Historical population Year Pop. ±% 1813 — 1821 1,727 — 1831 2,537 +46.9% 1841 1,788 −29.5% 1851 1,294 −27.6% 1861 1,296 +0.2% 1871 1,008 −22.2% 1881 1,088 +7.9% 1891 983 −9.7% 1901 944 −4.0% 1911 907 −3.9% 1926 839 −7.5% 1936 838 −0.1% 1946 703 −16.1% 1951 1,136 +61.6% 1956 1,629 +43.4% 1961 1,816 +11.5% 1966 1,892 +4.2% 1971 4,133 +118.4% 1981 11,138 +169.5% 1986 15,312 +37.5% 1991 17,705 +15.6% 1996 22,314 +26.0% 2002 27,175 +21.8% 2006 37,762 +39.0% 2011 42,738 +13.2%
Fingal County Hall.
Swords (a self-contained town outside Historic Dublin County and modern Fingal County) has developed into the largest town in Ireland. The town's population boom began in the 1970s with the construction of the sprawling Rivervalley Estate, Ireland's largest private housing development, ahead of Kilnamanagh Estate in Tallaght North, and continued during the 1990s and 2000s, with many new residents moving to the area due to its proximity to their work at Dublin Airport . Swords is accessed by the R132 and the M1 motorway .
At the 2011 census the total urban population was 42,738, which makes it the largest town in the Republic of Ireland, although not officially recognised. Unlike most large towns, Swords does not have a town council or any legal boundaries. Towns which do not have legal boundaries are classified as Census Towns for statistical reasons and are given borders by the Central Statistics Office. However, when they gave borders to the Swords census town they excluded the Drynam and Holywell housing estates, and considered them as a separate census town of "Kinsealy-Drinan". The "Swords" census town had a population of 36,924 (the third largest in Ireland), and the "Kinsealy-Drinan" census town had a population of 5,814. This contradicts their own guidelines which say that borders will be extended to include all occupied dwellings within 100 metres of an existing building.[1] According to the CSO's own SAPMAP viewer, there is definitely less than 100 meters between the two census towns, down to only 10 metres at one point.[2] The two census towns are part of the same urban area, and are both within the Swords development boundary, as defined by Fingal County Council.[3] When put together they have a total population of 42,738, well ahead of Irelands official largest town, Drogheda (38,578). The reason that two census towns were identified is probably because of an area of undeveloped land between them at Barryparks. This land has been left undeveloped because Fingal County Council has reserved it for commercial use to allow Swords develop its own city centre. This problem can't be resolved until at least the next census in 2016, although it could also be resolved by applying legal boundaries to Swords, covering the entire developed urban area.
Fingal County Council have referred to Swords as an "Emerging City", and expect that the town's (or city's) population will reach 100,000 by 2035.
The town is close to Dublin Airport, and is separated from the city by a narrow green belt around the airport.
Main Street c.1898.
The table below contains the population breakdown by Census Towns and Electoral Divisions (ED's) in Swords, taken from the 2011 census results.[4]
These are the 2011 Ethnic groups for Swords.
70.2% White Irish (30,946 people)
17.0% Other White (7,089 people)
2.7% Asian (1169 people)
2.6% Black (1142 people)
0.4% Irish Traveller (96 people)
7.1% Other/Not Stated (2096 people)
Total (All Ethnic groups): 42,738
Census 2011
Sex, age and marital status
Population by sex and age group[5] [6]
Age
Male
Female
Total
00-04
2213
1986
4199
05-09
1527
1512
3039
10-14
1353
1284
2637
15-19
1311
1181
2492
20-24
1402
1488
2890
25-29
2053
2339
4392
30-34
2655
2753
5408
35-39
2119
2117
4236
40-44
1637
1715
3352
45-49
1375
1532
2907
50-54
1118
1177
2295
55-59
780
852
1632
60-64
595
641
1236
65-69
425
445
870
70-74
263
232
495
75-79
120
192
312
80-84
59
114
173
85+
44
129
173
Total
21049
21689
42738
Population by sex and marital status[5] [6]
Status
Males
Females
Total
Single
12247
11932
24179
Married
7770
7744
15514
Separated
429
676
1105
Divorced
414
636
1050
Widowed
189
701
890
Total
21049
21689
42738
Migration and ethnicity
Usually resident population by place of birth and nationality[5] [6]
Location
Birthplace
Ireland
32007
UK
1891
Poland
2291
Lithuania
606
Other EU 27
2870
Rest of World
2701
Not stated
0
Total
42366
