Swords, 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, Dublin
Location in Dublin
Swords, 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 (Irish: Sord [sˠoːɾˠd̪ˠ] or Sord Cholmcille) is a large town in County Dublin, Ireland. It is the main town of the Fingal area. Swords is located about 10 kilometres north of Dublin city centre. It is the eighth largest urban area in Ireland. In 2022, its population was 40,776 people.
The town was founded around the year 560 AD. Swords is on the Ward River. It has a restored medieval castle called Swords Castle. There is also a holy well that gave the town its name. Other features include a round tower and a Norman tower. Swords has a big shopping centre called Pavilions. It also has offices, some light industries, and parks. Dublin Airport is very close by.
The name "Swords" is used for a local area called Swords Demesne. It is also the name of a civil parish and a local voting area.
Contents
Discover Swords' Past
How Swords Began
Swords started around 560 AD. It was supposedly founded by Saint Colmcille (521–567). A story says the saint blessed a local well. This well gave the town its name, Sord. This word means "clear" or "pure" in Irish. However, An Sord can also mean "the water source". This might mean there was a large public well long ago. St. Colmcille's Well is still on Well Road today. The town's old streets show a circular pattern. This suggests it was an early Christian settlement.
Swords Through the Ages
The town grew along Main Street, running north to south. A tall round tower, 26 metres high, shows it was an early Christian site. The Irish high king Brian Boru is said to have had a special church service here. This was after he died in the Battle of Clontarf.
In medieval times, the land of Swords belonged to the English Crown. It was usually given to each Archbishop of Dublin to use during their lifetime.
Swords used to elect two members to the Irish Parliament. But this stopped in 1801.
Swords Castle stands at the northern end of Main Street. It was built in the early 13th century. A short distance north of the castle is Spittal Hill. A hospital once stood there.
In 1994, Swords became the main town of the new county of Fingal. This happened after County Dublin was divided. In 2001, the main county offices moved to Swords.
In 2006, the RNLI opened its Ireland headquarters in Swords. The National Museum of Ireland also has a large storage and research centre here. It is as big as two football fields.
Future Plans for Swords
Fingal County Council wants Swords to become a "new city." They call it an "emerging city." They think the population could reach 100,000 by 2035. Swords is currently the eighth-largest urban area in Ireland.
A plan called the Swords Cultural Quarter Masterplan aims to improve the area around the castle. They want to build a new Cultural Centre. Work on this centre started in April 2023. It will include a new library, art gallery, theatre, and café. During the work, two medieval wells were found. They were carefully removed to be displayed later.
Living in Swords
In 2012, Swords was ranked the third-best town to live in Ireland. This survey looked at safety, shops, restaurants, and how attractive the town was. Swords Castle and other areas have been improved since the 1990s. Families in Swords have some of the highest incomes in Ireland.
A 2011 survey said Swords was the second cleanest town in Ireland. This was a big change from eight years before. Back then, it was called the worst "litter blackspot." In 2019, the survey praised Swords as a "model for others to follow."
Swords' Location and Layout
Natural Landscape
Swords is in the middle of Fingal county. The Ward River flows through the town. It then joins the Broadmeadow River. The Broadmeadow River flows into the wide Broadmeadow Estuary. This estuary then goes into the Irish Sea. Swords is surrounded by a protected green belt. Dublin Airport stops the town from growing further south. The estuary limits growth to the east. To the north and west are flat farmlands.
Town Areas
The main shopping area is in the town centre. It includes the wide, tree-lined Main Street. It also has the Pavilions and Swords Central shopping centres. Most public services are in this central area.
The western part of Swords is mostly homes. Neighbourhoods like Applewood, Rathbeale, and Brackenstown are north of the Ward River. Knocksedan, River Valley, and Boroimhe are south of the river.
Business and industrial areas are east of the town centre. These include Airside Business Park. These areas separate the town centre from eastern neighbourhoods like Seatown and Holywell. The Central Statistics Office sees these eastern areas as a separate town called "Kinsealy–Drinan."
