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Tallaght ( ; , ) is a southwestern outer suburb of Dublin, Ireland. The central village area was the site of a monastic settlement from at least the 8th century, which became one of medieval Ireland's more important monastic centres.
Up to the 1960s, Tallaght was a small village in the old County Dublin, linked to several nearby rural areas which were part of the large civil parish of the same name—the local council estimates the population then to be 2,500.Tallaght, Dublin, Ireland: County Development Plan 2004-2010, p. 78 Suburban development began in the 1970s and a "town centre" area has been developing since the late 1980s. There is no legal definition of the boundaries of Tallaght, but the 13 electoral divisions known as "Tallaght" followed by the name of a locality have, according to the 2022 census, a population of 81,022, up from 76,119 over six years. This makes Tallaght the largest settlement on the island without city status, however there have been calls in recent years for it to be declared one.
The village core of the district is located north of, and near to, the River Dodder, and parts of the broader area within South Dublin are close to the borders of Dublin, County Kildare, Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown and County Wicklow. Several streams flow in the area, notably the Jobstown or Tallaght Stream (a tributary of the Dodder), and the Fettercairn Stream (a tributary of the River Camac), while the Tymon River, the main component of the River Poddle (River Liffey tributary), rises in Cookstown, near Fettercairn.
Tallaght is also the name of an extensive civil parish, which includes other areas of southern and southwestern Dublin, from Templeogue to Ballinascorney in the mountains. A book about the civil parish was published in the 19th century, The History and Antiquities of Tallaght in the County of Dublin, written by William Domville Handcock.
In translation:
The name in Irish, Tamhlacht, is found at other places, such as Tamlaght in Magherafelt District, Northern Ireland, though the mention of Eadoir, probably Binn Éadair (Howth) in the passage below, suggests that Tallaght is the more likely location for this tale.
Places near Tallaght featured in the ancient legends of the Fianna, a band of warriors that roamed the country and fought for the High King at Tara. In Lady Gregory's Gods and Fighting Men, mention is made of, in particular, Gleann na Smól: in Chapter 12 "The Red Woman", on a misty morning, Fionn says to his Fians, "Make yourselves ready, and we will go hunting to Gleann-na-Smol". There they meet Niamh of the Golden Hair, who chose Oisín from among all the Fianna to be her husband, told him to come with her on her fairy horse, after which they rode over the land to the sea and across the waves to the land of Tír na nÓg.
In AD 811, the monastery was devastated by the but the destruction was not permanent and the annals of the monastery continued to be recorded for several following centuries. After the Anglo-Norman invasion in 1179, Tallaght and its appurtenances were confirmed to the Diocese of Dublin and became the property of the Archbishop. The complete disappearance of every trace of what must have been an extensive and well-organised monastic settlement can only be accounted for by the subsequent history of the place, the erection and demolition of defensive walls and castles, and the incessant warfare and destruction that lasted for hundreds of years.
The 17th and 18th centuries brought many changes to Tallaght. Many mills were built along the Dodder and this brought new prosperity to the broad area, which saw the building of many houses.
When John Hoadly replaced Archbishop King in 1729 he found the castle in ruins and had it demolished, building himself a palace at a cost of £2,500. By 1821 the palace too had fallen into ruin and an Act of Parliament was passed which stated that it was unfit for habitation. The following year it was sold to Major Palmer, Inspector General of Prisons, who pulled the palace down and used the materials to build his mansion, Tallaght House, as well as a schoolhouse and several cottages. Parts of Tallaght House, including one tower, were incorporated into St Joseph's Retreat House, situated on the grounds of St Mary's Priory; the rest was demolished. That tower contains a spiral staircase and was originally four storeys high but is now reduced internally to two. Attached to the castle was a long building that was used in the archbishop's time as a brewery and later as a granary and stables. When the Dominican Order came, it was converted into a chapel and was used as such until 1883, when the new church dedicated to Fr Tom Burke (now the older part of the parish church) was built.
The Dominicans came to Tallaght in 1855/6 and soon established a priory that was also a seminary for the formation of Dominicans in Ireland and on missions in Trinidad and Tobago, South America, Australia, British Raj, and elsewhere. The cramped accommodation of Tallaght house was replaced by the austere priory in phases of 1864, 1903 and again in 1957. The work that goes on in these buildings is various: St Joseph's retreat house, the Tallaght parish, St Catherine's counselling centre, at least two publishing enterprises, individual writing and international research in several domains.
The grounds of the Priory, the old palace gardens, still retain older features such as the Archbishop's bathhouse, the Friar's Walk and St. Maelruain's Tree, a Persian walnut of the eighteenth century.
