Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
As part of our election coverage, we’ve sent some of our journalists back to their hometowns to report on the issues concerning the people who live there.
Muiris O’Cearbhaill from Dublin 15 visited Clonsilla to see what issues are top of people’s minds – and what people want to see happen after this election.
NESTLED BESIDE THE border with Co Meath, on the edge of Dublin 15, sits Clonsilla – a village that needs an identity.
Despite being rich in history – for over one hundred years the area housed horse studs owned by the British elite and, later, was (crucially) the birthplace of WWE superstar Sheamus – the boundaries of Clonsilla have changed very little in that time.
On a visit to Clonsilla last week ahead of the local elections, the same issue came up again and again: the infrastructure in the village didn’t make it feel like a village and instead pushed people away from the area.
“There’s too much of the same thing,” one resident said about the types of businesses. “A lot of it is because there’s no centre. It’s just one, big, long road.”
Approximately 60,000 people live in the Clonsilla area – but you wouldn’t know it. The village is, and has been for years, considered a ‘commuter town’ and the majority of workers are in professional and administrative roles elsewhere in the city.
Large numbers of commuters use the train station to get into Dublin city centre in around 30 minutes, or towards Longford in the opposite direction.
Since the pandemic, a large amount of people have chosen to work from home and there has been a rise in the number of workers who drive to work in that time too, despite hundreds of train and bus services running each day.
Compared to the sprawl in Ongar – the next village over – the housing estates and other developments in Clonsilla have mainly been infill developments.
This means the boundaries of Clonsilla village have largely remained the same, while Ongar has seen thousands of homes being built across its open green fields.
Some of the newest housing developments in the village have been built on the few remaining pieces of land facing the Clonsilla Road – such as, approximately six new homes opposite the popular Clonsilla Inn pub and a modern apartment block in a small patch of land beside the local petrol station.
Despite Fingal County Council pouring hundreds of thousands of euro into services, such as a brand new community park, community gardens, two halls for local group meetings and a handful of local businesses in the village, there is little sense of community.
Locals play Gaelic games for teams in the next parish over, join clubs in the neighbouring towns and use the purpose-built community centres in newer developments that had more space to build on.
Ongar is home to many of these new developments. The neighbouring town was sold off field-by-field to developers over the last two decades and has since been populated by people from all over the world.
The main street of Ongar village reflects this diversity and is lined with shops that sell good from all over the world. On a visit last week, The Journal witnessed these shops full of customers and staff from all backgrounds purchasing and selling products.
That same sense of diversity is seen in the political posters that have been posted in the weeks running up to the elections.
Posters of candidates from all parties and backgrounds have joined long-standing candidates – such as Fine Gael’s Kieran Dennison, Labour’s John Walsh, Fianna Fáil’s Howard Mahony and Independent Tania Doyle – to contest seats.
In Ongar village, a large community centre accommodates 45 different weekly events and hosts more than 100,000 people a year through everyday activities and annual family-fun days.
Many from Clonsilla are members of the Ongar Chasers Basketball Club, attend dance classes at the Ongar community centre and go to school in one of the four primary and two secondary schools in the area.
At the centre last week, the supervisor of the centre told The Journal that the demand for its services has grown with the community after it opened in 2011. He said that people from all backgrounds come to use Ongar Community Centre every day.
“For example, on a Monday we have taekwondo from six o’clock, then at six a local Indian family group come in and use half the hall, and they’ve a trainer to train their kids badminton,” the supervisor said.
“Then at seven o’clock we have a group called Sports Club 15, they’re the Special Olympics team. They come in from seven to eight o’clock for their girls, and eight to nine [o'clock] with their boys. And then from nine to ten o’clock we have the Ongar Chasers Basektball club.”
The same sense of community is not felt in Clonsilla as the village relies on the services from other parishes and towns.
Additionally, the historic parish boundaries of the village essentially split the area in half and cut some families out of school-catchment areas – despite their homes facing the building.
One local business owner told The Journal that while they do have a loyal customer base, it is mainly made up of legacy customers who have been using their services for nearly two decades, and rarely newly-arrived residents.
They added that with areas such as Blanchardstown and Ongar so close, there is too much competition in the area and they have had to branch out the business to two other locations in order to generate a sustainable revenue.
Stephen Gray, of the Clonsilla and Porterstown Heritage Society (CPHS), said if better village infrastructure was added, such as outdoor seating areas, colourful buildings and more spaces for local businesses, it would attract more residents to stay in the community.
Gray said: “There’s a huge opportunity here to make a village feel like in Malahide, or even Blanchardstown Village or Swords, where there’s colourful buildings, a nice streetscape, there’s street furniture. Really creating a centre for the place where people can be.
“Rather than Clonsilla being a destination to commute out of everyday, make it a destination to be in.”
This suggestion was echoed during a consultation scheme for Fingal’s Clonsilla Framework Plan, which sought to “manage and influence village-centre improvement” in the area and identify future opportunities.
One resident said in their submission: “At the moment, Clonsilla is more of a drive-through than an actual village.
