Editing Balbriggan

{{Short description|Suburban town in north County Dublin, Ireland}}
{{for|the hosiery fabric|Balbriggan (cloth)}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=July 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                   = Balbriggan
| native_name            = {{lang|ga|Baile Brigín}}
| native_name_lang       = ga
| settlement_type        = Suburban town
| image_skyline          = BalbrigganDublin.jpg
| image_caption          = Clockwise from top: the Old Lighthouse, Balbriggan; Balbriggan Harbour Railway Bridge; Bridge Street, Balbriggan
| image_shield           = Coat of arms of Balbriggan, County Dublin.png
| shield_size            = 145px
| motto                  = Is Treise Tuatha ná Tiarna
| pushpin_map            = Ireland
| pushpin_label_position = left
| pushpin_map_caption    = Location in Ireland, north County Dublin
| coordinates            = {{Coord|53|36|31|N|06|10|59|W|dim:100000_region:IE|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type       = Country
| subdivision_name       = Ireland
| subdivision_type1      = [[Provinces of Ireland|Province]]
| subdivision_type2      = [[Local government in the Republic of Ireland|County]]
| subdivision_type3      = [[Dáil constituency]]
| subdivision_type4      = EU Parliament
| subdivision_name1      = [[Leinster]]
| subdivision_name2      = [[Fingal]]
| subdivision_name3      = [[Dublin Fingal (Dáil constituency)|Dublin Fingal]]
| subdivision_name4      = [[Dublin (European Parliament constituency)|Dublin]]
| unit_pref              = Metric
| elevation_m            = 6
| population_total       = 24,322
| population_as_of       = [[2022 census of Ireland|2022]]
| population_footnotes   = <ref name=cso2022>{{cite web | url = https://visual.cso.ie/?body=entity/ima/cop/2022&boundary=C04160V04929&guid=af42f030-3e5e-40c2-90ca-313e0e90c938 | title = Interactive Data Visualisations: Towns: Balbriggan | work = Census 2022 | publisher = [[Central Statistics Office (Ireland)|Central Statistics Office]]| access-date = 26 September 2023}}</ref>
| blank_name_sec1        = Irish Grid Reference
| blank_info_sec1        = {{iem4ibx|O200641}}
| area_code_type         = [[Telephone numbers in the Republic of Ireland|Telephone area code]]
| area_code              = +353(0)1
| postal_code_type       = [[Eircode]] routing key
| postal_code            = K32
| timezone               = [[Western European Time|WET]]
| utc_offset             = ±0
| timezone_DST           = [[Irish Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset_DST         = +1
}}

'''Balbriggan''' ({{IPAc-en|b|æ|l|ˈ|b|r|ɪ|ɡ|ən}}; {{Irish place name|Baile Brigín}}, {{IPA|ga|ˌbˠalʲə ˈbʲɾʲɪɟiːnʲ|pron}}) is a suburban coastal town in [[Fingal]], in the northern part of [[County Dublin]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]. It is approximately 34&nbsp;km north of the city of [[Dublin]], for which it is a commuter town. The [[2022 census of Ireland|2022 census]] population was 24,322 for Balbriggan, making it the [[List of urban areas in the Republic of Ireland|17th-largest urban area]] in Ireland.<ref name="cso2022"/> The town formerly had an active textile industry, and was the site of a major episode in the [[Irish War of Independence]].
{{TOC limit|3}}

== Etymology ==
According to [[Patrick Weston Joyce|P. W. Joyce]], the name arises from ''Baile Breacain'' [sic], which literally means "Brecan's Town".<ref>{{cite book |first=P. W. |last=Joyce |authorlink=Patrick Weston Joyce |title=Irish local names explained |location=Dublin |year=1923 |publisher=The Educational Co. of Ireland, Limited |page=12}}</ref> Brecan is a common medieval first name and there are several other Brackenstowns in Ireland. There is also a possible link to the local [[Bracken River]], in which case the name could derive from ''breicín,'' meaning "little trout".

