South Dublin Átha Cliath Theas | |
|---|---|
County | |
 Coat of arms | |
Mottoes:
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 Inset showing South Dublin (darkest green in inset) within Dublin Region (lighter green) | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Leinster |
| Region | Eastern and Midland |
| Established | 1994 |
| County town | Tallaght |
| Government | |
| • Local authority | South Dublin County Council |
| • Dáil constituencies | |
| • EU Parliament | Dublin |
| Area | |
• Total | 222.74 km2 (86.00 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation (Kippure) | 757 m (2,484 ft) |
| Population | |
• Total | 301,075 |
| • Density | 1,351.7/km2 (3,500.9/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC±0 (WET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+1 (IST) |
| Vehicle index mark code | D |
| Website | Official website |
 | |
South Dublin (Irish:Átha Cliath Theas)[2] is acounty inIreland, within theprovince ofLeinster and theEastern and Midland Region. It is one of three successor counties toCounty Dublin, which was disestablished for administrative purposes in 1994.South Dublin County Council is thelocal authority for the county. The county contains both dense suburbs ofDublin and stretches of unpopulated mountains. In 2022 it had a population of 301,705, making it thefourth most populous county in the state.[1]
South Dublin has an area of 222.74 square kilometres (86 sq mi), making it the second-largest of the four local government areas in Dublin. It is bounded by Dublin City (15 km, 9.3 mi to the northeast), theRiver Liffey (separating it fromFingal to the north),Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown (to the east),County Kildare (to the west) and its hills adjoin the mountains ofCounty Wicklow to the south.
Thecounty town isTallaght. Other important centres of population areLucan andClondalkin. Much of the county is heavily urbanised but small rural settlements exist in the southern and western parts. South Dublin's population increased from 278,767 in 2016 to 301,075 in 2022, according to thelatest census.[1]
Several urban areas in South Dublin County are also traditionally suburbs of Dublin city. For the purposes of planning and management, the County Council designates the status of towns, villages and suburbs in three tiers –town,district centre andlocal centre. In the 2022 development plan,[3] the towns and district centres are listed as:
while the more local centres are noted in three groups:
In Ireland, the usage of the wordcounty nearly always comes before rather than after the county name; thus "County Clare" in Ireland as opposed to "ClareCounty" inMichigan,USA. In the case of those counties created after 1994, they often drop the wordcounty entirely, or use it after the name; thus for example internet search engines show many more uses (on Irish sites) of "South Dublin" than of either "County South Dublin" or "South Dublin County". The 2003 placenames order lists South Dublin without any modification.[5]
In 1985,County Dublin was divided into three electoral counties: Dublin–Fingal, Dublin–Belgard, and Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown.[6] At the1991 local election, the area of Dublin–Belgard was renamed as South Dublin.[7] The name Belgard did have a historical association with the area, being the designation of one of the border fortresses ofthe Pale that existed in that area. It was altered due to a view that the name Belgard might create associations with areas of modern development inTallaght that now also uses that name.[citation needed]
On 1 January 1994, under the provisions of theLocal Government (Dublin) Act 1993, County Dublin ceased to exist, and was succeeded by the counties of Fingal, Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown and South Dublin in the areas of the electoral counties.[8][9] The boundaries of South Dublin were finalised in 1993, to accommodate theM50 motorway.[10]
Various organs of state use alternative subdivisions of Dublin for administrative reasons, for example, theDublin postal codes.
South Dublin County Council is thelocal authority for the county. It was established on 1 January 1994 with the establishment of the county.[11] It is one of local authorities inCounty Dublin. The county is divided into sevenlocal electoral areas:[12] Clondalkin (7 councillors), Firhouse–Bohernabreena (5 councillors),Lucan (5 councillors),Rathfarnham–Templeogue (7 councillors), Tallaght Central (6 councillors), and Tallaght South (5 councillors).
TheDáil constituencies ofDublin Mid-West (4 seats) andDublin South-West (5 seats) are wholly within South Dublin, and the constituency ofDublin South-Central is partially within South Dublin.[13]
In 2015, South Dublin became part of theEastern and Midland Region.[14] South Dublin County Council sends three members to the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly.[15]
| Nationality | Population |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | 9,159 |
 Poland | 7,988 |
 Romania | 3,235 |
 Lithuania | 2,726 |
 Nigeria | 2,644 |
 India | 2,620 |
 Pakistan | 1,499 |
 Philippines | 1,434 |
 China | 999 |
 Latvia | 971 |
The heraldic crest for South Dublin has the inscription "This We Hold in Trust" in bothEnglish andIrish, while incorporating elements relating to the history, geography and present day infrastructure of the area.[citation needed]
TheLeague of Ireland clubShamrock Rovers plays atTallaght Stadium. The stadium hosted the2009 FAI Cup final and theSetanta Sports Cup final in 2010 & 2011.
TheNational Basketball Arena in Tallaght is the home venue for both theIreland national basketball team andIreland women's national basketball team. The arena also hosts various National Cup & League matches.
In 2024, South Dublin County Council managed 195 hectares of meadows across the entirety of South Dublin including 175 hectares of long-flowering meadows and 20 hectares of short-flowering meadows.[17][18]
South Dublin is twinned with theLondon Borough of Brent, United Kingdom.[citation needed]
Places inSouth Dublin | ||
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| Villages and suburbs | | |
Regions ofCounty Dublin | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Towns and villages | ||
| Counties | ||
| Other regions | ||
| Civil sub-divisions | ||
| Baronies of Dublin | ||
The counties are listed perprovince | ||
 Connacht |  | |
 Leinster | ||
 Munster | ||
 Ulster | ||
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53°18′28″N6°24′47″W / 53.30778°N 6.41306°W /53.30778; -6.41306