This street takes its name from a house called Mount Aboo which stood where the Co-op is today. The house was, in turn, named after Mount Abu (or Aboo), a hill station in Rajasthan, dotted with numerous Jain and Hindu temples. As well as Mount Aboo Park and Aboo Court, the name was also used in Aboo Street, off Springfield Road (later renamed Kane Street, and then cleared).
It is likely that the name of this street can be traced back to the Dr Spence who served in the Indian Army and would have been aware of the mutiny at Mount Aboo and the defence of it by the 83rd Regiment of the Royal Irish. A report in the Newsletter in 1885 would seem to substantiate this: "DUNMURRY PRESBYTERIAN SABBATH SOHOOL. On Wednesday evening, 29th ult., the teachers and scholars of Dunmurry Presbyterian Sabbath school, in connection with the General Assembly, together with the Rev. R. J. Arnold, M.A., and family and some other friends (between two and three hundred in all). were most hospitably entertained by Robert Spence, Esq., M.D., Surgeon-Major (retired) Indian Army, and his wife. Aboo House, Finaghy". Belfast News-Letter - Saturday 01 August 1885. The 1887 BSD mentions Aboo and lists Spence, Dr. R. Surg. Major. There was an advertisement for the sale of Mount Aboo Farm in the Belfast News-Letter - Thursday 20 July 1905.
The house features in this advert: VALUABLE FREEHOLD LAND AT FINAGHY, BALMORAL, BELFAST, WITH GENTLEMAN'S RESIDENCE, KNOWN AS MOUNT ABOO. FOR SALE BY PUBLIC AUCTION, AT THE CITY SALEROOMS, 23, CHICHESTER STREET, Belfast, on FRIDAY, the 25th day of August, 1905, at One o'clock, THE ENTIRE LANDS CONTAINING 23a. 3r. Op., Statute measure, held for ever at the yearly Ground Rent of £2 2s 4d, situate on the County Road leading from Belfast to Lisburn, occupying a most desirable position for either residential or building purposes, convenient to City boundary and Balmoral Railway Station. At present the Lands are let for grazing. The Dwelling-house is large and commodious, and contains three Reception and ten Bed Rooms, together with Wash-house, Drying-house, Barns, Byres, Stables, and other conveniences. There is a large Garden, containing about one acre, well stocked with fruit trees, &c. Recently there have been erected two substantial Two-storey Cottages, let at 23 6d per week each. In the near future the Property will be ripe for development. For further particulars as to Title and Conditions of Sale, apply to W. E. ARMSTRONG & SONS, Solicitors, 35, Victoria Street, Belfast. ALEX. CRAWFORD & SON, 20064, Auctioneers". Belfast News-Letter - Thursday 20 July 1905.