Malahide


Malahide is an affluent coastal settlement in Fingal, County Dublin, Ireland, situated approximately 18 km north-east of Dublin city. It has a village centre surrounded by suburban housing estates, with a population over 16,000.
Malahide Castle dates from the 12th century and is surrounded by a large park, part of which incorporates an international cricket ground. The area also features a sandy beach, a marina, and a variety of sporting clubs.

Etymology

The modern name Malahide may come from "Mullach Íde" meaning "the hill of Íde" or "Íde's sand-hill". It could also mean "Sand-hills of the Hydes" probably referring to a Norman family from the Donabate area. According to the Placenames Database of Ireland the name Malahide is possibly derived from the Irish "Baile Átha Thíd" meaning "the town of the ford of Thíd". Malahide Bay was anciently called , the "river-mouth of the Fir Domnann".

Location and access

Malahide is situated 16 kilometres north of the city of Dublin, lying between Swords, Kinsealy and Portmarnock. It is situated on the southern shore of an estuary where the Broadmeadow River comes to the sea; on the opposite side of the estuary is Donabate. To the east of the village the Gay Brook or Gaybrook Stream passes through the Yellow Walls area to reach the estuary in a marshy area.
The village is served by the DART and the train, run by Irish Rail. The Dublin Bus , and 102, the 32X and 142 peak hour express services, and 42N Nite-Link route serve the town from Dublin City Centre. Route 102 serves local areas to / from Dublin Airport and Sutton Station.

History

While there are some remnants of prehistoric activity, Malahide is known to have become a persistent settlement from the coming of the Vikings, who landed in 795 and used Malahide Estuary as a convenient . With the arrival of the Anglo-Normans, the last Danish King of Dublin retired to the area in 1171.
From the 1180s, the history of the area is tied to that of the Talbot family of Malahide Castle, who were granted extensive lands in the area and over the centuries following developed their estate, and the small harbour settlement.
There is an ancient covered well, St. Sylvester's, on the old main street, which used to have a "pattern" to Our Lady each 15 August.
In 1475 Thomas Talbot, head of the Talbot family of Malahide Castle, was granted the title Admiral of the port of Malahide by King Edward IV, with power to hold admiralty courts and levy customs duties on all merchandise coming into the port. The office was hereditary, and the family's right to act as Admiral was confirmed by the Court of Exchequer in 1639.
By the early 19th century, the village had a population of over 1000, and a number of local industries, including , while the harbour continued in commercial operation, with landings of coal and construction materials. By 1831, the population had reached 1223. The area grew in popularity in Georgian times as a seaside resort for wealthy Dublin city dwellers. This is still evident today from the fine collection of Georgian houses in the town and along the seafront, and Malahide is still a popular spot for day-trippers, especially in the summer months.
In the 1960s, developers began to build housing estates around the village core of Malahide, launching the first, Ard na Mara, in 1964. Further estates followed, to the northwest, south and west, but the village core remained intact, with the addition of a "marina apartment complex" development, adjacent to the coastal village green.

Today

Malahide grew from a population of 1500 in 1960 and by 2011 had a population of 15,846, and is still a rapidly growing outer suburb of Dublin. Most of the population lives outside the core village area, in residential estates such as Seapark, Biscayne, Robswall, Chalfont, Ard Na Mara, Millview, Road, Seabury and Gainsborough.
In Malahide village there are extensive retail facilities and services including fashion boutiques, hair and beauty salons, florists, food outlets, and a small shopping centre with a supermarket. There is a wide selection of pubs and restaurants and there is also the 203-room Grand Hotel.

Governance

Malahide is part of the Dáil Éireann constituency of Dublin Fingal, whose five representatives, elected in 2016, are Alan Farrell ; Brendan Ryan ; Clare Daly ; Louise O'Reilly ; and Darragh O'Brien. For the 2016 general election, the Dublin North constituency was replaced by the Dáil constituency of Dublin Fingal.
Malahide forms part of the Howth–Malahide ‘’local electoral area’’ of Fingal County Council. The current representatives of the eight-seat area are Cian O'Callaghan ; Eoghan O'Brien ; Daire Ní Laoi ; Jimmy Guerin ; Anthony Lavin ; Brian McDonagh ; David Healy ; and Keith Redmond.
Malahide is also a civil parish in the ancient barony of Coolock within the historic County Dublin.

