The area, still semi-rural, was historically on the border of English control and featured a defensive construction, Carrickmines Castle, which became the subject of national controversy during the building of a late stage of Dublin's M50 orbital motorway.

[1] Leopardstown lies to the northwest, Foxrock to the north, Cornelscourt and Cabinteely to the northeast and Brennanstown to the east, Ballyogan to the west, Glenamuck and Kilternan to the south, and Laughanstown and Lehaunstown to the southeast.

In 1402 the O'Byrne clan of County Wicklow, who periodically raided Dublin, moved a large mercenary force to the banks of the River Dargle at Bray, but since the direct route to the city would bring them close to the stronghold of Carrickmines, they initially hesitated before attacking.

During the construction of the M50 motorway, Carrickmines gained national notoriety when anti-roads protesters calling themselves the Carrickminders set up camp in the area and delayed the completion of the M50 for two years with legal challenges being taken by Vincent Salafia.

The objectors claimed that the underground remains of Carrickmines Castle, an Anglo-Norman fort built in the 12th century on the edge of the Pale, was of national importance.

The retail park and developments on Glenamuck Road have converted the previously semi-rural area into a mix of suburban complexes, with shops, offices, apartment blocks and housing estates, and a patchwork of remaining farmland.

It opened on 10 July 1854 and later served the nearby tennis and croquet club until its closure on 1 January 1959 when CIÉ mothballed the Harcourt Street line.