Blanchardstown

Blanchardstown
Baile Bhlainséir
—  Suburb of Dublin  —
Blanchardstown Centre
Blanchardstown
Location in Ireland
Coordinates:
Country Ireland
Province Leinster
County Fingal
Government
 • Local Authority Fingal County Council
 • Dáil Éireann Dublin West
Elevation 56 m (184 ft)
Population (2006)[1]
 • Urban 68,156
Irish Grid Reference O055383

Blanchardstown (Irish: Baile Bhlainséir) is a large suburb of Dublin in the district of Fingal, Ireland.[3] It is within the historical barony of Castleknock. It is located 10 km north-west of the city centre. The suburb is in the Dublin 15 postal area, the Dublin West electoral constituency, and Fingal County (following the abolition of County Dublin as an administrative division of the state).[4] It is that Council's largest urban area. The 2011 Census recorded a population of 68,156 in Blanchardstown and its immediate environs.[1]

Contents

Location and access

Blanchardstown is just outside the city's M50 motorway ring road, slightly to the north of the tolled crossing of the River Liffey. It is bordered to the east by the suburb of Castleknock, to the west by Clonsilla / Ongar, to the north by Tyrellstown / Hollystown and to the south and south east by Porterstown / Diswellstown. The Royal Canal and the Dublin-Sligo railway line pass along the southern edge of Blanchardstown proper from east to west.

The townland of Blanchardstown is in the civil parish of Castleknock which is in turn in the Barony of Castleknock. The barony (an old administrative division) is one of seven and a half comprising County Dublin and stretches from Cabra to Blanchardstown (from east to west) and from Finglas to Chapelizod (from north to south).[5]

Transport

Public transport in Blanchardstown is provided by Dublin Bus, Urbus and a commuter train station on the Western Suburban Maynooth line. Located 200m from the easternmost point of Blanchardstown proper, Castleknock railway station opened on 2 July 1990.[6] The Dublin Bus routes are: 37 38/A/B/C, 39/A/B/C/X, 70/A/X/N, 76a, 220, 236, 237, 238, 239 and 270. The privately owned URBus serves Swords via Dublin Airport.

The Navan Road / N3 is the main road artery. The recently constructed interchange provides for auxiliary lanes at the M50 and N3 junction according to the NRA.[7]

Future plans

As part of the government's "Transport 21" strategy, a Metro line was planned, from the southern suburb of Tallaght, through the neighbourhood of Castleknock, to Dublin Airport. Quoting from the plans:

"The path of the Metro will first swing into Dublin 15 at the south end of Castleknock golf course and proceed past Porterstown playing pitches where it is hoped to have “minimal impact.” The stop at Porterstown will be directly above the current Maynooth train line allowing the potential in the future to integrate the two services. Another stop will be provided at the Millennium Park with the line going around the park’s perimeter rather than cutting through it as had originally been envisaged. It will then proceed around by McDonalds before its major stop in Dublin 15 adjacent to Draíocht, the Civic Offices, and the shopping centre. Its path will then continue around the Westend side of the shopping centre, past Westpoint where it will cross the Navan Road and go up the Snugborough Road."[8]

However, on 12th August, 2011 the Irish Times reported that Metro North would be "deferred".

[9]

History

Blanchardstown has grown up in the shadow of its near neighbour, Castleknock, and they have a shared common history until well into the 19th century, when their development diverged.

Feudal period

The name Blanchardstown comes from the Blanchard family, who were granted their estate some time between 1250 and 1260. The name 'Blanchard' is thought to come from the French word blanch, meaning white, and could refer to white or fair hair.[10]

20th century

Blanchardstown was a rural village in western County Dublin until the late 1960s, when the first housing estates began to be developed. Blanchardstown developed in tandem with neighbouring settlement Castleknock, both of which grew rapidly from the early 1970s to the present. During the 1970s and 1980s, the village became subsumed into the suburban fabric of Dublin.

Blanchardstown today

Features

Amenities and businesses

Retail outlets

In Blanchardstown proper may be found the Superquinn Shopping Centre, the Plaza centre and the Moy Mel Centre. The Roselawn Shopping Centre is located in the road behind the Superquinn Shopping Centre (though the two are not connected directly). Further afield there are the shopping centres of Castleknock. Blanchardstown Shopping Centre is a vast shopping centre and retail park that acts like a town within the town. Opened in 1996, the centre comprises a central shopping mall and three separate retail parks. The total complex stretches over some 107 acres (0.43 km2). Fingal county council offices and public library are located on the grounds of the Blanchardstown Centre, as are many other public facilities such as the Driocht theatre and arts space, a post office, medical centre and more.[12]

Large employers

Multinational companies like IBM, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Symantec, eBay, Xerox and Paypal are located in the area.

