Clonsilla
Clonsilla is an outer suburb of Dublin in Fingal, Ireland.
Clonsilla is also a civil parish in the barony of Castleknock in the historic County Dublin.
Location and access
Clonsilla used to be a small village in inner western part of County Dublin, but it is now a large residential suburban area, with Ongar and other localities developing their own subsidiary identities. It falls into the Dublin 15 postal district, the Dublin West Dáil constituency and is locally administered by Fingal County Council.Transport
is the main exchange station for commuter services going between Dublin and Maynooth and M3 Parkway lines. Passengers travel to Maynooth to transfer to Dublin to Sligo intercity service. Residents of Ongar and Hansfield can use Hansfield railway station.Clonsilla is near the N3/M3 national road between Cavan and Dublin city centre.
Clonsilla is served by several Dublin Bus routes including the 39, the 39a and the 239 from Blanchardstown Shopping Centre.
Clonsilla straddles the Royal Canal, which is navigable by barge, though there is little traffic currently.
History
Clonsilla used to be home to horse studs including the famous Ongar stud owned by Prince Aly Khan and his then wife Rita Hayworth.Clonsilla today
Development
There has been significant residential housing development in Clonsilla. Estates such as Mount Symon, Castlefield, Charnwood, Limelawn, Ravenswood, Manorfields, Portersgate, Aldemere, were built during the past 20–30 years, and Lohunda was also expanded significantly during that time. As a result, the population of the area has risen dramatically over the same period. Clonsilla is roughly equidistant from Blanchardstown and Castleknock.Places of interest
- Luttrellstown Castle – dating from the early 15th century and once owned by members of the Guinness family, it is now a hotel, with associated golf course, and was thrown into the spotlight when David Beckham and Victoria Adams married there. American Rock music band R.E.M. also stayed here during the Monster World Tour in 1995.
- The Shackleton Gardens at Beech Park, home to famous walled garden containing many rare flower species and formerly owned by the Shackleton family. Opposite Luttrellstown Castle, it has been purchased by Fingal County Council and is being renovated prior to reopening to the public.
- Beech Park – a public park opened in May 2009, maintained by Fingal County Council
- The Royal Canal – many varied species of freshwater fish such as pike, perch and roach can be caught along the banks of the canal.
Education
Religion
Clonsilla is a parish in the Blanchardstown deanery of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin.In the Church of Ireland, the parish is part of "Castleknock and Mulhuddart with Clonsilla".
There is also a Latter-day Saint ward in Clonsilla.
Sport
The local Gaelic Athletic Association clubs are St. Peregrines GAA, Castleknock Hurling and Football Club, and Westmanstown Gales GAA club.The local soccer club is St. Mochta’s F.C., at Porterstown Road.
The local karate club is Clonsilla kenpo karate located in the Clonsilla hall.
People
- Glen Crowe is an Irish professional football forward. He was a prolific goalscorer in the League of Ireland and has represented the Republic of Ireland national football team on two occasions. Crowe has played for Wolves, Bohemians, Shelbourne and Sporting Fingal. Glen was born and raised in the Clonsilla area.
- The Ipswich Town player Mark Kennedy is from Clonsilla and started his career at St.Mochta's FC.
- Thomas Luttrell of Luttrellstown Castle Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas, was buried in Clonsilla and left a bequest to build a chapel in his memory.
- Emma Ledden, TV and radio presenter, is from Clonsilla.
Civil Parish of Clonsilla
Townlands in the civil parish
The Parish of Clonsilla in the seventeenth century comprised the townlands of Ballstown, Barberstown, Blackstaheney, Barnageeth, Clonsillagh, Coolmine, Cusanstown, Hartstown, Huntstown, Ininstown, Killiestown, Luttrellstown, Pibblestown, Ringwellstown, and Little Stackheney. The table below represents the current lists of townlands in the parish.Irish | English |
Baile an Bhearbóraigh | Barberstown |
Baile an Bhlácaigh | Blakestown |
Baile an Hartaigh | Hartstown |
Baile an Huntaigh | Huntstown |
Baile Fiobail nó Páirc Hans | Phibblestown or Hansfield |
Baile Lotrail | Woodlands |
Baile Uí Cheallaigh | Kellystown |
Cluain Saileach | Clonsilla |
Cnoc an Sciobóil | Barnhill |
Cúil Mhín | Coolmine |
Gort na Giolcaí | Broomfield |
Móinteán na gCaorach | Sheepmoor |
Steach Gob | Astagob |
Teach Chainnigh | Castaheany |