Weather in Swords
Swords has a mild and changing climate. It gets a lot of rain but no extreme temperatures. The warmest months are June, July, and August. Temperatures are usually around 17 to 20 degrees Celsius. Swords gets rain all year. The wettest months are October to January.
| Climate data for Swords (Dublin Airport) (1981–2010 averages) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 precipitation mm (inches) | — | — | — | 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 rainfall mm (inches) | 62.6 (2.46) |
48.8 (1.92) |
52.7 (2.07) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 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 | |||||||||||||
Population Growth
| Swords | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1821 | 1,727 | — |
| 1831 | 2,537 | +46.9% |
| 1841 | 1,788 | −29.5% |
| 1851 | 1,294 | −27.6% |
| 1861 | 1,296 | +0.2% |
| 1871 | 1,008 | −22.2% |
| 1881 | 1,088 | +7.9% |
| 1891 | 983 | −9.7% |
| 1901 | 944 | −4.0% |
| 1911 | 907 | −3.9% |
| 1926 | 839 | −7.5% |
| 1936 | 838 | −0.1% |
| 1946 | 703 | −16.1% |
| 1951 | 1,136 | +61.6% |
| 1956 | 1,629 | +43.4% |
| 1961 | 1,816 | +11.5% |
| 1966 | 1,892 | +4.2% |
| 1971 | 4,133 | +118.4% |
| 1981 | 11,138 | +169.5% |
| 1986 | 15,312 | +37.5% |
| 1991 | 17,705 | +15.6% |
| 1996 | 22,314 | +26.0% |
| 2002 | 27,175 | +21.8% |
| 2006 | 33,998 | +25.1% |
| 2011 | 36,924 | +8.6% |
| 2016 | 39,248 | +6.3% |
| 2022 | 40,776 | +3.9% |
| Kinsealy–Drinan | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1986 | 1,095 | — |
| 1991 | 2,084 | +90.3% |
| 1996 | 2,182 | +4.7% |
| 2002 | 2,110 | −3.3% |
| 2006 | 3,651 | +73.0% |
| 2011 | 5,814 | +59.2% |
| 2016 | 6,643 | +14.3% |
| 2022 | 7,526 | +13.3% |
| Source: A0107, B0107, CD121, E2052, F1015 | ||
Swords is the eighth largest urban area in Ireland. Its population was 40,776 in 2022. The town started growing fast in the 1970s. Many people moved here for jobs at Dublin Airport. Fingal County Council believes Swords could become a city. They think its population might reach 100,000 by 2035.
Getting Around Swords
Roads for Travel
Swords has good road connections. The M1 motorway runs along the east side of town. It connects Swords to Dublin, Drogheda, and Belfast. The M50 motorway is south of Swords. It links to other main roads from Dublin. The R132 dual-carriageway goes around the town centre. It leads south to Dublin Airport and north to Balbriggan. There are plans for a Swords Western Ring Road. This road would go from the M1 to the M2 motorway.
Bus Services
Swords Main Street has many bus routes. These include Dublin Bus and Go-Ahead Ireland routes. Bus Éireann also runs services. Buses go between Swords and Dublin city centre very often. The journey takes about an hour. Swords Express offers faster services through the Dublin Port Tunnel. These take about 35 minutes. Other buses connect Swords to nearby towns like Malahide and Donabate.
Long-distance buses leave from Dublin Airport. They go to many places across Ireland. These include Belfast, Derry, Galway, and Cork.
No Train Station
Swords does not have its own train station. The closest stations are in Malahide and Donabate. Malahide has the frequent DART service. Both Malahide and Donabate have commuter trains to Dublin and Drogheda. Swords is the only county town in Dublin without a train service.
Future MetroLink
There are plans for a new train line called MetroLink. It would run from Charlemont to Swords. It would pass through Dublin Airport. Construction might start in 2025. It could be ready by 2035.
Dublin Airport Nearby
Dublin Airport is just a few kilometres south of Swords. It is Ireland's busiest airport. It has flights to Britain, Europe, North America, and other places. In 2019, over 32 million passengers used the airport. It is a major employer for the area.
Helicopter Services
Knocksedan Heliport is a private heliport west of Swords. It is used by Celtic Helicopters. They offer helicopter services for various needs.
Places to See and Learn
Swords Castle
Swords Castle was built around 1200. It was the home of the first Archbishop of Dublin. The castle has large walls and covers about 1.5 acres. It has a tower and a main gate. There was also a chapel built in the 13th century. The Archbishop moved out in 1324. By 1583, it was called a "quite spoiled old castle."
Today, Swords Castle has been restored. It is open for visitors. The castle was even used as a filming location for the TV series The Tudors.
St. Colmcille's Well
This well is on Well Road. It is also called St. Columb's Well. It is believed that Swords got its name from this well. St. Colmcille supposedly blessed its clear water.
