Heritage Sign at Middle Third Green next to Abbeyfield Green and it's also the going to be the location of the Killester Heritage Garden which is a project of the Killester Garden Village Committee working in partnership with Dublin City Council 🤝☘️🌹🏡

We are looking forward to its promised completion by Dublin City Council Parks Department and thanks again to our elected local City Councillors and local TD's who have supported our project.

The garden is envisaged to have two benches, a tree, flowers, shrubbery and a path. It will be a welcome community development and a focal point in the centre of the Killester Garden Village for all the community and those abroad visiting the historic veterans estate. A place for young and old to enjoy, have a chat, share stories and memories and enjoy nature out in this community garden at the greens.

Dublin City Council - Clontarf Dublin City Council Parks and Biodiversity

24/08/2026

Today we remember Mr. Noel Cullen on his anniversary. Noel was a veteran of the Irish Guards and a member of the Dublin Central Branch of the Royal British Legion. Noel was also involved with various veterans associations and groups across the island, including with us here in Killester (established in 2013 as the Killester WW1 Memorial Campaign). Noel supported our early efforts and assisted us with connecting to like minded individuals and groups.

The photographs are of our early days with the 'Killester On Show' event in St. Brigids Parish Resource Centre in 2013 which showcased Killesters history and heritage and current life in Killester too. The 'Killester On Show' event was led by Mr. Aaron Crampton and supported by the Old Dublin Society, St. Brigid's Parish, local Scouts and local TD's such as Mr. Aodhán O Ríordáin TD and Mr. Finian McGrath TD.

We also remember one of the oldest residents of Killester at the time, Mr. Sonny O'Reilly.

23/08/2026

These are the men that built the WW1 veterans houses in the Demesne, Middle Third and Abbeyfield in the early 1920's at Killester.

These excellent photographs show the supervisory staff and tradesmen of the Killester Garden Village project, many of whom were WW1 veterans themselves both battle hardened and held various military decorations. They built the estate with military precision.

A tranquil and idyllic Garden Village with large gardens, large communal greens, transport services and community facilities was definitely a nice change of scenery and environment from the likes of the trenches in the Somme or rocky outcrops of Gallipoli. These were the lucky ones that survived. All though they had a new home with their wives and children many still suffered for decades after WW1 with mental health issues and physical disabilities.

Lest we forget.

If anyone can identify anyone in the photographs please let us know in the comments below.

21/08/2026

Today, the Killester Garden Village Committee in association with the Irish Fit Coach unveiled a history board giving an insight into the history of the Legion Hall in Killester from its inception as a wooden hut structure in the late 1920's to the permanent hall built in 1932 up to recent times such as being a Judo Club during the 1990's/early 2000's and then with our groups campaigning for the hall to be saved, refurbished, preserved and brought back into a community use out of dereliction since 2013 (Killester WW1 Memorial Campaign).

The Legion Hall was used as the Killester Branch of the Royal British Legion right up to the 1970's as a focal point for the community and open to all. Some of the original WW1 ex-servicemen lived in Killester right up to the late 1980's. This Legion Hall was the hub of the community and used for multiple activities and was a core part of the social life of the community and in assisting with those who were suffering with mental health or physical health such as the veterans themselves.

A photograph of the orginal committee for the veterans estate is included on the board and their descendants are today an integral part of the Killester Garden Village Committee. Our committee today is also made up of veterans of the Irish Defence Forces.

Thank you to Francis Chance for organising the new history board.

Thank you to Fran from the Irish Fit Coach for the support with this and we look forward to feedback on the new history board especially with an open day for the gym happening on Saturday 5th September.



Royal British Legion Republic of Ireland Óglaigh Náisiúnta na hÉireann ONE Veterans Charity

21/08/2026

'Homes for Heroes - The Killester WW1 ex-servicemens estate'.

Today the Killester Garden Village Committee was filming with the The Irish Military Heritage Foundation/Ireland's Military Story for a short video about the local history and military heritage of the Killester WW1 ex-servicemen veterans estate.

We walked and talked around the Garden Village through The Demesne, Middle Third and Abbeyfield discussing the unique and interesting history of the veteran's estate, some fascinating profiles of some of the veterans themselves, life for the veterans and families and discussed the various facilities, services and social aspects of the estate.

Stay tuned for when the video is launched.

Dublin City Council - Clontarf Dublin City Council Parks and Biodiversity Dublin City Council Heritage Office The Heritage Council Heritage Week

21/08/2026

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