Many locals, however, have traditionally felt that ''Baile Brigín'' means "Town of the Little Hills", due to the relatively low hills that surround the town. Although this is now the official Irish name for the town, it is likely to be a folk etymology, back-formed from the English name. Following linguistic logic, however, both with vowels and syllabic stress, this would presume an English name closer to Ballybrig(g)een.

The town's name is more likely derived from the word ''brecan'', as the area was part of a medieval kingdom known as [[Kings of Brega|''Brega'']], populated by a tribe or clan known as the ''Bregii'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.libraryireland.com/articles/ClontarfCastleDPJ2-87/index.php |title=A Day's Ramble on the North Side of the City (Fingall and Clontarf) – From The Dublin Penny Journal, Volume 2, Number 87, March 1, 1834 |publisher=Libraryireland |access-date=16 November 2009 |date=1 March 1834 |archive-date=3 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081003115814/http://www.libraryireland.com/articles/ClontarfCastleDPJ2-87/index.php |url-status=live }}</ref> and the aforementioned River Bracken.{{citation needed|date=October 2017}}

== History ==
There is no consensus about when the foundation of the town occurred, other than there may always have been a small settlement of fishermen, weavers and some sort of agricultural trade post.

=== Medieval battle ===
According to Ware, a medieval annalist, a battle took place at Balbriggan on [[Whitsun]]-eve, 1329, between the combined forces of [[John de Bermingham, 1st Earl of Louth|John de Bermingham]], [[Baron Athenry|Earl of Louth]] (who had been elevated to the 'palatine dignity' of the county) and Richard, Lord of Malahide, and several of their kinsmen, and the forces of local rival families, the Verduns, Gernons and Savages, who were opposed to the elevation of the earl. In this event, the former, with 60 of their English followers, were killed.{{citation needed|date=October 2017}}

=== 18th century ===
An 18th-century traveller described Balbriggan as "...&nbsp;a small village situated in a small glin [glen] where the sea forms a little harbour – it is reckoned safe and is sheltered by a good pier. The village is resorted to in Summertime by several genteel people for the benefit of bathing".{{citation needed|date=November 2017}}

Balbriggan rose from a small fishing village to a place of manufacturing and commercial importance in part due to local landowner and judge [[George Hamilton (Irish politician)|George Hamilton]], Baron of the [[Court of Exchequer (Ireland)|Court of Exchequer]], who, in 1780, established factories to aid in the manufacturing of cotton.<ref>{{cite book|last=Ball |first=F. Elrington |author-link=F. Elrington Ball |title=The Judges in Ireland 1221–1921 |location=London |publisher=John Murray |year=1926 |p=164}}</ref> He also improved the harbour by building the [[pier]], which was completed in 1763.{{sfn|Ball|1926|p=164}}

=== 19th century ===
[[File:Balbriggan church tower.png|thumb|St. Georges Church tower, 1813]]
Lewis's ''Topographical Directory of Ireland'', from 1837, refers to Balbriggan as follows:

<blockquote>A seaport, market and post village and a chapelry, in the parish and barony of Balrothery, county of Dublin, and province of [[Leinster]], 15 miles (N. by E.) from Dublin; containing 3,016 inhabitants.</blockquote>
<blockquote>The inhabitants are partly employed in the fishery, but principally in the manufacture of cotton; there are two large factories, the machinery of which is worked by steam-engines and water-wheels of the aggregate power of 84 horses, giving motion to 7,500 spindles, and spinning upon the average about {{cvt|7400|lb|2}}. of cotton yarn per week. More than 300 persons are employed in these factories, to which are attached blue dye-works; and in the village and neighbourhood are 942 hand-looms employed in the weaving department. The principal articles made at present are checks, jeans, calicoes and fustians. The village is also celebrated for the manufacture of the finest cotton stockings, which has been carried on successfully since its first establishment about 40 years since; there are 60 frames employed in this trade, and the average production is about 60 dozen per week. There are on the quay a large corn store belonging to Messrs. Frost & Co., of Chester, and some extensive salt-works; and in the village is a tanyard.</blockquote>
<blockquote>The fishery, since the withdrawing of the bounty, has very much diminished: there are at present only 10 wherries or small fishing boats belonging to the port. The village carries on a tolerably brisk coasting trade: in 1833, 134 coal vessels, of the aggregate burden of 11,566 tons, and 29 coasting vessels of 1,795 tons, entered inwards, and 17 coasters of 1,034 tons cleared outwards, from and to ports in Great Britain. The harbour is rendered safe for vessels of 150 tons' burden by an excellent pier, completed in 1763, principally by Baron Hamilton, aided by a parliamentary grant, and is a place of refuge for vessels of that burden at {{frac|3|4}} tide. A jetty or pier, {{convert|420|ft|m|abbr=off}} long from the N. W. part of the harbour, with a curve of {{convert|105|ft|m|abbr=off}} in a western direction, forming an inner harbour in which at high tide is {{convert|14|ft|m|abbr=off}} of water, and affording complete shelter from all winds, was commenced in 1826 and completed in 1829, at an expense of £2,912–7s–9d, of which the late Fishery Board gave £1,569, the [[Marquess of Lansdowne]] £100, and the remainder was subscribed by the late Rev. Geo. Hamilton, proprietor of the village. At the end of the old pier, there is a lighthouse.</blockquote>

