Remembering 'The Bayno'

If you recognise yourself or anyone else,
we want to hear from you!

This wonderful film from 1954 captures what life was like for the children playing in The Iveagh Play Centre, nicknamed 'The Bayno'.

Captured by Pat Johnston of the 11th F.A, F.C.A, the canister containing the old 16mm film reel has been in storage since 1954, apart from a brief loan to RTÉ.

To celebrate the Iveagh Trust's 130th anniversary, the film has been transformed -- remastered and upscaled to high definition. Make sure to view it in full screen.

The film provides a wonderful insight into the heart of the community that was the Iveagh Play Centre in the days long before iPhones and Playstations. If you do happen to spot yourself or recognise somebody you know, please get in touch with us by emailing thebayno@theiveaghtrust.ie. The Trust plans to host a special reunion whenever it is safe to do so and we'd love to hear from you.

With very special thanks to all of you who gave us your stories and voice recordings. Unfortunately we were unable to put all of your wonderful stories on the footage but the following voices can be heard giving you an idea of what life was like at The Bayno when they were younger: Patricia Doyle, Lily Hamilton (Neé Lancaster), Sonny Morley, Carmel Murphy and those interviewed by The Digital Hub.

Trinity Swimming Gala at The Iveagh Baths c. 1929

The Iveagh Baths The Iveagh Baths colourised

Our 130 Year Timeline

The Beginning

1894

Construction of the Kevin Street Estate begins – 3 vast blocks that would contain 336 apartments.
'The Lousy Acre'

1899

The Bull Alley Improvement Act is passed empowering Lord Iveagh to clear the area and commence construction of the Bull Alley Estate.

1904

Completion of Blocks E-H on the Bull Alley Estate brings the total number of apartments there to 244.

1905

Iveagh House – a vast hostel for working men on Bride Road – opens its doors with 508 cubicles of accommodation.

1906

The Iveagh Baths are completed featuring a 65ft x 30ft swimming pool and washing facilities.

1915

The final piece of Iveagh’s jigsaw at Bull Alley opens its doors – The Iveagh Play Centre, or “The Bayno” as Dubliners would come to know it.
Crumlin & and the passing of our Founder.

1926

Construction begins in Crumlin on the Trust’s first scheme in the suburbs, providing 2 storied homes for families at Iveagh Gardens.

1927

Edward Cecil Guinness, 1st Earl of Iveagh and founder of The Iveagh Trust dies on October 7th at the age of 79.
Major Expansion

1933

Work at Kevin Street begins on the construction of “O Block” – the start of a lengthy expansion programme that would run until 1950.

1936

Iveagh Gardens in Crumlin is complete, providing a total of 136 houses for families at a total cost of £134,000.

1950

Expansion works at Kevin Street draw to a close with the completion of its distinctive curved facade. 220 additional flats were added in total.

1959

The Iveagh Play Centre celebrates its Golden Jubilee with special events and a commemorative badge.

1962

The first 40 flats for the elderly are completed at Mount Anthony, Rathmines. Providing for the elderly was to become a major concern of the Trust.

1970

Trustees agree to sell the Trust’s houses at Crumlin in part to finance the purchase of a 25 acre site adjoining Mount Anthony.
Difficult Years

1975

Trustees reluctantly decide to close & sell the Iveagh Play Centre as years of rent controls have left the Trust in a precarious financial position.
Regeneration & Renewal

1988

Work begins to convert a disused wing of the Hostel in to 28 self contained units for the elderly, to be known as Moyne House.

1998

Following extensive works to modernise the Hostel, construction begins on an extension and new head office building for the Trust.
Modernisation & Growth

2002

As roof repairs are required at Kevin Street, Trustees use the opportunity to build a 6th storey and provide a further 45 units.

2005

The Trust opens a major development of 110 apartments at Applewood, Swords, its first development outside its traditional heartland.

2006

A further 75 units are added at Clongriffin, as the Trust begins to expand rapidly.

2008

55 units are acquired under a leasing scheme with Dublin City Council at Marrsfield Avenue, Clongriffin.

2010

A new development of 50 units, including 3 houses, opens on Cork Street. The complex is officially named Elveden House.

2011

61 apartments are added at Mount Anthony using a new funding model put forward by the Trust, known as the Payment & Availability Agreement.

2012

A major refurbishment programme of the Bull Alley Estate is completed. €16m is invested in total.

2015

As the Trust celebrates its 125th anniversary, the sod is turned on a new-build scheme of 70 homes for older people at Annamore Court, Ballyfermot.

2017

Work on 70 new Iveagh Trust homes at Annamore Court is complete as residents receive the keys in June. Developed by the Iveagh Trust on a derelict site of 38 bedsit type units, Annamore Court becomes the Trust’s third supported housing scheme for older people.

2019

153 much needed new homes are added to the Trust’s housing stock with the completion of two new developments at Clay Farm in Leopardstown and Main Street in Clongriffin.

Hon. Rory Guinness becomes Chairman of the Iveagh Trust, following the retirement of Mr. Tom Glancy.

2020

As the Trust celebrates its 130th year, a further 42 new homes are added at Millers Glen, Swords.

The Iveagh Trust now provides 1605 homes offering a range of housing types from general needs housing for families, supported housing for older people and accommodation for single men at the Iveagh Hostel.

Bull Alley and Patrick Street Markets

Our Story

Celebrating 130 Years
See the history of The Iveagh Trust on our new Our Story page.

Kevin Street Before

The Beginning

Proceed to 1890 where our story begins...