Inchicore
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Inchicore (Irish: Inse Chór) is a southern inner suburb of Dublin, Ireland, undergoing extensive redevelopment. It is situated in the postal district Dublin 8.
Contents |
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] History
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.
[edit] 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 Insechor.
[edit] 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 50 feet high, 130 feet wide and 40 feet 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.
[edit] Sports
[edit] 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.
[edit] GAA
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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Other organisations
Order of Malta - Inchicore, with a junior group meeting in the BERA Hall, and a senior group in the Mother McAuley Centre in Drimnagh.
