The various branches of the Taylor and Savage families have certainly left their mark on the retailing history of Swords. At one time, they had both a drapiery and a much-loved (and missed!) hardware shop on Main St. This latter shop began trading in 1984, continuing until it closed its doors in December 2008.
At its peak, it employed 12 staff, 8 full-time and 4 part-time. The ostensible reason given for its closure was high local rates, but widespread recession loomed in Ireland then, a challenging time for all local businesses.
Christy Russell, of that famous Lusk family was one person left jobless as a result. Christy, as we all know, has had many setbacks in his life, but he’s still a stalwart of the Lusk Pipe Band, with its many medals and achievements. Good on you Christy and on all the members of this illustrious band,
keeping the fine musical tradition of Fingal alive and thriving!
Aer Lingus Lawn Bowls Club is a vibrant, friendly club located in the ALSAA sports complex K67YV06.
We have recently acquired a new synthetic Greengauge mat. This has enhanced our club immensely and we now possess one of the best bowling greens in the country.
In 2025 we were winners of an ILB Vets team. We also had finalists in the ILB doubles and triples championship competitions. We cater for men and women and we play in a mixed league.
If you are interested in joining our club, we offer coaching sessions, social and league games. We participate in ILB winter and summer leagues as well as internal club competitions.
We will have an open day on May 3rd 11am until 3pm.
If you would like to have a trial session, please contact us on aerlinguslawnbowlsclub@hotmail.com or call Sandra McCarthy on 086-3114540
By Jon Kavanagh
The appearance of the new Cultural Quarter on the Swords Skyline reminds us how much the town has evolved over the years. Before the bypass was constructed in the eighties, the main street formed part of the Dublin/Belfast Road. The street was much wider then, as heavy-duty trucks and buses crawled through with all the pace of a tortoise on Valium. Small locally owned businesses including: a couple of butchers, a hardware and drapery, a television repair and rental and several corner shops lined the town.
here was an old-style garage (not a cappuccino or croissant to be seen) in the heart of the town; with just a couple of fuel pumps mounted on the footpath and a rustic workshop to mend punctures and do repairs. Long queues formed there during the oil crisis (sounds eerily familiar) in the seventies. The proprietor operator a strict ‘regular customers only’ policy as he dispatched unfamiliar faces without ceremony.
Parking was a free for all; drivers played dodgem, as they battled their way into any available space. In pre NCT days cars often carried their own body weight in rust; exhaust pipes held up with wire, boots kept in place by a length of rope, and tires as bald as Kojak were not an uncommon sight. The castle lay derelict and unappreciated, as pigs foraged in its grounds. Whilst the bypass brought traffic relief, it was not without its teething problems. Articulated trucks jacked knifed and turned over all too often on the Pinnock Hill Roundabout. A tipper truck struck and brought down a pedestrian fly over bridge. Thankfully, there was no one on the bridge at the time. A hapless man from a rural hinterland in Fingal, encountered a roundabout for the first time whilst astride his Honda 50. Like the proverbial deer caught in the headlights, he panicked and propelled his machine anticlockwise against the traffic. In a daring deed worthy of a Hollywood stuntman, he managed to crash land onto the centre, with seconds to spare before disaster struck.
Time has moved on but despite the multiplicity of changes, Swords maintains its congenial atmosphere. A place where friends, neighbours and acquaintances still find time to stop for a chat during their busy day.
Francis (Frank) Lawless (1870-1922) TD and patriot, came from an illustrious nationalistic farming family from Saucerstown, Swords. The Lawless family would have been seen as ‘strong’ farmers in the Swords area. The Lawlesses were involved in every local Irish organisation including the Gaelic League, the GAA and Feiseanna.
Frank Lawless, like many of his family, was a fine singer and performer. He was elected president of Fingallians in 1902 having played himself for their team. He was a senior officer in the Fingal Volunteers, playing a pivotal role in the 1916 rising. He was elected a Sinn Fein TD 1919-1922 and was pro-Treaty.
Frank Lawless was tragically killed, aged 51, in an accident involving a horse - drawn cart. His funeral saw both Eamonn de Valera and Michael Collins both in attendance, united in their grief.
