A fashionable watering place and seaside resort in the eighteenth century, the town of Blackrock gets its name from the black rock that lies offshore and once marked the city limits. An ancient cross still stands in the main street.

The town boasts the famous Blackrock College, whose past pupils include Eamon de Valera and rock star Bob Geldof.

Famous residents of the town included the patriot hero Lord Edward Fitzgerald (a memorial stone marks the site of his house 'Frescati' on the corner opposite the park), and James Joyce (a plaque marks the house on the corner of Carysfort Avenue and Mount Merrion Avenue).