Bluebell, Dublin
Encyclopedia
Bluebell is a small suburb of Dublin, Ireland
, situated on the Southside
of the city, approximately 6.5 kilometres south-west of Dublin city centre. The suburb borders Drimnagh
to the east, Kylemore and Inchicore
to the north, Walkinstown
to the south and Cherryorchard/Ballyfermot
to the west.
Bluebell forms part of the Dublin South-Central Dáil constituency and is administered by Dublin City Council
at the local government level. Its postal code is Dublin 12.
Until 1953 Bluebell was mainly a rural farming community on the edge of the City. It was developed for houses by the Dublin City Corporation which saw a large influx of families and young couples into the area.
Over the years, the area became heavily industrialised development with the coming of paper mills, making use of the Camac river for their water supply. Gradually more industry moved into the area like Lambs, Roadstone, Nugget, McInerneys, Fiat and Volkswagen.
post office is located on La Touche Road.
The local Catholic Church, Our Lady of the Wayside, is one of the largest buildings in the suburb and is situated on the Old Naas Road, adjacent to Bluebell Luas
stop.
The 91st Dublin Scout Den serves both Bluebell and the neighbouring suburb of Inchicore and meets in the Oblates Father's, Inchicore.
Bluebell has only one pub - the Cottage Inn - located on Bluebell Avenue.
Given the small size of the suburb, it is not home to any large retail operations such as supermarkets or shopping centres. Small commercial ventures such as newsagents and fast food outlets are concentrated on the Old Naas Road area of the suburb near the Catholic Church.
In 2008 Local artist and environmentalist Fiann Ó Nualláin begun a project 'bluebells for bluebell' the aim to encourage locals to plant their placename. Supported by The railway procurement agency and Dublin city Council, the project has seen the reintroduction of native Irish bluebells into the green verges and public spaces around the bluebell environs. The main attraction being the name stone green facing the luas stop which has been transformed into an urban woodland habitat for bluebells. A striking sight to behold each Easter as the thousands of bluebells bloom.
The dominant style of the area is that of a mid-20th century Dublin local government housing development - almost exclusively in deep red brick. The most distinctive buildings of the Bluebell area are that of the local Catholic church, built in an Italian style with a lighter shade of red brick which contrasts to the dominant dark red of the surrounding residential and commercial buildings.
Bluebell is near where the Naas dual carriageway begins. The district also borders the Grand Canal.
and Luas
. The following bus routes service the suburb:
13,
68,
69,
The Dublin Bus Nitelink 69N service provides a one-way link from Dublin city centre to Bluebell until late at night after regular bus services finish at 23:30.
and in local government elections is part of the Ballyfermot Ward. Since the last local elections in 2004, the local elected representatives on Dublin City Council are:
Bluebell is part of the Dublin South Central Dáil constituency. The elected TD's for the current 30th Dáil Éireann
are:
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, situated on the Southside
Southside (Dublin)
The Southside is not an official administrative area but a colloquial term referring to the area of County Dublin bounded to the north by the River Liffey to the east by Dublin Bay, to the south and west by the boundaries of County Dublin...
of the city, approximately 6.5 kilometres south-west of Dublin city centre. The suburb borders Drimnagh
Drimnagh
Drimnagh is a suburb of Dublin, Ireland, situated on the Southside of the city between Walkinstown, Crumlin and Inchicore, bordering the Grand Canal to the north and east. Drimnagh is in postal district Dublin 12.-Early to Medieval:...
to the east, Kylemore and Inchicore
Inchicore
-Location and access:Located five kilometres due west of the city centre, Inchicore lies south of the River Liffey, west of Kilmainham, north of Drimnagh and east of Ballyfermot. The majority of Inchicore is in the Dublin 8 postal district...
to the north, Walkinstown
Walkinstown
Walkinstown is a suburb of Dublin, Ireland, situated on the Southside of the city, approximately 6 kilometres south-west of Dublin city centre. The suburb borders Crumlin to the east, Drimnagh to the north, Greenhills to the south and Ballymount, Bluebell and Clondalkin to the west...
to the south and Cherryorchard/Ballyfermot
Ballyfermot
Ballyfermot is a suburb in the city of Dublin.Celebrities such as the famous Furey Brothers and the brilliant Keenan family have all resided in Ballyfermot.Ireland, located 7 kilometres due west from the city centre, and to the south of the Phoenix Park...
to the west.
Bluebell forms part of the Dublin South-Central Dáil constituency and is administered by Dublin City Council
Dublin City Council
Dublin City Council is the local authority for the city of Dublin in Ireland. It has 52 members and is the largest local authority in Ireland. Until 2001, it was known as Dublin Corporation.-Legal status:...
at the local government level. Its postal code is Dublin 12.
History
There is an early reference in Bluebell cemetery dated 1254 when Bluebell, the people who lived here and the cemetery were most likely part of the Drimnagh Castle estate. Until the 1960s Old Bluebell was part of the parish of Clondalkin, while the lower end was part of St Michaels, Inchicore.Until 1953 Bluebell was mainly a rural farming community on the edge of the City. It was developed for houses by the Dublin City Corporation which saw a large influx of families and young couples into the area.
Over the years, the area became heavily industrialised development with the coming of paper mills, making use of the Camac river for their water supply. Gradually more industry moved into the area like Lambs, Roadstone, Nugget, McInerneys, Fiat and Volkswagen.
Amenities
The local An PostAn Post
An Post is the State-owned provider of postal services in the Republic of Ireland. An Post provides a universal postal service to all parts of the country as a member of the Universal Postal Union...
post office is located on La Touche Road.
The local Catholic Church, Our Lady of the Wayside, is one of the largest buildings in the suburb and is situated on the Old Naas Road, adjacent to Bluebell Luas
Luas
Luas , also promoted in the development stage as the Dublin Light Rail System, is a tram or light rail system serving Dublin, the first such system in the decades since the closure of the last of the Dublin tramways. In 2007, the system carried 28.4 million passengers, a growth of 10% since...
stop.
The 91st Dublin Scout Den serves both Bluebell and the neighbouring suburb of Inchicore and meets in the Oblates Father's, Inchicore.
Bluebell has only one pub - the Cottage Inn - located on Bluebell Avenue.
Given the small size of the suburb, it is not home to any large retail operations such as supermarkets or shopping centres. Small commercial ventures such as newsagents and fast food outlets are concentrated on the Old Naas Road area of the suburb near the Catholic Church.
Local landmarks
There are few local historic landmarks within the area of Bluebell. Bluebell cemetery would be a prime reason to visit the suburb for many people with friends and relatives buried there. A ruined medieval church is located in the cemetery.In 2008 Local artist and environmentalist Fiann Ó Nualláin begun a project 'bluebells for bluebell' the aim to encourage locals to plant their placename. Supported by The railway procurement agency and Dublin city Council, the project has seen the reintroduction of native Irish bluebells into the green verges and public spaces around the bluebell environs. The main attraction being the name stone green facing the luas stop which has been transformed into an urban woodland habitat for bluebells. A striking sight to behold each Easter as the thousands of bluebells bloom.
The dominant style of the area is that of a mid-20th century Dublin local government housing development - almost exclusively in deep red brick. The most distinctive buildings of the Bluebell area are that of the local Catholic church, built in an Italian style with a lighter shade of red brick which contrasts to the dominant dark red of the surrounding residential and commercial buildings.
Bluebell is near where the Naas dual carriageway begins. The district also borders the Grand Canal.
Transportation
Bluebell is served by both Dublin BusDublin Bus
Dublin Bus is a public transport operator in Ireland. It operates an extensive bus network of 172 radial, cross-city and peripheral routes and 18 night routes in the city of Dublin and the Greater Dublin Area. The company, established in 1987, is a subsidiary of Córas Iompair Éireann which is...
and Luas
Luas
Luas , also promoted in the development stage as the Dublin Light Rail System, is a tram or light rail system serving Dublin, the first such system in the decades since the closure of the last of the Dublin tramways. In 2007, the system carried 28.4 million passengers, a growth of 10% since...
. The following bus routes service the suburb:
13,
68,
69,
The Dublin Bus Nitelink 69N service provides a one-way link from Dublin city centre to Bluebell until late at night after regular bus services finish at 23:30.
Administration
In administrative terms, Bluebell is in the extreme west/south-west of Dublin City CouncilDublin City Council
Dublin City Council is the local authority for the city of Dublin in Ireland. It has 52 members and is the largest local authority in Ireland. Until 2001, it was known as Dublin Corporation.-Legal status:...
and in local government elections is part of the Ballyfermot Ward. Since the last local elections in 2004, the local elected representatives on Dublin City Council are:
- Michael Conaghan (Labour Party)
- Vincent Jackson (Independent)
- Louise Minihan (Sinn Féin)
Bluebell is part of the Dublin South Central Dáil constituency. The elected TD's for the current 30th Dáil Éireann
Members of the 30th Dáil
This is a list of the members who were elected to the 30th Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas of Ireland. These TDs were elected at the 2007 general election on 24 May 2007 and met on 14 June 2007. The 30th Dáil was dissolved by President Mary McAleese, at the request of the...
are:
- Eric ByrneEric ByrneEric Byrne is an Irish Labour Party politician and is currently a Teachta Dála for the Dublin South Central constituency.He was formerly a member of Sinn Féin the Workers Party, the Workers' Party and Democratic Left...
(Labour) - Catherine ByrneCatherine ByrneCatherine Byrne is an Irish Fine Gael politician. She has been a Teachta Dála for the Dublin South Central constituency since May 2007. She stood unsuccessfully as a candidate at the 2002 general election, she was elected on her next attempt at the 2007 general election...
(Fine Gael) - Joan Collins (People Before Profit Alliance)
- Aengus Ó SnodaighAengus Ó SnodaighAengus Ó Snodaigh is an Irish Sinn Féin politician. He has been a Teachta Dála for the Dublin South Central constituency since May 2002, and is party spokesperson for Housing, Justice, Equality and Human Rights, and International Affairs.-Early and private life:A Dubliner and Irish language...
(Sinn Féin) - Michael ConaghanMichael ConaghanMichael Conaghan is an Irish Labour Party politician. He was elected as a Teachta Dála for the Dublin South Central constituency at the 2011 general election....
(Labour Party)