Mp2911198@gmail.com.
Fingal County Council has marked the commencement of works on the Seatown Road to Estuary Road Active Travel Scheme with a sod turning event attended by the Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Tom O’Leary, Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, AnnMarie Farrelly and Director of Environment, Climate Action, Active Travel & Sport, David Storey. The project will deliver a range of improvements designed to enhance safety, accessibility and the overall travel experience for people moving along this route.
John Cradock Ltd has been appointed as the contractor for the scheme, with works having commenced recently and estimated to take approximately 12 months to complete. Upgrades include new cycle lanes on both sides of the road and the widening of the footpath under the bridge to improve pedestrian safety. The project also includes upgrading the roundabouts at Swords Business Campus and Estuary Road to designs that better accommodate cyclists, consisting of two cycle-friendly roundabouts with safe pedestrian crossings at all exits to protect vulnerable road users. These improvements will create more convenient and accessible travel options for people walking, cycling and wheeling, whether travelling to school, sport, shops or work.
Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Tom O’Leary, stated: “I am delighted to see works begin on this project which will make everyday journeys safer and more enjoyable for people living, working and visiting the area. By improving footpaths, enhancing cycling facilities and calming traffic, we are creating a road environment that better supports families, schoolchildren and our most vulnerable road users.”
David Storey, Director of Environment, Climate Action, Active Travel & Sport at Fingal County Council, said: “The commencement of works on the Seatown Road to Estuary Road Active Travel Scheme is an important step in strengthening the sustainable transport network in this part of the county. It advances the wider active travel link between Swords and Malahide, creating a more connected corridor that will serve the community well into the future.”
Aer Lingus Lawn Bowls Club is a vibrant, friendly club located in the ALSAA sports complex K67YV06.
We have recently acquired a new synthetic Greengauge mat. This has enhanced our club immensely and we now possess one of the best bowling greens in the country.
In 2025 we were winners of an ILB Vets team. We also had finalists in the ILB doubles and triples championship competitions. We cater for men and women and we play in a mixed league.
If you are interested in joining our club, we offer coaching sessions, social and league games. We participate in ILB winter and summer leagues as well as internal club competitions.
We will have an open day in late March, date to be confirmed.
If you would like to have a trial session, please contact us on aerlinguslawnbowlsclub@hotmail.com. Sandra McCarthy on 086-813114540
Do you have a big day on the horizon? A wedding speech, an important job interview, or a high-stakes presentation? For many of us, the thought of addressing an audience can feel overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to be. With the right support and practice, you can transform fear into confidence.
That’s where Toastmasters International comes in. At Swords Toastmasters, we provide a supportive, structured environment where members develop the skills and self-belief to communicate with clarity and confidence. Guests are always welcome to attend for an obligation-free visit. One member who took that first step is Louise Duffy.
Louise said “After I got promoted, I quickly felt the dread of having to deliver presentations to senior management and speak in front of large audiences. I began researching ways to improve my skills and found Swords Toastmasters. From the very first meeting, the group was welcoming and encouraging. They provide a friendly, non-judgemental environment where you can become comfortable addressing a crowd. Everyone genuinely wants you to succeed, while also offering constructive feedback to help you grow. I’m pleased to say I now have no problem addressing an audience — whether delivering a speech or presenting. In fact, I don’t give it a second thought anymore. That transformation wouldn’t have been possible without Swords Toastmasters.”
Louise’s experience is a reminder that confident communication is not something you are simply born with — it is a skill that can be learned, practised, and mastered. If you’re ready to conquer your fear and unlock your potential, why not come along and see what’s possible?
Contact swordstm@gmail.com today to arrange your complimentary visit.
Swords Toastmasters is a club that helps people develop their public speaking, listening, and leadership skills, in a fun and supportive environment. Members join for a variety of reasons. Some, to progress their careers, to perform better at interviews, to practice for workplace presentations, or even for that all important wedding speech. If you would like to see Louise and her fellow Toastmasters in action, get in touch today, for an obligation-free visit. Perhaps you will be inspired to take the first step towards finding your own voice and changing your life!
