Carrickmines
Carrickmines (Irish: Carraig Mhaighin, meaning "Plateau of rock") is an outer suburb of Dublin in Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown, Ireland. The area, still semi-rural, was historically on the border of English control and featured a defensive construction, Carrickmines Castle, which became the subject of national controversy during the building of a late stage of Dublin's M50 orbital motorway.
Character
Traditionally a rural area, and today a semi-rural suburban region, Carrickmines is now divided northeast/southwest by the M50 motorway, with, to the northeast, more established residential areas, and to the southwest, notably along Glenamuck Road, new retail parks, office buildings, and housing schemes including many apartments.
Geography
Carrickmines developed as a key settlement in the more than 6 km long valley of the same name, which contains the modest Carrickmines River and its tributaries. The Ballyogan, Glenamuck and Golf Streams all merge in the vicinity. Downstream at Brennanstown the river merges with St. Bride's Stream, from Foxrock, to form the Loughlinstown River, which in turn meets the Bride's Glen Stream to form the Shanganagh River, which reaches the sea at Killiney Strand.
Leopardstown lies to the northwest, Foxrock to the north, Cabinteely to the northeast and Brennanstown to the east, Ballyogan to the west, Glenamuck to the south, and Laughanstown to the southeast.
History
The Carrickminders
During the construction of the M50 motorway Carrickmines gained national notoriety when anti-roads protesters calling themselves The Carrickminders set up camp in the area and delayed the completion of the M50 for 2 years with legal challenges being taken by Vincent Salafia. The objectors claimed that the underground remains of Carrickmines Castle, an Anglo-Norman fort built in the 12th Century on the edge of the Pale, was of great national importance. Today, much of the uncovered remains are preserved in tunnels and other structures scattered around the interchange. Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council claimed the action greatly increased the cost of the project, which was eventually completed in August 2005.
Development
Junction 15 of the M50 lies at the centre of Carrickmines. The retail park and developments on Glenamuck Road have converted the recently semi-rural area into a mix of suburban complex, with shops, offices, apartment blocks and housing estates, and a patchwork of remaining farmland.
Retail park
The retail park at Carrickmines, The Park Carrickmines, contains a mixture of retail and office space. It was originally built by Michael Cotter or Park Development and sold for €100m to Warren Private Investments in 2006 and Warren Private Investments in 2007.[1] In 2014 it was reported that Carrickmines achieved the highest retail park rents in Ireland.[2] In 2015 it was reported as the best performing Irish retail park by The Sunday Times.[3]
Transport
Carrickmines railway station opened on 10 July 1854, but finally closed on 1 January 1959.[4]
The LUAS Green Line extension opened in October 2010.
Dublin Bus route 63 serves Carrickmines
Luas Stop
Carrickmines
| Preceding station | Luas | Following station | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Racecourse, not open | Green Line | Brennanstown, not open | ||
Cultural references
Carrickmines is referenced in James Joyce's A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, described as an area dominated by fields.
See also
References
- ↑ O'Dwyer, Peter (2014-07-31). "Nama to sell retail parks portfolio". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 2015-07-30.
- ↑ McNieve, Paul (2014-09-18). "So where to now for Ireland's retail park players?". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. Retrieved 2015-07-30.
- ↑ McCaughren, Samantha (2015-04-19). "Retailers struggle in 'unhealthy' shopping parks". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 2015-07-30.
- ↑ "Carrickmines" (PDF). Railscot – Irish Railways. Retrieved 2007-09-15.
Coordinates: 53°15′N 6°10′W / 53.250°N 6.167°W