<blockquote>The Drogheda or Grand Northern Trunk railway from Dublin, for which an act has been obtained, is intended to pass along the shore close to the village and to the east of the church. The market is on Monday, and is abundantly supplied with corn, of which great quantities are sent to Dublin and to [[Liverpool]]; and there is a market for provisions on Saturday. Fairs are held on the 29th of April and September, chiefly for cattle. A market house was erected in 1811, partly by subscription and partly at the expense of the Hamilton family. The village is the headquarters of the constabulary police force of the county; and near it is a [[Martello tower]] with a coast guard station, which is one of the nine stations within the district of [[Swords, County Dublin|Swords]]. Petty sessions for the northeast division of the county are held here every alternate Tuesday.</blockquote>

<blockquote>The chapelry of [[St. George]], Balbriggan was founded by the late Rev. G. Hamilton, of Hampton Hall, who in 1813 granted some land and settled an endowment, under the 11th and 12th of Geo. III., for the establishment of a perpetual curacy; and augmentation of £25 per annum has been recently granted by the [[Ecclesiastical Commissioners]] from Primate Boulter's fund. In 1816 a chapel was completed, at an expense of £3,018–2s–2d, of which £1,400 was given by the late [[Board of First Fruits]], £478-15s–2d., was raised by voluntary subscriptions of the inhabitants and £1,139-7s–0d., was given by the founder and his family. This chapel, which was a handsome edifice with a square embattled tower, and contained monuments to the memory of R. Hamilton, Esq., and the Rev. G. Hamilton, was burned by accident in 1835, and the congregation assembled for divine service in a school-room until it shall be restored, for which purpose the Ecclesiastical Commissioners have lately granted £480. The living is in the patronage of [[George Alexander Hamilton|G. A. Hamilton]], Esq.</blockquote>
<blockquote>There is a chapel belonging to the R.C. Union or district of [[Balrothery]] and Balbriggan, also a place of worship for [[Methodist Church of Great Britain|Wesleyan Methodists]]. A [[parochial school]] and [[dispensary]] are in the village.</blockquote>

==== Milling ====
Balbriggan was the location of the 19th century Smith's Stocking Mill, which made stockings as well as men's "Long-Johns" called Balbriggans. These are often mentioned in [[John Wayne]] films – 'he put his balbriggans on' – and both Queen Victoria and the Czarina of Russia also wore "Balbriggans".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/magazine/2010/0227/1224265080397.html |title=Have you got your Balbriggans on? |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] |access-date=15 August 2017 |archive-date=19 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120719142511/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/magazine/2010/0227/1224265080397.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Balbriggan's strong textile connections also include the linen & cotton manufacturing of Charles Gallen & Company, which in 1870, purchased the existing weaving mill and associated facilities built by Baron Hamilton. The firm became famous as the finest linen weavers in Ireland and had customers all over the world. They were also suppliers of linens to the Vatican, Embassies of Ireland and the US, and fine hotels worldwide. The business continues today from another location as the old mill in the town centre has been redeveloped.{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}}

