Location and access
Location
Firhouse is located between Knocklyon, Ballycullen, andAccess
Firhouse is located by Junction 12 on the M50 motorway and is also served by Firhouse Road and Killininny Road. SeveralEtymology
The origin of the place name derives from the Irish-language phrase 'Teach na Giúise', sometimes translated as 'house of fir'. This name is reputed to derive from what was previously a wild forest of fir trees located in the area. It may also come from a manor that was located at the top of the laneway now joining Scoil Treasa and Scoil Carmel, which belonged to a family called ''Fieragh'' with connections to Norway. Like much of the rest of the area, this laneway, which led up to the main house, was lined with fir trees. According to theHistory
Firhouse was historically the site of a small rural settlement near the river bank, and another, Upper Firhouse, nearby. Firhouse lay within the townland of Knocklyon and was owned, over time, by Walter de Ridelford, and later families including the Burnells, the Bathes, the Nugents and the Talbots, eventually being sold by the Duke of Wharton to the famous Speaker Conolly. Dated to at least the early 13th century, a weir was built in the Dodder between Firhouse and Balrothery, the district on the north bank opposite, and much of the Dodder's water was diverted to the course of the River Poddle, to supply the then-small Dublin city. The weir is known variously as Balrothery Weir, Firhouse Weir or City Weir, and was the starting point of the canal known as the City Watercourse. In ''The History and Antiquities of Tallaght, County Dublin'' (published in the mid 19th century), George Domville Handcock refers to Firhouse as "a small dirty village, principally inhabited by stonebreakers". While there was no bridge near in a south-westerly direction until the 20th century, a bridge was made just north of the village. The settlement grew further in the 19th century, and a number of mills existed in the vicinity, including a paper mill across the river. As of the early 1900s, the main village comprised 7 houses, two pubs and a forge. By the 1910s, the village already extended for half a mile, with a school, church, convent, public house and two smithies,Dublin, Ordnance Survey Office: Ordnance Survey Mapping, 1911 and 1935 editions and the Moscow Dance Hall was built there in the 1930s, operating for about three years. The population remained small until rapid suburban development began in the 1970s, with large-scale housing development continuing into the 1980s.Historical accounts
A brief history of Firhouse (as "Fir-house") is included in "The History and Antiquities of Tallaght in the County of Dublin", an account of the large historic ecclesiastical and laterKearney family
Firhouse was the site, in 1816, of the disappearance of a gamekeeper, and the subsequent hanging of three of the Kearney family for the suspected murder involved. Following the disappearance of John Kinlen, a bloody axe was found near the Kearneys' pub in Firhouse and the Kearneys, a father and two sons, were convicted of the killing. A gallows was built at the suspected scene of the crime, outside their pub, for their hanging. When one son, William, fell through the gallows, it was discovered that he was too tall to be strangled by the rope around his neck, so a hole was dug under the gallows, and the hangman then pulled down on his legs and held onto him until he was dead.The History Show, RTÉ Radio One, 12 June 2011, "Public executions through history" No visible reference to this incident can be found in modern Firhouse.Governance and politics
Firhouse is in the jurisdiction of South Dublin County Council, with councillors elected within the Firhouse-Bohernabreena electoral area. In the system of council committees, it is in the oversight of the Rathfarnham / Templeogue / Firhouse / Bohernabreena Area Committee. For strategic planning purposes, the council groups Firhouse in the extensive ''Templeogue / Walkinstown / Rathfarnham / Firhouse'' neighbourhood (the other "neighbourhoods" of the county being ''greater Tallaght'' and the broad ''Clondalkin'' area). The district lies within the Dail Eireann constituency of Dublin South-West.Amenities
There are two community centres, Firhouse Community and Sports Complex, which is home to various sporting teams and the local Scouting Den, and The Park Community Centre, which lies in Ballycragh Park. The Community and Sports Centre was built by Firhouse Community Council. Firhouse also has one main shopping centre, Firhouse Shopping Centre, anchored by a supermarket. There is also a local credit union, a post office and a Chinese restaurant, while the local pubs are Scholars, The Speaker Conolly, Mortons and the Firhouse Inn. The area is served by a once-a-week Mobile Library stop. Firhouse is in the Rathfarnham Garda District.Education
Primary schools
Local primary schools are Scoil Carmel (a Junior National School), Scoil Treasa, Holy Rosary, Firhouse Educate Together National School, Gaelscoil na Giuise. Scoil Carmel is a junior national school, offering education from junior infants to second class (ages 4 to 8). Scoil Treasa covers third class to sixth class (8 to 12-year-olds). Gaelscoil na Giúise is a multi-denominational, co-educational Irish language primary school (a '' gaelscoil''), which opened in September 2013. The school is located off Ballycullen Drive and Killininny Road, in a purpose-built 16-classroom building, including a 2-classroom Special Needs Unit. Firhouse Educate Together National School (FETNS) is an Educate Together school which opened in September 2013.Secondary education
The local secondary school, Firhouse Community College, was established in 1982, launching in September of that year. As of 2018, the school had approximately 780 students enrolled. The school contains a theatre, physical education hall, a multi-sport arena and a large playing field which is used for soccer and rugby matches. The school's 4th years go on an annual trip to an adventure centre inReligion
There is a Roman Catholic parish entitled ''Parish of Firhouse'' which stretches out as far as ''Hunterswood'' and has a church named ''Our Lady of Mount Carmel''. Various regions of Firhouse belong to the ''Parish of Ballyboden''. Bohernabreena Parish also takes up much of the area, with a church in the mountains and another in Holy Rosary school. Historically the broad area was part of the large post-Penal Law parish of Rathfarnham. In the valley, adjacent to the Dodder, stood the ''Victory Centre'', a Christian theological facility, and subsequent to its closure, in 2017 a facility of theSport
Firhouse Carmel Football Club, based at Firhouse Community Centre, caters for schoolboys and girls from the local area. Its playing grounds are at Carrigwood and Scholars pitches, and 2005 saw Brian Kerr open the purpose-built changing rooms at the Community Centre after years of fundraising. Local side Firhouse Clover fields teams in the Leinster Senior League.Village status and planning
Two community groups have registered with the local authority, the voluntary group Firhouse Village Community Council, and the civic activity group Firhouse Tidy Towns. In 2001, Firhouse Village Community Council was reportedly given a mandate at a general meeting to have the title "Firhouse Village" recognised for the area. In pursuing this, grant aid from an EU Urban and Village Renewal Scheme was obtained for "Firhouse Village Park".See also
* List of towns and villages in Ireland.References and footnotes
{{Dublin residential areas Places in South Dublin (county) Uppercross