Brackenstown, Swords

Brackenstown (Irish: Baile Breacáin)[2] is a neighbourhood in the north Dublin suburb of Swords in Ireland. It developed in west Swords on the north side of the Ward River. It developed along the Brackenstown Road, which runs from Swords to the townland of Knocksedan. It has shops, including a supermarket and a pub, and is adjacent to the Ward River Valley Park. Brackenstown is also a parish in the Fingal North deanery of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin.

Brackenstown
Baile Breacáin[1]
Neighbourhood of Swords
Brackenstown Road looking southeast
Brackenstown Road looking southeast
Brackenstown is located in Dublin
Brackenstown
Brackenstown
Location in Dublin area
Coordinates: 53°27′32″N 6°14′29″W
CountryIreland
ProvinceLeinster
RegionDublin
CountyFingal
TownSwords
Government
 • Dáil ÉireannDublin Fingal
 • EU ParliamentDublin
Time zoneUTC+0 (WET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-1 (IST (WEST))
Area code+353 (0)1
Irish Grid ReferenceO 170 470

Layout

Brackenstown is located west of the centre of Swords, along the Brackenstown Road. It is on the northside of the Ward River, between the neighbourhood of Rathbeale and the Ward River Valley Park. The Brackenstown Road runs east–west through the area and is the main road providing access to the area. The Ward River Valley Park is located on the south side of the road and most of the housing estates are on the north side of the road. Murrough road runs north from Brackenstown to the Rathbeale Road and Applewood.[3]

Public transport

The main bus terminus for western Swords is on the Brackenstown Road outside Swords Manor estate. It is served by Dublin Bus Routes 41, 41c, 41x, 41n and the private Swords Express service. All routes operate from Swords Manor, along the Brackenstown Road, then up Murrough Road to the Rathbeale Road.[4]

Dublin Bus routes 41 & 41c operate approximately every 10 minutes from Swords Manor to Dublin City Centre (Lwr Abbey Street). Route 41 operates via Rathbeale, Swords Village, Dublin Airport, Santry and Drumcondra[5] and route 41c operates via Applewood, Swords Village, Rivervalley, Boroimhe, Sanrty and Drumcondra.[6] At peak times route 41x operates a service to UCD Belfield via Dublin City Centre.[7]

The Swords Express service operates approximately every 30 minutes from Swords Manor to Dublin City Centre (Georges/Eden Quay) via Applewood, Swords Village, Forrest Road, Boroimhe and Holywell, then non-stop via the M1 motorway and Dublin Port Tunnel.[8]

On Friday and Saturday nights the Dublin Bus 41n Nitelink service operates from Dublin City Centre (Westmoreland Street) to Swords Manor via Dublin Airport, Swords Village and Rathbeale.[9]

Park
Bridge in Ward River Valley Park

The Ward River Valley Park is a linear park on the banks of the Ward River in the centre of Swords town, between the areas of Brackenstown and River Valley. It covers an area of 89 ha. (220 acres) between Swords Town Centre and Knocksedan Bridge. Its features include ruined 12th-century fortifications, woodland habitats, wetlands and grasslands. There are viewing points, picnic sites, sports pitches and tennis courts.[10]

Education

There are two adjacent primary schools in the Brackenstown area:

  • St. Cronan's Junior National School, Brackenstown Road[11]
  • St. Cronan's Senior National School, Brackenstown Road[12]

Shops

The Manor Mall is a small shopping centre on Brackenstown Road with an Asian restaurant, convenience store, credit union, fish and chip shop, hairdressers, pharmacy, and a pub.

Religion

Brackenstown has one Roman Catholic church, St. Cronan's Church, which belongs to its own distinct parish.[13]

Glasmore Abbey
Ruins of Glasmore Abbey

Glassmore Abbey was founded by St Cronan about AD660 – a century later than the founding of Swords. This ruin and its adjacent well are dedicated to St Cronan and are located in a green in the Lioscian estate off Murrough Road. Under the rule of St Cronan, Glasmore Abbey flourished sufficiently to attract the attention of the Northmen of Inbher Domhnainn (Malahide) who raided and destroyed it and slew both the abbot and his entire fraternity in one night. Since then, the abbey has been in ruins.[14]

References
  1. Placenames Database of Ireland
  2. Placenames Database of Ireland
  3. Brackenstown Map Archived 2012-08-29 at the Wayback Machine Ordnance Survey Ireland
  4. Transport for Ireland Public Transport Information
  5. "Dublin Bus 41 Timetable". Archived from the original on 15 October 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2012.
  6. Dublin Bus 41c Timetable
  7. "Dublic Bus 41x Timetable". Archived from the original on 15 September 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2012.
  8. "Swords Express Timetable". Archived from the original on 5 December 2013. Retrieved 14 October 2012.
  9. Nitelink 41n Timetable Archived October 20, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  10. "Ward River Valley Park". Archived from the original on 8 March 2012. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
  11. St. Cronan's Junior National School
  12. St. Cronan's Senior National School
  13. St. Cronan's Church Archived April 6, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  14. Glasmore Abbey Fingal Independent
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