FIRHOUSE

'Firhouse' (pronounced ''Fear-house'' or ''Fur-house'') is a small village, surrounded by housing estates. Located in Tallaght, it has in recent decades become the centre of a suburb in South Dublin, Ireland. Like the adjacent residential areas of Knocklyon and Ballycullen, it is located in a once-rural setting close to the foothills of the Dublin Mountains.

Contents

Name

Amenities

Housing

Firhouse Village

Name

The pronunciation of Firhouse is as contentious an issue as its origin among the local population. The origin of the place-name may derive from the Irish word "fir", which means "of the man" (pronounced "fur"). It may also come from a manor that was located at the top of the laneway joining Scoil Treasa and Scoil Carmel. Like much of the rest of the area, this laneway, which led up to the main house, was lined with fir trees. Both pronunciations are equally valid and are used interchangeably.

Amenities

There are three schools in Firhouse.Scoil Carmel and Scoil Treasa are primary schools and Firhouse Community College is the secondary school.
A focal point for the local community is the community shopping centre, based around a branch of Supervalu. There is a church a community centre and a youth centre. There are three pubs including The Speaker Conolly, Mortons, Scholars. There is also a Cinelli's and Coletti's takeaway.

Housing

Firhouse is comprised of several housing estates, including Carriglea, Carrigwood, Glencarrig, Hunterswood, Killakee, Monalea, Sally Park and Woodlawn. Several Dublin Bus routes go through Firhouse. The 49 takes a roundabout route through the area along the Firhouse Road, Ballycullen Avenue, Ballycullen Drive and the Ballycullen Road while the 75 passes by on the Firhouse Road. The 15E and 15F also pass through along Killininy Road.

Firhouse Village

In 2001 ''Firhouse Village Community Council'' were given a mandate at a general meeting to have the title "Firhouse Village" restored to the area. In doing so they obtained EU and NDP grant aid for Firhouse Village Park. This park, by its name and the fact that grant aid was obtained under the village scheme aims to reflect that the area including Carriglea, Carrigwood, Woodlawn and Monalea are part of Firhouse Village. The significance of this is reflected in the decision by South Dublin County Council to refuse planning permission to two developers who wanted to build apartments up to five stories high around the core area of the village. The new planning laws dictate that the density of apartments applied for could not be built in any "village" where there is no train or "Luas" service.