“There is no centre to the village, no gathering spots, no cafés and no parking to underpin them. There are a few takeaways, a pub and a Spar along the main road. The population is increasing rapidly and the facilities which should be in place for an rising population are not in place
The business owner who spoke to The Journal said: “You don’t want to spend your weekends in Clonsilla. There’s nothing to draw people to the area.”
A recently-established Clonsilla Tidy Towns group has tried to bring a sense of community to the village but, in their submission, they also list the lack of outdoor seating, cafés and how some of the amenities are not suitable for everyone.
Developers plan to extend the area outward, into a nearby area known as Kellystown. But some locals argue that there is much that needs to be done in Clonsilla and the surrounding areas before the construction of a new community begins.
Residents fear that a new Kellystown development would remove any hope of Clonsilla ever gaining an identity of its own.
Gray: “They’ve all these plans to build up Kellystown, and that’s going to be a large development.
“But the Old School House has the potential, under the ownership of Fingal County Council to be a focal point for Clonsilla. For old inhabitants, new inhabitants, people that have yet to come here.”
Gray added that if that the Old School House could be renovated it into a community and heritage centre, it could boost the sense of community in the area.
The Old School House dates back to the mid-19th century, around 1850, and used to be the first site of Porterstown National School, Clonsilla National School and later the first St. Mochta’s’ National School.
There are many local folklore stories of the building, such as there once being a secret Gaelscoil in the basement during British occupation, but since the construction of new facilities in the mid-1900s, the building has remained dormont.
This idea to turn the building into a local history and community centre, which has been suggested by local councillors for years, has fallen on deaf ears.
Recently, the current owner listed the property and the land for over €3.5 million on Daft.ie after the council failed to purchase it in 2021.
The plan to purchase it was backed by former Sinn Féin councillor and the current TD for the area, Paul Donnelly, Labour councillor John Walsh and Independent councillor Tania Doyle.
Walsh, in leaflets sent out to locals in recent weeks, highlighted that he was disappointed that the council was unable to purchase it, in the end. Donnelly had previously written to the CEO of the council, pleading the case for its purchase.
“Fingal County Council should have acquired The Old School House land which is steeped in history and had land with its own ecological biodiversity but instead it lies now desecrated,” says one submission to the consultation.
“It should have been purchased and used as a centre for the local community.”
In his submission, Walsh said that Fingal County Council needed to “redouble” its efforts to buy the building so that it can be redeveloped into a “community centre and museum focusing on the local history of Clonsilla”.
Gray said that, compared to villages such as Malahide, Swords or even Blanchardstown – a seven minute drive from Clonsilla – the area pushes people away and forces them to commute elsewhere, rather than attracting them to stay.
He added that the heritage group are trying to attract people to take part in their annual events, such as their local heritage event in September, so that more of the community understand the history of the village.
“Right now, the next generation will only know this place for being housing estates.”
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
What about the crisis of bullying in SinnFein Peadair?
@Dave Sherman: they have procedures in place aka kangaroo court.
@Paul: Was the kangaroo court not when Enda Kenny used Dail privilege to act as judge and jury against people who had already been acquitted in a court of law?
@Dave Sherman: What about, what about, what about…
@Dermo Adams: nah the Kangaroo Court was when the provos subjected victims of sexual abuse to paramilitary courts
@Incognito: Hypocrite of the highest order that’s what.
@Dermo Adams: who are u referring to?
and some people wonder why the Shinners have 13% of the vote. This hypocrisy might work in Norn Iron but not down here sunshine
@Dave Sherman:
So all that is needed is for SF to be accused of something and everyone else can join in and do the same !!!.. I don’t think so Dave.
@Dave Sherman: will u cut that out Jerry said it never happened
@Dave Sherman: is it just me or do all SF representatives look like older toerags
@Dave Sherman:
I agree with you completely !!!!!!
as a very long time member of
Sinn Fèin I shall not be renewing
my membership because of the intimidation and bullying I have
Witnessed at grass roots level
Even from yourself Peadar. !!!!!!!
@Dave Sherman: Their Ard Fheis is coming up this weekend, Have to have something to Deflect the Sheep’s Attention from the widespread Bullying, Harassment and Intimidation going on around them and the fact that the partys vote ( in last few opinion polls ) is going down, down and down .. lol ..
@For Connolly: Was ‘sunshine’ a Pink Floyd reference?
SF giving a moral lecture on bullying is a bit like bank executives giving a lecture on always putting the customer first…..Thoes with mortgage difficulties….
PMSL! Same way they like to think they’re a bunch of peacemakers
@Diarmuid: hilarious! Forgot to check the calendar, is today the first day of April?
@Diarmuid: Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery. Loser.
@Diarmuid: I did. Unless he’s calling out the widely reported culture of bullying in SF, he’s a bland hypocrite. Much like SF going public on wanting to sell easter lillies on the same day their abject failure in makey uppey government was highlighted.
@Diarmuid: “bringing it into talks” – suppose someone needed to represent that terrorist organisation while it was surrendering and handing over its weapons. Lucky for Jorry he got cushy British public sector jobs out of it.
Diarmuid – have you been possessed by a evil ghost?
