South Dublin Explained

Settlement Type:County
South Dublin
Area Total Km2:222.74
Seat Type:County town
Seat:Tallaght
Blank Name Sec1:Vehicle index
mark code
Blank Info Sec1:D
Population Total:301075
Population As Of:2022
Population Footnotes:[1]
Population Density Km2:auto
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Ireland
Subdivision Type1:Province
Subdivision Name1:Leinster
Subdivision Type2:Region
Subdivision Name2:Eastern and Midland
Leader Title:Local authority
Leader Name:South Dublin County Council
Leader Title2:Dáil constituencies
Leader Title3:EU Parliament
Leader Name3:Dublin
Timezone:WET
Utc Offset:±0
Timezone Dst:IST
Utc Offset Dst:+1
Established Title:Established
Established Date:1994
Elevation Max M:757
Elevation Max Point:Kippure
Module:
Zoom:9

South Dublin (Irish: Átha Cliath Theas)[2] is a county in Ireland, within the province of Leinster and the Eastern and Midland Region. It is one of three successor counties to County Dublin, which was disestablished for administrative purposes in 1994. South Dublin County Council is the local authority for the county. The county contains both dense suburbs of Dublin and stretches of unpopulated mountains. In 2022 it had a population of 301,705, making it the fourth most populous county in the state.[1]

Geography and population

South Dublin has an area of 222.74sqkm, making it the second-largest of the four local government areas in Dublin. It is bounded by Dublin City (to the northeast), the River Liffey (separating it from Fingal to the north), Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown (to the east), County Kildare (to the west) and its hills adjoin the mountains of County Wicklow to the south.

The county town is Tallaght. Other important centres of population are Lucan and Clondalkin. Much of the county is heavily urbanised but small rural settlements exist in the southern and western parts. South Dublin's population increased from 278,767 in 2016 to 301,075 in 2022, according to the latest census.[1]

Towns and villages

Several urban areas in South Dublin County are also traditionally suburbs of Dublin city. For the purposes of planning and management, the County Council designates the status of towns, villages and suburbs in three tiers — town, district centre and local centre. In the 2022 development plan,[3] the towns and district centres are listed as:

while the more local centres are noted in three groups:

Residential areas

Terminology

In Ireland, the usage of the word county nearly always comes before rather than after the county name; thus "County Clare" in Ireland as opposed to "Clare County" in Michigan, USA. In the case of those counties created after 1994, they often drop the word county entirely, or use it after the name; thus for example internet search engines show many more uses (on Irish sites) of "South Dublin" than of either "County South Dublin" or "South Dublin County". The 2003 placenames order lists South Dublin without any modification.[5]

History

In 1985, County Dublin was divided into three electoral counties: Dublin–Fingal, Dublin–Belgard, and Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown.[6] At the 1991 local election, the area of Dublin–Belgard was renamed as South Dublin.[7] The name Belgard did have a historical association with the area, being the designation of one of the border fortresses of the Pale that existed in that area. It was altered due to a view that the name Belgard might create associations with areas of modern development in Tallaght that now also uses that name.

On 1 January 1994, under the provisions of the Local Government (Dublin) Act 1993, County Dublin ceased to exist, and was succeeded by the counties of Fingal, Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown and South Dublin in the areas of the electoral counties.[8] [9] The boundaries of South Dublin were finalised in 1993, to accommodate the M50 motorway.[10]

Various organs of state use alternative subdivisions of Dublin for administrative reasons, for example, the Dublin postal codes.

Local government and politics

South Dublin County Council is the local authority for the county. It was established on 1 January 1994 with the establishment of the county.[11] It is one of local authorities in County Dublin. The county is divided into seven local electoral areas:[12] Clondalkin (7 councillors), Firhouse–Bohernabreena (5 councillors), Lucan (5 councillors), RathfarnhamTempleogue (7 councillors), Tallaght Central (6 councillors), and Tallaght South (5 councillors).

