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Coolock () is a large suburban area, centred on a village, on
Dublin Dublin is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Situated on Dublin Bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, and is bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, pa ...
city's
Northside Northside or North Side may refer to: Music * Northside (band), a musical group from Manchester, EngIand * NorthSide, an American record label * NorthSide Festival (Denmark), a music festival in Aarhus, Denmark * "Norf Norf", a 2015 song by Vince ...
in
Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...
. Coolock is crossed by the
Santry River Santry River () is a small watercourse on the north side of Dublin city, one of the forty or so watercourses monitored by Dublin City Council. It runs, mostly unculverted, from Harristown and Dubber near Dublin Airport, through Santry and Cool ...
, a prominent feature in the middle of the district, with a linear park and ponds. The Coolock suburban area encompasses parts of three Dublin postal districts: Dublin 5, Dublin 13 and Dublin 17. The extensive
civil parish In England, a civil parish is a type of administrative parish used for local government. It is a territorial designation which is the lowest tier of local government. Civil parishes can trace their origin to the ancient system of parishes, w ...
of Coolock takes in the land between the Tonlegee Road (as far as
Donaghmede Donaghmede () is a mixed socio-economic residential suburb on the northern side of Dublin, Ireland, formed from parts of Baldoyle, Coolock and Raheny in the 1970s. It contains a mid-size shopping centre and a ruined chapel. Location Donaghm ...
) and the Malahide Road, as well as the lands on either side of the Malahide Road between
Darndale Darndale ( meaning "daffodil") is a working-class area on the Northside of Dublin, in Ireland, featuring a high concentration of social housing. It is located in the north of the sprawling suburb of Coolock. Darndale lies within the Dublin 17 ...
and Artane, and the lands either side of the Oscar Traynor Road on the approach to
Santry Santry () is a suburb on the northside of Dublin, Ireland, bordering Coolock, Glasnevin, Kilmore and Ballymun. It straddles the boundary of Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council jurisdictions. The character of the area has chang ...
.
Coolock Coolock () is a large suburban area, centred on a village, on Dublin city's Northside in Ireland. Coolock is crossed by the Santry River, a prominent feature in the middle of the district, with a linear park and ponds. The Coolock suburban a ...
is also the name of the historical barony which accounts for most of north Dublin city, from the coast as far as
Phoenix Park The Phoenix Park () is a large urban park in Dublin, Ireland, lying west of the city centre, north of the River Liffey. Its perimeter wall encloses of recreational space. It includes large areas of grassland and tree-lined avenues, and since ...
, and stretching north as far as Swords.


History

Coolock has a history dating back over 3,500 years – a Bronze-Age burial site in the area dates back to 1500 BC. The settlement grew up around a small early-Christian church. A Catholic church, St. John's, was later built in the area. The feudal barony of Coolock was granted in 1199 by Henry II to the
Archbishop of Dublin The Archbishop of Dublin () is an Episcopal polity, archiepiscopal title which takes its name from Dublin, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Since the Reformation in Ireland, Reformation, there have been parallel apostolic successions to the title: ...
. Coolock remained a small village until the 1950s, with lands around the village being further developed over time, notably Bonnybrook and Kilmore West, between which a new centre to the area formed. At one time the old village was on the Malahide Road but that road was diverted and now passes slightly to the east of the village; in the meantime, a secondary hamlet, Newtown Coolock, developed further north. Later in the 20th century, lands in the north of Coolock were developed to form the new districts of Darndale and Priorswood.


Geography

Coolock lies on either side of the valley of the Santry River and includes a diversion from the little
Naniken River The Naniken River () is a minor river on the north side of Dublin city, Ireland, one of more than forty watercourses monitored by Dublin City Council. It is culverted for its upper course, visible in St Anne's Park for its entire lower course ...
. It is a relatively flat area a little above sea level, with a linear park around the Santry, and small green areas scattered through residential developments.


