Donabate
Donabate (Domhnach Bat in Irish) is a Dublin suburb situated close to the east coast of Ireland in Fingal county (the northern part of the traditional area of County Dublin). The town lies about 25 km north of Dublin city centre on a small peninsula, which it shares with the townsland of Portrane, between the Rogerstown Estuary to the north and the Malahide Estuary, Inbhear Domhnainn, to the south.
The Donabate Portrane peninsula is in the Swords local electoral area. The Swords electoral area is the largest in Fingal county and elects five county councillors to Fingal County Council. In terms of national elections, the Donabate Portrane peninsula is the the Dublin North constituency, which sends four Teachta Dála to Dáil Éireann.
The name of the area, Donabate, supposedly means "church of the ferry", from Dún a' Bháid, referring to an ancient church which is in the townsland of Ballymadrough, west of Donabate, near the Malahide Estuary. Another possible meaning of the name, Domhnach Bheathach or Domhnach Béithe, is "church of the beast". Sadly, the true meaning has become lost in the mists of time. Portrane comes from the Irish Port Reachrainn, meaning the port of Reachrú (place of many shipwrecks), the Gaelic name for Lambay. The name Lambay itself is a corruption of the Norse name Lambe Eye, meaning the island of lambs or sheep.
Rogerstown Estuary is situated just north of Donabate and is comprised of saltwater marshes, raised salt marsh, wet meadows and riverine shallows and creeks. The estuary covers an area of 363ha, and is divided by a causeway and bridge built in the 1840s to carry the main Dublin - Belfast railway line.
Donabate is reported to have had a population in 1912 of 734 persons living in 150 houses, and it remained a small village for more than a century. In recent years, however, because of the area's easy access to Dublin (improving roads and the presence of a railway station in the village), the population has begun growing quickly. In the 1996 census, the village's population was 1,868; by the time of the 2002 census it had doubled to 3,854. It was estimated in 2004 that the population had grown to around 7,000, and planned re-zoning and development may take it to 33,000 or more within a decade.
Donabate Parish Council is the community council for the Donabate Portrane peninsula. Donabate Portrane Community Club is the area's newest public building. The peninsula has an active Chamber of Commerce, Scout Group, 63rd Dublin, two soccor clubs, St. Ita's A.F.C. and Portrane Athletic, a G.A.A. club, St. Patrick's Athletic, a Karate club, a Tae-Kwon Do club, a snooker club, a Historical and Folklore Society, a Bridge club, and many more besides. Donabate Portrane Neighbourhood Watch has recently been re-activated.
External link
- http://www.donabateportrane.com/ is a community site dedicated to Donabate and its neighbouring village, Portrane.
- See also: List of towns in the Republic of Ireland