St. Columba's Church and Round Tower
The round tower is all that is left of St. Colmcille's old monastery. The church's belfry, from around 1300, is also still standing. The current church was built in 1811. It is said that Brian Boru's body was brought here in 1014. This was after the Battle of Clontarf, before he was buried.
Old Borough School
This building is on Main Street. It was designed by Francis Johnston. In 2015, it became a pub called The Old Borough.
St. Colmcille's Catholic Church
This church is on Chapel Lane. It was built in 1827. The graveyard here has the grave of Andrew Kettle. He was a famous politician.
Courthouse
Swords Courthouse is on North Street. It was built in 1845. It has a classical design.
Lord Mayors Pub
The Lord Mayors is a very old pub in Swords. It was founded in 1668. This thatched-roof pub is the oldest building in the village. It closed in 2019.
Fingal County Hall
The modern Fingal County Hall is at the north end of Main Street. It stands where Swords House used to be. This was the home of the Taylor family, who arrived in the 13th century.
Fun and Culture in Swords
Swords Library
Swords library is on Rathbeale Road. It offers many books and services. It also hosts cultural events for kids and adults.
Swords Historical Society
The Swords Historical Society started in 1982. Volunteers work to protect and share the history of Swords. Their Museum and Heritage Centre is at the Carnegie Library. They also collect stories from local people.
Ward River Valley Park
The Ward River Valley Park is a long park along the Ward River. It covers 89 hectares (220 acres). It has old fortifications, woodlands, and wetlands. There are also picnic spots, sports fields, and tennis courts. Locals often call it "The Jacko."
Swords Town Park
Swords Town Park is a smaller park in the town centre. It is along the Ward River. It has tennis courts and a playground. Swords Castle is inside this park.
Balheary Park
Balheary Park is north of the town centre. It has playing fields used by the Fingallians GAA club. In 2006, a skatepark and basketball courts were built here. The skatepark has different ramps and obstacles.
Broadmeadow River Linear Park
This is a small park north of Applewood. It runs along the Broadmeadow River. Fingal County Council plans to make it longer.
National Show Centre
The National Show Centre is south of Swords, near Dublin Airport. It is a place for exhibitions and conferences. It is owned by the Irish Kennel Club. It is also used for counting votes during elections.
Sports in Swords
Boxing Clubs
Swords Boxing Club is at Sluagh Hall. Fingal Boxing Academy is in Rivervalley. It was the first boxing club in Ireland to train female boxers.
Gaelic Games (GAA)
There are three Gaelic Athletic Association clubs in Swords. They are Fingallians (at Lawless Memorial Park), St. Finian's (Rivervalley), and St Colmcille's (Holybanks).
Golf Courses
Several golf courses are near Swords. These include Swords Open Golf Course and Forrest Little Golf Club. There are also driving ranges, like Drynam Golf Centre.
Rugby Team
Swords RFC is a rugby union team. They play in Division 3 of the Leinster League. The club has men's and women's teams.
Soccer Clubs
- Swords Celtic started in 1962. They have many teams for boys and girls. Their main pitch is in Balheary.
- Swords Manor FC started in 1995. They also have many teams for boys and girls. Their pitch is on Brackenstown Road.
- River Valley Rangers AFC began in 1981. Their pitch is in Ridgewood Park.
- Columbas Rovers FC started in 2002. They use the ALSAA sports centre.
- Dublin Airport Football Club (formerly Aer Rianta Soccer Club) started in 1972. They play in the Leinster Senior League.
Other Sports
Fingal Orienteers hold orienteering events in the Ward River Valley park. Racquet sports clubs include Forest Badminton Club and Swords Tennis Club. Swords Hockey Club is a ladies' club.
Events in Swords
Flower and Farm Shows
The Fingal Horticultural Society holds its annual flower show in Swords every August. It has competitions for flowers, cooking, and crafts.
The Flavours of Fingal agricultural show happens in July. It features farm animals, horse riding, and food producers.
Dog Shows
Many dog shows are held at the National Show Centre. This includes the Celtic Winners Dog Show.
Fingal 10k Road Race
The first Fingal 10k Road Race was in 2012. It is part of the Dublin Race Series. Over 4200 people ran in the first race. It happens every year.
Swords' Economy
Shops and Businesses
Swords has a large retail and business park called Airside Retail and Business Park. Many companies have offices here. These include Ryanair, AIB, and Kellogg's. Ingersoll Rand also has its main office here.
East of town is Swords Business Park. Hertz Corporation has a service centre there.
Swords also has a big shopping centre, the Pavilions Swords. It has a cinema and large stores like SuperValu.
