Swords, Dublin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Swords Sord / Sord Cholmcille
Suburban town
Clockwise from top: Main Street, Swords; Ward River Valley Park; interior of Swords Pavilions
Swords, Dublin Location in Dublin
Country	Ireland
Province	Leinster
Region	Eastern and Midland
County	Fingal
EP constituency	Dublin
Dáil constituency	Dublin Fingal
Local electoral areas	Swords Howth—Malahide
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 (whole county, not just Swords)
• 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
• Urban	42,738
• Urban density	3,765/km2 (9,750/sq mi)
• Swords CT	36,924
• Swords CT density	3,615/km2 (9,360/sq mi)
• Kinsealy-Drinan CT	5,814
• Kinsealy-Drinan CT density	5,101/km2 (13,210/sq mi)
	Source: Census 2011
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
Postal Sorting Office	SWORDS
Dialing Code	+353(0)1
Geocode	O184469
ISO 3166 code	IE-D
Vehicle registration	D
Website	Swords on fingal.ie

Swords (Irish: Sord or Sord Cholmcille), the county town of Fingal, is a large suburban town on the east coast of Ireland, situated ten kilometres north of Dublin city centre. The town was reputedly founded c. AD 560. Located on the Ward River, Swords features Swords Castle, a restored medieval castle, a holy well from which it takes its name, a round tower and a Norman tower. Facilities in the area include the Pavilions shopping centre, one of the largest in the Dublin region, a range of civic offices, some light industries, the main storage facility and archive of the National Museum of Ireland and several parks. Dublin Airport is located nearby.

The name "Swords" is also given to a townland, a civil parish within the old County Dublin, and to the local electoral area.

History

The town's origins date back to 560 AD when it was founded by Saint Colmcille (521–567). Legend has it that the saint blessed a local well, giving the town its name, Sord, meaning "clear" or "pure". However, An Sord also means "the water source" and could indicate a large communal drinking well that existed in antiquity. St. Colmcille's Well is located on Well Road off Swords Main Street. Sord may also refer to a "sward", an 'expanse of grass'. The most ubiquitous landscape indicators of Early Christian Settlement are the ecclesiastical enclosures. In Swords case the street pattern has been influenced by the circular alignment of the settlement. The medieval town developed in a linear pattern along the Main Street in a north – south direction. Swords has one of the best examples of this settlement pattern in the Dublin region. The round tower, 26m in height, is also an indicator of early Christian settlement. At the northern end of the street stands Swords Castle, 200m northeast of the ecclesiastical site, which was built in the early 13th century. A short distance north of the Castle is an elevation known as Spittal Hill, where a hospital once stood.

In 1994, Swords became the county seat of the new county of Fingal after the breakup of the former County Dublin; in 2001, it also became the administrative centre for Fingal, upon the completion of Fingal's County Hall.

In June 2006, the R.N.L.I. Ireland officially opened its new all-Ireland headquarters at Airside Business Park, within greater Swords. The new Irish H.Q. was officially opened by President Mary McAleese. In attendance at this Presidential ceremony was Admiral Sir Jock Slater, RN, a former British First Sea Lord then serving as Chairman of the Executive Committee of the R.N.L.I..

Cleanliness

The cleanliness of Swords has hugely improved in recent years. In 2003 the Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) Survey scored Swords the worst litter blackspot in the country. Following a huge improvement to litter in the town, in their 2011 survey Swords was declared the second cleanest town in Ireland.

Historical society

Swords Historical Society was founded in 1982, and its volunteers have worked to record, promote and preserve all aspects of the heritage of the greater Swords area. The Society's Museum and Heritage Centre at the Carnegie Library on North Street is run by volunteers and is open weekdays from 1 p.m. to 4.30p.m. There is a collection of old photos and artefacts on display. Their oral history project has produced the annual 'Swords Voices' publication, which has chronicled the memories of local people, thus creating a unique social history of the area.

Geography

Landscape

Swords is situated roughly in the centre of the county of Fingal. The Ward River, from Meath, runs west to east to near the centre of the town, and then turns to run north, before flowing into the Broad Meadow Water or Broadmeadow River. The Broadmeadow, also from Meath, borders the north of the town. It runs from Dunshaughlin in the west and across the north of Swords, before receiving the Ward and flowing into the wide Broadmeadow Estuary, then into the Irish Sea past Malahide. The estuary is crossed by a railway embankment and bridge from Malahide.