=== Sack of Balbriggan ===
[[File:Ruins of Balbriggan Sept 1920.jpg|thumb|Burnt out building following the [[Sack of Balbriggan]], September 1920]]
{{main|Sack of Balbriggan}}
During the [[Irish War of Independence]], members of the [[Black and Tans]] (former British soldiers recruited into the [[Royal Irish Constabulary]] (RIC) as [[special constable]]s) stationed at the nearby [[Gormanston Camp]] attacked Balbriggan in reprisal for the murder of an RIC policeman on 20 September 1920. The event, known as the [[sack of Balbriggan]], resulted in the destruction of 54 houses and a [[hosiery]] factory along with the looting of four [[pub]]s by the Black and Tans.<ref>{{cite web |last=fox |first=Seamus |url=http://www.dcu.ie/~foxs/irhist/september_1920.htm |title=September 1920 |publisher=DCU |access-date=19 February 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090822102648/http://www.dcu.ie/~foxs/irhist/september_1920.htm |archive-date=22 August 2009}}</ref> Two residents of Balbriggan, dairyman Séamus Lawless and barber Sean Gibbons, were bayoneted to death by the Black and Tans during the attack.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://balbrigganchamber.ie/214 |title=Balbriggan – History |publisher=Balbriggan and District Chamber of Commerce |access-date=24 June 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111025183601/http://balbrigganchamber.ie/214 |archive-date=25 October 2011}}</ref> After it occurred, the attack received international attention due to Balbriggan's close proximity to foreign news correspondents based in Dublin. A delegation from the United States pledged to rebuild thirty homes in the village and a local factory.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fingalcoco.ie/YourLocalCouncil/WelcometoBalbrigganie/HistoryofTownCouncil/FileDownload,6267,en.doc |title=Fingal County Council |website=fingalcoco.ie |access-date=15 August 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209171831/http://www.fingalcoco.ie/YourLocalCouncil/WelcometoBalbrigganie/HistoryofTownCouncil/FileDownload%2C6267%2Cen.doc |archive-date=9 February 2012}}</ref>

== Location and access ==
[[File:Martello Tower Balbriggan.jpg|thumb|[[Martello tower]] at Balbriggan]]

Balbriggan is 32&nbsp;km north of [[Dublin]] city, in the northern part of the traditional [[County Dublin]]. It lies on the [[Belfast]]–Dublin main line of the [[Rail transport in Ireland|Irish rail network]]. [[Commuter rail]] services serve [[Balbriggan railway station]], which opened on 25 May 1844 and closed for goods traffic on 2 December 1974.<ref>{{cite web |title=Balbriggan station |work=Railscot – Irish Railways |url=http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf |access-date=31 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926042407/http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf |archive-date=26 September 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref> It is estimated that about 2,200 commuters use the station every working day.

The town is also located next to the [[M1 motorway (Republic of Ireland)|M1 motorway]] (the section known as the Balbriggan Bypass), which was completed in 1998. Prior to this, the main Dublin-Belfast road went through the centre of the town, with major traffic congestion on a daily basis. There are three exits from the motorway, allowing you to enter from the North, South or West of the town.

Bus service is provided by [[Dublin Bus]] routes 33, 33A (taken over by [[Go-Ahead Ireland]] on 2 December 2018) and 33X as well as [[Bus Éireann]] routes 101 (Dublin-Drogheda) and B1 (Balbriggan Town service).

It is the most northerly town in [[Fingal]] (although the village of [[Balscadden]] lies further north within the county), and is situated close to [[Bettystown]], [[Laytown]] ([[County Meath]]) and [[Drogheda]] ([[County Louth]]).

Balbriggan experienced a population boom in the early part of the 2000s as a result of the large demand for housing within the wider Dublin region. The population has increased as a result, with hundreds of new homes being built.{{citation needed|date=October 2017}}

== Geography ==
The River Bracken, also known as the Matt River, which flows through the town, once formed a lake known locally as "the Canal" or "Head"(of water). The water was sluiced through a canal and tunnels down to the Lower Mill where it turned a waterwheel to drive the cotton manufacturing machinery. The retaining wall of the reservoir collapsed in the 1960s and the area was reclaimed with land-fill in the early 1980s to create a public park.

