Swords Glebe
Townland in the civil parish of Swords, barony of Nethercross, Co. Dublin; in Irish Gléib Shoird
- Area
- 3.8 ha
- 9 acres
- Land parcels
- 14
- registered freehold, median 393 m²
- Zoning
- R2
- RS - Residential
- Planning
- 13
- applications since 2010
Land parcels
Registered freehold land, Tailte Éireann
14 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Swords Glebe, from 185 m² to 3,576 m² (0.36 ha, 0.88 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary; 10 neighbouring parcels touch it.
Download the townland: DXF, in Irish Transverse Mercator metres, with its boundary, parcels and buildings; GeoJSON or KML.
Zoning
Development plans, national zoning
- R2RS - Residential (Existing residential)
The Fingal Development Plan 2023 – 2029, Fingal · 17 parcels The zoning objective in the plan - M4MC - Major Town Centre (Built up area)
The Fingal Development Plan 2023 – 2029, Fingal · 4 parcels The zoning objective in the plan - S3CI - Community Infrastructure (Community facilities)
The Fingal Development Plan 2023 – 2029, Fingal · 1 parcels The zoning objective in the plan - G4OS - Open Space (Active open space)
The Fingal Development Plan 2023 – 2029, Fingal · 0 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
Source: Tailte Éireann and the Department of Housing (MyPlan), national zoning, CC BY 4.0.
Planning applications
Sites that touch the townland, newest first
28 Nov 2025Grant permission
1) Conversion of existing single storey garage to provide for a home o
Permission · Fingal County Council, F25A/1099E
19 Nov 2025Invalid application
The proposed development will consist of the following: 1) Conversion
Permission · Fingal County Council, F25A/1072E
17 Nov 2021Request additional information
The development willk consist of relocation of some existing landscape
Permission · Fingal County Council, F21A/0615
22 Oct 2021Refuse permission for retention
Retention permission for lower ground studio apartment.
Retention · Fingal County Council, F21A/0579
10 Sept 2021Invalid application due to site notice
Retention Permission for lower ground floor studio apartment.
Retention · Fingal County Council, F21B/0318
6 Apr 2021Grant permission
Removal of an oil tank and the installation of photovoltaic panels on
Permission · Fingal County Council, F21A/0185
24 Jul 2018Grant permission
Permission for an increase of 201 sq.m. (8,319 sq.m permitted to 8,520
Permission · Fingal County Council, F18A/0432
8 Mar 2018Grant permission
Construction of a dormer to the rear (west) of an existing pitched roo
Permission · Fingal County Council, F18B/0038
22 Apr 2016Grant permission
The demolition of 4 no. uninhabited dwellings (Tyrrells Field, No. 1 C
Permission · Fingal County Council, F15A/0467
4 Feb 2015Grant permission
Proposed new shop front to replace the existing all at ground floor le
Permission · Fingal County Council, F14A/0378
21 Nov 2014Grant permission
Permission for demolition of existing dwelling and associated out-buil
Permission · Fingal County Council, F14A/0298
13 Feb 2014Grant permission
Single storey extension to the rear, the demolition of a garage to the
Permission · Fingal County Council, F14B/0025
10 Jan 2014Grant permission
Revisions to previously approved planning permission Reg. Ref. F09A/06
Permission · Fingal County Council, F13A/0179
Source: National Planning Applications, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Applicants are not shown.
Nature and heritage
Designated sites and recorded monuments
Designated sites
No designated site (Special Area of Conservation, Special Protection Area, Natural Heritage Area or proposed one) touches the townland of Swords Glebe.