Leisure and organisations

Near to the village itself is a regional park formed from Malahide Castle and its demesne, including gardens. This was once the estate of the Baron Talbot of Malahide family. Aside from Malahide Castle Demesne, there are a number of smaller parks. There are several golf courses nearby, and GAA, soccer, tennis, rugby, yacht clubs and Sea Scouts. Malahide also has a substantial marina.
The Malahide area has more than twenty residents' associations, sixteen of which work together through the Malahide Community Forum, which publishes a quarterly newsletter, The Malahide Guardian.
There is an active historical society, a Lions club, a camera club, a musical and drama society, the renowned Enchiriadis choirs, a chess club and a photography group which has published calendars. The Malahide Pipe Band was established in 1954 and still practices in the same area, in Yellow Walls, today. The band comprises pipers and drummers playing the bagpipes and snare, tenor and bass drums, and plays at various events locally, and in competitions around the country in the summer months. The band has also been involved in running a Pipe Band Competition in the grounds of Malahide Castle for a number of years.
In 1990, Malahide won the Irish Tidy Towns Competition.

Sport

There are also a wide variety of sports clubs within the Malahide area. Rugby, soccer, GAA sports, sailing, hockey, golf, cricket, tennis and basketball are all well represented.

Gaelic games

is the local Gaelic Athletic Association club.

Basketball

Malahide Basketball Club was formed in 1977, and as of 2017, fields 2 senior ladies teams, 2 senior men's teams and 15 junior girls and boys teams. They train and play all their home matches at Malahide Community School and Holywell Community Centre.

Hockey

Originally Malahide Hockey Club now amalgamated with Fingal Hockey Club to become Malahide Fingal Hockey Club. An all female club they currently field four senior teams and have a junior section of nine teams aged between 7 and 16. All teams for play and train in Broomfield Malahide.

Cricket

was founded in 1861 and the ground is situated within Malahide Castle demesne, near the railway station. The ground has hosted test cricket and One Day Internationals.

Soccer

Malahide United AFC was founded in 1944 and currently fields 60 schoolboy/girl teams, from Under 7 to Under 18, and 4 senior teams. They have an Academy catering for 5-, 6- and 7-year-olds. With over 1,000 registered players, Malahide United is one of the largest clubs in Ireland. The home ground is Gannon Park, which comprises two 11-a-side pitches, one 7-a-side pitch, one 11-a-side floodlit all-weather pitch, one floodlit 5-a-side/warm up all-weather pitch and full clubhouse facilities. Further pitches are used in Malahide Castle with a further 11-a-side pitch in Broomfield, Malahide.
Aston Village FC was established back in 1994. Their current home ground is by Malahide Castle, and a local company is their main sponsor. They have three senior teams, competing in both the U.C.F.L and the A.U.L leagues. Although small in size they still cater for up to 100 senior players with ages ranging from 16 – 43 years of age.
Atlético Malahide was established in 2015 by a group of younger players. Their current home pitch is on Malahide Castle grounds. Atletico's team consists of young men aged 19–25. In 2019 the team won their first piece of silverware and following several promotions currently plays in the UCFL Division 1.

Rugby

is located in a modern clubhouse and sports ground opposite the scenic Malahide estuary on Estuary Road. Founded in 1922, Malahide Rugby Club had to disband during World War II due to lack of available players. However, in 1978 the club was reformed. It now fields three senior men's teams, one women's team, four youth teams and six "mini" rugby teams.

Sailing

There are two sailing clubs situated on the estuary; and . The inner, Broadmeadow estuary is also the home of and based in the 350-berth marina.

Tennis

There are two tennis clubs in the area:
Malahide Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club, founded in 1879, is one of the oldest tennis clubs in Ireland. The club is situated in the centre of Malahide village, overlooking the outer Broadmeadow estuary.
Grove Lawn Tennis Club is a family-friendly grass court tennis club.

