Oldtown, Dublin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Oldtown
Irish: An tSeanbhaile
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Village
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 Oldtown
Location in Ireland
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| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Leinster |
| County | Fingal |
| Elevation | 63 m (207 ft) |
| Population
(2022)
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| • Urban | 523 |
| Time zone | UTC+0 (WET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-1 (IST (WEST)) |
| Eircode (Routing Key) |
A45
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| Irish Grid Reference | O115540 |
Oldtown (which is An tSeanbhaile in Irish) is a small village and area in Fingal, County Dublin, Ireland. It's located in the Clonmethan area. A road called the R122 goes through Oldtown. This road connects places like Balbriggan and Naul to St Margaret's and Dublin Airport.
Contents
Exploring Oldtown's Landscape
Oldtown is in a "Low-Lying Agricultural" area. This means the land is mostly flat and used for farming. You'll see big fields where farmers grow crops and raise animals. There aren't many large groups of trees or big towns nearby.
The village sits in a small valley. A little river called 'The Daws River' flows through it. The land around Oldtown is mainly used for farming. The local council works to protect this farming land and its natural beauty.
A Look Back at Oldtown's History
Oldtown is known as a "chapel village." This means it grew up around a church. After the Catholic Church became more accepted in the late 1700s, many chapels were built.
How the Village Grew Around the Chapel
The first chapel in Oldtown was built in 1827. It became the main spot in the village. Soon, other important places like the national school, a community hall, the priest's house, a shop, a pub, and a forge (a place where metal is shaped) were built nearby. Villages that grew this way, linked to the Catholic Church, are called "chapel villages."
In 1841, Oldtown had 156 people living in 27 houses. But after the terrible Great Famine around 1848, the population dropped a lot. By 1851, only 32 people lived in the village.
Molly Weston: A Local Hero
Molly Weston was a brave woman born near Oldtown. She was a hero of the 1798 rebellion, which was a fight for Irish freedom. She fought alongside her three brothers at a battle in Tara.
People remember Molly for her courage. She wore a green riding outfit with gold trim and a green hat with a white feather. She carried a sword and pistols. Molly rode a white horse into battle, encouraging the fighters and leading them against the enemy. She even fired a large gun captured from the enemy, which helped her side. Molly and her four brothers sadly died at the Battle of Tara. A memorial was put up in Oldtown in 1998 to honor her.
Bringing Electricity to Oldtown
Oldtown was the very first town in Ireland to get electricity as part of a big plan called the rural electrification scheme. This plan was run by the Electricity Supply Board (ESB) from 1946 to 1979. The first electricity pole was put up in November 1946 in Kilsallaghan. Then, in January 1947, the electricity was officially switched on in Oldtown itself!
Fifty years later, in 1997, the village celebrated this special event. The ESB even hosted a dinner for families who had lived in the area since 1946.
The Big Snowstorm of 1981/1982
In the winter of 1981 and 1982, a huge snowstorm hit Oldtown. The village was completely cut off for five days! The Air Corps (Ireland's air force) had to fly in supplies like food and medicine by helicopter to help the villagers.
Oldtown's Modern Look
The main part of Oldtown has a mix of old and new buildings. You can see two-story stone houses from the 1800s, along with single-story cottages and bungalows. There are also newer stone houses built in rows.
A redeveloped thatched cottage (a house with a roof made of straw) and the Oldtown Local Hall, a community building, add to the village's unique feel. The areas around the village mostly have newer, spread-out homes. Shamrock Park is a small group of council houses to the south.
The local Catholic church, Our Lady Queen of Peace, and the priest's house are located south of the village center.
Services and Fun in Oldtown
Oldtown has several helpful places for its residents.
Local Businesses and Community Spots
For businesses, Oldtown has a pub called The Oldtown House. There's also a place where animals can get medical care, called a veterinary surgery.
The village has many community facilities. These include the local primary school and the Catholic Church. There's also the Oldtown Local Hall for community events. If you like horses, there's a horse riding stable too. The County Council's mobile library visits Oldtown every week, bringing books to everyone.
The Oldtown Health and Care Centre is a special facility. It provides full-time care for people with disabilities. It also has a community health center where different health services are available.
Sports and Activities
Oldtown has a large playing field right in the middle of the village. This is the home of the Wild Geese GAA club. This club was started in 1888, making it one of the oldest Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) clubs in Dublin!
The Wild Geese club has had success in sports. In 2009, their junior football team won the Junior 'E' Dublin football championship. The club has teams for younger players, two adult men's teams, and a camogie team (a sport similar to hurling, played by women).
The playing field also has an indoor handball alley. Many former world champions in handball come from Oldtown! The alley is also used for racquetball.
