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Knocklyon (Irish: Cnoc Lín)[2][3] is a suburb of Dublin in county of South Dublin, within the old County Dublin, Ireland. Unlike many Dublin suburbs, Knocklyon was not developed around a village; rather it largely comprises modern housing but a number of old cottages and farmhouses along Knocklyon Road attest to the area's rural past.
Knocklyon
Cnoc Lín | |
|---|---|
Suburb | |
 Knocklyon parish church | |
  Knocklyon Location in Dublin  Knocklyon Knocklyon (Dublin) | |
| Coordinates: 53°17′08″N 6°19′14″W / 53.2856°N 6.3205°W | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Leinster |
| Region | Eastern and Midland Region |
| County | South Dublin |
| Government | |
| • Dáil constituency | Dublin South-West |
| • EU Parliament | Dublin |
| • Local electoral area | Firhouse—Bohernabreena |
| Elevation | 69 m (226 ft) |
| Time zone | UTC+0 (WET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-1 (IST (WEST)) |
Etymology
The area has been known historically[3] in 14th-century scrolls as Cnoclín, literally 'flax mountain'. Until recently, roadsigns in Knocklyon had an incorrect "reverse anglicised" translation, giving Lyon's hill or Cnoc Liamhna, so for example, the Irish-language wording on signs for Knocklyon Road showed Bóthar Chnoc Liamhna. The local authority have updated their translation based on recommendations from the commissioned update on Irish placenames.[4]
Location
Knocklyon is located among the southwestern suburbs of the city, in the foothills of the Dublin Mountains and south of the line of the River Dodder. It lies largely within the townland of Knocklyon, which it shares with neighbouring outer suburb Firhouse, with parts in that of Scholarstown. It is bordered to the west by Firhouse and Ballycullen, to the east and south by Rathfarnham, and to the north, across the River Dodder, by Templeogue.
Knocklyon was divided when the M50 motorway was constructed, with most of the suburb today lying east of the motorway. Housing estates to the east include Idrone, Knocklyon Avenue, Beverly, Dargle Wood, Coolamber, Knockcullen, Lansdowne, Delaford, Knockaire in the old Knocklyon townland, whilst Orlagh, Scholarstown Park and Templeroan are within the townland of Scholarstown. To the west of the M50 are estates such as Castlefield, Glenlyon, Glenvara and Woodstown. The western and eastern portions of the suburb are linked by the Firhouse Road, by the motorway flyover at Junction 12 of the M50, and by a footbridge close to where the Old Knocklyon Road formerly met Ballycullen Road.
Population
The population figure cannot be isolated from published census data as Knocklyon is composed of Firhouse-Knocklyon electoral division (ED) (population 39,602 in 2011), plus fractions of Ballyboden ED (57,085) and Firhouse-Ballycullen ED (77,773), not divided and published distinctly.[5]
Amenities
Knocklyon Shopping Centre contains a supermarket and other retail outlets. There are also two smaller shopping sites, in the Orlagh and Woodstown estates. Both are anchored by a supermarket and have a number of takeaway food shops, as well as beauty salons and childcare facilities. There is also a local public house.
A division of the voluntary St. John Ambulance was established in 2010, and provides first aid training in the community.
Knocklyon has a number of open spaces within its residential estates and along the River Dodder, including the home ground and playing pitches for both a Gaelic Athletic Association club, (Ballyboden St. Enda's GAA), and a soccer club, Knocklyon United Football Club.
One of the local parks is Dodder Valley Linear Park, which has a number of walks and playgrounds. Dodder Valley Cycling is a local group which runs a chapter of "Cycling Without Age" in the park.
As well as the Roman Catholic Iona Centre, which hosts community organisations, there is Knocklyon Community Centre which is available for sports and social organisations.
