Bluebell, Dublin

Infobox Irish Place
name = Bluebell
gaeilge = An Cloigín Gorm
crest

motto =
map

pin coords = left: 47px; top: 89px
north coord = 53.19
west coord = 6.20
irish grid =
area =
elevation =
dailconstituency = Dublin South-Central
province = Leinster
county = County Dublin
IEpostcode = Dublin 12
town pop = n/a
census yr = 2006
web =

Bluebell ("An Cloigín Gorm" in Irish) is a small suburb of Dublin, Ireland, situated on the Southside of the city, approximately 6.5 kilometres south-west of Dublin city centre. The suburb borders Drimnagh to the east, Kylemore and Inchicore to the north, Walkinstown to the south and Cherryorchard/Ballyfermot to the west.

Bluebell forms part of the Dublin South-Central Dáil constituency and is administered by Dublin City Council at the local government level. Its postal code is Dublin 12.

History

There is an early reference in Bluebell cemetery dated 1254 when Bluebell, the people who lived here and the cemetery were most likely part of the Drimnagh Castle estate. Until the 1960s Old Bluebell was part of the parish of Clondalkin, while the lower end was part of St Michaels, Inchicore.

Until 1953 Bluebell was mainly a rural farming community on the edge of the City. 1953 saw a new beginning when young couples moved into the new corporation housing estate full of hopes and dreams for the future. They had little or nothing, but they were all in it together. They became the foundation stones and the pillars of the parish of Bluebell.

The parish of Bluebell was established in 1967. At that time, what we now know as the John F Kennedy Industrial estate was zoned for houses. However before the houses were built, the land was rezoned and used for warehouses. This meant that from day one, our church was always too big for the needs of the community.

Over the years, dairy farming has had to give way to industrial development with the coming first of all, of the paper mills, making use of the Camac river for their water supply. Gradually more industry moved into the area like Lambs, Roadstone, Nugget, McInerneys, Fiat and Volkswagen, which provided jobs for many people locally. However in the past twenty years we have been swamped by an industrial revolution on our doorstep as whole areas like Fox & Geese, Robinhood, Knockmitten and Red Cow have been taken over by factories and warehouses of one sort or another.

In the early 70s some people came together to form the ABC, the association of Bluebell communities, which brought together for the first time the people from the Naas Rd., Camac Pk. Old Bluebell and the newer Corporation housing estate. They later went on to build the Community Centre with the help of the Jesuit building volunteers and voluntary local labour. This is remembered as a time when the community really came to life.

Amenities

The local An Post post office is located on La Touche Road.

The local Catholic Church, Our Lady of the Wayside, is one of the largest buildings in the suburb and is situated on the Old Naas Road, adjacent to Bluebell Luas stop.

The 91st Dublin Scout Den serves both Bluebell and the neighbouring suburb of Inchicore and meets in the Oblates Father's, Inchicore.

Bluebell has only one pub - the Cottage Inn - located on Bluebell Avenue.

Given the small size of the suburb, it is not home to any large retail operations such as supermarkets or shopping centres. Small commercial ventures such as newsagents and fast food outlets are concentrated on the Old Naas Road area of the suburb near the Catholic church.

Local landmarks

There are few local historic landmarks within the area of Bluebell. Bluebell cemetery would be a prime reason to visit the suburb for many people with friends and relatives buried there. A ruined medieval church is located in the cemetery.

The dominant style of the area is that of a mid-20th century Dublin local government housing development - almost exclusively in deep red brick. The most distinctive buildings of the Bluebell area are that of the local Catholic church, built in an Italian style with a lighter shade of red brick which contrasts to the dominant dark red of the surrounding residential and commercial buildings.

Bluebell is near where the Naas dual carriageway begins. The district also borders the Grand Canal.

Transportation

Bluebell is served by both Dublin Bus and Luas. The following bus routes service the suburb:

[http://www.dublinbus.ie/your_journey/viewer.asp?route=51 51] , [http://www.dublinbus.ie/your_journey/viewer.asp?route=51B 51B] , [http://www.dublinbus.ie/your_journey/viewer.asp?route=51C 51C] , [http://www.dublinbus.ie/your_journey/viewer.asp?route=68 68] , [http://www.dublinbus.ie/your_journey/viewer.asp?route=69 69] , [http://www.dublinbus.ie/your_journey/viewer.asp?route=78A 78A]

The Dublin Bus Nitelink [http://www.dublinbus.ie/your_journey/viewer.asp?route=69N 69N] service provides a one-way link from Dublin city centre to Bluebell until late at night after regular bus services finish at 23:30.

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Administration

In administrative terms, Bluebell is in the extreme west/south-west of Dublin City Council and in local government elections is part of the Ballyfermot Ward. Since the last local elections in 2004, the local elected representatives on Dublin City Council are:
* Michael Conaghan (Labour Party)
* Vincent Jackson (Community Party)
* Louise Minihan (Sinn Féin)

Bluebell is part of the Dublin South Central Dáil constituency. The elected TD's for the current 30th Dáil Éireann are:
* Seán Ardagh (Fianna Fáil)
* Catherine Byrne (Fine Gael)
* Michael Mulcahy (Fianna Fáil)
* Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Sinn Féin)
* Mary Upton (Labour)

Famous Names

The Irish traditional music group The Wolfe Tones hail from Bluebell.

External links

* [http://locator.anpost.ie/locator_offices.asp?grof=3632&county=12&dublin=yes&office=Bluebell Bluebell Post Office]
* [http://www.oblateparishesindublin.ie/Bluebell/home.htm Our Lady of the Wayside Church Bluebell]
* [http://www.scouts91.ie 91th Bluebell & Inchicore Scouts]

References