On the northern edge of the town, the small Bremore River comes to the sea just beyond the [[Martello Tower]].

=== Population ===
{{Historical populations		
|title = Balbriggan
|1991|7724
|1996|8473
|2002|10294
|2006|15559
|2011|19960
|2016|21722
|2022|24322
|source=<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.citypopulation.de/en/ireland/towns/fingal/04352__balbriggan/ | website = City Population | title = Balbriggan (Fingal, All Towns, Ireland)  | accessdate = 25 May 2025 }}</ref>	
}}
According to the [[2016 census of Ireland|2016 census]], the town was 63% White Irish and 0.8% [[Irish Traveller]], 16.7% White of any other background, 11.0% Black, 2.8% Asian and 5.7% other racial background or not stated. Approximately 73% of the town's population was born in the Republic of Ireland, and 27% were born abroad. The [[Polish people|Polish]] were by far the largest foreign-born group in 2016, accounting for 5.8% of the town's population (1,270 people).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cso.ie/px/pxeirestat/Statire/SelectVarVal/Define.asp?maintable=CD705&PLanguage=0 |title=Population Usually Resident and Present in their Usual Residence by Ethnic or Cultural Background, Towns by Size and CensusYear – StatBank – data and statistics |website=CSO |access-date=15 August 2017 |archive-date=13 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161113181237/http://www.cso.ie/px/pxeirestat/Statire/SelectVarVal/Define.asp?maintable=CD705&PLanguage=0 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/commercial-property/residential-site-sale-in-booming-balbriggan-1.2115754 |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] |last=Comiskey |first=Justin |date=25 February 2015 |title=Residential site sale in booming Balbriggan |access-date=17 October 2017 |archive-date=17 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171017042558/https://www.irishtimes.com/business/commercial-property/residential-site-sale-in-booming-balbriggan-1.2115754 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2022, there were 24,322 people residing in Balbriggan, representing an 12.52% increase from the 2016 census.<ref name="cso2022" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=1 May 2012 |title=Huge growth over five year period in town of Balbriggan |url=http://www.independent.ie/regionals/fingalindependent/news/huge-growth-over-five-year-period-in-town-of-balbriggan-27816582.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171017044540/http://www.independent.ie/regionals/fingalindependent/news/huge-growth-over-five-year-period-in-town-of-balbriggan-27816582.html |archive-date=17 October 2017 |access-date=17 October 2017 |work=Fingal Independent}}</ref> In 2022, according to the CSO, the town is 56.6% White Irish and 0.6% [[Irish Traveller]], 19.2% White of any other background, 9.6% Black, 4.9% Asian, 3.6% any other racial background, and 5.2% not stated.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Interactive Data Visualisations  |url=https://visual.cso.ie/?body=entity/ima/cop/2022&boundary=C04160V04929&guid=af42f030-3e5e-40c2-90ca-313e0e90c938&theme=1 |access-date=2024-03-26 |website=CSO Ireland}}</ref><references group="Independent.ie" />

Balbriggan was also Ireland's "youngest town" in 2016, with an average age of 30.8 years.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-news/balbriggan-revealed-irelands-youngest-town-13292223 |title=Balbriggan Revealed as Ireland's Youngest Town |website=dublinlive.ie |date=6 July 2017 |access-date=7 November 2021 |archive-date=7 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107123203/https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-news/balbriggan-revealed-irelands-youngest-town-13292223 |url-status=live }}</ref> It held this title in 2022, with the average age raising to 33.6 years.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-29 |title=Census 2022: Towns with oldest and youngest populations revealed, and Corkonians more likely to stay in Cork |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/census-2022-towns-with-oldest-and-youngest-populations-revealed-and-corkonians-more-likely-to-stay-in-cork/a177104708.html |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=Irish Independent |language=en}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible" style="font-size: 90%;"
|+ Ethnic composition of population (2016, 2022)
|-
! Ethnicity !! 2016 Population !! 2016 Percentage
!2022 Population
!2022 Percentage
|-
| White || 17,395 || 80.5% 
|18,472
|76.50%
|-
| Black || 2,371 || 11.0%
|2,321
|9.6%
|-
| Asian || 1,659 || 2.8%
|1,205
|4.9%
|-
| Other || 524 || 2.6% 
|881
|3.6%
|-
| Not stated || 670 || 3.1%
|1,266
|5.2%
|}