Chamber of Commerce

There is a Dublin 15 Chamber of Commerce, which speaks for local business interests. It makes a series of awards each year.[13]

Future Development

The Planning Authority, Fingal County Council, had reservations about the piecemeal delelopment of the village and the impact that it was having in terms of changes to the village's character, traffic congestion, an expansion of business services and connectivity to the wider Blanchardstown area. It commissioned a report to look into the matter.[14] Quoting from the report:

"There is a significant quantum of residential infill development to the rear of Main Street, which provides a strong local base for the retail uses. ...The development of the Town Centre with its large shopping units and free parking has inevitably put some pressure on the convenience and comparison goods sectors. However it is notable that there has been an expansion of services in the form of small offices providing a wide range of professional services. These are located in houses along the Main Street and this has led to visual disamenity arising from excessive and unsuitable signage, provision of front garden parking and inappropriate alterations to the houses to accommodate the business uses."

Education

As with many settlements in Ireland, the boundaries of Blanchardstown are somewhat vague, which can lead to a lack of clarity in determining what is a "local school".[15]

Primary schools

For a more comprehensive lst of schools in the wider hinterland, see the external link below.

Secondary Schools

The schools in Blanchardstown include Blakestown Community School, Hartstown Community School, Coolmine Community School, Riversdale Community College, Luttrellstown Community College, Castleknock Community College, Pobail Scoil Setanta, Mount Sackville and Castleknock College.

Third level

Clubs, societies and community groups

Sporting

Community

  • The Blanchardstown Active Retirement association which meets in "St Brigid's Community Centre". The Active Retirement Movement helps older people to enjoy their mature years by offering organised opportunities for a wide range of activities- holidays, outings, socials, creative and learning programmes, indoor and outdoor sports. BARA
  • There is an active Tidy Towns Committee.
  • "St. Brigid's Community Centre", situated beside the Church is one of the longest established community facilities in Dublin 15.[16]
  • Blanchardstown Brass Band was established in 1826 and have their band room adjacent to the church car park in Blanchardstown. Every year the band undertakes about 20 engagements at public parks, local festivals and private functions. In 1923, the band (then known as St. Brigids Brass & Reed Band) was engaged in fund raising to build their own rehearsal hall. It is reflective of the disturbed conditions of the nation existing at the time that when the house-to-house collecters were making their rounds, one of the collectors noted that "the Rector at Mount Hybla was so relieved at hearing it was not a hold up, he gave us two pounds". In 1979, on the occasion of the visit of Pope John Paul II to Ireland, the band led the procession of people coming from the west of the City to the Mass in the Phoenix Park. Over half a million people attended the Mass on the day.Blanchardstown Brass Band
  • St. John Ambulance Brigade - Castleknock (Dublin 15) Division
  • Blakestown Community & Resource Centre, Blakestown Way, Dublin 15. http://www.blakestowncrc.com The Centre holds various activities in its Sports Hall including Gymnastics, Martial Arts and Irish Dancing, it also has Meeting Rooms available. The Centre consists of the Cozy Kitchen Coffee Bar, An Internet Cafe, The Sports Hall, Meeting Rooms and also the offices of various Community Groups. The Centre is renowned for its Charitable Events that have raised money for many different charities including the Haiti Earthquake.

Government and representation

In the 2009 local elections for the Castleknock ward, which covers the Blanchardstown area, the following candidates were elected to the four seats (with percentage share of first preference vote):

  • Joe Higgins (Socialist Party) 28.07%
  • Eithne Loftus (Fine Gael) 22.45%
  • Peggy Hamill (Labour) 16.32%
  • Mags Murray (Fianna Fáil) 12.44%.[17]