Schools
St. Colmcille's national school opened in September 1976.[6] The school is the largest primary school in Ireland and one of the largest primary schools in Europe. It educates 1,600 students and employs 80 teachers, 23 special needs assistants, and 11 ancillary staff.[7]
Gaelscoil Chnoc Liamhna is an Irish language primary school that teaches over 200 children. It was established in September 1996 with 36 pupils.[8]
St. Colmcille's Community School (formerly Knocklyon Community School)[9] has around 700 secondary students and opened in September 2000.[10]
Religion
The Catholic Parish of Knocklyon[citation needed] was established in October 1974 under the patronage of Saint Colmcille. It forms part of the Dublin Archdiocese and was delegated by it to the Carmelite Order until 2022, and since 2023, is in the care of the Divine Word Missionaries. The parish church opened in April 1980, with the Iona Pastoral Centre formally opened in 2000. The Catholic Parish of St Colmcille is very active with several parish groups meeting regularly. The annual Parish Christmas Fair is hosted each year by the Parish in St Colmcille's National Schools. The Iona Centre hosts prayer groups and social activities (such as pilates, mother and baby groups, knitting and bridge), as well as a chapter of St Vincent de Paul, AA Meetings and GROW Mental Health Movement. The Catholic parish publishes the Knocklyon News magazine, which has been in continuous publication since 1982 and includes article from the wide and varied community groups of Knocklyon, as well as faith-based content, and news from the parish and the diocese. The Knocklyon News is published 3 - 4 times per year, and has a print run of 5,000.
St. Colmcille's Holy Well is situated beside Orlagh College, Gunny Hill, Rathfarnham.
In the Church of Ireland, Knocklyon is in the parish of Rathfarnham.[11]
The Knocklyon Church of Christ is an autonomous Christian congregation on Knocklyon Road, near Gaelscoil Chnoc Liamhna.[citation needed]
Transport
Knocklyon is served by Dublin Bus routes 15,49,65b,S6 and S8
Sport and leisure
The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) is represented in Knocklyon by Ballyboden St. Enda's GAA Club. Association football is organised by Knocklyon United F.C.
The local Brothers Pearse Athletics Club was founded in 1956.[12]
There is a branch of Scouting Ireland and the South Dublin Model Railway Club,[13] which have their own premises.
The district is served by Knocklyon Junior Badminton Club and Knocklyon Social Badminton, which operate out of the Knocklyon Community Centre.
There is a brass band and music school, the Knocklyon Concert Band, which has educated and entertained for the past 20 years.
Local businesses and community groups are supported and promoted by Knocklyon Network, an active business networking organisation.
Notable people
- Alisha Weir, actress and singer, grew up in Knocklyon
- Chloe Agnew, singer-songwriter, best known for being an original member of Celtic Woman.
References
- ^ "Elevation data from daftlogic.com". Retrieved 30 April 2014.
- ^ "Knocklyon entry at the official Placenames Database of Ireland". Retrieved 17 October 2021.
- ^ a b "South Dublin Streetnames by Pádraig Ó Cearbhaill at Placenames Database of Ireland" (PDF). p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 June 2010. Retrieved 27 January 2010.
- ^ "Logainmneacha agus Sráidainmneacha Bhaile Átha Cliath Theas" (PDF).
- ^ Census Mapping Module: South Dublin Archived 2014-05-03 at the Wayback Machine All-Island Research Observatory. Retrieved: 2014-05-03.
- ^ "History". St. Colmcille's S.N.S.
- ^ Lyne, Laura (7 October 2015). "Largest school building in Ireland will facilitate 1,600 students in Knocklyon". Evening Echo.
- ^ Gaelscoil Chnoc Liamhna Archived 2014-04-29 at the Wayback Machine Dublin.ie. Retrieved: 2012-12-16.
- ^ [1] Knocklyon News, January 2000.
- ^ "St Colmcille's CS". St Colmcille's CS.
- ^ "Rathfarnham Parish Church of Ireland". www.rathfarnham.dublin.anglican.org.
- ^ Club History Brothers Pearse Athletics Club, 2019.
- ^ "South Dublin Model Railway Club - News". www.sdmrc.hobbysites.net.
External links
