Garristown, Dublin
Encyclopedia
Garristown is a village in the rural part of Fingal
, in the north western corner of the former County Dublin
, Ireland
. It is located in hilly country, sloping down from west to east, with views towards the hills around the Naul
. The village centre is 120m above sea level.
, and around 7 km north east from Ashbourne
. It formerly neighboured two other settlements, Baldwinstown and Ballymadun.
church.
Garristown’s current street formation has not changed much since the Rocques map of County Dublin (ca. 1746). In 1837, the village had a population of 741, and the surrounding civil parish 2,801. There was a police station, a dispensary, a windmill and churches of both the Church of Ireland (with a ruined residence constructed in 1791) and the Roman Catholic Church (built in 1828), along with one national school for boys and two private schools. There were three fairs a year, and the area had natural resources in the form of stone and peat.
A new Roman Catholic church, the Church of Assumption, was dedicated on 10 June 1906.
Other amenities include a primary school and a community centre, which was a secondary school, Garristown VEC, which, after closure, was acquired by the community council, and converted into the multi-purpose hall and ancillary facilities. This centre is used by sub-groups of the community council, by local band "Loft Pioneer"( Who play many shows in Dublin City ) and by the local branch of the Irish Countrywomens Association, local scout groups (the 76th Garristown) and the youth club.
Other key buildings include the Church of the Assumption and the former Church of Ireland and cemetery. The base of the windmill also survives.
There is a bottle bank near the entrance to the old church yard opposite the butchers shop.
and is in the Dublin North Dáil Constituency.
The village has been considered for further development, and in 2005, the County Council adopted an Urban Design Framework for an area immediately to the east of the village.
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...
, in the north western corner of the former County Dublin
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,...
. It is located in hilly country, sloping down from west to east, with views towards the hills around the Naul
Naul
Naul may refer to:*Naul, Dublin, a village in north County Dublin, Ireland*Naul, County Armagh, a townland in County Armagh, Northern Ireland*The Nauls, a Pakistani tribe*Naul, a Korean soul singer...
. The village centre is 120m above sea level.
Location
Garristown is 25 km north west of Dublin, 18 km from SwordsSwords, Dublin
Swords is the county town of Fingal in Ireland. It is about 13 km north of Dublin city centre and is part of its commuter belt.- History :...
, and around 7 km north east from Ashbourne
Ashbourne, County Meath
Ashbourne, historically called Killeglan or Kildeglan , is a town in County Meath, Ireland. It is about 20 km north of Dublin city centre and is bypassed by the M2 motorway.-History:...
. It formerly neighboured two other settlements, Baldwinstown and Ballymadun.
History
Records from 1200 show John, Archbishop of Dublin, granting the church at Garristown to the priory of Lanthony. By 1607, features included a windmill at Holtrass hill and two other mills, with 326 acres (1.3 km²) of land within the townland. The village is also recorded in the Down Survey (1654). The medieval church was later replaced by a Church of IrelandChurch 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...
church.
Garristown’s current street formation has not changed much since the Rocques map of County Dublin (ca. 1746). In 1837, the village had a population of 741, and the surrounding civil parish 2,801. There was a police station, a dispensary, a windmill and churches of both the Church of Ireland (with a ruined residence constructed in 1791) and the Roman Catholic Church (built in 1828), along with one national school for boys and two private schools. There were three fairs a year, and the area had natural resources in the form of stone and peat.
A new Roman Catholic church, the Church of Assumption, was dedicated on 10 June 1906.
The village today
The main street of Garristown runs north to south, with a tree-lined mall on the western side, and the central area where Main Street meets the Naul Road. The population today is under 400 persons, and there is an active Community Council. The police barracks in the centre of the village dates from the 19th century, and the Carnegie Library, still operational, from the early 20th century. The library was renovated in the 2000s.Other amenities include a primary school and a community centre, which was a secondary school, Garristown VEC, which, after closure, was acquired by the community council, and converted into the multi-purpose hall and ancillary facilities. This centre is used by sub-groups of the community council, by local band "Loft Pioneer"( Who play many shows in Dublin City ) and by the local branch of the Irish Countrywomens Association, local scout groups (the 76th Garristown) and the youth club.
Other key buildings include the Church of the Assumption and the former Church of Ireland and cemetery. The base of the windmill also survives.
There is a bottle bank near the entrance to the old church yard opposite the butchers shop.
Sport
The local GAA club, Garristown GFC, has its grounds to the east. It has 11 teams and a new clubhouse and the recent development of the pitch has made it one of the best pitches in Dublin. Other local groups include Garristown Gun Club and Garristown Historical Society and the Arena Airsoft Club.Business
There are two public houses, a butchers shop, small supermarket, hair dressing salon and a service station.Politics
Garristown is in the jurisdiction of Fingal County CouncilFingal 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...
and is in the Dublin North Dáil Constituency.
The village has been considered for further development, and in 2005, the County Council adopted an Urban Design Framework for an area immediately to the east of the village.
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland