Swords, County Dublin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Swords
Irish: Sord / Sord Cholmcille
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Suburban town
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Clockwise from top: Main Street, Swords; Ward River Valley Park; interior of Swords Pavilions
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 Swords, County Dublin
Location in Dublin
Swords, County Dublin
Location in Ireland
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| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Leinster |
| Region | Eastern and Midland |
| County | County Dublin |
| Local government area | Fingal |
| Founded | 560 |
| County town | 1994 |
| Founded by | St Colmcille |
| Named for | (possibly) St Colmcille's Well |
| County Hall | Main Street, Swords |
| Electoral divisions |
List
Swords–Lissenhall
Swords–Glasmore Swords–Forrest Swords Village Swords–Seatown Swords–Manor Holy well Applewood Brackenstown Cloghran Airport |
| Government | |
| • Type | Local authority |
| • Body | Fingal County Council |
| Area | |
| • Urban | 11.35 km2 (4.38 sq mi) |
| • Metro | 15.99 km2 (6.17 sq mi) |
| Source: CSO Sapmap Viewer | |
| Highest elevation | 60 m (200 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Population
(2022)
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| • Rank | 8th |
| • Urban | 40,776 |
| • Urban density | 3,615/km2 (9,360/sq mi) |
| Ethnic or cultural background | |
| • White Irish | 30,946 |
| • White Other | 7,089 |
| • Asian or Asian Irish | 1,169 |
| • Black or Black Irish | 1,142 |
| • White Irish Traveller | 96 |
| Time zone | UTC0 (WET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+1 (WEST) |
| Postal Hub |
K67
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| Postal Sorting Office |
SWORDS
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| Dialing Code | +353(0)1 |
| Geocode | O184469 |
| ISO 3166 code | IE-D |
| Vehicle registration | D |
| Website | Swords on fingal.ie |
Swords (in Irish: Sord or Sord Cholmcille) is a large suburban town in County Dublin, Ireland. It is located about 10 kilometres north of Dublin's city centre. Swords is the county town of Fingal, which is the local government area. In 2022, it was the eighth-largest town in Ireland, with over 40,000 people living there.
The town was founded a very long time ago, around the year 560. It is home to many historic sites, including the restored Swords Castle, a holy well, a round tower, and a Norman tower. Modern facilities include the Pavilions shopping centre, the main archive for the National Museum of Ireland, and several parks. Dublin Airport is also very close to Swords.
Contents
History of Swords
How Swords Got Its Name
The story of Swords begins in 560 AD with Saint Colmcille. Legend says that the saint blessed a local well, which gave the town its name, Sord, meaning "clear" or "pure." The name could also mean "the water source," pointing to a large well used by the community long ago. St. Colmcille's Well can still be found on Well Road. The town's circular street pattern is a clue to its origins as an early Christian settlement.
Growth Through the Ages
In medieval times, Swords grew along its Main Street. A 26-metre-high round tower, which still stands today, is another sign of its early Christian history. It is said that the High King of Ireland, Brian Boru, was mourned here after the Battle of Clontarf in 1014.
At the north end of the town is Swords Castle, built in the early 1200s. For a long time, the castle was the home of the Archbishop of Dublin.
In 1994, Swords became the county town of the new county of Fingal. This happened after County Dublin was divided into smaller administrative areas. In 2001, the main offices of the Fingal County Council moved to the new County Hall in Swords.
A Vision for the Future
Fingal County Council has a "Strategic Vision" for Swords to become a sustainable "new city." The council has called Swords an "emerging city" and expects its population to grow to 100,000 by 2035.
The council also planned the Swords Cultural Quarter to redevelop the area around the castle. This project includes a new Cultural Centre with a library, art gallery, and theatre. Construction on the centre began in February 2025 and was expected to be finished in early 2027.
A Great Place to Live
In 2012, Swords was named the third-best town to live in Ireland. The town has been praised for its safety, shopping, and attractive appearance. Since the 1990s, many buildings and public spaces have been improved, and Swords Castle has been restored.
Swords has also been recognised for being very clean. In 2011, an Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) survey called it the second cleanest town in Ireland. By 2019, it was described as "a model for others to follow."
Geography and Landscape
Swords is located in the middle of Fingal county. The Ward River flows from the west, through the town centre, and into the Broadmeadow River. The Broadmeadow River runs along the north of the town and flows into a wide estuary before reaching the Irish Sea.
The town is surrounded by a protected green belt of land. This means that new buildings cannot be constructed in these areas. This helps to preserve the natural landscape. To the north and west of Swords, there is mostly flat farmland.
Climate in Swords
Like the rest of Ireland, Swords has a mild and rainy climate. The warmest months are June, July, and August, with temperatures between 17 and 20 degrees Celsius. It rains all year, but the wettest months are usually from October to January.
| Climate data for Swords (Dublin Airport) (1981–2010 averages) | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 16.5 (61.7) |
16.2 (61.2) |
17.2 (63.0) |
20.5 (68.9) |
23.5 (74.3) |
25.7 (78.3) |
27.6 (81.7) |
28.7 (83.7) |
24.6 (76.3) |
21.0 (69.8) |
18.0 (64.4) |
16.2 (61.2) |
28.7 (83.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 8.1 (46.6) |
8.3 (46.9) |
10.2 (50.4) |
12.1 (53.8) |
14.8 (58.6) |
17.6 (63.7) |
19.5 (67.1) |
19.2 (66.6) |
17.0 (62.6) |
13.6 (56.5) |
10.3 (50.5) |
8.3 (46.9) |
13.3 (55.9) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 5.3 (41.5) |
5.3 (41.5) |
6.8 (44.2) |
8.3 (46.9) |
10.9 (51.6) |
13.6 (56.5) |
15.6 (60.1) |
15.3 (59.5) |
13.4 (56.1) |
10.5 (50.9) |
7.4 (45.3) |
5.6 (42.1) |
9.8 (49.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 2.4 (36.3) |
2.3 (36.1) |
3.4 (38.1) |
4.6 (40.3) |
6.9 (44.4) |
9.6 (49.3) |
11.7 (53.1) |
11.5 (52.7) |
9.8 (49.6) |
7.3 (45.1) |
4.5 (40.1) |
2.8 (37.0) |
6.4 (43.5) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −9.5 (14.9) |
−6.7 (19.9) |
−7.9 (17.8) |
−4.0 (24.8) |
−1.6 (29.1) |
2.1 (35.8) |
4.6 (40.3) |
2.4 (36.3) |
1.2 (34.2) |
−3.3 (26.1) |
−8.4 (16.9) |
−12.2 (10.0) |
−12.2 (10.0) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 62.6 (2.46) |
48.8 (1.92) |
52.7 (2.07) |
54.1 (2.13) |
59.5 (2.34) |
66.7 (2.63) |
56.2 (2.21) |
73.3 (2.89) |
59.5 (2.34) |
79.0 (3.11) |
72.9 (2.87) |
72.7 (2.86) |
758.0 (29.84) |
| Average rainy days | 17 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 191 |
| Average snowy days | 4.6 | 4.2 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 2.9 | 16.6 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 80.6 | 75.7 | 71.0 | 68.3 | 68.0 | 68.3 | 69.0 | 69.3 | 71.5 | 75.1 | 80.3 | 83.1 | 73.3 |
| Mean daily sunshine hours | 1.9 | 2.7 | 3.5 | 5.3 | 6.2 | 5.8 | 5.3 | 5.1 | 4.3 | 3.3 | 2.4 | 1.7 | 3.9 |
| Source: Met Éireann | |||||||||||||
Getting Around Swords
Roads and Buses
Swords is well-connected by road. The M1 motorway runs along the east side of the town, linking it to Dublin and Belfast. The M50 motorway is to the south and connects to all other major roads out of Dublin.
Many bus services run through Swords. Dublin Bus and Go-Ahead Ireland routes connect the town to Dublin city centre and other nearby areas like Malahide and Donabate. Swords Express buses use the Dublin Port Tunnel for a faster journey to the city, taking about 35 minutes.
Rail and Metro
Currently, Swords does not have a train station. The nearest stations are in Malahide and Donabate.
However, there are plans for a new light rail line called MetroLink. This line would connect Swords to Dublin city centre, passing through Dublin Airport. In 2025, construction was planned to begin on the project, with hopes for it to be running by 2035.
Dublin Airport
Dublin Airport, Ireland's busiest airport, is just south of Swords. It offers flights to countries all over the world. The airport is a major employer for people living in Swords and the surrounding area.
Historic Places to Visit
Swords is full of history. Here are some of the most interesting sites.
