Bluebell, Dublin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bluebell An Cloigín Gorm
Suburb
7th Lock on the Grand Canal in Bluebell, Dublin 12
Bluebell Location in Ireland
Country	Ireland
Province	Leinster
County	County Dublin
Dáil Éireann	Dublin South-Central
Elevation	40 m (130 ft)
Postal district(s)	Dublin 12
Irish Grid Reference	O104328

Bluebell (Irish: An Cloigín Gorm) is a small suburb in Dublin, Ireland. It is about 6 kilometres southwest of Dublin city centre. Bluebell is located near the Grand Canal and the Camac River, which flows into the Liffey. It shares borders with areas like Ballyfermot, Walkinstown, Drimnagh, Inchicore, and Clondalkin.

Bluebell is part of the Dublin South-Central Dáil constituency. The local government for the area is Dublin City Council. Bluebell's postal code is Dublin 12.

History of Bluebell

Early Days and Farming

The name Bluebell has been around for a long time. Records from 1254 mention a cemetery and church ruins in Bluebell. At that time, the people living here were likely connected to the Barnewall family's Drimnagh Castle estate. Bluebell was part of the larger Civil Parish of Clondalkin.

Until the 1950s, Bluebell was mostly a farming area. It had many market gardens, which grew fresh produce for sale. It was considered to be on the edge of Dublin city.

Growth and Industry

After World War II, Dublin Corporation, which was the city's local government, started building new homes in Bluebell. This was part of a big plan to provide housing after the war. Many young families moved into the area, making it grow quickly.

Over time, more industries came to Bluebell. Paper mills were among the first, using water from the Camac River for their operations. Later, other companies like Lambs, Roadstone, Nugget, McInerneys, Fiat, and Volkswagen also set up businesses here. This brought many jobs to the area.

What's in Bluebell?

Local Services and Shops

Bluebell has a local post office on La Touche Road. The main church is the Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Wayside. It is a large building located on the Old Naas Road, right next to the Bluebell Luas tram stop.

For young people, the 91st Dublin Scout Den is active. It serves both Bluebell and the nearby area of Inchicore. The scouts meet at the Oblates Fathers facility in Inchicore. Bluebell has one pub, called the Cottage Inn, on Bluebell Avenue. There are no big supermarkets or large shopping centres in Bluebell. However, you can find smaller shops like newsagents, hairdressers, and fast food places. These are mostly found on the Old Naas Road, close to the church.

Schools in Bluebell

Bluebell has two primary schools. One is Our Lady of the Wayside, which opened in 1960 and is on Bluebell Road. The other is St Cillian's National School.

Landmarks and Special Places

Bluebell Cemetery

One of the most important landmarks in Bluebell is its cemetery. Many people visit it to see friends and relatives who are buried there. Inside the cemetery, you can also find the ruins of a medieval church, which shows how old the area is.

Bluebells for Bluebell Project

In 2008, a local artist and gardener named Fiann Ó Nualláin started a special project. It was called 'Bluebells for Bluebell'. The idea was to encourage local people to plant native Irish bluebells in their area. This project was supported by the railway agency and Dublin City Council.

Thanks to this project, thousands of native Irish bluebells have been planted. You can see them in the grassy areas and public spaces around Bluebell. The most famous spot is the name stone green, which faces the Luas stop. It has been turned into a small urban woodland just for bluebells. It's a beautiful sight, especially around Easter when the bluebells are all in bloom.

Buildings and Location

Most of the buildings in Bluebell are homes built in the mid-20th century. They are usually made of deep red brick. The local Catholic church stands out because it is built in an Italian style. It uses a lighter shade of red brick, which looks different from the darker red bricks of the houses and shops around it.

Bluebell is also located close to the start of the Naas dual carriageway, a major road. The area also borders the Grand Canal, which is a historic waterway.

Some people suggest that a better Irish name for the area might be Choinnle Corra. This means "Bluebell Flower" in Irish. The current Irish name, An Cloigín Gorm, means "small blue bell". Historical records do not show any evidence of a coloured bell in the area.

How Bluebell is Run

Bluebell is part of Dublin City Council. When people vote in local government elections, Bluebell is part of the Ballyfermot-Drimnagh Ward. For national elections, Bluebell is in the Dublin South-Central Dáil constituency.

Famous People from Bluebell

The well-known Irish traditional music group, The Wolfe Tones, started in Bluebell. Also, Joseph Traynor (1900-1920), who was killed on Bloody Sunday at Croke Park, is buried in Bluebell Cemetery.