Priorswood, Dublin
Encyclopedia
Priorswood is a district formed in northern Coolock
, on the Northside
of Dublin, Ireland
. It is part of the Dublin 17 postal district and took its name from a large house, Friarswood, situated off Belcamp Lane, near the Malahide Road, or from the townland of the same name. The house was itself named for a historic priory, thought to be that of the Knights based at Clontarf and Kilmainham.
to the east, Clonshaugh to the west and Coolock to the south. The modern-day estates that make up the area are found west of Darndale, north of the Greencastle Road, east of the Clonshaugh Industrial Estate and south of the N32; part lies north of the N32 but has no or few residents.
Priorswood is accessible by taking the Priorswood Road off the Ayrfield/Darndale Roundabout on the Malahide Road, and via the Clonshaugh Road from the N32, and is within 2.5 km of Dublin Airport. It is served by the Dublin Bus
route number 27 on the Malahide Road.
In Dáil Éireann
, Priorswood is in the constituency of Dublin North East
.
Clonshaugh Shopping Centre is found next to the church and includes a dentist,salon, newsagent, pub, pharmacy and other outlets.
The housing estates that comprise Priorswood are Moatview, Fairfield and Ferrycarrig. The national schools are found on Clonshaugh Drive, with the estates of Newbury and Swift's Grove found in neighbouring Clonshaugh, located at the bottom of the avenue.
There is a Gaelic Athletic Association
sports ground opposite the main Traveller settlement.
The socio-economic profile of the Priorswood area is similar to that of neighbouring Darndale, and the housing stock in the area is almost totally local authority housing, though of a different form to the bulk of Darndale. Although defined distinctly, Darndale and Priorswood are often mentioned together.
The close-by Clonshaugh Industrial Estate (formerly one of Ireland's high-tech industrial zones) has begun expanding again for the first time since the closure of anchor tenants Gateway and Solectron, the Dublin Port Tunnel Business Park being one example.
Coolock
Coolock is a large suburban area, centred on a village, on Dublin city's Northside in Ireland. Coolock is crossed by the Santry River, a prominent feature in the middle of the district, with a linear park and ponds...
, on the Northside
Northside (Dublin)
The Northside is the area in County Dublin, Ireland bounded to the south by the River Liffey to the east by Dublin Bay, to the north and west by the boundaries of County Dublin.- Introduction :...
of Dublin, Ireland
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,...
. It is part of the Dublin 17 postal district and took its name from a large house, Friarswood, situated off Belcamp Lane, near the Malahide Road, or from the townland of the same name. The house was itself named for a historic priory, thought to be that of the Knights based at Clontarf and Kilmainham.
Location and access
The area is located in the northern part of the civil parish of Coolock, on formerly rural land, and borders DarndaleDarndale
Darndale is an area on the Northside of Dublin, in Ireland, featuring a high concentration of social housing. It is located in the north of the sprawling suburb of Coolock...
to the east, Clonshaugh to the west and Coolock to the south. The modern-day estates that make up the area are found west of Darndale, north of the Greencastle Road, east of the Clonshaugh Industrial Estate and south of the N32; part lies north of the N32 but has no or few residents.
Priorswood is accessible by taking the Priorswood Road off the Ayrfield/Darndale Roundabout on the Malahide Road, and via the Clonshaugh Road from the N32, and is within 2.5 km of Dublin Airport. It is served by the Dublin Bus
Dublin 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...
route number 27 on the Malahide Road.
In Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
, Priorswood is in the constituency of Dublin North East
Dublin North East (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Dublin North–East is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 3 deputies...
.
Today
Priorswood largely comprises residential property, along with a parish church, and St. Francis of Assisi Junior and Senior National Schools, and a special junior post-primary school for Traveller children.Clonshaugh Shopping Centre is found next to the church and includes a dentist,salon, newsagent, pub, pharmacy and other outlets.
The housing estates that comprise Priorswood are Moatview, Fairfield and Ferrycarrig. The national schools are found on Clonshaugh Drive, with the estates of Newbury and Swift's Grove found in neighbouring Clonshaugh, located at the bottom of the avenue.
There is a Gaelic Athletic Association
Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
sports ground opposite the main Traveller settlement.
The socio-economic profile of the Priorswood area is similar to that of neighbouring Darndale, and the housing stock in the area is almost totally local authority housing, though of a different form to the bulk of Darndale. Although defined distinctly, Darndale and Priorswood are often mentioned together.
Recent developments
The Bewley's Airport Hotel has been built in neighbouring Clonshaugh, just as the N32 branches towards the Baskin, and a Hilton Hotel and a range of retail and service outlets at the nearby Northern Cross development, on the lands of the former Belcamp College.The close-by Clonshaugh Industrial Estate (formerly one of Ireland's high-tech industrial zones) has begun expanding again for the first time since the closure of anchor tenants Gateway and Solectron, the Dublin Port Tunnel Business Park being one example.