Balgriffin
Encyclopedia
Balgriffin is a former rural, now largely residential, part of County Dublin
, Ireland
.
and Fingal County Council
.
), and by Malahide Road from the north (Kinsealy
and Malahide
) and south (Dublin city centre, Fairview
and Coolock
).
provides the district of Balgriffin with services on the 42, 43 and 128 routes, the cemeteries being served by the 42 and 43.
and Dublin County Archive
, going back hundreds of years. Historically, it has remained as a lightly settled area of fields with a hamlet
at a crossroads, at which now stands an 18th century public house
, some cottages, a village green
, and two cemeteries - the older of which is to the west, the newer, civic, one to the east.
The best known feature of the area is the early St. Doulagh's Church; it is also said that magnate
de Burgo (Burke) had a base close by.
. At first a monastery
, it is now a well known and much revered church
. It was built in the 5th century
and renovated in the 12th century
.
At the time of its inception, the Welsh Saint Samson
made pilgrimage to Dun Etair - Howth
- and is said to have founded the monastery that is now St. Doulagh's Church. The church was originally under the patronage of St. Samson, and as Balgriffin was in the past referred to as Ballygriffin and Griffinstown, the place name indicates that it was indeed settled by a Welsh
person.
parishioners since the Reformation in Ireland
.
Holy Trinity Church serves Roman Catholic parishioners of Donaghmede Parish since its inception in 1974; the parish is today known as Holy Trinity Parish and serves Donaghmede including Clongriffin, and Balgriffin. Additionally, with the growth of population as the Belmayne housing development was populated, Balgriffin Mass Centre was opened, operating from the information centre on Belmayne Avenue.
County Dublin
County Dublin is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Dublin Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Dublin which is the capital of Ireland. County Dublin was one of the first of the parts of Ireland to be shired by King John of England following the...
, 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,...
.
Location
Balgriffin is situated approximately 8 km (4.97 mi) from Dublin city centre. The district is in the constituency of Dublin North East, with post code Dublin 17, and is administrated partly by each 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 Fingal County Council
Fingal County Council
Fingal County council is the local authority for the county of Fingal in Ireland. It is one of three local authorities that comprised the former Dublin County Council before its abolition and one of four councils in the Dublin Region. The county seat is in Swords, with another major office...
.
Road
The hamlet of Balgriffin is served by Balgriffin Road from the east (PortmarnockPortmarnock
Portmarnock is a small suburban village to the north of Dublin, Ireland. It is in the administrative county of Fingal.-Location:Portmarnock lies on the coast and, owing to its proximity to Dublin city, is a form of dormitory village north-northeast of the city centre...
), and by Malahide Road from the north (Kinsealy
Kinsealy
Kinsealy is an outer suburb of Dublin, Ireland, about 7km from the city centre, in the administration of Fingal County Council, within County Dublin....
and Malahide
Malahide
Malahide is a coastal suburban town, near Dublin city, located in the administrative county of Fingal, within the traditional County Dublin, Ireland. It has a village-like centre and extensive residential areas to the south, west and northwest.-Name:...
) and south (Dublin city centre, Fairview
Fairview, Dublin
Fairview is a coastal district on the Northside of Dublin, Ireland, in the jurisdiction of Dublin City Council. Part of the area forms Fairview Park, on land reclaimed from the sea.-Location and access:...
and Coolock
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...
).
Bus
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...
provides the district of Balgriffin with services on the 42, 43 and 128 routes, the cemeteries being served by the 42 and 43.
History
Balgriffin is an old district that can be found on maps, many held in Dublin City ArchiveDublin City Public Libraries and Archive
Dublin City Public Libraries represents the largest library authority in the Republic of Ireland, serving over half a million people through a network of 41 branch libraries and service points....
and Dublin County Archive
Fingal
Fingal is a county in Ireland. It is one of three smaller counties into which County Dublin was divided in 1994. With its county seat located in Swords, it has a population of 239,992 according to the 2006 census...
