The diaries of the Rev John Thomas Hynes (1799–1868), a Catholic bishop who retired to Monkstown in 1861–68, provide a valuable insight into daily life in Monkstown in that period. Hynes lived at Bloomwood, Monkstown Avenue (later renamed Carrickbrennan Road), and later moved to Uplands, The Hill, Monkstown. The Hynes Diaries recount such details as the coming of gas lighting, the postal and travel facilities, church affairs, and lots of local gossip. The Hynes diaries are now preserved in Melbourne, but the full text has been made available online. Documentary references Monkstown is first mentioned in 1450; Tenants Cistercians at Carrickbrennan, Villa Monachorum. Carrickbrennan, or "Carigbrenna", features on the 1598 map "A Modern Depiction of Ireland, One of the British Isles" by Abraham Ortelius. Records of the Abbey of the Blessed Virgin Mary 1640. Forfeiting Proprietors under the Cromwellian Settlement 1657. In James Joyce's "The Dead," Gabriel Conroy and his wife Gretta live in Monkstown. Built heritage Monkstown has two old established churches, Saint Mary's Church of Ireland (1831) and Saint Patrick's Catholic Church (1866), both on Carrickbrennan Road. Saint John's Church, located at Gamble's Hill, was originally constructed as a Church of Ireland Church in the 1860s but was renovated and re-consecrated by the Society of Saint Pius X after 1985. Buildings of other religious denominations include the Kingdom Hall of the Jehovah's Witnesses at Monkstown Farm, and the Meeting Hall of the Society of Friends at the junction of Pakenham Road and Carrickbrennan Road. There is also the Friends Burial Ground (Quaker) located at Temple Hill just off Monkstown Road. Monkstown Castle, which was probably built in the 12th or 13th century, was erected by the monks of the abbey of the Virgin Mary, near Dublin. Monkstown is also noted for its coastline, which is home to a number of historical buildings of the Victorian, Georgian and Edwardian periods. One of the most notable buildings of the Salthill and Monkstown area is a Martello Tower, located at Seapoint beach. Transport The DART stations of Seapoint and Salthill and Monkstown serve the area. Dublin Bus serve the area with routes 7,7a,7n and 63. An Aircoach service starting in Dalkey links the area with Dublin Airport 24 hours a day. Sports Monkstown Lawn Tennis Club was founded in 1877. It was the first tennis club in Ireland. Monkstown Football Club was founded in the village in 1883 before moving to