Finglas
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Finglas Fionn-ghlas |
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| Location | ||
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| Irish grid reference O136398 |
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| Statistics | ||
| Province: | Leinster | |
| County: | County Dublin | |
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Population (2006) |
31,529[1] | |
Finglas (Irish: Fionn-ghlas) is a residential suburb, with a village core. It is on the Northside of Dublin City, Ireland, and mainly lies in the postal district Dublin 11. A couple of kilometres from Dublin Airport, it is situated at Junction 5 of the M50 and the N2 national primary road leading to Ashbourne and beyond.
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[edit] Name
The name Finglas (Irish: Fionn-ghlas), meaning a clear streamlet, is derived from the Finglas River, a stream which flows through the village and joins the Tolka at Finglas Bridge.
[edit] History
Finglas was originally the site of a Early Christian abbey, the origin of which has been associated, from early times, with the name of St. Cainnech, or Canice, the patron of Kilkenny, said to have founded it in 560 A.D. The Nethercross from the first abbey can be seen today in the old graveyard.[2] Several primary schools and churches in the area have been named after Canice. According to an ancient legend, the ground on which Finglas stands had been sanctified by St. Patrick, who is said to have uttered from it a prophecy that a great town would arise at the ford of hurdles in the vale beneath. St. Canice is said to have been born at Glengiven near Derry.
Following the Battle of the Boyne, Finglas was used as a camp for William of Orange en route to Dublin city.
[edit] 20th century onwards
In 1932, Ireland's first commercial airport was set up at Kildonan in Finglas,[3] and was the site for the first Irish commercial aircraft, a Desoutter Mark II aircraft "EI-AAD", and the first commercial air taxi service, the Iona National Air Taxis and Flying School.[4]
In the 1950s Finglas was developed with extensive housing estates, to re-house many north inner-city Dublin residents.
Finglas has grown at a rapid pace in recent years and continues to do so. Large private developments have sprung up around the village, as with most areas of Dublin's north west (e.g. Glasnevin) and west (e.g. Castleknock and Blanchardstown). Many previously dilapidated areas of the village have been torn down and much of the local unused land has been leveled for construction. The old dairy plant in southern Finglas which had been left derelict for many years has made way for several modern apartment blocks, the adjacent land also being used for a similar development namely Prospect Hill. In addition, there are many other residential, retail, and industrial development projects underway.
[edit] Amenities
In the village centre are a range of shops, including one of the first-established Superquinn stores, banking facilities and pubs and restaurants. To the north are light industrial facilities.
Finglas is home to one of Dublin's four Driving Testing Centres.
[edit] Sports
Finglas is the spiritual home of Rugby Union club Unidare RFC, and Erin's Isle GAA Club. Finglas also has many soccer clubs most notably Tolka Rovers, Valley Park United, WFTA Football Club and Rivermount Boys FC.
[edit] Transport
Finglas is served by a number of Dublin Bus routes. These include the 17A, 19/A, 40/A/D, 83, 104, 140, 220 & 240. It is also served by many Nitelink services (40N & 88N).
[edit] Notable residents
Finglas has been the home of many public figures such as:
- Dick McKee, Irish Republican Army volunteer
- Martin Doherty, Irish Republican Army volunteer
- Dessie Ellis, Community activist and local Sinn Fein councillor
- Footballers Ronnie Whelan, Frank Stapleton, Stephen Kelly, Alan Moore, Derek Geary, Stephen Geoghegan, Pat Fenlon, Pat Scully and Ken Oman.
- Séamus Ennis, Uilleann piper
- Christy Dignam & Joe Jewell, Aslan musicians
- Brendan O'Carroll, Comedian
- Colm Meaney, Actor
- Dermot Bolger, Writer and poet, whose novels "The Woman's Daughter" and "Night Shift" are set in Finglas.
- Spiral, a former Big Brother contestant, who wrote, performed and released a song about Finglas
- Olympic cyclists Alan and Paul McCormack, 1976 and 1988 respectively, Tom Daly An Ras Tailteann, Irish Olympians handbook[citation needed]
[edit] Town partnerships
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ From Census 2006 – Preliminary Table 04 - Includes totals from divisions/districts: Finglas A, B & C North. And Finglas A, B, C & D South, Ballygall A, B, C & D
- ^ Parish of St. Canice - The Cross of Nethercross
- ^ The Historical Aviation Society Of Ireland - Sites - Kildonan
- ^ The Story of Kildonan Aerodrome
[edit] External links
- Hart's Corner traffic watch.
- Finglas-Cabra Partnership