Along an old road from Clondalkin to Tallaght were the Commons of Tallaght, an area which had been enclosed in 1829. On these commons, horse races were frequently held until the mid to late 1800s.
The old constabulary barracks on the main street were the scene of the engagement known as the 'Battle of Tallaght', which occurred during the Fenian Rising on 5 March 1867. On that night the moved out to assemble at the appointed place on Tallaght Hill. The large number of armed men alarmed the police in Tallaght who sent a warning to the nearest barracks. There were fourteen constables and a head constable under Sub-inspector Burke at Tallaght, and they took up a position outside the barracks where they commanded the roads from both Greenhills and Templeogue. The first body of armed men came from Greenhills and, when they came under police fire, retreated. Next, a party came from Templeogue and was also dispersed. In 1936 a skeleton, sword-bayonet and water bottle were found in a hollow tree stump near Terenure. It is thought that these were the remains of one of the Fenians who had taken refuge there after the Battle of Tallaght and either died of his wounds or was frozen to death.
In 1888 the Dublin and Blessington Steam Tramway opened and it passed through Tallaght Village. This provided a new means of transporting goods and also brought day-trippers from the city.
While it was absorbed into the larger suburban area of Dublin (including being included in the postal district Dublin 24 in the 1980s), Tallaght has developed a distinctive identity, arising largely from its rapid growth during recent decades, and now has active local arts, cultural, sports, and economic scene.
Tallaght's Civic Square contains the seat of the local authority, County Hall, a modern and well-equipped library facility, a theatre building and a "cutting edge" 4-storey arts centre named "Rua Red" (which opened on 5 February 2009). This facility offers activities in the areas of music, dancing, art, drama and literature. Along with other local libraries and arts groups, it also has another theatre building and a homegrown youth theatre company. It is also the home to the Tallaght Swim Team, Tallaght RFC, the National Basketball Arena, Shamrock Rovers F.C., and several martial arts schools and Gaelic Athletic Association clubs.
The village core of the district is located north of, and near to, the River Dodder, and several streams flow in the area. The Jobstown Stream or Tallaght Stream (a tributary of the Dodder), approaches from the west, and takes in at least one tributary, the Killinarden Stream from the south, near the N81. The Fettercairn Stream (a tributary of the River Camac), also passes through the northwest fringes of the area, while the Tymon River, the main component of the River Poddle (an historically important River Liffey tributary), rises in Cookstown, near Fettercairn.
Tallaght is not well connected to Dublin's other towns and suburbs, as public transport lines predominantly run through the city centre; this has led to high levels of car dependence. However the W2 bus route links Tallaght to Clondalkin, Liffey Valley Shopping Centre and Ballyfermot, while the S8 connects to Citywest, Rathfarnham, Ballinteer, Dundrum, Sandyford, Leopardstown, Stillorgan, Monkstown and Dún Laoghaire, and the S6 connects with Templeogue, Dundrum and UCD and Blackrock. According to a 2019 consultation paper for the BusConnects project, Tallaght would be establish as a public transport hub for surrounding villages and suburbs.
Routes to the city centre include the 27 (via Jobstown and Tymon Park), 49 (The Square, Aylesbury, Oldbawn, Ballycullen and Firhouse), 54a (Kiltipper, Killinarden Heights, The Square, Tallaght Hospital, Tallaght Village, Balrothery), 56a (The Square, Springfield, Fettercairn and Kingswood), 65 (The Square, Tallaght Hospital, Tallaght Village and Balrothery), 65b (Killinarden Heights, Kiltipper Road, Aylesbury, Old Bawn, Firhouse and Ballycullen) and 77a (Blessington, Killinarden Heights, The Square, Tallaght Hospital, Tallaght Village, Oldbawn, Balrothery and Tymon Park).
Former routes include the 75 (The Square, Rathfarnham, Ballinteer, Dundrum, Stillorgan, and Dún Laoghaire) and 175 (Citywest, Dundrum and UCD). Since 26 November 2023, they have been withdrawn and largely replaced with the brand new S6 and S8 routes.
A metro rail line, Metro West, was proposed to pass through Tallaght but was shelved in 2011. Early plans for the line proposed to link Tallaght with several satellite towns west of Dublin city, including Clondalkin, Lucan, and Blanchardstown. If completed as proposed it would also join with Dublin Metro and continue out to Dublin Airport. The first 4 stops of the proposed Metro West were to be in Tallaght, with the first stop, 'Tallaght East' being situated near Tallaght IT, now the Tallaght Campus of Technological University Dublin.
