Knocklyon

Coordinates: 53°17′08″N 6°19′14″W / 53.2856°N 6.3205°W / 53.2856; -6.3205
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Knocklyon
Cnoc Lín
Suburb
Knocklyon parish church
Knocklyon parish church
Knocklyon is located in Ireland
Knocklyon
Knocklyon
Location in Dublin
Knocklyon is located in Dublin
Knocklyon
Knocklyon
Knocklyon (Dublin)
Coordinates: 53°17′08″N 6°19′14″W / 53.2856°N 6.3205°W / 53.2856; -6.3205
CountryIreland
ProvinceLeinster
RegionEastern and Midland Region
CountySouth Dublin
Government
 • Dáil constituencyDublin South-West
 • EU ParliamentDublin
 • Local electoral areaFirhouse—Bohernabreena
Elevation69 m (226 ft)
Time zoneUTC+0 (WET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-1 (IST (WEST))
St Colmcille's Church, Knocklyon

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 built between the village of Templeogue and the former hamlet, now a suburb in its own right, of Firhouse. A number of old cottages and farmhouses along Knocklyon Road attest to the area's rural past.

Etymology[edit]

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[edit]

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 is bordered to the east and south by Rathfarnham, to the north by Templeogue, and to the west by Firhouse and Ballycullen.

The M50 motorway divides Knocklyon, with most of the suburb lying east of the motorway. Housing estates to the east include Idrone, Knocklyon Avenue, Beverly, Dargle Wood, Coolamber, Knockcullen, Lansdowne, Delaford, Knockaire, Orlagh, Scholarstown Park, and Templeroan. To the west of the M50 are estates such as Castlefield, Glenlyon, Monalea, Glenvara and Woodstown. The western and eastern portions of the suburb are linked by the Firhouse Road, by the flyover at Junction 12 of the M50 motorway, and by a footbridge close to where the Old Knocklyon Road formerly met Ballycullen Road.

Population[edit]

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[edit]

Knocklyon Shopping Centre

Knocklyon Shopping Centre contains a supermarket and other retail outlets. There are also two shopping areas in the Orlagh and Woodstown estates. Both are anchored by a supermarket and have a number of fast food takeaway shops, as well as beauty salons and childcare centres. There is also a local public house.

A division of the St. John Ambulance was established in 2010 which 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 football 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 Catholic Iona Centre, which hosts community organisations, there is Knocklyon Community Centre which is available for sports and social organisations.

Schools[edit]

Saint Colmcille's National School

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 and 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 was established in September 1996 with 36 pupils. The school now teaches 234 children.[8] The most local Irish language secondary school is Gaelcholaise an Phiarsaigh in neighbouring Rathfarnham.

St. Colmcille's Community School (formerly Knocklyon Community School)[9] has 700 secondary students and opened in September 2000.[10]

Prior to the construction of Knocklyon Community School the area was (and to some extent still is) served by Templeogue College, Terenure College, Sancta Maria College, Saint Mac Dara's , Our Lady's Secondary School, Coláiste Éanna C.B.S., Rockbook Park School and Rosemount.

Alisha Weir, Star of Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical, went to St. Colmcilles National school for her primary education.

Religion[edit]

The Catholic Parish of Knocklyon[citation needed] was established in October 1974 under the patronage of Saint Colmcille. Until 2022, it was run for the Dublin Archdiocese by the Carmelite Order. Since 2023, it has been run for the Dublin Archdiocese by 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. The Knocklyon News 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 Well is situated in Knocklyon. It is pilgrimage site with a holy well.

Anglican Church of Ireland Knocklyon residents are members of the Rathfarnham Church of Ireland.[11]

The Knocklyon Church of Christ is an autonomous Christian congregation on Knocklyon Road, near Gaelscoil Chnoc Liamhna.[citation needed]

Transport[edit]

Knocklyon is served by Dublin Bus routes 15,49,65b, 75 and 175.

Sport and leisure[edit]

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.

Knocklyon is served by Knocklyon Junior Badminton Club and Knocklyon Social Badminton, which operate out of the Knocklyon Community Centre.

Knocklyon has 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.

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. Dodder Valley Cycling has a wheelchair bike and a trishaw freely available for people with mobility problems to access the park.

Tymon Park and Marley Park are also within walking distance of Knocklyon.

There is hiking close by at Masseys Wood, the Hellfire Club and Three Rock.

Notable people[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Elevation data from daftlogic.com". Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  2. ^ "Knocklyon entry at the official Placenames Database of Ireland". Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ "Logainmneacha agus Sráidainmneacha Bhaile Átha Cliath Theas" (PDF).
  5. ^ Census Mapping Module: South Dublin Archived 2014-05-03 at the Wayback Machine All-Island Research Observatory. Retrieved: 2014-05-03.
  6. ^ "History". St. Colmcille's S.N.S.
  7. ^ Lyne, Laura (7 October 2015). "Largest school building in Ireland will facilitate 1,600 students in Knocklyon". Evening Echo.
  8. ^ Gaelscoil Chnoc Liamhna Archived 2014-04-29 at the Wayback Machine Dublin.ie. Retrieved: 2012-12-16.
  9. ^ [1] Knocklyon News, January 2000.
  10. ^ "St Colmcille's CS". St Colmcille's CS.
  11. ^ "Rathfarnham Parish Church of Ireland". www.rathfarnham.dublin.anglican.org.
  12. ^ Club History Brothers Pearse Athletics Club, 2019.
  13. ^ "South Dublin Model Railway Club - News". www.sdmrc.hobbysites.net.

External links[edit]