Location and development

Coolock lies at the centre of the majority working-class
Northside Northside or North Side may refer to: Music * Northside (band), a musical group from Manchester, EngIand * NorthSide, an American record label * NorthSide Festival (Denmark), a music festival in Aarhus, Denmark * "Norf Norf", a 2015 song by Vince ...
suburbs such as
Kilbarrack Kilbarrack ( or 'church of young Barra') is a residential suburb of Dublin, Republic of Ireland, Ireland, running inwards from the coast, about from the city's centre. It is also a Civil parishes in Ireland, civil parish in the ancient Barony ( ...
, Donaghmede and the
Edenmore Edenmore () is a locality and townland within Raheny on the Northside (Dublin), Northside of Dublin, Republic of Ireland, Ireland, with several housing developments and a mid-size municipal park. It lies within the Dublin 5 postal district. H ...
part of Raheny, and itself includes localities such as Ayrfield, Bonnybrook, Darndale, Priorswood, Greencastle and Kilmore West. As with other large suburban areas, such as
Tallaght Tallaght ( ; , ) is a southwestern outer suburb of Dublin, Ireland. The central village area was the site of a monastic settlement from at least the 8th century, which became one of medieval Ireland's more important monastic centres. Up to th ...
or
Swords A sword is an edged, bladed weapon intended for manual cutting or thrusting. Its blade, longer than a knife or dagger, is attached to a hilt and can be straight or curved. A thrusting sword tends to have a straighter blade with a pointed ti ...
, there is no legal definition for Coolock, and so no definitive population figures, but it is one of Dublin's largest residential areas. It is crossed by the Oscar Traynor Road, running from the Malahide Road to Santry, and named for the War of Independence politician, later long-serving minister,
Oscar Traynor Oscar Traynor (21 March 1886 – 14 December 1963) was an Irish republican and Fianna Fáil politician who served as Minister for Justice from 1957 to 1961, Minister for Defence from 1939 to 1948 and 1951 to 1954, Minister for Posts and Telegr ...
. The majority of Coolock, excluding Ayrfield, was built-up by the city authority,
Dublin Corporation Dublin Corporation (), known by generations of Dubliners simply as ''The Corpo'', is the former name of the city government and its administrative organisation in Dublin since the 1100s. Significantly re-structured in 1660–1661, even more si ...
, as part of a programme of the phased inner-city
slum clearance Slum clearance, slum eviction or slum removal is an urban renewal strategy used to transform low-income settlements with poor reputation into another type of development or housing. This has long been a strategy for redeveloping urban communities; ...
(between the 1950s and 1980s). The permanent Traveller
halting site A halting site (or a halting bay site) is purpose-built residential accommodation for Irish Travellers, Travellers provided by a county council, local municipal authority. The halting site has an individual bay for each family unit with a full ...
estates of Cara Park and Dominick Park, found in the Belcamp area along the N32, are among the largest halting site facilities provided by local authorities in Ireland. They contain an adult education centre and pre-school facilities and are located beside Dominick Park.


Amenities

Public parks in the area include the
Santry River Santry River () is a small watercourse on the north side of Dublin city, one of the forty or so watercourses monitored by Dublin City Council. It runs, mostly unculverted, from Harristown and Dubber near Dublin Airport, through Santry and Cool ...
Linear Park and in Bonnybrook the Stardust Memorial Garden which is dedicated to the 48 people who lost their lives in the Stardust nightclub.
Parnells GAA Parnells GAA or Parnells Gaelic Athletic Association club Gaelic football club was a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Coolock, Dublin, Ireland. It was founded in 1893, named after the recently deceased Charles Stewart Parnell, and at ...
club is based in Coolock village. Coolock is also a centre of local government activity, with a
Dublin City Council Dublin City Council () is the Local government in the Republic of Ireland, local authority of the city of Dublin in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. As a city council, it is governed by the Local Government Act 2001. Until 2001, the authority was k ...
major centre, NEAR FM community radio station, a Health Services Executive centre and a recycling centre.


