St Joseph’s stands on the site of the former Drumcondra Castle. Its name derives from “Drumcondraighe” meaning the ridge of the Condraighe, a local clan.

The castle itself was built on lands once owned by The Priory of the Holy Trinity, part of the Manor of Glasnevin.

Bathe was in turn Solicitor, Attorney General and ultimately Chancellor of the Exchecquer.

In 1586 the Castle became the property of William Warren. During this time the Castle’s chief claim to fame was as the location of the marriage of Hugh O’Neill, Earl of Tyrone, to Mabel Bagnel in 1593.

During the Cromwellian period the Castle continued to be occupied although declining in importance.

After the Restoration, during the reign of James II, it was the home of Captain Chicester, a member of the Irish Parliament.

The premises are described at this time as “…a castle with a dwelling house (of brick), a stable, coachhouse and malthouse, another house of brick and … attached to these were a garden, a yard surrounded by a wall and lands estimated to be 260 acres”

In the 18th Century and for part of the 19th, the Castle continued as a private residence and took on its present form in 1842. In 1859 it passed to the trustees of St. Joseph’s Asylum for the Blind. In 1884 it became a school for blind boys run by the Carmelites.

In the 1950’s St. Joseph's was given into the care of the Rosminian Order. Today it continues to be a centre for the training and education of blind and visually impaired children and young adults.