Swords Toastmasters meet Every 2nd Monday from 8pm – 10pm at Forrest Little Golf Club, Forrest Road, Swords, Co. Dublin, K67 K825. For more information, email swordstm@gmail.com or contact the membership officer on 086 8538048.
We know that in the past, Swords definitely had stone walls surrounding it.Queen Elizabeth 1 in 1575 called Swerdes (Swords) ‘…our good and walled town of Swerdes.’
But just where are these walls? Lacking physical evidence, the patterns of footfall around the village give us a good indication of how things looked back in medieval days. The passage shown in both pictures is called locally the ‘gut’, presumably because of it’s constricted width.
In fact,this old alleyway was the site of the postern(secondary) gate for Sword’s walls.The main gate of the medieval town had to be located where the main roads meet, ie just down from Witherspoons on main street.This particular gate was rarely opened, being heavy and cumbersome, with folk generally entering the town via this smaller ,postern one.
The earlier picture reveals that the outside wall of the present-day pizza shop, was in fact part of the original town walls of Sword. The complex of buildings jutting out from main street here were part of the defensive medieval main gate complex of Swords.
This upper, southern section of Swords was for centuries the heart of the English garrison here, with St Columbas ,the Vicarage (Glebe) , RIC barracks (Church street) and toll booth, all nearby .Older inhabitants of Swords have told me they felt that this area was the more ‘protestant’ part of the village, the later developing main street being mainly Irish and nationalistic in their outlook.
Fingal County Council and Broomfield Construction have officially started work on transforming a rundown 19th century townhouse in Swords. The project will refurbish, convert and extend the old building to create 13 new homes on North Street, right in the centre of the town.
The Mayor of Fingal, Cllr. Tom O’Leary, and the Council’s Chief Executive, AnnMarie Farrelly, visited the site in December to mark the beginning of construction. The Council’s architects outlined how the project supports Fingal’s “Town Centre First” goal — which focuses on bringing unused or derelict homes back into use.
Once finished, the development, called North Court, will offer a mix of one bed and two bed homes. This includes three age friendly units and two built to universal design standards. All homes will be allocated to people on the Council’s social housing list.
Urban regeneration is a key part of the Council’s housing strategy, which has received a record €884 million under the 2025–2028 Capital Programme.
North Court is next to another major project — the €40 million Swords Cultural Quarter. This will include a library, theatre, gallery, maker space, arts spaces and a café, all within an iconic new building due to open in 2027. The project also includes improving the area around Swords Castle to create a better public space for events.
By making use of existing services and being close to jobs and public transport, North Court will offer sustainable living for the 38 people who will eventually move in. Turning a semi derelict site into new homes will also help improve the look and feel of the street.
Mayor of Fingal, Cllr. Tom O’Leary commented on the occasion: “I am delighted to turn the sod on North Court Swords which will provide much needed housing, including age friendly homes, in the heart of the town close to all amenities. Developments such as this, which sees the conversion of semi derelict houses into three new homes and additional ten apartments to the rear, contribute to combatting dereliction and breathing life into our town centres”.
Swords Autism Friendly Town Group is a new community-led initiative established in summer 2025 by community leaders, Autistic adults, and parents of Autistic children living in the Swords area.
They are currently planning a large multi-agency autism symposium in April, bringing together services, families, and Autistic voices to strengthen understanding and inclusion across the Swords area.
This community event will focus on the major stages across the lifespan, including moving from preschool to primary school, primary to secondary school, and secondary to tertiary education or adult day services.
“In a very short space of time, the response from the local community has been truly overwhelming. We now have an active WhatsApp community of over 250 members across multiple channels, where families and Autistic adults share trusted information, local supports, and peer connection. For many families who previously felt isolated, this has already become a vital source of support,” explained Events Coordinator Caroline St Leger.
Alongside online connection, Swords Autism Friendly Town Group have facilitated several in-person initiatives, including: A Friday night teen social club; An Adult Support Group and an Adult Social Hangout.
“Our aim is simple: to ensure Autistic people and their families feel visible, supported, and connected within their own community,” Caroline added.
For more information, please contact swordsautismfriendlytown@gmail.com.