from Rathmines to the city centre. Portobello Bridge, which had a steep incline, was often a problem for the horses, which led to the fatal accident of 1861. On 6 October 1871 work was commenced on the Dublin tram system on Rathmines Road, just before Portobello Bridge, and a horse-drawn tram service was in place the following year. The following year also the long-awaited (since the 1861 accident) improvements to Portobello Bridge were carried out, the Tramway Company paying one-third of the total cost of £300. Ranelagh and Rathmines railway station opened on 16 July 1896 and finally closed on 1 January 1959. Rathmines is served by the Luas light rail system: Ranelagh on the Green Line is the most convenient for access to the main street, while the Charlemont and Beechwood stops are also within walking distance of the area. Dublin Bus routes 14, 15, 15A, 15B, 18, 65, 65B, 83, 140 and 142 serve Rathmines. The area is also served by the Dublin Bus Nitelink routes 15N and 49N on Friday and Saturday nights and on public holidays. Gallery Notable people Cathal Brugha, Irish nationalist, lived on Rathmines Road Mamie Cadden, midwife, backstreet abortionist and convicted murderer, operated a maternity nursing home, St Maelruin's, at 183 Lower Rathmines Road Martin Cahill (1949-1994) aka The General, career criminal, lived in Cowper Downs prior to his murder in 1994 Michael Cleary (priest) was living on Leinster Road, Rathmines when the controversy about his child was first reported Nora Connolly O'Brien, second daughter of James Connolly, was an activist and writer; she was also a member of the Irish Senate, and lived on Belgrave Square Matt Cooper (Irish journalist), resident Frederick William Cumberland (1820–1881), architect, railway manager and politician, grew up in Rathmines; his father Thomas was employed at Dublin Castle Andrew Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope, British admiral of the Second World War Vincent Dowling, Director of the Arts, was born in Rathmines Séamus Dwyer, Sinn Féin TD in the 2nd Dáil, Pro-Treaty candidate in 1922 General Election, shot dead in his shop at 5 Rathmines Terrace on 20 December 1922 Paddy Finucane, Second World War fighter pilot, was born in Rathmines Madeleine ffrench-Mullen (30 December 1880 – 26 May 1944) was an Irish revolutionary and labour activist who took part in the Easter Rising in Dublin in 1916 Richard Henry Geoghegan lived at 41 Upper Rathmines Road; he