Swords is surrounded by a green belt. Dublin Airport has prevented the town from expanding further south and the large Broadmeadow Estuary and town of Malahide limit expansion further east. To the north and west of Swords there is sparsely-populated, relatively flat, farmland.

Townlands and baronies

The civil parish of Swords mainly lies in the ancient barony of Nethercross. Swords Demesne is the name of the townland in the heart of the urban town of Swords. It is one of 58 such geographic units in the civil parish. However, a single parcel of land, 5 acres in extent, is situated in the barony of Coolock as an exclave of the parish proper.

There are 10 townlands in the electoral division of Swords which is not co-terminous with the parish.

Urban layout

The main retail area is located in the centre of the town, and includes the Main Street, with the Pavilions and Swords Central shopping centres, Swords Plaza and Swords Town Mall. Most civic faciities are also in this central area, with some subsidiary shopping and civic centres in surrounding housing areas.

The west of the urban area is mainly residential, with the neighbourhoods of Applewood, Rathbeale and Brackenstown to the north of the Ward River and Knocksedan, River Valley, Rathingle and Boroimhe to the south side of the river.

The main business and industrial areas are located to the east of the town centre, along the R132 dual carriageway. These include Balheary Industrial Park, Swords Business Campus, Swords Business Park, and the Airside campus (Business Park, Retail Park and Motor Park). The neighbourhoods of Seatown, Holywell and Drynam are also to the east of the town core.

Climate

The climate of Swords is, like the rest of Ireland, classified as a maritime temperate climate (Cfb) according to the Köppen climate classification system. It is mild and changeable with abundant rainfall and a lack of temperature extremes. The hottest months of the year are June, July and August with temperatures of around 17 – 20 degrees. Swords gets rainfall all year round and 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)	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)
Average high °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)
Average low °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)	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)	-12.2 (10)
Rainfall mm (inches)	62.6 (2.465)	48.8 (1.921)	52.7 (2.075)	54.1 (2.13)	59.5 (2.343)	66.7 (2.626)	56.2 (2.213)	73.3 (2.886)	59.5 (2.343)	79.0 (3.11)	72.9 (2.87)	72.7 (2.862)	758.0 (29.843)
% 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
Avg. rainy days	17	15	17	15	15	14	16	16	15	17	17	17	191
Avg. 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
Source: Met Éireann

Demographics

Historical population
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	37,762	+39.0%
2011	42,738	+13.2%

Swords has developed into one of the largest urban areas in Ireland. The town's population boom began in the 1970s with the construction of the sprawling Rivervalley Estate, then Ireland's largest private housing development, ahead of Kilnamanagh Estate in Tallaght North. It continued during the 1990s and 2000s, with many new residents moving to the area due to its proximity to work at Dublin Airport and various industrial estates.

At the 2011 census the total urban population of greater Swords was 42,738. This wider area of Swords had a population density in 2011 of 3765/km², making it the most densely populated urban area in Ireland.

Fingal County Council have referred to Swords as an "Emerging City", and have suggested that the town's (or city's) population may reach 100,000 by 2035.

Transport

Roads

Swords has good road links due to its proximity to Dublin city, which is the main focus for the Irish road network. The M1 Dublin-Belfast motorway passes along the eastern edge of the town and is the main route to/from Dublin City, Drogheda, Dundalk, Newry and Belfast. The M50 Dublin semi-orbital motorway passes to the south of the town and provides connections with all of the other main roads out of Dublin (N2, N3, N4, N7, N81 and M11). The R132 dual-carriageway bypasses the centre of Swords, and runs south to Dublin Airport and north to Balbriggan. The proposed Swords Western Ring Road dual carriageway is due to run from the M1 at Lissenhall, north of Swords, along the western edge of Swords to the M2 motorway at Cherryhound. Other main roads from Swords include the R106 to Malahide and Portmarnock, R108 to Ballyboughal and Naul, R125 to Ashbourne and the M2 motorway, R126 to Donabate and Portrane and R127 to Lusk and Skerries.

