Donabate

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Donabate
Domhnach Bat
Location
Location of Donabate
centerMap highlighting Donabate
Statistics
Province: Leinster
County: Fingal
Population (2006) 5,499 

Donabate (Domhnach Bat in Irish) is a remote suburb of Dublin, Ireland. The town lies about 25 km north of Dublin city centre on a small peninsula, which it shares with the townland of Portrane. The peninsula is situated on Ireland's east coast, between the Rogerstown Estuary to the north and the Malahide Estuary (Inbhear Domhnainn) to the south.

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[edit] Name

The name of the area, Donabate, supposedly means "Fort of the ferry", from Dún a' Bháid, referring to an ancient church which is in the townsland of Ballymadrough, west of Donabate, near the Malahide Estuary. Sadly, the true meaning has become lost in the mists of time. Donabate was sometimes spelt Donaghbate.

[edit] History

Donabate is reported to have had a population in 1912 of 734 persons living in 150 houses, and it remained a small village for more than a century. In recent years, however, because of the area's easy access to Dublin (improving roads and the presence of a railway station in the village), the population has begun growing quickly. In the 1996 census, the village's population was 1,868; by the time of the 2002 census it had doubled to 3,854, and by the 2006 census it was 5,499.

[edit] Donabate today

Administratively, Donabate is in Fingal county, the northern part of the traditional area of County Dublin. The Donabate-Portrane peninsula is in the Swords ward (or local electoral area, to give it its official title). The Swords ward is numerically the largest in Fingal county and elects five county councillors to Fingal County Council. In terms of national elections, the Donabate Portrane peninsula is the Dublin North constituency, which sends four Teachta Dála to Dáil Éireann.

Donabate Parish Council is the community council for the Donabate Portrane peninsula. Donabate Portrane Community Centre is the area's newest public building. The peninsula has an active Chamber of Commerce, Scout Group (63rd Dublin 14th Port Donabate), and two soccer clubs (St. Ita's A.F.C), a G.A.A club (St. Patrick's Athletic), a Karate club, a Tae-Kwon Do club, a snooker club, a Historical and Folklore Society, a Bridge club, a Community centre and many more groups. Donabate Portrane Neighbourhood Watch has recently been re-activated.

Donabate is the site of the Donabate-Portrane Educate Together national school.

[edit] Culture

Donabate has a fine historical "Big House and Estate" at Newbridge Demesne. Newbridge House was built for Archbishop Cobbe in 1736 and many of the treasures are on display when going on a guided tour. The surrounding land have been converted into a public park and playground. There is also a 19th century working farm which is open to visitors.

Stella's tower in Portrane and the Norman tower attached to the Church of Ireland at the back entrance to Newbridge are also worth noting.

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[edit] External links