Newcastle, Dublin facts for kids
Newcastle (Irish: An Caisleán Nua) is a small village in the southwest part of South Dublin county, Ireland. It's also known as a civil parish and has a barony named after it. Long ago, it was home to the castle of this barony, and in old documents, it was called Newcastle-Lyons. Even today, the area around Newcastle is mostly countryside. The village is managed by the South Dublin County Council.
Contents
A Look Back: Newcastle's History
- Further information: Newcastle (County Dublin barony)
People have lived in the Newcastle area for a very long time. We know this because there are old sites like ringforts (circular forts), fulacht fiadh (ancient cooking sites), and tower houses (strong stone houses) in nearby areas like Newcastle Farm and Ballynakelly. Near St Finian's church, there's a raised mound called a motte. This mound was built around the 12th century when the Normans arrived in Ireland.
Newcastle's Parliament History
From 1613 to 1801, Newcastle was a special area that could elect two people to the Irish House of Commons. This was like sending representatives to a parliament. However, after 1800, this right was taken away by the Acts of Union 1800, which joined Ireland with Great Britain.
Religious Changes and New Churches
For many years, there were strict rules in Ireland called the Penal Laws. These laws made it hard for Catholics to practice their religion freely. Slowly, these laws became less strict, and by 1793, the Irish Parliament passed a law that gave Catholics more rights.
Later, in 1829, a very important law called the Catholic Relief Act was signed. This law gave Catholics full freedom to practice their religion. This happened after a strong campaign led by Daniel O'Connell, who was known as 'the Liberator'.
Because of these changes, the Catholic community in Newcastle was able to build a new church in the 1830s. The older church building, St Finian's church, continued to be used by the Church of Ireland. This church has an old tower that was once part of a castle, built in the late 14th century. The beautiful stained glass window at the front of St Finian's church is a special symbol for Newcastle village. You can even see it on the crest of Saint Finian's National School!
Where is Newcastle and How Many People Live There?
Newcastle-Lyons is located where two regional roads, the R120 and the R405, meet. It's about 3 kilometers north of the N7 road near Rathcoole. It's also about 6 kilometers southeast of Celbridge and 9 kilometers west of Tallaght.
The village is west of Casement Aerodrome (Baldonnell), which is the main base for the Irish Air Corps. In Newcastle, you'll find a local pub and two churches. Peamount Hospital, which cares for people long-term, is about 2 kilometers north of the village center.
In 2001, about 1,160 people lived in Newcastle village. But the area has grown a lot since then! By 2022, the population had almost quadrupled to 4,526 people. This growth includes new housing areas like Graydon, which is just off the village's main street.
Getting Around: Transport in Newcastle
Newcastle-Lyons has good transport links. You can take the number 68 bus to get to the city center. If you prefer trains, the nearby Hazelhatch and Celbridge train station connects the village to the rail network.
There's also a bus service called W6. This bus connects Newcastle to several other places, including Hazelhatch, Celbridge, Maynooth, Saggart, Citywest, and The Square shopping center in Tallaght.
Sports in Newcastle
Newcastle-Lyons is a lively place for sports!
Gaelic Games
The village is home to St Finian's Newcastle GAA club (Irish: CLG Naomh Finnéin). This club was started in 1943. Just a few years later, in 1949, the club won the Dublin Intermediate Championship, which was a great achievement!
Football (Soccer)
The association football (soccer) club, Peamount United F.C., is also based in the area. It was founded in 1983 and has its own special facility in Greenogue, Newcastle.
Peamount United's ladies' team made history in the 2011–12 season. They became the first Irish club to qualify for the UEFA Women's Champions League, which is a huge competition for women's football in Europe! The men's adult team plays in the Senior 1 division of the Leinster Senior League, and the ladies' team plays in the Women's National League.
Golf
If you like golf, Elm Hall Golf Club is located near Newcastle at Hazelhatch. It has two 18-hole pitch and putt courses, which are great for practicing your short game.