Swords Castle
Built around 1200, Swords Castle was the home of the first Archbishop of Dublin. It was not a strong military fortress but a large, walled home. The castle covers an area of nearly 1.5 acres. Today, after being restored, it is open to visitors and has even been used as a filming location for the TV series The Tudors.
St. Colmcille's Well
This is the well that is said to have given Swords its name. St. Colmcille blessed the well of clear water, or Sord in Irish. It is located on Well Road in a locked chamber.
St. Columba's Church and Round Tower
The round tower is all that is left of St. Colmcille's original monastery. The nearby belfry (bell tower) dates from around 1300. The current church was built in 1811 on the site of an older medieval church. It is said that the body of Brian Boru was brought here after the Battle of Clontarf in 1014.
Other Historic Buildings
- Old Borough School: Located on Main Street, this historic school building is now a public house called The Old Borough.
- St. Colmcille's Catholic Church: Built in 1827 on Chapel Lane, this church is a beautiful example of pre-Catholic emancipation architecture.
- Courthouse: This classical-style building on North Street was built in 1845.
- Fingal County Hall: The modern home of the county council, built on the site of Swords House, which was the home of the Taylor family for centuries.
Parks and Leisure
Ward River Valley Park
This large park, known locally as "The Jacko," covers 89 hectares along the Ward River. It has woodlands, wetlands, sports pitches, and picnic areas. It is a great place for walking and enjoying nature.
Swords Town Park
Located in the town centre, this park includes tennis courts, a playground, and the historic Swords Castle. It is a popular spot for families and visitors.
Balheary Park
This park is north of the town centre and has sports pitches used by the Fingallians GAA club. It also features a popular skatepark and basketball courts.
Sports in Swords
Swords has a lively sports scene with clubs for all ages.
- GAA: There are three main Gaelic Athletic Association clubs: Fingallians, St. Finian's, and St Colmcille's.
- Soccer: Local soccer clubs include Swords Celtic, Swords Manor FC, and River Valley Rangers AFC.
- Rugby: Swords RFC is a rugby union team that plays in the Leinster League.
- Boxing: Swords Boxing Club and Fingal Boxing Academy are both located in the town. Fingal Boxing Academy was the first in Ireland to train female boxers.
- Golf: There are several golf courses and driving ranges near Swords, including Swords Open Golf Course and Forrest Little Golf Club.
Economy and Business
Swords has a strong economy with many businesses providing jobs.
Business and Retail
The Airside Retail and Business Park is a major centre for employment. It is home to the headquarters of companies like Ryanair and Kellogg's. The Pavilions Swords is a large shopping centre with many shops, restaurants, and a cinema.
Aviation and Logistics
Being close to Dublin Airport is very important for the town's economy. The airport and airlines like Aer Lingus and Ryanair employ thousands of people.
In 2007, Tesco Ireland opened a huge distribution centre near Swords. It is one of the largest buildings in the world and supplies over 100 Tesco stores across Ireland.
Food and Pharmaceuticals
Swords is home to several large pharmaceutical companies, such as Merck Sharp & Dohme and Bristol Myers Squibb.
The area is also a centre for food production. The Keeling's Group grows thousands of tonnes of fruit and vegetables in and around Swords. Total Produce, another large agribusiness, also has facilities in the town.
Education in Swords
Swords has many schools for children of all ages.
- Primary Schools: There are over 10 primary schools, including gaelscoils (Irish-language schools), Educate Together schools, and both Catholic and Church of Ireland national schools.
- Secondary Schools: The town is served by five secondary schools: Loreto College, Coláiste Choilm C.B.S., Fingal Community College, St. Finian's Community College, and Swords Community College.
- Further Education: There are also several centres for adult education and training, such as the National Learning Network and Fingal Adult Education Service.
Notable People from Swords
Many famous people have connections to Swords.
- Saint Colmcille - The founder of the town.
- Ronan Keating - A famous singer-songwriter who lived in Swords.
- Kodaline - A popular rock band whose members are from Swords.
- Ed Byrne - A well-known comedian who grew up in Swords.
- Paul Flynn - A star player for the Dublin and Fingallians GAA teams.
- Richard Montgomery - A general in the American Revolutionary War who was born in Swords.
Images for kids
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A Credit Union on North Street
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St. Columcille's Court, Swords
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Swords Town Park, with Ward River on left
See also
In Spanish: Swords para niños