Usually resident population by ethnic or cultural background[5] [6]
Ethnic background
Persons
White Irish
31429
White Irish Traveller
96
Other White
7130
Black or Black Irish
1155
Asian or Asian Irish
1173
Other
459
Not stated
924
Total
42366
Usually resident population aged 1 and over by usual residence 1 year before Census Day[5] [6]
Residence
Persons
Same Address
37855
Elsewhere in County
2656
Elsewhere in Ireland
316
Outside Ireland
667
Total
41494
Population by religion[5] [6]
Religion
Persons
Catholic
34021
Other stated religion
4711
No religion
3006
Not stated
1000
Total
42738
Speakers of foreign languages by language spoken[5] [6]
Language
Persons
Polish
2336
French
620
Lithuanian
514
Other
5476
Total
8946
Speakers of foreign languages by ability to speak English[5] [6]
Ability
Persons
Very well
3887
Well
3070
Not well
1378
Not at all
298
Not stated
313
Total
8946
Irish language
Population aged 3 or over by ability to speak Irish[5] [6]
Ability
Persons
Yes
14126
No
24947
Not stated
967
Total
40040
Irish speakers aged 3 or over by frequency of speaking Irish[5] [6]
Frequency
Persons
Speaks Irish Daily, within education system only
4475
Speaks Irish Daily, within and also outside education system
322
Outside education system, Daily
344
Outside education system, Weekly
725
Outside education system, Less often
4254
Outside education system, Never
3909
Outside education system, Not stated
97
Total
14126
Irish speakers within education aged 3+, by frequency of speaking Irish outside education[5] [6]
Frequency
Persons
Males
Females
Daily
186
66
120
Weekly
56
25
31
Less often
36
14
22
Never
44
17
27
Total
322
122
200
Families
Families, family members and children in families, by size of family[5] [6]
Size of family
Number of families
Number of persons in families
Number of children in families
2 persons
4390
8780
1157
3 persons
2946
8838
3546
4 persons
2702
10808
5630
5 persons
1107
5535
3373
6 or more persons
339
2112
1449
Total
11484
36073
15155
Family units with children by size and age of children[5] [6]
All children under 15
All children 15 or over
Children both under and over 15
Total
No children
0
0
0
3233
1 child
2146
1357
0
3503
2 children
1764
840
472
3076
3 children
592
234
455
1281
4 children
135
48
132
315
5 or more children
22
6
48
76
Family units with children by type of family and age of children[5] [6]
Number of families
Couples with children
Lone mothers with children
Lone fathers with children
All children aged under fifteen
3620
981
58
All children aged over fifteen
1695
648
142
Other
886
201
20
Total number of family units
6201
1830
220
Number of children
Couples with children
Lone mothers with children
Lone fathers with children
All children aged under fifteen
6520
1499
84
All children aged over fifteen
2834
937
190
Other
2478
564
49
Total number of family units
11832
3000
323
Families by age of youngest child[5] [6]
Number of families
Number of family members
0–4 years
3243
11850
5–9 years
1423
5407
10–14 years
1100
4209
15–19 years
989
3574
20+ years
1496
4567
Total
8251
29607
Families by family cycle[5] [6]
Family cycle
Number of families
Number of family members
Pre-family
2020
4040
Empty nest
814
1628
Retired
399
798
Pre-school
1979
6220
Early school
1450
5351
Pre-Adolescent
1230
4811
Adolescent
1295
5050
Adult
2297
8175
Total
11484
36073
Females aged 20 years or over by number of children born alive[5] [6]
Number of children born
Number of females
0
5477
1
2687
2
3466
3
2015
4 or more
1504
Total
15149
Private Households
Private households by type[5] [6]
Type of Household
Households
Persons
One person
2471
2471
Husband and wife
1767
3534
Cohabiting couple
968
1936
Husband, wife and children
5036
20036
Cohabiting couple and children
646
2338
Father and children
177
441
Mother and children
1495
4037
Couple and others
341
1209
Couple, children and others
353
1745
Father, children and others
32
122
Mother, children and others
162
597
Two or more family units
250
1385
Non-family households and relations
367
911
Two or more non-related persons
741
1997
Total
14806
42759
Private households by size[5] [6]
Size of family
Households
Persons
1 person
2471
2471
2 persons
4285
8570
3 persons
3166
9498
4 persons
2957
11828
5 persons
1381
6905
6 persons
404
2424
7 persons
93
651
8 or more persons
49
412
Total
14806
42759
Housing
Swords is a socio-economically mixed area with the local housing stock being made up of private and local authority housing.