Golf

Malahide Golf Club opened in 1892, moving to a new location in 1990. It has a 2-storey clubhouse completed in May 1990, with 1,000 square metres, including bars, a restaurant, conference room and a snooker room. The 17th is a notoriously difficult hole known to locals as "Cromwell's Delight", due to its narrow fairways and dominant bunkers.

Malahide Sea Scouts

is situated on St. James Terrace on Malahide Estuary. It was founded in 1919 and is just shy of 1000 members making it the largest Scout Group in Ireland - and estimated the largest Sea Scout Group in Europe.
Malahide Sea Scouts offers a superb scouting programme with a nautical flavour to the young people of Malahide.
From the Scout Den on the sea front, Scouts can be seen sailing, rowing, paddling, swimming, powerboating and their programme varies from bird-feeder craft to white-water kayaking.
The Group caters for boys and girls aged 6 to 26 years of age in five distinct Programme Sections.
Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Ventures & Rovers.
In 2005 the Malahide skiff crew won the East Coast Triple Crown, coming first in the long distance skiff race across Dublin bay, the Woodlatimer sprint at the east coast regatta and the Lord Mayor's cup.
In 2012, the Scout and Venture sections won all 5 activity trophies for the first time in any Sea Scout Group history.
Woodlatimer Cup.
Long Distance Skiff Race.
Hamill Cup.
Fry Cup.
Master Mariner.
In 2013, Malahide Sea Scouts became an accredited ISA Training Centre.
In 2015, 26 members of the Group embarked on an epic 100 km rowing challenge in their east coast rowing skiff 'Setanta II' across the Irish Sea to raise funds for the Scout Den renovations.
In 2018, The Group won all 3 trophies at the Sea Scout Sailing Regatta.
In 2019, Malahide Sea Scouts celebrates its Centenary.
The Scout Group has had several notable members including; Adam Clayton, Dave Evans, Richard Evans, John Kilraine, Mark Little, Philip Quinn, Richard Burrows, Scott Flanagan, Eamon Falvey, Karl Deeter, Kevin Dundon, Philip Walton.
And have also had members in the 1996, 2004 & 2012 Olympics.

Education

There are five schools in the environs of Malahide, four primary and one secondary.

Religion

Malahide has two Catholic parishes, St. Sylvester's and , and one Church of Ireland parish, and also forms part of a Presbyterian community, with a church built in 1956 as the first Presbyterian church in the Republic of Ireland since 1922.

Transport

Trains

opened on 25 May 1844. It is now one of the northern termini of the DART system,. The station features a heritage garden and an attractive ironwork canopy. The ironwork in the canopy contains the monogram of the Great Northern Railway, who operated the route prior to nationalisation of the railways.
The railway crosses the Broadmeadow estuary on the Broadmeadow viaduct known locally as The Arches. The original viaduct was a wooden structure built in 1844, which was replaced with an iron structure in 1860 and a pre-cast structure in 1966-7.

Viaduct collapse

On 21 August 2009 the 18:07 train from Balbriggan to Connolly was passing over the 200-year-old viaduct when the driver noticed a subsidence and the embankment giving way on the northbound track. The train passed over the bridge before it collapsed and the driver alerted authorities. An inquiry was to investigate the possibility that sea bed erosion was the primary cause of the collapse.
A member of Malahide Sea Scouts, Ivan Barrett, had contacted Iarnród Éireann five days before the collapse about possible damage to the viaduct and a change in water flow around it.

Buses

Dublin Bus provides local bus routes in the area on Routes 32, 32X, 42, 42N, 102 and 142.
The Irish patriot Tom Kettle grew up in Malahide. Two U2 musicians, Adam Clayton and The Edge, spent parts of their childhood in Malahide. The journalist Brian Inglis was born and raised in the village. Former and current residents include Brendan Gleeson, Domhnall Gleeson, Brian Gleeson, Cecelia Ahern, James Vincent McMorrow, Conor O'Brien, Nicky Byrne of Westlife and his wife Georgina Ahern, Ronan Keating of Boyzone, Irish international soccer player Robbie Keane and journalist Vincent Browne.