Leopardstown, Ireland
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Leopardstown (Irish: Baile na Lobhar, meaning 'Town of the Lepers') is a suburb of Dublin in Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown, within the traditional County Dublin, Ireland. Located at the foot of the Dublin Mountains, it is a residential suburb. It is divided by the course of the M50 motorway, and adjoins Sandyford, Stepaside, Ballyogan, Foxrock and Stillorgan.
The name derives from Baile na Lobhar, which means "Town of the Lepers", and arose because in the Middle Ages people with leprosy were kept outside the city to avoid infection. Leprosy was common in Dublin in the medieval period and in the 14th century a leper hospital named St. Stephen's Leper Hospital was built near St Stephen's Green, giving it the name. It was later moved out to the Dublin mountains – the area where it was sited became known as 'Leopardstown'. |
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