South Dublin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids South Dublin Átha Cliath Theas
County
Coat of arms
Motto(s):  This We Hold in Trust Irish: Ag Seo Ár gCúram
Inset showing South Dublin (darkest green in inset) within Dublin Region (lighter green)
Country	Ireland
Province	Leinster
Region	Eastern and Midland
Established	1994
County town	Tallaght
Area
• Total	222.74 km2 (86.00 sq mi)
Highest elevation (Kippure)	757 m (2,484 ft)
Population
• Total	301,075
• Density	1,351.69/km2 (3,500.86/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC±0 (WET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+1 (IST)
Vehicle index mark code	D

South Dublin (in Irish: Átha Cliath Theas) is a special area in Ireland. It is one of the three counties that used to be part of County Dublin. This change happened in 1994.

South Dublin County Council is the local government for the area. This county has both busy city areas and quiet mountains. In 2022, about 301,705 people lived here. This makes it the fourth largest county in Ireland by population.

Where is South Dublin Located?

South Dublin covers about 223 square kilometers. It is the second biggest of the four local government areas in Dublin.

It shares borders with Dublin City to the northeast. The River Liffey separates it from Fingal to the north. To the east, it borders Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown. County Kildare is to the west. Its hills meet the mountains of County Wicklow in the south.

Main Towns and Villages

The main town in South Dublin is Tallaght. Other important places are Lucan and Clondalkin. Many parts of the county are busy city areas. But there are also small villages in the south and west.

South Dublin's population grew from 278,767 in 2016 to 301,075 in 2022. This information comes from the latest census.

Important Places in South Dublin

The County Council groups towns and villages into three types. These are towns, district centers, and local centers.

• Towns and District Centres:
  • Tallaght: This is the main town. It has The Square Shopping Centre, which opened in 1990.
  • Clondalkin: This area is growing as a town center.
  • Lucan: This area includes the Liffey Valley Centre. The new Adamstown area is also part of Lucan.
  • There are plans to create a new town center near the Liffey Valley Centre.

• Local Centres:
  • City Suburbs: These include places like Rathfarnham, Ballyroan, Palmerstown, Terenure, Templeogue, Knocklyon, Firhouse, Ballycullen, and Greenhills.
  • Villages: Some villages are Rathcoole, Newcastle, and Saggart.
  • New Neighbourhoods: These are newer areas. They include Kilnamanagh, Ballyowen, Finnstown, and Adamstown.

Residential Areas in South Dublin

• Adamstown
• Ballyboden
• Ballyroan
• Belgard
• Clondalkin
• Edmondstown
• Firhouse
• Greenhills
• Jobstown
• Kingswood
• Kilnamanagh
• Knocklyon
• Lucan
• Newcastle
• Palmerstown
• Rathcoole
• Rathfarnham
• Rockbrook
• Ronanstown
• Saggart
• Tallaght
• Templeogue
• Walkinstown, the very south part

How the Name "County" is Used

Signposted boundary between Dublin City and South Dublin County on the Naas Road in Inchicore

In Ireland, we usually say "County" before the name. For example, "County Clare." But for counties created after 1994, like South Dublin, people often just say "South Dublin." Sometimes they say "South Dublin County."

The official name for the area is simply "South Dublin."

A Brief History of South Dublin

In 1985, the original County Dublin was divided into three areas. These were Dublin–Fingal, Dublin–Belgard, and Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown.

In 1991, the Dublin–Belgard area was renamed South Dublin. The name "Belgard" was an old name for a fortress in the area. But it was changed to avoid confusion with new developments in Tallaght.

On January 1, 1994, County Dublin officially stopped existing. It was replaced by three new counties: Fingal, Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown, and South Dublin. The borders of South Dublin were set in 1993. This was done to fit the M50 motorway.

People and Cultures

South Dublin is home to many different people. In 2016, a lot of people living here came from other countries.

• United Kingdom: 9,159 people
• Poland: 7,988 people
• Romania: 3,235 people
• Lithuania: 2,726 people
• Nigeria: 2,644 people
• India: 2,620 people
• Pakistan: 1,499 people
• Philippines: 1,434 people
• China: 999 people
• Latvia: 971 people

Symbols of South Dublin

The official symbol, or crest, for South Dublin has a special message. It says "This We Hold In Trust" in both English and Irish. The crest also shows things that are important to the area's history, nature, and modern buildings.

Sports in South Dublin

South Dublin is a great place for sports.

• The League of Ireland football club Shamrock Rovers plays at Tallaght Stadium. This stadium has hosted important football finals.
• The National Basketball Arena in Tallaght is where Ireland's national basketball teams play. It also hosts many national cup and league games.

Twinning with Other Places

South Dublin has a special connection with another place. It is "twinned" with the London Borough of Brent in the United Kingdom. This means they have a friendly relationship and often share ideas.

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Dublín Sur para niños