Bus

The town's Main Street is served by Dublin Bus (and Go-Ahead Ireland) routes 33, 33A, 33B, 33N, 41, 41B, 41C, 41X, 43, 102 and 142 as well as Bus Éireann routes 101 and 101n, and Swords Express routes 500, 500x, 501, 501x and 502. Buses operate between Swords and Dublin city centre approximately every 5 minutes throughout the day, through a combination of Dublin Bus routes 33, 41, 41B, 41C, 41X & 43, with a journey time of about an hour. Swords Express operate express services through the Dublin Port Tunnel which take about 35 minutes. Other bus routes serving Swords include the 102 to Malahide, Portmarnock and Sutton, route 33b to Donabate and Portrane, routes 33 and 33a to Lusk, Rush, Skerries, and Balbriggan and Bus Éireann route 101 to Balbriggan, Julianstown and Drogheda. Connect Bus and Coach operate route H1 every 20 minutes between Dublin Airport and the Travelodge Hotel in Swords.

There are a number of long-distance bus services from the Atrium Road and coach park in Dublin Airport to various locations throughout the country operated by Bus Éireann and other private companies, including 50 daily services to Belfast (route 1/X2 & Aircoach), 12 to Derry (route 33 & John Mc Ginley), 11 to Letterkenny (route 32 & John Mc Ginley), 9 to Donegal (route 30), 3 to Sligo (route 23), 1 to Ballina (route 22), 52 to Galway (route 20, Citylink & gobus), 14 to Limerick (route 12 & JJ Kavanagh), 24 to Cork (GoBé & Aircoach), 6 to Clonmel (JJ Kavanagh), 21 to Waterford (route 4/X4 & JJ Kavanagh) and 31 to Wexford (route 2, Ardcavan & Wexford Bus).

Rail

Swords has no railway services. The nearest railway stations are at Malahide and Donabate. Malahide is served by the frequent Dublin area rapid transit service to Bray, through the city centre. Both Malahide and Donabate are served by Dublin – Drogheda commuter services.

Swords is the only Dublin county town not to be served by rail, as Tallaght in South Dublin is served by the Luas light rail system, and Dún Laoghaire is served by the DART and Irish Rail services.

Metro

There are proposals for a light rapid transit line, MetroLink, to run from St Stephen's Green to Swords via the Mater Hospital, Drumcondra Railway Station, Dublin City University, Ballymun and Dublin Airport. In 2015, the Government announced that Metro North would be redesigned to a cheaper cost. Construction of the line was proposed to begin in 2021 and be completed by 2026.

Three stops have been proposed within or near Swords (at Estuary, Swords Central, Fosterstown) with another at the airport (between Terminals 1 and 2). A further three stops were originally proposed but were refused planning permission.

Dublin Airport

Dublin Airport, the busiest airport in Ireland, is located at Collinstown, several kilometres to the south of Swords. The airport has direct flights to Britain, Europe, North America, North Africa and the Middle East. In 2019, 32.9 million passenger journeys were recorded, and it is by far the busiest of the airports by total passenger traffic in Ireland. As of 2014, Dublin–London was the world's second-busiest international air route, behind Hong Kong–Taipei.

Knocksedan Heliport

Knocksedan Heliport is a private heliport on the western side of Swords, run by Celtic Helicopters. The heliport has four hangars and they provide a helicopter wash facility and Jet A1 Fuel. Irish Helicopters also use the heliport. They provide aerial crane, filming and survey services, helicopter charter and maintenance, spraying and special project services.

Features and historical attractions

Some historical attractions are listed below. Many of these are promoted by Swords Historical Society.

Swords Castle

Swords Castle was built as the manorial residence of the 1st Archbishop of Dublin, John Comyn, around 1200 or a little later in Swords, just north of Dublin. It was never strong in the military sense, but covers a large pentagonal walled area of nearly 1.5 acres (6,000 m²) with a tower on the north, probably the Constable's residence, and an impressive gateway complex on the south. The warder may have occupied the quarters to the left of the gate, while to the right was the janitor's room with the priest's room overhead. The adjoining chapel, built in the late thirteenth century, was probably used as the Archbishop's private oratory.

Other buildings, recorded in an inquisition in 1326, have now vanished, including the great hall on the east side of the enclosure. The Archbishop abandoned Swords once a new palace was built at Tallaght in 1324 – a move no doubt encouraged by damage sustained during Bruce's campaign of 1317. The stepped battlements suggest some form of occupancy during the fifteenth century, but by 1583, when briefly occupied by Dutch Protestants, it was described as "the quite spoiled old castle". It was used as a garden in the nineteenth century and sold after the Church of Ireland was disestablished.