In 1999 the Seatown Villas area of Swords celebrated 50 years in existence, making it the oldest local authority housing estate in Dublin outside of the city limits.[citation needed ] In 2005, Fingal County Council opened 138 council housing units in the Applewood development in Swords.[7] This is the first such public-private housing development to take place in Fingal where private development is inter-mixed with local authority housing. This successful pilot scheme has been replicated in the south of the town in the Boroimhe Estate and also in the Mulhuddart area.
A view from the 1790s.
Private households by type of accommodation[5] [6]
Type of accommodation
Households
Persons
House/Bungalow
11954
36293
Flat/Apartment
2516
5515
Bed-sit
13
33
Caravan/Mobile Home
8
20
Not stated
315
898
Total
14806
42759
Permanent private households by year built[5] [6]
Year Built
Households
Persons
Pre 1919
49
121
1919 to 1945
70
180
1946 to 1960
201
503
1961 to 1970
747
1996
1971 to 1980
1953
5607
1981 to 1990
2486
7730
1991 to 2000
2739
8782
2001 to 2005
4208
11437
2006 or later
1438
3544
Not stated
907
2839
Total
14798
42739
Permanent private households by type of occupancy[5] [6]
Type of occupancy
Households
Persons
Owner occupied with mortgage
7599
22694
Owner occupied no mortgage
2642
6624
Rented from Private Landlord
3517
10569
Rented from Local Authority
628
1823
Rented from Voluntary Body
123
354
Occupied free of rent
67
126
Not stated
222
549
Total
14798
42739
Permanent private households by number of rooms[5] [6]
Number of rooms
Households
Persons
1 room
138
261
2 rooms
907
1964
3 rooms
1619
4374
4 rooms
2025
4782
5 rooms
4267
12079
6 rooms
2609
8264
7 rooms
1737
5915
8 or more rooms
959
3707
Not stated
537
1393
Total
14798
42739
Permanent private households by central heating[5] [6]
Central heating type
Households
No central heating
54
Oil
2100
Natural Gas
11413
Electricity
887
Coal (including anthracite)
78
Peat (including turf)
7
Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG)
21
Wood (including wood pellets)
7
Other
15
Not stated
216
Total
14798
Permanent private households by water supply[5] [6]
Water supply
Households
Public main
13542
Group scheme with local authority source
688
Group scheme with private source
16
Other private source
10
None
0
Not stated
542
Total
14798
Permanent private households by sewerage facility[5] [6]
Sewerage facility
Households
Public scheme
13838
Individual septic tank
141
Other individual treatment
25
Other
53
No sewerage facility
10
Not stated
731
Total
14798
Occupancy status of permanent dwellings on Census night[5] [6]
Occupancy
Dwellings
Occupied
14818
Unoccupied
1125
Total
15943
Communal Establishments
Persons in Communal Establishments[5] [6]
Number of establishments
16
Number of persons
481
Principal Status
Population aged 15 years and over by principal economic status and sex[5] [6]
Principal Economic Status
Male
Female
Total
At work
10806
10169
20975
Looking for first regular job
167
152
319
Unemployed having lost or given up previous job
1856
1271
3127
Student
1595
1536
3131
Looking after home/family
112
2201
2313
Retired
1023
915
1938
Unable to work due to permanent sickness or disability
380
626
1006
Other
17
37
54
Total
15956
16907
32863
Social Class and Socio-Economic Group
Population by sex and social class[5] [6]
Social Class
Male
Female
Total
Professional workers
1316
1132
2448
Managerial and technical
6040
6539
12579
Non-manual
3487
5722
9209
Skilled manual
4396
2336
6732
Semi-skilled
2480
2110
4590
Unskilled
714
653
1367
All others gainfully occupied and unknown
2616
3197
5813
Total
21049
21689
42738
Persons in private households by socio-economic group of reference person[5] [6]
Socio-economic group of reference person
Households
Persons
A
Employers and managers
2704
7949
B
Higher professional
842
2256
C
Lower professional
1783
4761
D
Non-manual
3761
10498
E
Manual skilled
1332
4168
F
Semi-skilled
1209
3775
G
Unskilled
421
1309
H
Own account workers
806
2637
I
Farmers
24
77
J
Agricultural workers
50
173
Z
All others gainfully occupied and unknown
1874
5156
Total
14806
42759
Education
Population aged 15 years and over by age education ceased[5] [6]
Age
Males
Females
Total
Under 15 years
472
497
969
15
576
433
1009
16
1102
910
2012
17
1259
1398
2657
18
1812
1987
3799