, going back hundreds of years. Historically, it has remained as a lightly settled area of fields with a hamlet
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
at a crossroads, at which now stands an 18th century public house
Public houses in Ireland
Public houses in Ireland, usually known as pubs, are establishments licensed to serve alcoholic drinks for consumption on the premises. Irish pubs are to be found in cities throughout Europe and North America.-Spirit grocers:...
, some cottages, a village green
Village green
A village green is a common open area which is a part of a settlement. Traditionally, such an area was often common grass land at the centre of a small agricultural settlement, used for grazing and sometimes for community events...
, and two cemeteries - the older of which is to the west, the newer, civic, one to the east.
The best known feature of the area is the early St. Doulagh's Church; it is also said that magnate
Magnate
Magnate, from the Late Latin magnas, a great man, itself from Latin magnus 'great', designates a noble or other man in a high social position, by birth, wealth or other qualities...
de Burgo (Burke) had a base close by.
St. Doulagh's Church
Approximately 1 km (0.621372736649807 mi) north of the hamlet of Balgriffin is St. Doulagh's ChurchSt. Doulagh's Church
St Doulagh's Church, the oldest stone-roofed church still in use in Ireland, is situated approximately 10 kilometres from Dublin city, just north of the hamlet of Balgriffin...
. At first a monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
, it is now a well known and much revered church
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
. It was built in the 5th century
5th century in Ireland
-5th century:405*Possible year of death of Niall Noígíallach. The Annals of the Four Masters dates his accession to 378 and death to 405. The chronology of Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn broadly agrees, dating his reign from 368-395, and associating his raiding activities in Britain with the...
and renovated in the 12th century
Norman Invasion of Ireland
The Norman invasion of Ireland was a two-stage process, which began on 1 May 1169 when a force of loosely associated Norman knights landed near Bannow, County Wexford...
.
At the time of its inception, the Welsh Saint Samson
Samson of Dol
Saint Samson of Dol was a Christian religious figure who is counted among the seven founder saints of Brittany. Born in southern Wales, he died in Dol-de-Bretagne, a small town in north Brittany.-Life:...
made pilgrimage to Dun Etair - Howth
Howth
Howth is an area in Fingal County near Dublin city in Ireland. Originally just a small fishing village, Howth with its surrounding rural district is now a busy suburb of Dublin, with a mix of dense residential development and wild hillside, all on the peninsula of Howth Head. The only...
- and is said to have founded the monastery that is now St. Doulagh's Church. The church was originally under the patronage of St. Samson, and as Balgriffin was in the past referred to as Ballygriffin and Griffinstown, the place name indicates that it was indeed settled by a Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
person.
Natural Features
The two main branches of the Mayne River, the Turnapin Stream and the Cuckoo Stream, run through the district, picking up smaller streams, and merging in eastern Balgriffin. The Mayne then flows out to Baldoyle Bay, and Balgriffin Road becomes Moyne Road as it approaches the coast.Religion
St. Doulagh's Church, Balgriffin serves AnglicanChurch of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
parishioners since the Reformation in Ireland
Reformation in Ireland
The Reformation in Ireland was a movement for the reform of religious life and institutions that was introduced into Ireland by the English administration at the behest of King Henry VIII of England. His desire for an annulment of his marriage was known as the King's Great Matter...
.
Holy Trinity Church serves Roman Catholic parishioners of Donaghmede Parish since its inception in 1974; the parish is today known as Holy Trinity Parish and serves Donaghmede including Clongriffin, and Balgriffin. Additionally, with the growth of population as the Belmayne housing development was populated, Balgriffin Mass Centre was opened, operating from the information centre on Belmayne Avenue.
Sources
- Bond, A. and Mabin, N., Article drawn from "Saints of the British Isles"
- Jones, Kathleen, Saint Samson of Caldey Isl, Wales & Dol Isl, Brittany (Catholic Ireland Net)
- Hudleston, G. Roger, Saint Samson (Catholic Encyclopedia)