People

See also

External links

References

  1. ^ a b "Census 2006 – Volume 1 – Population Classified by Area" (PDF). Central Statistics Office Census 2006 Reports. Central Statistics Office Ireland. April 2007. http://www.cso.ie/census/documents/census2006_volume_1_pop_classified_by_area.pdf. Retrieved 2011-06-12. : totals for the Greater Dublin suburbs of Blanchardstown-Abbotsotwn, Blanchardstown-Blakestown, Blanchardstown-Coolmine, Blanchardstown-Corduff, Blanchardstown-Delwood, Blanchardstown-Mulhuddart, Blanchardstown-Roselawn and Blanchardstown-Tyrrelstown.
  2. ^ http://www.cso.ie/census and www.histpop.org. Post 1991 figures are the totals for the Greater Dublin suburbs of Blanchardstown-Abbotsotwn, Blanchardstown-Blakestown, Blanchardstown-Coolmine, Blanchardstown-Corduff, Blanchardstown-Delwood, Blanchardstown-Mulhuddart, Blanchardstown-Roselawn and Blanchardstown-Tyrrelstown. For a discussion on the accuracy of pre-famine census returns see JJ Lee “On the accuracy of the pre-famine Irish censuses” in Irish Population, Economy and Society edited by JM Goldstrom and LA Clarkson (1981) p54, and also “New Developments in Irish Population History, 1700-1850” by Joel Mokyr and Cormac Ó Gráda in The Economic History Review, New Series, Vol. 37, No. 4 (Nov., 1984), pp. 473-488.
  3. ^ According to the "Local Government Act, 2001", section 10(2): "The State continues to stand divided into local government areas to be known as counties and cities which are the areas set out in Parts 1 and 2, respectively, of Schedule 5." It is clear from SCHEDULE 5, Local Government Areas (Counties and Cities, PART 1, that "Dublin" is defined as a city (as distinct from a county).
  4. ^ Local Government Act, 2001 Part one, schedule five, pp195.
  5. ^ Note - Townlands in the Barony of Castleknock: Baile an Aba/Abbotstown, Baile an Ásaigh/Ashtown, Baile an Chairpintéaraigh/Carpenterstown, Baile an Déanaigh/Deanestown, Baile an Diosualaigh/Diswellstown, Baile an Huntaigh/Huntstown, Baile an Phóirtéaraigh/Porterstown, Baile Bhlainséir/Blanchardstown, Baile Mhistéil/Mitchelstown, Baile Pheiléid/Pelletstown, Baile Scriobail/Scribblestown, Baile Sheáin/Johnstown, An Chabrach/Cabra(gh), Caisleán Cnucha/Castleknock (incl. part of Phoenix Park), Ceapach/Cappoge or Cappagh, Cnoc na gCaorach/Sheephill, An Chorr Dhubh/Corduff, Dún Sinche/Dunsink, Páirc Anna/Annfield, Snugborough/Snugborough, Steach Gob/Astagob - Placenames Database of Ireland http://www.logainm.ie/Do.aspx?parentID=835&typeID=BF&placeID=17266
  6. ^ "Castleknock station". Railscot - Irish Railways. http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf. Retrieved 2007-08-31. 
  7. ^ NRA - N3 / M50 upgrade http://www.nra.ie/RoadSchemeActivity/FingalCountyCouncil/M50UpgradePhase2PPPContract/SchemeName,16458,en.html
  8. ^ Community Voice - Metro http://www.dublin15.ie/pages/CV151/CV151n03.htm
  9. ^ Irish Times http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0812/1224302301839.html?via=mr />
  10. ^ Feudal History http://www.askaboutireland.ie/learning-zone/primary-students/looking-at-places/fingal/blanchardstown-through-ti/early-history/
  11. ^ St. Brigid's Roman Catholic Church http://www.askaboutireland.ie/learning-zone/primary-students/looking-at-places/fingal/blanchardstown-through-ti/blanchardstown-village/
  12. ^ Blanchardstown Shopping Centre - history http://www.dublin.info/blanchardstown/
  13. ^ In their "2009 Business and Community Awards" ceremony, announced the following list of nominees and winners:
    Best Retail Premises
    Nominees: Inspiring Ideas; Imaginarium; Mamas and Papas; 53 Degrees North; Tower Jewellers
    Winner: Inspiring Ideas
    Best Customer Service
    Nominees: Clonsilla Blinds; Permanent TSB; Dunboyne Castle; Hutton & Meade
    Winner: Dunboyne Castle
    Best Eating Establishment
    Nominees: Java Republic; Dunboyne Castle; Park Plaza Tyrrelstown; Castleknock Hotel & Country Club; Brasserie 15
    Winner: Brasserie 15
    Best Licensed Premises
    Nominees: Crowne Plaza Hotel; Castleknock Hotel & Country Club; The Thirsty Bull
    Winner: Crowne Plaza Hotel
    Best Start Up/New Business
    Nominees: Advanced Accounting; Brasserie 15; The Homework Club; Zannz Hair & Beauty
    Winner: The Homework Club
    Best SME/Sole Trader
    Nominees: A&M Products Ltd; Ól Irish Pubs; BPM Media Ltd
    Winner: BPM Media
    [1]
  14. ^ Urban Design Framework Plan http://www.fingalcoco.ie/Planning/PlanningItemsOnDisplay/BlanchardstownVillageUDFP-ends171209/publications,30343,en.pdf
  15. ^ Note - sample admissions policy, from the secondary school which may be closest to Blanchardstown proper - Coolmine Community School: "Students attending St.Francis Xavier, Scoil Bríde girls and boys, Scoil Oilibhéir, St. Mochtas and Castleknock Educate Together will be offered a place in first year. ... Children who reside in the area traditionally known as Blanchardstown Parish will also be offered a place automatically. Children of families, residing in Dublin 15, but outside any of the previously established Catchment Areas for other post-primary schools [Hunters' Run, Pheasants' Run, Castaheeney, Castlefield, Little Pace, Ongar, etc.] will be offered places if available." [Admissions policy of Coolmine Community School http://www.coolminecs.ie/coolmine.community.school.php?number=165]
  16. ^ Community Centre http://gofree.indigo.ie/~vcahill/huntstown/newsjune.html
  17. ^ Local elections 2009 http://electionsireland.org/result.cfm?election=2009L&cons=35