Sub-divisions

Localities and housing developments in the Coolock area include: * Ayrfield, an area beginning on the north side of the Tonlegee Road, predominantly within the Dublin 13 postal code, containing several estates such as Rathvale, Limewood (part of Dublin 5), Millbrook, Slademore, Foxhill, Greenwood and Ard na Greine. Ayrfield has one primary school, St. Pauls Junior and Senior National School. The main access road, Blunden Drive, is the home of Ayrfield Credit Union, Ayrfield Community Centre, Ayrfield United F.C. and O'Tooles GAC clubhouse and playing pitches. Ayrfield is also a
parish A parish is a territorial entity in many Christianity, Christian denominations, constituting a division within a diocese. A parish is under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of a priest#Christianity, priest, often termed a parish pries ...
in the Howth deanery of the
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD * Roman people, the people of Roman civilization * Epistle to the Romans, shortened to Romans, a letter ...
. It is served by the Church of St Paul. *Belcamp, today comprising some housing between Darndale and Priorswood but historically referring to a broader rural area. It is situated near the site of the former Belcamp Cottage and included cottages demolished to make way for the N32 road. Belcamp Hall, designed by architect
James Hoban James Hoban (1755 – December 8, 1831) was an Irish architect, best known for designing the White House in Washington D.C. Early life and education Hoban was born to Edmond and Martha (née Beaghan) Hoban in 1755, and raised a Roman Cathol ...
is a feature. *Bonnybrook, within the core of Coolock above the original village, is the site of the main shopping centre and has a Catholic church and primary school. *Clonshaugh (), (now in Dublin 17) stretches from the Clonshaugh Industrial Estate to the Athletic Union League, close to Baskin Lane. It includes the housing developments of Riverside and Newbury. *Darndale, built as a range of social housing estates, east of Clonshaugh and west of Clare Hall. It comprises Buttercup Park, Marigold Court, Primrose Grove, Snowdrop Walk and Tulip Court. *Greencastle, a locality within the core of Coolock, above the original village. *Kilmore lies to the west of the Malahide Road and east of the M1, where Coolock meets Artane and Beaumont; Of this, Kilmore West is entirely within Coolock and includes the sub-locality of Cromcastle, which features numerous multi-storey council flat blocks in the same style as blocks in Kilbarrack. *Priorswood, a small locality between Belcamp and Clonshaugh, comprising the housing estates of Moatview, Fairfield and Ferrycarrig. *St. Brendan's Estate, located across the Malahide Road from Coolock village proper, and contains St. Brendan's Drive, Avenue and Park, Moatfield and Dunree Park. Located between Donaghmede and Coolock is Clare Hall, a later housing estate, which includes a small shopping precinct, and the larger Clarehall Shopping Centre. The area has a number of roads named after the 1969 Moon landing, including Tranquility Grove (after
Tranquility Base Tranquility Base () is the site on the Moon where, in July 1969, humans landed and walked on a celestial body other than Earth for the first time. On July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 crewmembers Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed their Apollo Lunar Mo ...
), Eagle Park (
Lunar Module Eagle Lunar Module ''Eagle'' (LM-5) is the spacecraft that served as the crewed lunar lander of Apollo 11, which was the first mission to land humans on the Moon. It was named after the bald eagle, which was featured prominently on the mission ins ...
), Apollo Way (
Apollo 11 Apollo 11 was a spaceflight conducted from July 16 to 24, 1969, by the United States and launched by NASA. It marked the first time that humans Moon landing, landed on the Moon. Commander Neil Armstrong and Lunar Module pilot Buzz Aldrin l ...
), Armstrong Walk (
Neil Armstrong Neil Alden Armstrong (August 5, 1930 – August 25, 2012) was an American astronaut and aerospace engineering, aeronautical engineer who, in 1969, became the Apollo 11#Lunar surface operations, first person to walk on the Moon. He was al ...
) and Aldrin Walk (
Buzz Aldrin Buzz Aldrin ( ; born Edwin Eugene Aldrin Jr.; January 20, 1930) is an American former astronaut, engineer and fighter pilot. He made three extravehicular activity, spacewalks as pilot of the 1966 Gemini 12 mission, and was the Lunar Module Eag ...
).


Religion

Coolock has given its name to religious divisions over a long period, and the primary historical ones are discussed at Parish of Coolock (Roman Catholic), and (from the Act of Supremacy), Parish of Coolock (Church of Ireland). Both Catholic (multiple) and Church of Ireland buildings stand within the area today. In the Catholic divisions, additional parishes today include Bonnybrook and Ayrfield (encompassing the Greenwood estate).


Education

National (primary) schools in the area include St. Pauls Junior and Senior National School (Ayrfield) and St. Francis Junior and Senior Schools (Priorswood).
Secondary school A secondary school, high school, or senior school, is an institution that provides secondary education. Some secondary schools provide both ''lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper secondary education'' (ages 14 to 18), i.e., b ...
s include Chanel College (a boys school and adult education centre founded in 1955), the Donahies Community School (founded 1977), Coláiste Dhúlaigh Post Primary (a co-ed secondary school in Coolock), and Mercy College (a voluntary, Catholic girls secondary school). The now-defunct Catholic Belcamp College secondary school operated in nearby Balgriffin from 1893 to 2004. Coláiste Dhúlaigh College of Further Education provides third-level courses (QQI, BTEC and FETAC).


Businesses and retail facilities

The outskirts of Coolock host several factories and industrial estates.
Cadbury Ireland Mondelez Ireland Production Limited (trading as Cadbury) is a confectionery company in Ireland based in Coolock in Dublin. It is a subsidiary of Cadbury, currently owned by Mondelēz International. Cadbury Ireland exports over 200 of its products ...
has been manufacturing chocolate products since 1957, for both the Irish market and for export. The nearby Tayto Crisps factory manufactured snack foods until it closed in 2005. Notable retail facilities include
Northside Shopping Centre Northside Shopping Centre is a Shopping center, shopping centre located in Coolock, Dublin, Ireland. Opened in 1970, it is the only shopping centre in Ireland with a swimming pool. History Development The plans for the shopping centre were ...
, Ireland's first covered shopping centre, situated near accesses to the M1 and M50, with more than 70 outlets and a city council swimming pool.