Aviation Industry
Swords is very close to Dublin Airport. The airport provides many jobs in the area. In 2011, Dublin Airport handled over 18.7 million passengers. It is a base for airlines like Aer Lingus and Ryanair.
The main offices of the Dublin Airport Authority are at the airport. Aer Lingus and CityJet also have their headquarters nearby. In 2014, Ryanair moved into a new €20 million office in Airside Business Park.
Logistics and Warehousing
In 2007, Tesco Ireland opened a huge distribution centre in Lanestown. It is between Swords and Donabate. This centre is over 68,000 square metres. It is one of the largest buildings in Ireland. It supplies 106 stores up to six times a day.
Medicine and Chemicals
Swords is home to several international chemical and medicine companies. These include Opec. Merck Sharp & Dohme makes health products here. Bristol Myers Squibb has a large plant on Watery Lane. The Lonza Group also has a manufacturing facility here.
Food and Farming
Swords is in the middle of Fingal. The area around it has farms that grow crops like potatoes and wheat. FoodCentral, a national food park, is being built southwest of Swords.
The Keeling's Group has its headquarters in FoodCentral. They grow a lot of fruit and vegetables around Swords. They grow berries, apples, and lettuce. They also ripen over 3 million bananas each week.
Total Produce, Ireland's largest farm business, has two places in Swords. One is a distribution centre for fruits. The other has large glasshouses for growing plants, flowers, and tomatoes.
Learning in Swords
Primary Schools
Swords has more than 10 primary schools. These include Irish-speaking schools (gaelscoils) and Educate Together schools. There are also Catholic and Church of Ireland schools.
Secondary Schools
The secondary schools in Swords include:
- Loreto College (girls' school)
- Coláiste Choilm C.B.S. (boys' school)
- Fingal Community College
- St. Finian's Community College
- Swords Community College
Higher Education
Land has been set aside for a possible university campus in Lissenhall.
The National Learning Network and Fingal Adult Education Service also offer courses.
Faith in Swords
| Population by religion (Census 2011) | Persons |
|---|---|
| Roman Catholic | 34,021 |
| Orthodox (Greek, Coptic, Russian) | 1,335 |
| Church of Ireland, England, Anglican, Episcopalian | 944 |
| Apostolic or Pentecostal | 201 |
| Presbyterian | 195 |
| Other Christian religion | 454 |
| Total Christian religions | 37,150 |
| Muslim (Islamic) | 579 |
| Other stated religions | 1,003 |
| No religion | 3,006 |
| Not stated | 1,000 |
| Total Population | 42,738 |
Christian Churches
Christianity is the main religion in Swords. Most people are Roman Catholic. The town has six Roman Catholic churches. These include St. Colmcille's and Our Lady Queen of Heaven.
There are also other Christian churches. Swords Baptist Church meets in The Riasc Centre. St. Columba's Church of Ireland church is on Church Road. The Syriac Orthodox Church also meets here. Jehovah's Witnesses have a Kingdom Hall on Kettles Lane.
Muslim Community
The Dublin Welfare Society manages a mosque in a Swords industrial estate.
Local Government
Swords is part of the Dáil constituency of Dublin Fingal. After the 2024 general election, it will be part of the new constituency of Dublin Fingal East.
The local voting area of Swords has 7 councillors on Fingal County Council. These councillors represent the people of Swords in local government.
Famous People from Swords
- Saint Colmcille, who founded Swords.
- Gruffudd ap Cynan (1055–1137), a Welsh King, grew up in Swords.
- Eleanor Ambrose, a Catholic heiress.
- Conan Byrne, a retired football player.
- Ed Byrne, a comedian.
- Jason Byrne, a comedian, lives in Swords.
- Bill Cullen, a businessman and TV presenter.
- Duncan Campbell, a video artist who won the 2014 Turner Prize.
- Paul Flynn, a Dublin GAA player.
- Chris Newman, an actor.
- Ronan Keating, a singer-songwriter, used to live here.
- Richard Montgomery, a hero of the American Revolution, was born in Swords.
- Blessed Francis Taylor, a former mayor of Dublin.
- Kodaline, a popular band.
- Peter Kioso, a footballer for Luton Town.
- Sean Roughan, a footballer for Lincoln City.
- Zachary Elbouzedi, an Irish footballer.
- Jamie Finn, an Irish footballer.
- Keith Ward, a footballer for Shelbourne FC.
See also
In Spanish: Swords para niños
