Dubliner's Dublin - Blanchardstown

NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH The Shopping Centre, an ever-expanding collection of retail outlets on the other side of the N3. The vast suburb is located 10km north-west of Dublin city and covers most of the An Post postal district, Dublin 15. It’s the largest urban area to be administered by Fingal County Council, itself the fastest growing ‘county’ in Ireland. Until the 1980s Blanchardstown was a quiet village surrounded by farmland. Today, it has a population of over 100,000 and is home to eBay, Google and other household names.

HISTORY Named after the local estate belonging to the Anglo-Norman Blanchard family, who were granted these lands around 1250. In 1385 the name of the district was recorded in contemporaneous records as Villa de Blanchard. Much of present-day Blanchardstown was once covered by a dense forest stretching from the River Tolka to beyond Coolmine and known locally as the Great Scaldwood. The wolves and wild boar that roamed there were enthusiastically hunted by local landowners.

PROPERTY Yes, you’ve guessed it – prices are falling. Quaint cottages in the centre of the lovely old village are still being snapped up for €600,000, and three and four-bedroom semis are commanding around €500,000 each. However, new apartments are losing value rapidly.

SCHOOLS In the last year, two new schools opened and a further one was announced. Nearby Castleknock College has seen Vincent Browne, Liam Cosgrave, Colin Farrell and Arthur Matthews pass through its doors and Eamon de Valera was on the teaching staff there during 1910/1911.

HOSPITALS Connolly Hospital is a major teaching hospital providing acute medical and surgical services, acute psychiatric services, long-stay care, daycare, outpatient, diagnostic and support services to a catchment area extending into West Dublin, Meath and Kildare. It was founded in the then rural district in 1955, in response to a rise in TB – exposure to fresh air and sunlight was the recommended treatment.

BARS AND PUBS Heaven Nightclub has a capacity of 1,200, two dancefloors and 20 massive screens – great for local party animals. Under-20s flock to the pubs in the shopping centre. Those who favour sport on the big screen and a reputedly excellent pint are found in the Greyhound Inn. The Twelfth Lock hotel bar offers a wide choice of international beers and decent pub grub. The three pubs along the Lower Road in nearby Strawberry Beds have changed little over the years; the picturesque Anglers Rest serves great food, the Strawberry Hall is a gem and the Wrens Nest is reputedly the second oldest pub in Dublin.

Green Space The Tolka Valley linear park, currently being redeveloped post-construction, occupies 140 hectares alongside the Tolka River from Mulhuddart to Ashtown, a distance of 8km. Consisting of grassland, wetland and some fine mature woodland, the park is home to animal species including otters, kingfishers, dippers and bats. The river supports a healthy brown trout population, providing for some excellent fishing. There’s an elevated boardwalk, jogging tracks, a viewing bridge and a number of playing pitches.

TRANSPORT Though the area has benefitted from the removal of the barrier-operating toll booths on the M50, Blanchardstown still suffers from traffic problems. The main bus routes are the 38 and 39, as it has been since the 1970s. A privately operated service called Urbus runs between Blanchardstown and Swords via Dublin Airport.

SPORTING FACILITIES The Tolka River provides opportunities for angling and boating. The Irish Canoe Union and the Wild West Kayak Club both have boathouses on the banks of the Liffey and the latter runs the famous Liffey Descent canoe race, one of just a handful of all-natural city canoe races in the world. Hollystown Golf Club is located close by. Corduff FC was established to give local kids an outlet for their energy, and there’s also Verona FC. For lovers of more indigenous pursuits there’s St Brigid’s or St Peregrine’s GAA clubs.

POLITICIANS Magill TD of the Year and deputy leader of the Labour party, Joan Burton, represents Dublin West and has recently been very vocal in opposition to the budget cutbacks that will impact the Blanchardstown area. Brian Lenihan, architect of said unpopular budget, is a fellow Dublin West TD. Fine Gael’s Leo Varadkar displaced Socialist Joe Higgins last time out. He is locally involved with planning and the development of Connolly Hospital.

ENTERTAINMENT
Driocht was established in 2001 with a remit to provide stimulating and accessible arts programming to Dublin 15 and beyond. Activities and events include the staging of national and international work, local community drama, and children’s theatre and pantomime. The local Leisureplex offers a less high-brow experience. The National Aquatic Centre – now that they’ve plugged the leaks – is well worth a visit. Couch potatoes will prefer the local UCI and bookworms should head for Ireland’s largest library.

BEST-KEPT SECRET A short distance beyond the entrance gate to Luttrellstown Castle stands the Anna Liffey Mills, in operation as a flour mill from the 18th Century until as recently as 1999. A planned €6 million restoration project has been announced which will see it converted into a visitor centre. Local legend has it that the mill was erected in a single night as a challenge to Old Nick himself – it was once better known as ‘the Devil’s Mill.’

THE BOTTOM LINE Blanchardstown has experienced a recent population explosion and is characterised by its extraordinarily young demographic profile. The pre-school population has almost doubled since 2002, which will impact on the requirement for crèche and primary school places. Foreign nationals account for almost 22 per cent of all residents, more than twice the national average. Careful planning is essential to cope with these trends.

Comments

[w]

w hats the fishing like at the 12th lock?? would like 2 here sum feed back if possible

[E]

Don't know if this helps at all but here's a link to trout fishing on the nearby Tolka river.

http://www.fishingireland.net/fishing/salmonandtrout/dublin/tolka.htm

[sandy donnelly]

Good Morning,

My sisters and I have a charity challenge happening on the 15th May
It runs from Dublin to Longford performed as a run/row/cycle/run 146km along the Royal Canal
We are in particulary looking for rowers/canoeists from Maynooth for 17miles and cyclists fromKildare/meath border for 40miles
We are raising money for Crumlin hospital and would really appreciate if you could spread the word.
We are in Ireland tomorrow

Also looking for as many boats active on the canal for the event.
www.wildgeesechallenge.co.uk

Many Thanks

Sandy