Finglas

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For an Ent from Tolkien's legendarium, see Finglas (Middle-earth).

Finglas
Fionn-ghlas

Location

WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates:
53°23′25″N 6°17′59″W / 53.390175, -6.299629

Irish grid reference
O136398

Statistics

Province:

Leinster

County:

County Dublin

Population (2006)

31,529^[1]

Finglas (Irish: Fionn-ghlas) is a residential suburb, with a village core, on the Northside of Dublin City, Ireland. A couple of kilometres from Dublin Airport, it is on the N2 road to Slane and beyond.

1 Name
2 History
- 2.1 20th century onwards
3 Amenities
4 Sports
5 Notable residents
6 Town partnerships
7 References
8 See also
9 External links

[edit] Name

The name Finglas (Irish: Fionn-ghlas), meaning a clear streamlet, is derived from the rivulet which flows through the village and joins the Tolka at Finglas bridge.

[edit] History

Finglas was originally 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, 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 early 1970s and 1980s, 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 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 underway as of 2007.

[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 Valley Park United, WFTA and Rivermount United.