Kingswood is a small housing estate in Tallaght, Dublin, Ireland.
General description
The estate is located between Belgard Road and the M50 motorway. It has a population of approximately 1,600. The shops, in the center of the estate, act as a meeting point for the neighborhood. These shops consist of a bookmakers, a Chinese take-away, a dry-cleaners, an Italian take-away, a hair salon, a pharmacy, and a mini-market. Kingswood contains the primary schools, St. Killian's S.N.S and St. Killian's Junior School. Beside the schools is the community centre. The Scout's hall, built in 2004, is a more impressive structure which stands only a few yards from the community centre. A nearby apartment complex has been built atop the "Clock Tower" pub (now named "The Kingswood Lodge"). The tower is currently without a clock, leading to a local joke: "Now we won't know what time it isn't!"
Notable features
One of Kingswood's most noteworthy features is the park. Dubbed "Tynan Park" after the poet, Katherine Tynan, who once lived in Kingswood, the park provides a place to relax in the sunshine. It also has plenty of dark, unpaved regions, which make interesting exploring grounds for youngsters. Tynan Park is also home to the ruins of a castle, known locally as "Kingswood Castle", which was built by William Parsons in 1622, only to be burned down in 1646 by insurgents. On the north side of the park, there is a mound with a stone ruin on top, which is commonly mistaken for a motte and bailey castle, also built by Parsons. However, it was actually built in the early 1700s by John Butler as a venue for his daughter's wedding. The structure was never fully built, giving it the appearance of a ruin, though in fact it is in good condition.
External links
- Link to aerial view of Kingswood (select link for Kingswood Shopping Centre Car Park and use zoom feature for wider views)
- Parliamentary debate on St. Killian's junior and senior schools
- Askaboutireland.ie web page on Katherine Tynan's Kingswood home