Swords Castle is undergoing a significant redevelopment and is intended to become a tourist attraction. The newly renovated castle was used as a film location for the production of TV series The Tudors in spring 2010. Swords Castle and Courtyard is open to the public from Monday to Friday by appointment only by calling 01 890 5600.

St. Colmcille's Well

On Well Road, and also known as St. Columb's Well. In a locked chamber. Reputed to be where Swords got its name when St. Colmcille blessed the well of clear water, 'Sord' being the Irish for 'clear or pure'.

St. Columba's Church, Belfry & Round Tower

The round tower is the surviving remnant of St. Colmcille's monastic settlement. The only remaining relic of the medieval church is its belfry, from c. 1300, which is open to the public in summertime, when fine days afford the visitor a view of four counties from the tower's height. The original church is said to have fallen into ruin sometime in the seventeenth century. The new church of early Gothic style was built in 1811 on the foundations of the old. The Sexton's Lodge is also of architectural interest and was built in 1870. The body of Brian Boru was said to have been brought there in 1014 to be waked after the Battle of Clontarf, while on the way to be buried in Armagh.

Old Vicarage

Dating from around 1730, the Old Vicarage is now an apartment complex with part of original building retained.

Old Borough School

Located on Main Street, the building was designed by noted architect of the time, Francis Johnston. The story of the school is well documented.

In 2015, Wetherspoon bought the premises, and now operate The Old Borough as a public house.

St. Colmcille’s RC Church

On Chapel Lane, a pre-Catholic Emancipation church built in 1827 on a site donated by James Taylor of Swords House. The graveyard contains many interesting headstones, including one for nationalist politician Andrew Kettle, who was known as "Parnell’s Righthand Man."

The Courthouse

Designed by Alexander Tate, Swords Courthouse is located on North Street, and was built in 1845 in Classical style.

Teachers' residences

North Street – built in 1890. Now part of Fingal Community College.

Carnegie Library

North Street, built in 1909. Redbrick building typical early 20th century. Now houses Swords Museum/Fingal Genealogy Centre.

Fingal County Hall

The award-winning modern Fingal County Hall by Bucholz McEvoy architects dominates the northern end of Main Street. It is built on the site of Swords House, the home of the Norman family, the Taylors of Swords. Records show the family arrived there in the 13th century and built a 'Mansion House' in 1403.

Leisure facilities

Ward River Valley Park

The Ward River Valley Park is a linear park on the banks of the Ward River approaching town. It covers an area of 89 ha. (220 acres) between Swords town centre and Knocksedan Bridge. Features of interest include some 12th-century fortifications, woodland habitats, wetlands and rolling grassland. There are viewing points, picnic sites, sports pitches and tennis courts.

Swords Town Park (with Swords Castle)

Swords Town Park is a small park situated in the centre of the town of Swords, along the Ward River. It has tennis courts and a playground. Swords Castle lies within the park. It is the former residence of the Archbishop of Dublin and it is the only fortified residence of the Archbishop to survive in a reasonable state today (see above).

Balheary Park

Balheary Park is north of the town centre near the confluence of the Broadmeadow River and the Ward River, which flow to the northern and southern edges of the park. It meets Swords Business Campus / Balheary Business Park on three sides, and has some playing pitches which are used by St. Colmcille's GAA club. In mid-2006, Fingal County Council built a skatepark and adjoining basketball courts/football court in Balheary Park. The park contains a bowl, a vertwall, a spine, some quarterpipes, and a section of boxes in the middle of the park.

Broadmeadow River Linear Park

The Broadmeadow Linear Park is a small park north of Applewood along the Broadmeadow River. Fingal County Council plan to extend the park eastwards to Balheary Park and westwards into the proposed Swords Regional Park.

Proposed Swords Regional Park

A 65 ha. new regional park for Swords is to be formed north-east of Swords, stretching from the Rathbeale Road to the Broadmeadow River. The park will be immediately west of Oldtown and adjoining and ultimately extending into the Broadmeadow River Valley Linear Park. The Park will serve Swords and its hinterland, and will comprise active recreational and passive activities, commensurate with the Council's vision for the emerging city of Swords.