A Luas extension from Belgard to Saggart and Citywest was added to the original Luas system. This is a 4.2 km (2.5 mi) extension, funded by a Public-Private Partnership with property developers, including Davy Hickey Properties. Identified as Line A1, this €150 million spur off the Red Line at Belgard runs to Saggart. Originally intended to be a spur of the proposed Red Line as far as Fortunestown, it was later decided to extend it to Saggart. Construction started on 9 February 2009, with the line completed by early 2011. Passenger services on the 4.2 km (2½ mile) light rail link started in early 2011. It serves housing developments such as Cairnwood, Ambervale, Belgard Green, Fettercairn, Kilmartin, Brookview, Ardmore, Citywest and Russell Square.
| Tallaght Population 69,454 | 58,596 | 787 | 3,934 | 2,001 | 1,271 | 856 | 2,009 |
The population of the historic civil parish of Tallaght, including areas such as Templeogue, Ballyroan, and wide areas of mountain as far away as Castlekelly, is 101,059.
The original village of Tallaght lies west of the Tallaght Bypass (N81). It stretches east–west from Main Road and Main Street to the Abberley Court Hotel at the end of High Street and encompasses the Village Green shopping plaza, Tallaght Courthouse, Westpark, and many shops, and restaurants and banks. It also houses Tallaght Youth Service, Tallaght's first newspaper printing house the Tallaght Echo, and (formally) Tallaght Community Arts Centre. The area's ITT Dublin, Saint Mary's Priory, and Saint Maelruain's Church are located in the historic quarter of Tallaght village.
The newer "town centre" lies immediately to the south across the Belgard Road, encompassing Belgard Square, the main shopping complex (known as The Square also known as the Pyramid), the Luas Red Line terminus, Tallaght Hospital (including the National Children's Hospital), County Hall, the Civic Theatre, South Dublin County Library, Rua Red Arts Centre, and several bars, restaurants and hotels.
To the northeast of the village lies the Tymon North / Balrothery area, which comprised rural townlands until the 1970s. This district includes estates such as Bancroft, Balrothery, Glenview, Castle Park, Saint Aongus, Tymon, Bolbrook and Avonbeg. These areas are home to several sporting facilities, including the National Basketball Arena, a fitness centre, two swimming pools, an athletics track, and an astroturf football facility. Tymon Park is watered by the River Poddle and borders Greenhills and Templeogue. It contains sporting grounds, ponds, Coláiste De Hide and a large playground at the Tymon North entrance.
Old Bawn, formerly a small village in its own right, is immediately south of the village, bordered by Sean Walsh Memorial Park (also locally called Watergate). To the east of Old Bawn, estates include Home Lawns, Mountain Park, Millbrook Lawns and Seskin View. To the south and southwest of the village lie Ellenborough, Aylesbury, and Killinarden (the latter comprising the residential areas of Deer Park, Cushlawn, Donomore, Killinarden Estate and Knockmore). Beyond these are rural lands, running towards the Wicklow Mountains.
In the northwest is Belgard Green, with Belgard Heights (built 1974) to the north. Half of Kingswood is served by Clondalkin Garda Station. Kingswood and Belgard Heights are adjacent to Clondalkin, while Kilnamanagh is situated beside Greenhills and south-west of Walkinstown and Crumlin. Tallaght Theatre is situated along Greenhills Road.
Virginia Heights and Springfield are close to the area's centre, and further west of the town centre is the former hamlet of Jobstown, which is divided from Central Tallaght via the N81 and the Cheeverstown Road, Jobstown now has dense housing estates, and also the previously rural areas of Kiltalown, Brookfield and Fettercairn.
The more modern "town centre" area of Tallaght holds offices of local and central government entities, including South Dublin County Council, the Revenue Commissioners, the Department of Social and Family Affairs, the Health Service Executive (Eastern Region), County Dublin V.E.C., as well as local FÁS offices. It is also the location of the County Library, Rua Red - the County Arts Centre, the Civic Theatre, and many shops, bars, and restaurants. Tallaght University Hospital is located nearby.
Tallaght is home to The Square (stylised as "sq."), one of Ireland's largest shopping centres, with three retail levels and accessible by the Luas and by bus. Anchor tenants at the centre include Tesco, Easons, Heatons and Dunnes Stores. Tallaght's 12-screen United Cinemas International cinema closed in March 2010, but was replaced in April 2012 when a 13-screen IMC cinema opened in place of the old one.
Five hotels are located in the "town centre" area: the Plaza Hotel near The Square, the Abberley Court Hotel at High Street, the Maldron Hotel at Whitestown Way, near Seán Walsh Park, and the Glashaus Hotel and Tallaght Cross Hotel at "Tallaght Cross", near the Tallaght Luas Stop.
