Inchicore

Inchicore (Irish place name|Inse Chór) is a southern inner suburb of Dublin, Ireland, south of the River Liffey and west of the city centre, in the Dublin 8 postal district.

The district was originally a village just outside Dublin city until it was swallowed up by the expanding city more than a century ago. It has a strong association with the railways, with the main engineering works for the Irish railway network having been first located there in the nineteenth century.

Inchicore still has a village-like atmosphere with a two banks, a wide selection of shops (some still family owned), including a butcher, hardware shop, Eurospar, Tesco Express, Xtravision, chemist(s) and bakery. Several well-stocked ethnic shops add to the multi-cultural feel. The village is served by several pubs, an Indian and an Italian restaurant and café.

Inchicore is presently undergoing considerable redevelopment, with the building of a small hotel and several apartment blocks. This is increasing the density and diversity of the population.

Features

The Camac River runs through Inchicore, down by Kilmainham, and into the River Liffey not far from Heuston Station. Most of its course is now culverted and covered by buildings. During the 17th century, industries such as textiles developed along the Camac, which at the time was characterised by water mills, water wheels and weirs. In the 18th century, mills at Goldenbridge (Glydon Bridge) were producing paper and flour. Much of the industrial archaeology has disappeared but remnants do exist in the area.

To the north between Inchicore and Phoenix Park are the Irish National War Memorial Gardens, built to commemorate those Irish soldiers who died in World War I, and records the names of those lost in that war.

Transport

Inchicore is bounded on its western side by the Grand Canal, which saw significant traffic in the 18th century, as well as the Luas, Dublin's 21st century tram system which opened in 2004.

Industry

Inchicore Railway Works is the headquarters for mechanical engineering and rolling stock maintenance for Irish Rail. Established in 1844, it is the largest engineering complex of its kind in Ireland with a site area of 73 acres (295,000 m²). CIE also built buses for its fleets in Spa Road.

History

In 1889 both the All Ireland Hurling and the All Ireland Football finals were played in Inchicore. It was the first time a venue in Dublin had hosted the finals. Dublin won the hurling final, while Tipperary won the football final.

Near Inchicore is Kilmainham Jail, the scene of the execution of many Irish Republican Army leaders captured after the Easter Rising in 1916. Inchicore was the hometown of Timothy Coughlin, one of the three anti-Treaty members of the IRA who in 1927 assassinated Kevin O'Higgins. St. Michael's National School was previously known as Richmond Barracks, and it was to this site that prisoners were initially taken after the surrender in 1916.

Goldenbridge Cemetery, where former President of the Executive Council W. T. Cosgrave is buried, was the first Catholic cemetery built in Dublin after Catholic Emancipation.

The Wolfe Tones band, founded in 1963, comprises members from Inchicore.

Arts

Inchicore has been home over the years to a number of distinguished Irish poets, including Michael Hartnett, who lived on Emmet Road from 1984 until his death in 1999. A plaque is in place on his former residence within shouting distance of the stands of St. Pat's Athlectic football club. One collection of Hartnett's poems bears the title 'Inchicore Haiku' and recounts hard times in his life.

Another Irish poet, Thomas Kinsella, was born off Sarsfield Road in the 'Ranch' and went to the Model School. He is winner of the UCD Ulysses Medal.

Francis Ledwidge has associations with St. Michael's CBS, formerly the British Army's Richmond Barracks. This is where he enlisted and trained before being shipped out to fight in WW1. The Inchicore Ledwidge Society runs events to raise awareness of the life and works of the poet-soldier.

The nationalist poet, Padraig Pearse, was imprisoned before being shot by firing squad in Kilmainham Gaol on the Inchicore Road.

Education Facilities

Inchicore College of Further Education is part of the CDVEC (City of Dublin Vocational Educational Committee) and is located in Inchicore.

Local primary schools include The Oblates National School, St. Michael's National School, Goldenbridge, The Model School/Inchicore National School and the Irish speaking Gaelscoil Inse Chór.

Religion

Roman Catholic churches are the Church of Mary Immaculate (built by the Oblates), and St. Michael's. It is also home to two community centres, St Michael's and BERA.

Behind the Oblates' Church is a full size replica of the Grotto of Lourdes, which was opened in 1930. The grotto is convert|50|ft|m high, convert|130|ft|m wide and convert|40|ft|m deep, and is built of reinforced concrete. Pilgrims visit the shrine all the year, but it becomes particularly busy for the Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes (February 2 - February 11). The grotto houses the famous Inchicore Crib.

Sports

Football (soccer)

St. Patrick's Athletic (founded in 1929 and commonly known as "St. Pat's") play in Richmond Park. St. Pat's have played in Inchicore since 1930 (save for time spent exiled due to ground redevelopment) and are strongly linked with Inchicore within Irish football circles. The club have won the League of Ireland Championship on 7 occasions. Among the famous players to have played for St. Pat's are Paul McGrath (who was given the affectionate nickname "The Black Pearl of Inchicore"), Ronnie Whelan Snr., Shay Gibbons, Gordon Banks, Curtis Fleming, Paul Osam, Eddie Gormley and Charles Livingstone Mbabazi. St Patrick's Athletic have nearly 20 schoolboy and schoolgirl sides, all based in Inchicore. Richmond Park has hosted many ladies and underage international games as well as cup finals at all levels of football in Ireland.

There are many junior and intermediate sides based in Inchicore. Among these are Lansdowne Rangers, Inchicore Athletic and West Park Albion.

GAA

Liffey Gaels are Inchicore's local GAA club and they field teams of all ages in Football, Hurling and Camógie. They are located on Sarsfield Road.The club was founded in 1951 and was originally known as Rialto Gaels and played under that name for over twenty years, until, the 1970s when it changed its name to St. Michaels and James' to reflect the parts played by these schools, both teachers and students, in the development of the club. In 1984, local juvenile club Donore Iosagain amalgamated with SS Michaels and James' and it was then agreed to change the name to Liffey Gaels.

For almost 60 years the club has been the centre of gaelic games in the historic south-west area of the city of Dublin.

Rugby

Guinness Rugby Football Club (Guinness R.F.C.) is the nearest rugby club in the area. It is based in the Iveagh Sports Grounds on the Crumlin Road.

Other organisations

[http://www.orderofmalta.ie/what-we-do.asp?id=34&cid=288 Order of Malta - Inchicore] , with a junior group meeting in the BERA Hall, and a senior group in the Mother McAuley Centre in Drimnagh.