National Show Centre

A little south of Swords, the National Show Centre is a modern exhibition and conference venue near to Dublin Airport. It is owned by the Irish Kennel Club, who use it as their main venue for dog shows in Ireland.

The National Show Centre is used as the count centre during elections for the Dublin Fingal constituency.

Events

Fingal Film Festival

Is an annual festival for independent filmmakers Website

Fingal Horticultural Show

The Fingal Horticultural Society holds their annual flower show in Swords every August. It includes competition classes in Cut Flowers, Hanging Baskets, Pot Plants, Flower Arranging, Fruit, Vegetables, Cookery, Wine Making, Photography, Painting and Handcrafts, as well as special classes for children. The Fingal Horticultural Society also hold an annual Garden Competition, Allotment Competition and Pub Frontage Competition in Swords.

Flavours of Fingal Agricultural Show

The first Flavours of Fingal Show took place on the 21 and 22 July 2012 in Newbridge House near Donabate. The Flavours of Fingal Show combined the sights and sounds of an agricultural show. The farm section of the two-day show featured a program of livestock and sheep competitions, equestrian contests and other agricultural displays. Meanwhile, the historic walled garden of Newbridge House hosted the food producers section of the show and features an array of favourite local delights, cooking demos and all things food in Fingal. Also on offer over the course of the weekend were family and musical entertainment and a programme of walks, talks and festival antics.

Dog shows

In 2012 over 80 dog shows were held in the National Show Centre. The Celtic Winners Dog Show, held on St. Patrick's Day, is the most prestigious dog show in the country.

Fingal 10k Road Race

The first ever Fingal 10k Road Race took place on 22 July 2012 around the streets of Swords. It was part of the Dublin Race Series and over 4200 people entered. Michael MacDiarmada was the winner in a time of 00:31:31 and Siobhan O' Doherty was the first woman over the line in a time of 00:35:30. The event went well and since it has been run ever year.

Religion

Population by religion (Census 2011)	Persons
Roman Catholic	34021
Orthodox (Greek, Coptic, Russian)	1335
Church of Ireland, England, Anglican, Episcopalian	944
Apostolic or Pentecostal	201
Presbyterian	195
Other Christian religion	454
Total Christian religions	37150
Muslim (Islamic)	579
Other stated religions	1003
No religion	3006
Not stated	1000
Total Population	42738

Christianity

Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion in Swords. The town has six Roman Catholic churches. St. Colmcille's, the Church of the Visitation and Our Lady Queen of Heaven are all within Swords parish. St. Cronan's and St. Finian's each belong to distinct parishes, while the Church of the Immacuate Conception lies within Donabate parish. There are also a further eight Christian churches and a retreat centre.

• Roman Catholic

• St. Colmcille's Church, Chapel Lane
• St. Cronan's Church, Brackenstown
• St. Finian's Church, River Valley
• Church of the Visitation, Drynam
• Church of the Immacuate Conception, Balheary
• Our Lady Queen of Heaven Chapel, Dublin Airport

• Anglican

• St. Columba's Church of Ireland, Church Road

• Baptist

• Swords Baptist Church, Drynam (under construction – meeting in St. Finian's Community College)
• Lighthouse Baptist Church, Seatown West

• Other Protestant and evangelical

• Apostolic Faith Church (meets in St. Columba's Parish Centre)
• Churchtown Trust, Rathbeale Road
• Welcome to Church, North Street Business Park

• Non Chalcedonian

• The Syriac Orthodox Church – meets as the St. Ignatius Jacobite Congregation in St Columba's Church (Church of Ireland), Church Road, Swords

• Non trinitarian

• Jehovah's Witnesses, Kingdom Hall, Kettles Lane

• Retreat centre

• Emmaus Retreat and Conference Centre, Lissenhall (includes private chapel and 2 prayer rooms)

Islam

• The Dublin Welfare Society manage a makeshift mosque in a Swords industrial estate

Economy

Retail

Swords is the home to a large retail and business park called Airside Retail and Business Park, on the southern fringe of the town, hosting many employers, including the European Headquarters of Kellogg's. Ingersoll Rand also has its corporate headquarters in the Airside Business Park. East of the town, running parallel to Swords bypass, lies the large Swords Business Park, where The Hertz Corporation have a Shared Services Centre.

