Finglas

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Finglas is a residential suburb on the North side of Dublin City, Ireland. A couple of miles from Dublin Airport, it is on the N2 road to Slane. The name Finglas (Fionn-ghlas in Irish), meaning a clear streamlet, is derived from the rivulet which flows through the village and joins the Tolka at Finglas bridge.

Finglas first appeared in history as the site of a Celtic abbey, the origin of which has been associated, from early times, with the name of St. Cainnech, or Canice, the patron of Kilkenny, indeed several primary schools and churches in the area have been named after him. 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.

Finglas was developed to re-house a lot of North Inner-City Dublin inhabitants in the early seventies and eighties.

St. Canice, who is the patron saint of Finglas, was born on Glengiven in Co. Derry. He founded an Abbey in Finglas in 560 AD. The Nethercross from the first abbey can be seen today in the old graveyard.

1 New Finglas
2 Trivia
3 Town partnerships
4 External links

[edit] New Finglas

Like her neighbouring Ballymun Finglas has enjoyed a massive regeneration in recent years and continues to do so to this day. Many dilapidated areas of the village have been torn down and much of the local unused land has been levelled 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 similar development. In addition, there are many other residential, retail, and industrial development projects currently underway.

[edit] Trivia

Following the Battle of the Boyne, Finglas was used as a camp for William of Orange en route to Dublin city.
Finglas is the spiritual home of Rugby Union club Unidare RFC.
Finglas has been the home of many public figures such as:

Footballers Ronnie Whelan, Frank Stapleton, and Stephen Kelly
Aslan musicians Christy Dignam & Joe Jewell
Comedian Brendan O'Carroll
Actor Colm Meaney
Writer and poet Dermot Bolger, whose novels "The Woman's Daughter" and "Night Shift" are set in Finglas.
Big Brother contestant Spiral, who wrote, performed and released a song about Finglas.