Recorded monuments
- DU011-034002 Ecclesiastical enclosure
Description
The boundary of Swords Glebe together with the curving alignment of the Brackenstown Road, Church Road and Rathbeale indicate the original extent of the early monastic foundation associated with St. Colmcille. On the south side the steep slope down to the Ward river immediately south of the Brackenstown Road forms a natural boundary. Cartographic evidence suggests that the western enclosure was most likely aligned along a former laneway visible on the Ordnance Survey six inch maps, now St Columba's Rise housing estate. Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Updated by: Christine Baker Date of upload: 08 January 2015
- DU011-034003 Graveyard
Description
Located on a natural prominence overlooking the village. A trapezoidal shaped, walled enclosure (L 70m, Wth 50m) on a prominent rise on the west bank of the Ward river. The ground drops off radically in the south. The grave headstones of largely 18th/19th century date are confined to the S of the graveyard. One of the earliest headstones is a 17th century sandstone example erected by Charles McAlister in 1760 (Fingal Historic Graves Project 2008). Within the graveyard is a church (DU011-034004-) and round tower (DU011-034005-). Recently in use. Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Updated by: Christine Baker Date of upload: 08 January 2015
- DU011-034004 Church
Description
Only the residential W tower of the medieval parish church survives. It lies on a height northwest of the C of I church (dated 1818) within the churchyard. A gable scar is present on the south wall. An early medieval cross slab (DU011-034007-) is built into the base of the south wall. The tower rises to four storeys with a belfry stage. The upper floors are offset and the style of the masonry changes at belfry stage. Built of coursed limestone masonry with dressed quoins. The tower is entered through a pointed arched doorway with late dressing in the south wall. The ground floor is square in plan with a corner turret in the SW which contains a stone newel staircase (int. dims 4m E-W, 4.40 N-S, wall Wth 1.40m). There is a barrel vault over the ground floor. Interior is lit by a single ope with chamfered exterior in the N corner of the E wall. The stairway is lit with single slit opes. Upper floors are entered through pointed arched, double centred doorways with late dressing. First floor is lit by a round-headed window under a flat segmental arch in the N wall. There is a flat lintelled fireplace in the S wall of the second floor with two wall presses to the W of it. The corbels which held the third floor are present. The belfry stage is entered through a flat-arched doorway with punch dressing. There are large pointed segmental-arched openings with louvres in the N, S, and E sides. Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Updated by: Christine Baker Date of upload: 08 January 2015
- DU011-034005 Round tower
Description
Associated with the monastic enclosure is a round tower which rises to four storeys and is entered in the east through a lintelled doorway with inclined jambs (dims. H.26m, wall Wth 1.30m, int. diam 2.40m). The interior is lit by plain square-headed opes above the doorway and at same level in the N and S. There is a corbelled roof over the first floor with timber floors on second and third. The upper portion of the tower is a later reconstruction and topped with an undecorated Latin cross (DU011-034006-). Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Updated by: Christine Baker Date of upload: 08 January 2015
- DU011-034006 Cross
Description
A small undecorated Latin cross was erected on the top of the round tower (DU011-034005-) in the late 17th century (Barrow 1979, 86). Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Updated by: Christine Baker Date of upload: 08 January 2015
- DU011-034007 Cross-slab
Description
There is an inscribed Early Christian grave slab fragment built into the base of the residental tower of the church (DU011-034004-) in the SE. It has a lunette-shaped terminal (Swords, K.2009, 103). Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Updated by: Christine Baker Date of upload: 08 January 2015
- DU011-034009 Graveslab
Description
Within the tower there are fragments of a rectangular limestone graveslab (L 1.26m, Wth 0.64m, T 0.06m). On it is an incised 17th century inscription with a later 18th century addition (Bradley and King 1988, iv, 318). Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Date of upload: 26 August 2011
- DU011-034010 Graveslab
Description
In the centre aisle of the present Church of Ireland church (1818) is a graveslab commemorating Blakeney & Taylor d. 1587. It is a coffin-shaped limestone slab with a marginal inscription in false relief Gothic lettering (L1.8m, Wth 0.64m; Bradley and King 1988, iv, 318). There is currently no access to the Church as it suffered an area of roof collapse. Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Updated by: Christine Baker Date of upload: 08 January 2015
- DU011-034011 Graveslab
Description
Located in the centre aisle of the present Church of Ireland (1818). This is a rectangular limestone floor slab (L 1.85m, Wth 0.88). It has an incised inscription in a mixture of Roman lettering and script (Bradley and King 1988, iv, 318-319). Currently no access as an area of the church roof has collapsed. Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Updated by: Christine Baker Date of upload: 08 January 2015
- DU011-034014 Architectural fragment
Description
There are a number of re-used architectural fragments including a section of medieval window moulding in the graveyard of the Church of Ireland. Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Updated by: Christine Baker Date of upload: 08 January 2015
- DU011-034018 Burial ground
Description
During the renovation of the Old Vicarage building, human skeletal remains were uncovered after the removal of floorboards. The remains consisted of one partly articulated skeleton and scattered bone fragments over previously disturbed ground level. Prior to further archaeological work, the remains of an estimated further six skeletons were removed. Subsequent archaeological work (Licence no. 97E0272) revealed five more partly articulated skeletons, the orientations of which indicate that they were Christian burials pre-dating the construction of the 17th century vicarage and disturbed by its foundations (Dunne 1998, 61). Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Date of upload: 26 August 2011
- DU011-034021 House - 17th century
Description
This detached three-bay, two-storey dwelling is a former vicarage and dates to c.1675 (see www.buildingsofireland reg. no. 11343004). It has a projecting two-bay, two-storey block attached to the right-hand side. There is a gable-fronted wing, possibly a former chapel, attached to the left-hand side. A three-bay, single-storey return with half-dormer attic was added to the rear c.1750 and a five-bay two-storey former coach house was added c.1875. The house was extensively renovated c. 1997 and converted to apartments. A number of burials were recovered in the course of the renovations which pre-date the construction of the vicarage (see DU011-034018-). Compiled by: Paul Walsh Date of upload: 12 May 2016
Architectural heritage
- The Old Vicarage, rectory/glebe/vicarage/curate's house, 1650–1700 · Regional interest
Description
Detached three-bay two-storey former vicarage, c.1675, with projecting two-bay two-storey block attached to right-hand side. Gable-fronted (possibly) former chapel attached to left-hand side. Three-bay single-storey return with half-dormer attic added to rear c.1750. Five-bay two-storey former coach house, c.1875, to rear. Extensively renovated, c.1990, to accommodate use as apartments.ROOF: Gable-fronted; double-pitched and hipped roofs; slate, some replacement fibre-cement slate, c.1990; concrete ridge tiles; nap rendered chimney stacks; yellow clay pots; timber eaves, uPVC rainwater goods. WALLS: Random coursed rubble stone; traces of roughcast/nap render to right side elevation. OPENINGS: Square-headed openings; granite sills; yellow brick dressings; replacement uPVC casement windows, replacement tongue-and-groove timber panelled doors. INTERIOR: Rococo plaster work to one room.
