STILLORGAN

'Stillorgan' (''Stigh Lorcáin'', previously ''Tigh Lorcáin'' or ''Teach Lorcáin'' in Irish), formerly a village in its own right, is now a broad suburban area of Dublin in Ireland. Stillorgan is in the county council area of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, and contains many housing estates, shops and other facilities, with the old village centre still there.

Contents

Name

Location and access

Development

Schools

Leisure

See also

External links

Name

Stillorgan was named after an old chieftan probably called Lorcan or Laurence. What may have been his burial chamber was found in the area in 1716. 1

Location and access

Stillorgan neighbours southside districts such as Mount Merrion, Sandyford, Leopardstown, Dundrum, Blackrock, Goatstown and Foxrock.
The N11 road leads out from the city, passing through Stillorgan, towards the major commuter town of Bray. It has bypassed the village centre since the mid 1970s when the Stillorgan Bypass was opened to the east. The N11 hosts the 'Stillorgan Quality Bus Corridor' (QBC) which runs along the N11 in both directions from St Stephens Green to Foxrock. Stillorgan is a major bus interchange and the Stillorgan QBC is the most heavily used in Ireland, featuring the busiest and most frequent bus route, the 46A to Dun Laoghaire. Aircoach provides direct link to the Dublin Airport.
Stillorgan also has a station on the Luas green line, next to the reservoir and Sandyford Industrial Estate. It has a commuter bus link to the shopping center. The green line is 9km in length with 13 stops and links Sandyford and St Stephens Green.

Development

The first shopping centre to be built in Ireland opened in Stillorgan in 1966 2. To enable the construction of the centre, many of the original early 19th century cottages had to be knocked down. They used to run from ''Oatlands College'' right down to the end of the ''Dublin Road'' and up the Lower Kilmacud road.The rubble was used to fill in and level the lands that are now Pairc De Burca belong to Kilmacud Crokes.
Discussions have been ongoing for many years about expanding and updating the centre. It is due to be redeveloped by Tresury Holdings in 2008. The 'Bakes' site has also planning permission for a multi story apartment complex with some commercial units. The Lesureplex area to the Library is also due to be redeveloped.
One of the most prominent architectural features is the large 18th century obelisk designed by Edward Lovett Pearce for the second Viscount Allen; Pearse resided in Stillorgan in a house known as The Grove, which was demolished to make way for Stillorgan Bowl (now LeisurePlex). The famous artist William Orpen grew up in a house called 'Oriel' on Grove Avenue.
The suburb had a population of 15,894 in the 2006 census.
The present St. Brigid's Church of Ireland was built in 1706 on the site of an earlier church, thought to have been linked to St. Brigid's Monastery in Kildare.
The campus of University College Dublin is slightly further in towards the city centre.
A large open reservoir, called Stillorgan Reservoir, is situated near the Sandyford Industrial Estate. The water is piped from the Vartry Reservoir near Roundwood in County Wicklow.

Schools

There are 5 national schools in the Stillorgan area; St. Laurences (Boys/Catholic), Oatlands (Mixed/Catholic), St.Raphaelas (Girls/Catholic), Mount Anville (Girls/Catholic), St.Bridgid's (Mixed/Interdenominational)
There are 3 Secondary Schools in the area; St.Benildus College (Boys/Catholic), St.Raphaelas (Girls/Catholic), Oatlands (Mixed/Catholic)

Leisure

Stillorgan is also home to the famous Kilmacud Crokes G.A.A. club whose clubhouse, Glenalbyn is located directly opposite the shopping centre. Stillorgan's oldest pub is ''Bolands on the Hill''. The Ormonde Cinema is located in near the shopping centre.

See also

★ List of towns in the Republic of Ireland

External links

★ Map of Stillorgan

★ Stillorgan Wood Residents Association

★ Aerial View of Stillorgan Area

★ Oatlands College- local secondary school

★ Glenalbyn local sports club