The Dáil constituencies of Dublin Mid-West (4 seats) and Dublin South-West (5 seats) are wholly within South Dublin, and the constituency of Dublin South-Central is partially within South Dublin.[13]

In 2015, South Dublin became part of the Eastern and Midland Region.[14] South Dublin County Council sends three members to the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly.[15]

Demographics

Main immigrant groups, 2016[16]
Nationality Population
9,159
7,988
3,235
2,726
2,644
2,620
1,499
1,434
999
971

Symbols

The heraldic crest for South Dublin has the inscription "This We Hold In Trust" in both English and Irish, while incorporating elements relating to the history, geography and present day infrastructure of the area.

Sport

The League of Ireland club Shamrock Rovers plays at Tallaght Stadium. The stadium hosted the 2009 FAI Cup Final and the Setanta Sports Cup final in 2010 & 2011.

The National Basketball Arena in Tallaght is the home venue for both the Ireland national basketball team and Ireland women's national basketball team. The arena also hosts various National Cup & League matches.

Twinning

South Dublin is twinned with the London Borough of Brent, United Kingdom.

External links

53.3078°N -6.4131°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Local Authorities (County Councils): South Dublin County Council . Census 2022 . Central Statistics Office. 20 November 2023.
  2. Web site: Baile Átha Cliath Theas/South Dublin . Placenames Database of Ireland . 20 November 2023.
  3. Book: https://www.sdcc.ie/en/devplan2022/adopted-plan/chapter-2-core-strategy-and-settlement-strategy/chapter-2-core-strategy-and-settlement-strategy.pdf . South Dublin County Development Plan 2022-2028 . Chapter 2: Core Strategy and Settlement Strategy . 22 June 2022 . South Dublin County Council . 20 November 2023 . 2 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230702000502/http://www.sdcc.ie/en/devplan2022/adopted-plan/chapter-2-core-strategy-and-settlement-strategy/chapter-2-core-strategy-and-settlement-strategy.pdf . live .
  4. http://www.sdublincoco.ie/index.aspx?pageid=1820 Tallaght, Dublin, Ireland
  5. si. 2003. 519. ga. Placenames (Provinces and Counties) Order 2003 . 30 October 2003. 9 December 2021.
  6. 1985. 7. 12. Establishment of Dublin Electoral Counties. Local Government (Reorganisation) Act 1985 . 3 April 1985. 9 December 2021.
  7. 1991. 11. 26. Amendment of Local Government (Reorganisation) Act 1985. Local Government Act 1991 . 18 May 1991. 9 December 2021.
  8. si. 1993. 400. Local Government (Dublin) Act 1993 Commencement Order 1993 . 22 December 1993. 9 December 2021.
  9. 1993. 31. 9. Establishment and boundaries of administrative counties. . 21 December 1993. 9 December 2021.
  10. 1993. 31. 8. Alteration of certain boundaries existing before establishment day. Local Government (Dublin) Act 1993 . 21 December 1993. 9 December 2021.
  11. 1993. 31. 11. Establishment of councils of administrative counties. . 21 December 1993. 9 December 2021.
  12. 2018. si. 633. County of South Dublin Local Electoral Areas Order 2018 . 19 December 2018. 11 September 2020. 2 February 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190202212347/http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2018/si/633/made/en/print. live.
  13. 2017. 39. y. . 23 December 2017. 8 August 2021.
  14. Web site: Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly. Eastern & Midland Regional Assembly. 2016-09-30. 29 September 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160929142528/http://emra.ie/. live.
  15. 2014. si. 573. Local Government Act 1991 (Regional Assemblies) (Establishment) Order 2014. 16 December 2014. 29 January 2022.
  16. Web site: Central Statistics Office. 12 May 2019. 10 March 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180310010253/http://www.cso.ie/px/pxeirestat/Statire/SelectVarVal/define.asp?MainTable=E7050&ProductID=DB_E7&PLanguage=0&Tabstrip=&PXSId=0&SessID=7827795&FF=1&tfrequency=1. live.