- Saint Columba's Church (Swords), sexton's house, 1865–1875 · Regional interest
Description
Detached three-bay single-storey ashlar limestone Tudor style sexton's house, c.1870, with central single-bay projecting porch on a triangular plan. Designed by James Bell. ROOF: Double pitched and hipped; slate; concrete ridge tiles; cut-limestone chimney stack; timber eaves; cast-iron rainwater goods; decorative timber barge boards to left gable end with quatrefoil motif. WALLS: Irregular coursed cut-limestone; cut-limestone quoins; roughcast to right elevation and to return; unpainted. OPENINGS: Pointed-arch window openings; cut-stone chamfered sills and surrounds; replacement aluminium diamond-leaded windows; bipartite window to left; square-headed door opening; cut-stone chamfered surround; replacement glazed timber door.
- Saint Columba's Church (Swords), church/chapel, 1810–1820 · National interest
Description
Detached gable-fronted ashlar limestone Gothic style single-cell Church of Ireland church, c.1815. Designed by Francis Johnston. Six-bay side elevations having stepped buttresses, pinnacles and crenellated roof parapet.ROOF: Gable-fronted behind crenellated roof parapet. WALLS: Limestone ashlar with cut-limestone dressing including stepped buttresses, pinnacles, stringcourse and crenellated parapet. OPENINGS: Lancet-arch openings; cut-limestone doorcase; fielded cut-limestone surround to door opening hood mouldings; timber panelled door, window opening over; hood moulding; three-light geometric tracery to side elevations; five-light to rear elevation/chancel; cut-stone chamfered surrounds; hood moulding; fixed-pane diamond-leaded and stained glass windows. INTERIOR: Single-storey entrance hall; stone flagged; floral moulded surrounds to door openings; timber panelled internal doors; single-storey vestry; pointed-arch recessed niches; cast-iron fireplace; plaster moulding to ceiling; stairhall with carved timber staircase to gallery; pseudo-arch door opening to nave; hood moulding over; full-height internal space; tiled floor; three inset cut-stone memorials (dated 1587, 1694, and 1704); carved timber pews and lectern; timber wainscoting and dado rail; moulded sill course; wall-mounted cut-stone memorials; carved timber gallery; over entrance; timber pipe organ; flat compartmentalised plaster ceiling; bracketed braces - painted "fresco" roundels and garlands below; decorative plaster cornice and central rose; moulded plaster lancet-arch over chancel; carved timber rail; marble altar; moulded plaster reredos; decorative reveals to window opening; stained glass window.
Designated sites: National Parks and Wildlife Service. Recorded monuments: Sites and Monuments Record, National Monuments Service. Buildings: National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Works at or in relation to a recorded monument need two months' written notice to the National Monuments Service (National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994, section 12).
Ground and risks
Radon, landslides, flooding
- Radon
- About 1 in 10 homes in this area is likely to have high radon levels. Testing a home
- Landslides
- Susceptibility moderately low, low, on the 1:50,000 map; parts are made ground.
- Terrain model
- No LiDAR survey of the Office of Public Works covers the centre of the townland of Swords Glebe.
- Flooding
- The flood maps of the Office of Public Works: floodinfo.ie.
Radon Risk Map of Ireland, Environmental Protection Agency; Landslide Susceptibility Classification, Geological Survey Ireland; both CC BY 4.0. LiDAR: contains Irish Public Sector Data (Geological Survey Ireland & the Office of Public Works) licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.
Homes sold
Property Price Register
No address of the register names Swords Glebe with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Dublin.
The townland
- Name
- Swords Glebe · Gléib Shoird
- Area
- 37,737 m² (3.77 ha, 9.33 acres)
- Civil parish
- Swords, and its townlands
- Barony
- Nethercross
- Electoral division
- Swords-Glasmore, the unit of the census
- Census 2022
- Swords-Glasmore electoral division: 7,674 people in 2,481 households; 78% of households own their home; 12% of homes were built since 2001; 4% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 0% were holiday homes.
- Neighbouring townlands
- Townparks, Windmill Lands
- Placenames
- Swords Glebe on logainm.ie, the Placenames Database of Ireland
Townlands, civil parishes, baronies and electoral divisions, National Statutory Boundaries, Tailte Éireann, CC BY 4.0. Census 2022, Small Area Population Statistics by electoral division, Central Statistics Office, CC BY 4.0. A townland is the smallest land division of Ireland, and the unit of a rural address; old registers such as the 1901 and 1911 censuses file it under its civil parish and barony.