Huntstown and Littlepace

Huntstown and Littlepace (Irish: Baile an Huntaigh agus An Bealach Beag) is a set of modern housing developments that forms a remote suburb of Dublin city in the county of Fingal in Ireland. It was built in the townlands of Littlepace (westerly)[1] and Huntstown (easterly)[2] which are the southern-most townlands of the civil parish of Mulhuddart. The district is also a parish in the Blanchardstown deanery of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin. The nearest villages in the county are Ongar, Mulhuddart and Clonsilla along with Clonee in County Meath.

Huntstown and Littlepace

Baile Huntaigh agus Luas Beag
Suburb of Dublin
Huntstown and Littlepace
Location in Ireland
Coordinates: 53.387°N 6.380°W / 53.387; -6.380
CountryIreland
ProvinceLeinster
CountyFingal
Irish Grid ReferenceO055383

Location and access
  • Northern border: the River Tolka is the northern boundary of Littlepace while the N3 national route is Huntstown's northern boundary.
  • Eastern border: Huntsown borders the community of Blakestown and Blanchardstown to the east.
  • Southern border: Ongar lies to the south of both townlands.
  • Western border: Littlepace is bordered by County Meath to the west.

The district is approximately 14.3 km from Dublin city. It is 4 miles north-west of the M50 motorway. Dublin Bus route 70 connects it to the city centre and Dunboyne. Route 39A connects it to Baggot Street and UCD. Route 270 goes to the Blanchardstown Shopping Centre. Two railways stations are nearby: Clonsilla railway station and Hansfield. The Clonsilla train station commutes to and from the city centre going to Pearse and Connolly Station. The Hansfield train station travels to Dublin Docks primarily.

History

The area was developed during the housing boom in Ireland. It is located near a major Kepak Meats plant, Facebook Data Centre and Damastown Industrial Estate. Littlepace stud farm is also nearby, breading well known Irish horses for decades. Before the area was developed for housing, it was renowned as a good hunting ground, with some estates and a park named in tribute. The Huntstown/Littlepace parish was founded in 1981, and formed from the Blakestown parish, which formed from the parish of Corduff in 197 9 [3]

On January 1, 2005, Littlepace was struck by a small tornado, which caused damage to a number of houses and parked vehicles. There was over 20,000 euros worth of damage suffered by the area.[4]

Community facilities

There are two churches of the Roman Catholic Church in the suburb, which constitutes its own parish:

  • Huntstown - "Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus" (parish separated from Blakestown in 1981)
  • Littlepace - "Mary, Mother of Hope" (a Chapel of Ease in the process of development since 2002)[5]

There are also two community centres in the suburb:

  • Huntstown - located beside the primary school[6]
  • Littlepace - located beside the primary school

There are three parks in the area, Littlepace Park, Hunters Run Park and Hazelbury Park, where both sports clubs play. There is also a small variety of essential shops in the area located beside the Huntstown community centre. There is a centrashop, beauticians, chemist and an accountant. This brings employment to the area and is very convenient for the Huntstown residents.little place also has a shopping centre known as Littlepace shopping centre. This also contains a wide variety of shops, take-aways and restaurants such as, Spar, Clonee HQ Barbers, Tsangs and a newly built pub, named the Paddocks.

Sport

The area has two GAA clubs: Erin go Bragh and Peregrines GAA club. There is also a soccer club called Clonee United. The GAA club moved to the area in 2003 and caters for those interested in playing Gaelic Football, Hurling, Ladies Football and Camogie. The soccer club was formed through the amalgamation of two clubs, Casta Celtic and Little Pacers F.C., in June 2006. Casta Celtic had originally formed in 2002 with Little Pacers establishing themselves in 2000. Santos soccer club are also located in the area. A basketball club, the Ongar Chasers, has been recently set up in Phibblestown Community Centre.

Huntstown also has a football club known as Huntstown/Hartstown football club. Hansfield Football Club was established in 2016. It specialises with more mature players from the ages of 16-30 years.


Huntstown fc crest

Education

There are two primary schools in the suburb:

  • Huntstown - "Sacred Heart of Jesus NS"[7]
  • Littlepace - "Mary, Mother of Hope NS".[8]

The nearest two secondary schools are in Hartstown & Phibblestown. Hartstown Community School, located in Hartstown is home to over 1,300 students. Colaiste Pobail Setanta is located in nearby Phibblestown; it has over 1000 students and is expected to hold up to 1100 at capacity. It shares a PE hall, the biggest school sports hall in Ireland, with Phibblestown Community Centre.There are two schools within the Colaiste Pobail Setanta campus, Colaiste Pobail Setanta and Educate Together.

References
  1. Placenames Database of Ireland - townland of Littlepace
  2. Placenames Database of Ireland - townland of Huntstown
  3. http://huntstown-littlepace.ie/history/
  4. http://www.breakingnews.ie/2005/01/01/story182855.html Breakingnews.ie, 'Mini tornado' damages 100 houses, retrieved 27 May 2009
  5. Official website of the Parish of Huntstown-Littlepace.
  6. Huntstown Community Centre - Official website
  7. Sacred Heart of Jesus NS Archived 2014-03-10 at the Wayback Machine - Official website
  8. Mary, Mother of Hope NS - Official website
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