19
563
827
1390
20
588
637
1225
21 and over
2843
3124
5967
Not stated
3875
4250
8125
Total
13090
14063
27153
Population aged 15 years and over whose education has not ceased[5] [6]
Education
Males
Females
Total
Still at school
1595
1536
3131
Other
1271
1308
2579
Population aged 15 years and over by field of study[5] [6]
Qualification
Males
Females
Total
Education and teacher training
181
730
911
Arts
278
293
571
Humanities
159
313
472
Social sciences, Business and Law
1811
3101
4912
Science, Mathematics and Computing
887
588
1475
Engineering, Manufacturing and Construction
2533
269
2802
Agriculture and Veterinary
112
78
190
Health and Welfare
266
1287
1553
Services
729
1059
1788
Other subjects
11
19
30
Not Stated (including unknown)
6123
6326
12449
Total
13090
14063
27153
Population aged 15 years and over by sex and highest level of education completed[5] [6]
Education Level
Males
Females
Total
No Formal Education
95
85
180
Primary Education
912
1059
1971
Lower Secondary
1949
1851
3800
Upper Secondary
3012
3540
6552
Technical or Vocational qualification
1378
1543
2921
Advanced Certificate/Completed Apprenticeship
1275
591
1866
Higher Certificate
702
802
1504
Ordinary Bachelor Degree or National Diploma
1105
1238
2343
Honours Bachelor Degree, Professional qualification or both
1194
1458
2652
Postgraduate Diploma or Degree
790
1191
1981
Doctorate(Ph.D) or higher
65
64
129
Not stated
613
641
1254
Total
13090
14063
27153
Commuting
Population aged 5 years and over by means of travel to work, school or college[5] [6]
Means
Persons
On foot
4532
Bicycle
512
Bus, minibus or coach
4730
Train, DART or LUAS
376
Motorcycle or scooter
181
Car driver
12892
Car passenger
4208
Van
830
Other
391
Not stated
854
Total
29506
Population aged 5 years and over by time leaving home to travel to work, school or college[5] [6]
Time
Persons
Before 06:30
2753
06:30-07:00
2247
07:01-07:30
3006
07:31-08:00
4575
08:01-08:30
6219
08:31-09:00
5636
09:01-09:30
1032
After 09:30
2576
Not stated
1132
Total
29176
Population aged 5 years and over by journey time to work, school or college[5] [6]
Time
Persons
Under 15 mins
7955
1/4 hour - under 1/2 hour
8896
1/2 hour - under 3/4 hour
5554
3/4 hour - under 1 hour
2238
1 hour - under 1 1/2 hours
2313
1 1/2 hours and over
569
Not stated
1651
Total
29176
Disability, carers and general health
Persons with disability by age group[5] [6]
Age group
Persons
00-14
508
15-24
384
25-44
1191
45-64
1206
65+
747
Total
4036
Carers by sex and number of unpaid hours per week[5] [6]
Number of hours
Males
Females
'1-14
246
388
'15-28
58
126
'29-42
37
54
'43+
72
166
'Not stated
62
94
'Total
475
828
Population by general health and sex[5] [6]
Health
Males
Females
Total
Very good
13423
13616
27039
Good
5763
6046
11809
Fair
1054
1261
2315
Bad
147
186
333
Very bad
41
36
77
Not stated
621
544
1165
Total
21049
21689
42738
Occupation
Persons at work or unemployed by occupation and sex[5] [6]
Occupation
Males
Females
Total
Managers, Directors and Senior Officials
1233
734
1967
Professional Occupations
1358
1768
3126
Associate Professional and Technical Occupations
1767
1204
2971
Administrative and Secretarial Occupations
704
2348
3052
Skilled Trades Occupations
2212
203
2415
Caring, Leisure and Other Service Occupations
348
1392
1740
Sales and Customer Service Occupations
793
1497
2290
Process, Plant and Machine Operatives
1625
287
1912
Elementary Occupations
1585
1084
2669
Not stated
1037
923
1960
Total
12662
11440
24102
Industries
Persons at work by industry and sex[5] [6]
Industry
Males
Females
Agriculture, forestry and fishing
86
40
Building and construction
667
62
Manufacturing industries
1067
535
Commerce and trade
2872
3061
Transport and communications
2410
1137
Public administration
719
627
Professional services
1373
3099
Other
1612
1608
Total
10806
10169
PC and Internet Access
Number of households with cars[5] [6]
Cars
Households
No motor car
1791
One motor car
6481
Two motor cars
5581
Three motor cars
777
Four or more motor cars
168
Number of households with a personal computer[5] [6]
Households
Yes
12652
No
1811
Not stated
335
Total
14798
Number of households with internet access[5] [6]
Households
Broadband
12023
Other
737
No
1678
Not stated
360
Total
14798
See also
Swords, Dublin
References
Geography Neighbourhoods Transport
Features