Kingswood, Dublin

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Kingswood is a small housing estate in Tallaght, Dublin, Ireland.

[edit] General description

The estate is located between Belgard road and the M50 motorway. Despite its relatively small size of approximately 1,600 residences, it has great relevance to the social scene of Dublin. Various groups of youngsters in the neighborhood frequent a number of different locations for socializing. The shops, in the center of the estate, act as a meeting point for the neighborhood. These shops consist of a bookmakers, a Chinese take-away, a dry-cleaners, an Italian take-away, a hair salon, a pharmacy, and a mini-market. The mini market is a recent development of sorts. It was previously two separate units; a newsagency and a smaller sized mini-market. The owners of the newsagency acquired the mini market and subsequently developed both units to become the present Centra store.

Kingswood contains the primary schools, St. Killian's S.N.S and St. Killian's Junior School. Parliamentary debates have pointed out the physical shortcomings of the schools. Another issue is the lack of a second-level education facility. The nearby areas of Kilnamanagh and Belgard also lack such an institution, though Killinarden in West Tallaght has two primary schools, two secondary schools, and an Irish language primary school. In response, a physical education hall for the senior school, a new roof for the junior school, various other extensions and changes, and a fence bordering the perimeter are scheduled for completion in 2006. Next to the schools is the community center, which has not been replaced with a newer structure despite requests from area residents. The Scout's hall, built in 2004, is a more impressive structure which stands only a few yards from the community center. A nearby apartment complex is being built atop the "Clock Tower" pub. The tower is currently without a clock, leading to a local joke: "Now we won't know what time it isn't!"

[edit] Notable features

One of Kingswood's most noteworthy features is the park. Dubbed "Tynan Park" after the poet, Katherine Tynan, who once lived in Kingswood, the park provides a place to walk the dog, kids, granny, or relax in the occasional sunshine, or come with your friends for something to do. It also has plenty of dark, unpaved regions, which make interesting exploring grounds for youngsters.

Tynan Park is also home to the ruins of a castle, known locally as "Kingswood Castle", which was built by Sir William Parsons in 1622, only to be burned down in 1646 by political insurgents. On the north side of the park, there is a mound with a stone ruin on top (now used as a drinking ground for locals), which is commonly mistaken as a motte and bailey castle, also built by Parsons. However, it was actually built in the early 1700s by John Butler as a venue for his daughter's wedding. The structure was never fully built, giving it the appearance of a ruin, when actually it is in good condition.

[edit] External links

• Link to aerial view of Kingswood (select link for Kingswood Shopping Centre Car Park and use zoom feature for wider views)
• Parliamentary debate on St. Killian's junior and senior schools
• Askaboutireland.ie web page on Katherine Tynan's Kingswood home