Kinsealy Explained

Kinsealy (officially Kinsaley; [1]) is an outer suburb of Dublin in Fingal, Ireland. Kinsealy is on the northside of the city, about 7 km from the city centre, on the Malahide Road, in the former green belt between the suburbs of Balgriffin, Portmarnock and Malahide.

Kinsaley is also the name of the surrounding electoral division[1] and of a civil parish in the ancient barony of Coolock within the traditional County Dublin.[1] The urban area of Kinsealy crosses into the electoral division of Balgriffin.

Kinsealy gives its name to Kinsealy–Drinan, an urban area outside Swords, Dublin, treated by the Fingal County Council development plan as part of Swords.[2]

Demographics

History

Samuel Lewis' 1837 Topographical Dictionary describes the parish of Kinsealy as "well cultivated", with a limestone quarry and a holy well.[3]

One of the most notable structures in the area is Abbeville, a partially 17th century but mainly Georgian house, for many years owned by Charles Haughey, including during his time as Taoiseach. Haughey's lavish lifestyle earned him the nickname, "the Squire of Kinsealy".[4] [5]

Kinsaley House is another of the earliest houses in the area constructed around 1736 in the then fashionable Georgian style. As of 2023, the house is now surrounded by a 21st century housing estate.[6]

Amenities

Kinsealy is served by Dublin Bus routes 42, 42N, and 43.[7] It has a Roman Catholic church named after St. Nicholas of Myra, by a secondary road to Portmarnock. The church site originally held the school and this was relocated to its current site in 1952.[8] In addition to the few businesses in Balgriffin, Kinsealy has a small shopping precinct by the Catholic church, a service station and a garden centre with ancillary businesses. A former research station of Teagasc was repurposed as a school.

References

53.4°N -16°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kinsaley. Placenames Database of Ireland. 24 May 2022.
  2. Web site: Fingal Development Plan 2023–2029 : Chief Executive's Report on Draft Plan Public Consultation . Fingal County Council . 10 July 2023 . 32, 551 . 28 July 2022.
  3. Web site: Kinsealy. 1837. A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland. Library Ireland. 1 May 2012.
  4. News: A voluntary code is not good enough for State gifts. O'Kelly. Emer. 12 June 2011. Irish Independent. the self-styled Squire of Kinsealy. 1 May 2012.
  5. News: Haughey lied about £1.3m. Kierans. John. 10 July 1997. Daily Mirror. 1 May 2012. the 71-year-old 'Squire of Kinsealy'.
  6. Web site: Kinsaley House, KINSALEY . Buildings of Ireland . 12 October 2023.
  7. Web site: All Direct Routes to Kinsealy. Timetables. Dublin Bus. 1 May 2012.
  8. Web site: Our School . 2022-05-06 . St Nicholas of Myra National School . en-US.