People walking along Ranelagh road will notice, almost under the railway bridge, a tall iron gate, which bears in gilt letters the name of St. Joseph's Carmelite Convent. There is an interesting piece of local history connected with this spot. In the 18th century a house called Willbrook stood here, occupied by the Right Rev. William Barnard, successively Bishop of Raphoe and Derry. After his death in 1768 it was bought by an organ-builder from London, who modelled a house of entertainment on the lines of the famous Ranelagh Gardens in the English capital. There was a theatre, and a garden with alcoves and bowers for tea-drinkers, and a fine band played to the fashionable throngs that frequented the place. In short, it left its impression on the district in the name of "Ranelagh" which completely superseded the original name of Cullenswood.
The Irish Times,
February 27th, 1929.