@Diarmuid: The new Diarmuid is Dermo Adams. If he wants to troll he shouldn’t verbatim his comments from this mornings defence of Gerry Adams.
@Diarmuid: He brought about peace by stopping killing people. Bravo…….slow handclap.
@Honeybadger197: the Risen must have been banned…… must hurt the poor fella.
@Diarmuid:
I see what you did there. Checkmate & Bravo!
Im more interested to know why Journal has refused to report his comments on 8th Amendment Committee……
@Paul: what comments? Care to elaborate? Genuinely curiosity.
@Paul: Afraid of a kneecapping?
They haven’t gone away you know!
@Geffrey Kane: he has called out the committee been pro abortion. SF have said his comments do not represent party position.
@Paul: “he has called out the committee been pro abortion”
Eh?
@Paul: “being”
@Paul: “being” Of course they don’t represent the party position – they’re still pro-killing children in their mother’s wombs, much the same as ISIS philosophy really.
A SF TD lecturing on bullying and harassment. I have heard it all. Have they no shame or integrity.
I don’t support SF but I’m unconvinced that the problem of bullying and harassment in Ireland is exclusively confined to the SF Party.
Lol these Shinners are a funny bunch
Start with your own party peadar,clean it up.until then sf have no credibility on the issue.
Interesting, a senior SF td condemning bullying… they must be trying to deflect from their own issues
Peadar Toibin wishes to harrass and bully women who aren’t antichoice like him.
Has Peadar got a soundbite in the widely reported culture of bullying in his own party? This must be like SF announcing Easter Lily sales on the same day the utter failure of their pretend governance of the North is exposed.
@CloneDiarmuid: just like the shinners? : )
A bit rich coming from him of all people. Fully appreciate that the Arts & Heritage sector has a major sexual harassment issue. But really, this is fake indignation from an anti-choice zealot who thinks women’s lives are no more important than the content of a discarded condom. He couldn’t give a toss, so to speak, about women’s rights.
@Emo101: you mean not pro–death for defenceless babies. Shinners may have stopped killing grown-ups but innocent children are still fair game for slaughter as far as they’re concerned.
@JMac: If you can’t tell the difference between an actual baby and sperm, read a biology book, not TheJournal.
Special Communications Unit Mobilisation!
Incoming!
@Jarlath Murphy: Yeah don’t think you need a SCU to call out utter SF hypocrisy.
How many SF Councillors is that to have resigned or been sacked due to bullying now?
What a dufus!
The calibre of shinner politician is farcical.
the impersonating shinner bot who was banned a few years back?
@We’re Jammin’: Yeah I was trolled by a shinner bot with the same name in the past. Thankfully he/she was banned. Why do you care Diarmuid?
Hi everyone,
Please ignore the clone account above. As you can see from the ’5Y’ (5 year contributor) symbol under my name, this is the original.
I will be reporting the above account in the morning.
Best wishes
WJ
@We’re Jammin’: looks like one of the guilty shinner bots is back ^
Any idea how a different photo and proper grammar on a Bob Marley song is a clone?
PMSL!
@were jammin: so you have we’re jamming, For Connolly, the Risen and Francis McCarthy? How do you keep up?
@Jane: sorry were jammin
@were jammin: It really is disrespectful to contributors who just want to comment and discuss the actual article above.
@Jane: You’re fine Jane. It’s easy to get mixed up with the abuses of posting privileges that are happening around these parts all too often.
@Jane: me thinks the “Risen” was banned.
Pfizer took an action for copyright infringement : )
ah I get it now – Jammin’s “Risen” was banned so he set up clone accounts to troll Diarmuid, but is offended by supposed clone accounts
trying to be a bully on an article about shinner bullying : )
confused little shinner : )
@For Connolly: when you see ‘good lad’ you’ll know it’s him
@Diarmuid: a clone account angry about clone accounts PMSL : )
Silly little shinner : )
Good lad : )
Somebody really needs to put some sort of filter on this site to prevent children from posting.
No bullying in Sinn Fein If this is all you have to speak on you are overpaid for doing nothing but making a fool of yourself
The words “Deflection and Distraction” comes to mind … Also the expression “Titanium Bulletproof Necks” also comes to mind with any reps from Gerry Adams party accusing others of Bullying or Intimidation/Harassment … Concentrate on sorting out their own house first, before trying to Deflect peoples attention towards other peoples houses …
People in glasshouses should not fire stones ,i am against all forms of bullying ,be it political ,social or economic .
he’s a looker.
You have to wonder about people who attack Sinn Féin (no I am not a member), rather than address the serious issue Deputy Tobín aided. They seem to be like the judges who give suspended or lenient sentences to men who beat and brutalise women….. a very disturbing mindset
Why is an intelligent and talented man like Peadar focusing on such relatively trivial nonsense?
Sinn Fein need to get off the hard left Utopian bandwagon and become more pragmatic and inclusive….
There are similar issues of abuse of power in other state-funded bodies, such as within the health service. I find this very disappointing in this day and age. You’d think we’d have learned from all of the past cover-ups in this country.
have your say