Across the N81 dual carriageway - south of the "town centre" - is the 10,000-seat football ground called Tallaght Stadium. Initially, construction was undertaken by Shamrock Rovers F.C. on lands belonging to South Dublin County Council, but the project was marred by financial problems, and the site reverted to council ownership. Work on the site recommenced on 6 May 2008, Tallaght Stadium - Building Recommences May 2008 Shamrock Rovers F.C. Published on 07-05-08. Retrieved on 14-05-08. after a judicial review taken by a local GAA club had been thrown out of court the preceding January. Shamrock Rovers F.C
Sean Walsh Memorial Park also lies south of the N81.
Tallaght is home to one of the campuses of the Technological University Dublin, formerly Institute of Technology, Tallaght (ITT), a Higher education college offering undergraduate degrees as well as higher certificates and post-graduate professional qualifications, founded in 1992 as the Regional Technical College, Tallaght. The Priory Institute at the Dominican, St. Mary's Priory, runs certificate, diploma and degree courses in Theology and Philosophy.
St Maelruans FC is located in Bancroft Park near Tallaght Village. They were founded in 1968, and have teams playing at underage levels and a senior team playing football in the Leinster Senior League. Newtown Rangers AFC is located at Farrell Park, Kiltipper. They were founded in 1957 and have two senior teams playing in the Leinster Senior League.
Brookfield Celtic, one of Dublin's largest underage football clubs, was founded in Tallaght in 1999. Kingswood Castle FC is another local men's soccer club. Founded in 2013, they play their home matches in Ballymount park. The club's home colours are black and white.
The trailhead of the Dublin Mountains Way, a long-distance walking route across the Dublin side of the Wicklow Mountains between Tallaght and Shankill, begins at Sean Walsh Park near Tallaght Stadium.
In July 1998, a section of the Tour de France routed through Tallaght.
Glenanne Hockey Club is based in Tallaght, playing their home games on the astroturf pitch located in St. Marks Community School.
South Dublin Taekwondo and Eire Taekwondo Association are the only WTF (Olympic Style) Taekwondo clubs in Tallaght. Eire Taekwondo Association was founded in 1988 as St. Martin's Taekwondo club and has since been rebranded and grown to include clubs around Dublin County, as well as in other counties. South Dublin Taekwondo was founded in 2008 and are tenants in the Tallaght Leisure Centre. There are several I.T.F style Taekwon-do clubs in the area.
Tallaght Rugby Football Club was founded as a youth team in 2002 with financial support from the IRFU before setting up a senior team in 2006.
Rua Red hosts arts/entertainment events and groups. Tallaght Young Filmmakers are a youth filmmaking group initiated by South Dublin County Council's Arts Office in partnership with local young people.
Movies@ The Square is a cinema located in the Square shopping centre. The cinema boasts 11 screens and a V.I.P lounge. The site previously housed UCI Cinemas, before being closed and re-opened as IMC Cinemas. IMC closed down this location during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the Movies@ The Square re-opening in 2021.
Particular emphasis has been placed on providing education through Irish. There are now three (Irish-speaking primary schools), Scoil Santain (founded in 1979), Scoil Chaitlín Maude (founded in 1986) (Caitlín Maude, after whom the latter is named, was a well-known Irish-language poet, singer and activist who settled in the area), as well as Scoil na Giúise founded in 2012. There is also an Irish-medium secondary school, Coláiste de hÍde.
The importance of the language was given official recognition in 2015 with the announcement of a €50,000 council grant to Gaelphobal Thamhlachta, supplemented by a government grant of €150,000 in 2016, meant to facilitate the creation of a local Irish-language cultural centre, including a public cafe staffed by local Irish speakers. A further €30,000 was granted by South Dublin County Council in 2019 to help develop a theatre as part of a cultural centre at 518 Tallaght Village. Gaelphobal Thamhlachta opened a bilingual café named 'Aon Scéal?' as part of a cultural centre in Tallaght village in December 2019.
The flag developed into "An Bhratach Seasmhacht", or "The Endurance Flag", which was flown from The Cabin at the Fettercairn Community Centre for 12 months, as part of Tallaght Community Arts 'Headin' Out Project' between 2013 and 2014.
In September 2017, The Tallaght Unity Flag was presented to Bridie Sweeney, the first ever Tallaght Person of the Year and a dedicated volunteer at the Vincent's shop in Tallaght Village, in recognition of her extensive community work. Bridie, honored in 1984 during the inaugural Tallaght Person of the Year awards, was acknowledged by the Tallaght Community Council for her enduring energy and commitment to volunteering. Tara De Buitléar, TCC's volunteer PRO, highlighted Bridie's continuous community focus and her significant role at St Vincent de Paul. The flag is intended as a symbol of Tallaght's identity and community spirit. It is now displayed proudly in Vincent's shop, joining many local businesses and groups that embrace and fly the Tallaght flag with pride.
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