Finglas

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

Template:Infobox Place Ireland Finglas (Irish: Fionnghlas, meaning 'clear streamlet') is a residential suburb, with a village core. It is on the Northside of Dublin City, Ireland, and mainly lies in the postal district Dublin 11. A couple of kilometres from Dublin Airport, it is situated at Junction 5 of the M50 and the N2 national primary road leading to Ashbourne and beyond. Nearby city districts include Glasnevin and Ballymun while the village of St. Margaret's is a little to the north.

Name

The name Finglas (Irish: Fionnghlas), meaning a clear streamlet, is derived from the Finglas River, a stream which flows through the village and joins the Tolka at Finglas Bridge.

History

Finglas was originally the site of a Early Christian 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. 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.

20th century onwards

In 1932, Ireland's first commercial airport was set up at Kildonan in Finglas, 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.

In the 1950s Finglas was developed with extensive housing estates, to re-house many north inner-city Dublin residents. Many of these housing estates particularly in Finglas West were named after prominent republican people from the early 20th century Irish history including Barry, Casement, Plunkett, Mellows, McKee, Clune and Clancy.

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 leveled 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 a similar development namely Prospect Hill. In addition, there are many other residential, retail, and industrial development projects underway.

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.

Sports

The Rugby Union club Unidare RFC and the GAA club Erins Isle are based in the area. Soccer clubs include Tolka Rovers F.C., Valley Park United, WFTA Football Club, Rivermount Boys FC, Willows FC and Finglas Celtic FC, Finglas South FC, Kippure FC.

Transport

Finglas is served by a number of Dublin Bus routes. These include the 17A, 19/A, 40/A/D, 83, 104, 140 & 220 (Route 240 which ran for less than a year in 2009 was recently abolished for its under use in the community. Instead Dublin Bus decided to extend some of the 40A journeys to Toberburr where the 240 began its journey). It is also served by many Nitelink services (40N & 88N).

People

Finglas has been the home of many public figures such as:

• Dick McKee, Irish Republican Army volunteer
• Martin Doherty, Irish Republican Army volunteer
• Dessie Ellis, Community activist and local Sinn Féin councillor
• Footballers Ronnie Whelan, Frank Stapleton, Mark Kinsella, Stephen Kelly, Alan Moore, Derek Geary, Stephen Geoghegan, Pat Fenlon, Pat Scully and Ken Oman.
• Séamus Ennis, Uilleann piper
• Christy Dignam & Joe Jewell, Aslan musicians
• Brendan O'Carroll, Comedian
• Colm Meaney, Actor
• Dermot Bolger, Writer and poet, whose novels "The Woman's Daughter" and "Night Shift" are set in Finglas.
• Spiral, a former Big Brother contestant, who wrote, performed and released a song about Finglas
• Olympic cyclists Alan and Paul McCormack, 1976 and 1988 respectively, Tom Daly An Ras Tailteann, Irish Olympians handbook
• Tony Fenton, Today FM Disc Jockey

Town partnerships

• Canton, Massachusetts

See also

• List of towns and villages in Ireland
• List of abbeys and priories in Ireland (County Dublin)

External links

• Hart's Corner traffic watch.
• Tolka Area Partnership

• Finglas High Cross at MegalithicIreland