Popular culture

Famous historical figures linked to the area included
Henry Grattan Henry Grattan (3 July 1746 – 4 June 1820) was an Irish politician and lawyer who campaigned for legislative freedom for the Irish Parliament in the late 18th century from Britain. He was a Member of the Irish Parliament (MP) from 1775 to 18 ...
of Belcamp Park, and the novelist
Charles Lever Charles James Lever (31 August 1806 – 1 June 1872) was an Irish novelist and raconteur, whose novels, according to Anthony Trollope, were just like his conversation. Biography Early life Lever was born in Amiens Street, Dublin, the secon ...
. The Coolock area was featured extensively during location shooting for the 1991 film '' The Commitments'', directed by Alan Parker and starring a mainly unknown cast at the time.


Transport

Coolock, which is not crossed by any rail systems, is serviced by main roads, including the N32 and Oscar Traynor Roads which link to the M1, and by the following
Dublin Bus Dublin Bus () is an Irish State-owned enterprise, state-owned bus operator providing services in Dublin. By far the largest bus operator in the city, it carried 145 million passengers in 2023. It is a subsidiary of CIÉ, Córas Iompair Éireann ...
routes: * N6 -
Kilbarrack Kilbarrack ( or 'church of young Barra') is a residential suburb of Dublin, Republic of Ireland, Ireland, running inwards from the coast, about from the city's centre. It is also a Civil parishes in Ireland, civil parish in the ancient Barony ( ...
to
Finglas Finglas (; ) is a northwestern outer suburb of Dublin, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It lies close to Junction 5 of the M50 motorway (Ireland), M50 motorway, and the N2 road (Ireland), N2 road. Nearby suburbs include Glasnevin and Ballymun; Du ...
(Finglas Village) * 27 - Jobstown to Coolock (Clare Hall Avenue) * 27A - Coolock (Blunden Drive) to
Eden Quay Eden Quay () is one of the Dublin quays on the northern bank of the River Liffey in Dublin. The quay runs the bank between O'Connell Bridge and Butt Bridge. The quay is bisected by Marlborough Street (Dublin), Marlborough Street and Rosie Hack ...
* 27B -
Eden Quay Eden Quay () is one of the Dublin quays on the northern bank of the River Liffey in Dublin. The quay runs the bank between O'Connell Bridge and Butt Bridge. The quay is bisected by Marlborough Street (Dublin), Marlborough Street and Rosie Hack ...
to Harristown * 27X - Belfield (U.C.D) to Clare Hall Avenue * 42 - Lower
Abbey Street Abbey Street () is a major street, located on the Northside of Dublin city centre, running from the Customs House and Beresford Place in the east to Capel Street in the west, where it continues as Mary's Abbey. The street is served by two L ...
to
Malahide Malahide ( ; ) is an affluent coastal settlement in Fingal, County Dublin, Republic of Ireland, Ireland, situated north of Dublin city. It has a village centre surrounded by suburban housing estates, with a population of 18,608 as per the 2022 ...
or
Portmarnock Portmarnock () is a coastal town in County Dublin, Ireland, north of the city of Dublin, with significant beaches, a modest commercial core and inland residential estates, and two golf courses, including one of Ireland's best-known golf clubs. , ...
* 43 - Lower
Abbey Street Abbey Street () is a major street, located on the Northside of Dublin city centre, running from the Customs House and Beresford Place in the east to Capel Street in the west, where it continues as Mary's Abbey. The street is served by two L ...
to
Swords A sword is an edged, bladed weapon intended for manual cutting or thrusting. Its blade, longer than a knife or dagger, is attached to a hilt and can be straight or curved. A thrusting sword tends to have a straighter blade with a pointed ti ...
* 15 - Ballycullen Road to
Clongriffin Clongriffin ( is a community in northern Donaghmede,Dublin: Dublin City Council, Minutes of full Meeting of Council, April 2009, Q. 36 - City Manager's answer. on the northern fringe of Dublin, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. The settlement was ...


See also

*
List of subdivisions of County Dublin County Dublin refers to a subdivision of Ireland occasioned by the Norman invasion of Ireland. This shire or county underwent further subdivisions as the territory was subinfeudated by the great barons among their vassals; these smaller areas we ...
* List of towns and villages in Ireland


References

{{Dublin residential areas Towns and villages in Dublin (city)