Swords also has a large shopping centre, the Pavilions Swords, off the R132, which has a multi-screen cinema and branches of SuperValu and Dunnes Stores.

Aviation

Swords is the closest town to Dublin Airport and the two share the same Eircode routing area key of K67. The airport has long provided employment to the area. In 2011, Dublin Airport handled over 18.7 million passengers and served over 171 routes with 62 airlines. The airport serves as an operating base for Aer Lingus, Aer Lingus Regional, Air Contractors, CityJet, Ryanair and Thomson Airways, and as a maintenance base for Aer Lingus, CityJet, Dublin Aerospace, Eirtech Aviation, Etihad Airways and Ryanair.

The Irish Aviation Authority operate the Dublin Air Traffic Control Centre on the airport.

The headquarters of the Dublin Airport Authority and Ireland's four largest airlines are located in or near Swords. The Dublin Airport Authority, who manage Dublin, Cork and Shannon Airports, employ over 3,000 people and have their headquarters on the airport campus. Aer Lingus, Ireland's flag carrier, have their headquarters on the Dublin Airport campus. CityJet, part of the Air France-KLM group, has its headquarters in Swords Business Campus and Air Contractors, part of the ASL Aviation group, has its head office on the Malahide Road in Swords. In 2014, Ryanair moved into a new €20m, 100,000 sq ft Dublin Head Office in Airside Business Park. The building was officially opened in April 2014.

Logistics

In 2007 Tesco Ireland opened their new €70 million distribution centre in Lanestown, between Swords and Donabate. With a building footprint of over 68,000 m² and a total volume of 1.55 million m² the Tesco Ireland distribution centre is the largest building on the island of Ireland and one of the 10 largest building in the world. The building is over half a kilometre long and could fit 16 jumbo jets. It has 106 loading bays and supplies 106 stores up to 6 times a day.

Pharmaceutical

Swords is the home to several international chemical producers and pharmaceutical giants, including Opec. Merck Sharp & Dohme (formally Organnon) employ over 500 people in their facility in Drynam, which manufactures women's health, anaesthesiology and mental health products. Bristol Myers Squibb employ over 400 people in their Swords Laboratories bulk pharmaceutical plant on Watery Lane. The Lonza Group employ 45 people in their European manufacturing facility for personal care and industrial biocides, also on Watery Lane.

Food and horticulture

Swords is located in the centre of Fingal and is surrounded by farms growing crops like potatoes, wheat and barley. However, unlike the rest of Fingal, a lot of the food distributed from Swords has been imported from abroad. As of 2018, FoodCentral (marketed as "Ireland's national food park") was being developed south-west of Swords.

The Keeling's Group, who employ over 1700 people, have their headquarters in FoodCentral and use a lot of land around Swords. The Keeling's Farms division annually grow 2,500 tonnes of soft fruits/berries from 5 hectares of glasshouse, tunnel and field crops in Swords. They grow Bramley apples in 139 acres of orchards and lettuce in 8 acres of glasshouses. Their glasshouses also produce 1,500 tonnes of red, orange, yellow and green peppers annually. Keeling's also operate a large banana ripening facility for Chiquita which ripens over 3 million bananas each week. They also have separate ripening rooms for other fruits.

Total Produce, Ireland's largest agribusiness operates two facilities in Swords. Its facility in Swords Business Park includes a distribution and ripening centre for Fyffes Cape, Outspan, Green Ace and TOP Fruit products. Their "Uniplumo" facility on the Rathbeale Road, has 46,000 square metres of glasshouses for growing plants, flowers and tomatoes.

Sports

Boxing

Swords Boxing Club is based at Sluagh Hall, a former military facility which is shared with Fingallians GAA clbu. Fingal Boxing Academy, which is affiliated with the Irish Amateur Boxing Association and located in Rivervalley, Swords, was the first boxing club in Ireland to train female boxers and has trained several national champions.

GAA

There are three Gaelic Athletic Association clubs local to Swords, and one more with pitches. These include Fingallians (based at Lawless Memorial Park), St. Finian's (Rivervalley), and St Colmcille's (Holybanks, Glen Ellan Road in the Applewood neighbourhood).

Golf

There are several golf courses close to the town, namely Swords Open Golf Course, Forrest Little Golf Club, Roganstown Golf and Country Club and Balheary "Par 3" Golf Course. There are also several driving ranges in the area with the Drynam Golf Centre being the first driving range in Ireland with automated tees.

