“SWORDS HAS SUCH diversity, new communities, and a rural and village feel all in one.”
For Alan Dunne, owner of Alan Dunne Fitness on North St, the great sense of community in Swords town is what makes it so special – despite its sizeable population.
“You would expect the main street of a town with 40,000 people to be hectic, but it is friendly and has great people from all walks of life,” he says.
For Jay Vista of Cupcakes and Counting in River Mall just off Main St, it was the thriving shopping scene that made Swords the perfect spot to open his business.
“The old-world charm and rural feel of Swords village, and the urban and concrete jungle vibes of the business parks surrounding the town, these are the things that attracted
us most to set up our business in Swords.”
Located 15km from Dublin city centre in Fingal, Co Dublin, Swords has a unique place in Ireland’s history. It was founded as a monastic settlement by St Colm Cille in the 6th century, and was the resting place of Brian Boru before his funeral after the battle of Clontarf.
At the heart of the town is Swords Castle, which dates from 1200 and was home to the Medieval Archbishop of Dublin. The castle and its surrounding buildings are located on 0.5 hectares, and admission is free.
Swords is ideally located for commuters, with easy access to the M1 meaning you can reach the city centre in 20 minutes. The Swords Express provides a direct route to the city, while multiple Dublin Bus services run in and around the town, making for an appealing choice for first-time buyers who want to be close to the action. The town’s proximity to Dublin Airport (it’s 10 minutes away) can’t be ignored, either.
Located a short drive from Swords is Ravens Mill. Situated in Rolestown village, Ravens Mill is a new development from Glenveagh Homes consisting of two, three and four-bedroom houses.
The development benefits from a scenic countryside location, while also enjoying everything Swords has to offer. Amenities for families at Rolestown include Fingal Ravens GAA and Rolestown National School, which the Greencare team at Glenveagh worked with to install planters for classrooms as part of their commitment to biodiversity. Glenveagh is also a sponsor of the Gaelic4Girls programme, which encourages younger girls’ participation in sport, at St Finian’s GAA Club in Swords.
If you’re house-hunting at the moment, could Swords be a worthy addition to your list? We asked some locals to weigh in…
With the Pavilions Shopping Centre, Airside Retail Park and the buzzing hub of businesses of all sizes on Main St, locals in Swords have the privilege of being close to whatever they may need. “You don’t have to go far for anything with the Pavilions, restaurants, and lots of shops around,” says Alan Dunne.
“I moved to Swords about 18 years ago as my daughter was living here and I haven’t looked back. It’s near enough to town, beaches, and our families.”
Alan says the community spirit in Swords makes the town stand out to him as a business-owner. “Swords has a great population, which is important as a gym owner. Our clients find that it is easily accessible. Since we opened our new gym, we have kept many of our old clients and got new ones because once you stay in Swords, everywhere is only a few minutes away.”
Jay Vista says the atmosphere of Main St makes it his favourite part of the town. “The main road of the town is teeming with local shops and businesses beautifully decorated in their own unique ways.”
It’s also notable that community spirit has endured despite the challenges of the last two years – and even been strengthened by them, he says: “It is such an amazing sight to see a small town hustling and bustling despite the current adversity.”
Just off Main Street is Book Haven, where Carmel Murphy works. The store supplies educational materials and general books to the ever-increasing population. “There are a lot of schools and a growing population in the area,” says Carmel.
Like Jay, Carmel points out that Swords maintains a ‘village feel’ despite its size and the number of amenities. “I love the village atmosphere of the town,” she says, adding that recent initiatives have built on this further. “I am very happy with the recent improvements in decorating the area with flowers in the summer and the renovations at Swords Castle.”
For first-time buyer Vicky Grainger, the house prices in Swords were a big part of its appeal for her and her partner. “Myself and my fiancé decided to buy in Swords after finding out we could get much more for our money by just moving 10 minutes out the M1,” she says.
Like Alan, something that stood out for Vicky was the abundance of amenities the town has to offer. “We had no connections to Swords. What drew us to the town was how many amenities are there, we loved the estate we bought in and it isn’t far from Dublin City centre, where I work. Plus, it’s still close to the seaside, which I love.
“I love how there are lots of restaurants and bars on our doorstep, and the Pavilions is a great shopping centre and has everything you need. As well as that, the Swords Express is an excellent service which connects you to the city centre very fast.”
Considering Rolestown and Swords as your new home? Ravens Mill is launching soon – register your interest here.
At Glenveagh Homes, our vision is that everyone should have the opportunity to access great-value, high-quality homes in flourishing communities across Ireland. We understand that buying a home is possibly the biggest decision you will ever make in your life – but we want to make it your easiest. Click here to find out more about Glenveagh developments.
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