Rugby

Swords RFC are a rugby union team playing in Division 3 of the Leinster League. The club is based out of ALSAA Sport Complex beside the airport and has 2 Men's teams and 1 Women's team.

Soccer

Swords Celtic, established in 1962, fields DDSL, NDSL, LSL, and MGL schoolboy and schoolgirl teams. The main pitch and clubhouse are located at Balheary, Swords and includes dressing rooms an eleven-a-side and two seven-a-side pitches with floodlights.

Swords Manor FC, established in 1995, fields NDSL, DDSL, MGL, and UCFL schoolboy and schoolgirl teams. The main pitch and clubhouse are located on Brackenstown Road.

River Valley Rangers AFC was established in 1981. It fields NDSL schoolboy/girl teams and its pitch and clubhouse are located in Ridgewood Park.

Columbas Rovers FC was established in 2002. It uses the ALSAA sports centre near the airport.

A former club, Swords Rovers FC (founded in 1993), was disbanded in 2015.

Other sports

Fingal Orienteers have created orienteering maps of the Ward River Valley park, and the surrounding estates of Swords Manor, Brackenstown, River Valley and Knocksedan, and regularly hold events in the area.

Racquet sports clubs include Forest Badminton Club, River Valley Badminton Club, and Swords Tennis Club (based at Swords Town Park). Swords Hockey Club is a ladies club based in ALSAA Sports Grounds.

Education

Primary

The town is served by more than 10 primary schools. These include several gaelscoils, a number of Educate Together schools, and mixed and gender-specific national schools. The latter includes both Church of Ireland and Roman Catholic schools. A number of other primary schools are in planning or under construction.

Secondary

The secondary schools serving the town include Loreto College (all-girls school, River Valley), Coláiste Choilm C.B.S. (all-boys school, Dublin Road), Fingal Community College (Seatown Road), St. Finian's Community College (Castlefarm), and Swords Community College (Rathbeale Road)

Third level and further education

Land has been reserved for a potential university campus at Lissenhall in north Swords.

The National Learning Network, Fingal Adult Education Service and Swords Youthreach each have a presence in the area.

There is also the Fingal Adult Literacy and Education Centre

Notable residents

• Saint Colmcille, founder of Swords.
• Gruffudd ap Cynan (1055-1137), Welsh King of Gwynedd, reared in Swords as a close relative of the Hiberno-Norse Kings of Dublin and grandson of King Brian Boru
• Robert FitzRery, Attorney-General for Ireland from 1450 to 1463, came from a long-established Swords family which claimed descent from Gruffudd ap Cynan.
• Eleanor Ambrose, Catholic heiress, is from Swords.
• Conan Byrne, Irish footballer for Glenavon F.C.
• Ed Byrne, comedian, is from Swords.
• Jason Byrne, comedian, lives in Swords.
• Bill Cullen, businessman, presenter of the TV show, "The Apprentice", owns and works in Europa Academy in Swords.
• Duncan Campbell, video artist, won 2014 Turner Prize, grew up in Swords.
• Paul Flynn, Dublin and Fingallians GAA player, lives in Swords.
• Chris Newman, actor known for his roles in Song for a Raggy Boy and Red Rock
• Ronan Keating, singer-songwriter, lived in the Highfields residential development on the town's southern side.
• Richard Montgomery, hero of the American Revolution, born in Swords.
• Blessed Francis Taylor, former Mayor of Dublin, martyr, born in Swords.
• Kodaline, a popular band, come from Swords
• Matt Doherty, Irish footballer for Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
• Peter Kioso, footballer for Luton Town, born in Swords
• Sean Roughan, footballer for Lincoln City, born in Swords
• Zachary Elbouzedi, Irish footballer for AIK Fotboll
• Keith Ward, footballer for Bohemian FC

Images for kids

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  Map of Swords

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  A middle class housing estate on the southern side of Swords

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  Swords Main Street lined with London Plane trees, October 2021

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  A Credit Union on North Street

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  Swords Castle as seen from Swords Town Park

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  St Colmcilles Well

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  St. Columba's Church and round tower

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  Swords Courthouse

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  Swords Town Park, with Ward River on left

See also

In Spanish: Swords para niños