== Amenities ==
[[File:View Of Balbriggan Martello Tower (Seen From The Railway Station) - panoramio.jpg|thumb|Balbriggan Beach with [[Martello tower]] in the background]]<!-- [[File:Balbriggan Lighthouse.jpg|thumb|Balbriggan Lighthouse]] -->
The town is coastal and has a sandy beach. It was, at one time, a holiday destination for people from Dublin city.

Balbriggan is also the location of a Sunshine Home<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.svp.ie/about-us/what-we-do/holiday-breaks/sunshine-house-dublin.aspx |title=Society of St. Vincent de Paul &#124; About Us &#124; What we do &#124; Holiday Breaks &#124; Sunshine House Dublin |access-date=2011-03-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101027092133/http://www.svp.ie/about-us/what-we-do/holiday-breaks/sunshine-house-dublin.aspx |archive-date=27 October 2010}}</ref> which aims to provide a holiday to underprivileged children from the Greater Dublin Area. The home is operated by the Sunshine Fund, a unique branch of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul which provides week-long summer breaks for children aged 7 to 11 from disadvantaged parts of Dublin, Meath, Wicklow and Kildare. The purpose-built home has hosted these holidays since 1935, with over 100,000 young people having passed through their doors.{{citation needed|date=October 2017}}

== Economy ==
[[File:Balbriggan 002.jpg|thumb|Balbriggan – beach]]

The [[Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Ireland)|Department of Foreign Affairs]] has located a passport production facility in Balbriggan. There is also a proposal to relocate the Drogheda International Seaport to the [[Bremore Port]] area to the north of the town. Local development bodies expect that the proposed Bremore Port and orbital motorway projects, as well as the existing M1 motorway and Belfast – Dublin railway, are major draws to prospective companies with large logistical sectors hoping to expand or set up in the Fingal area.

[[Wavin]] has been manufacturing plastic pipes in their purpose-built facility in Balbriggan since 1962.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://content.wavin.com/WAXIE.NSF/pages/historyIREEN |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708204435/http://content.wavin.com/WAXIE.NSF/pages/historyIREEN |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 July 2012 |title=Wavin Ireland history |publisher=[[Wavin]] |access-date=7 January 2010}}</ref>

=== Hosiery fabric===
Balbriggan was a well-known hosiery cloth manufacturer. [[Balbriggan (cloth)|A fine cotton]] fabric suitable for men's underwear was named after the city. The city prospered as a result of the manufacture of the fabric.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Picken |first=Mary Brooks |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CbOI4TCcnbQC&pg=PA13 |title=A Dictionary of Costume and Fashion: Historic and Modern |date=2013-07-24 |publisher=Courier Corporation |isbn=978-0-486-14160-2 |pages=12, 13 |language=en |access-date=15 September 2021 |archive-date=20 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230920115312/https://books.google.com/books?id=CbOI4TCcnbQC&q=balbriggan+cloth&pg=PA13 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Garrison |first=Webb |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TsdksxH-094C&pg=PT174 |title=What's in a Word |date=1955 |publisher=Harper Collins |isbn=978-1-4185-5780-5 |pages=174 |language=en |access-date=15 September 2021 |archive-date=20 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230920115312/https://books.google.com/books?id=TsdksxH-094C&q=balbriggan+cloth&pg=PT174 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Maitra |first=K. K. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jwHv0mmIagQC&q=balbriggan+cloth&pg=PA22 |title=Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Clothing and Textiles |date=2007-11-15 |publisher=Mittal Publications |isbn=978-81-8324-205-9 |pages=22 |language=en |access-date=15 September 2021 |archive-date=20 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230920115312/https://books.google.com/books?id=jwHv0mmIagQC&q=balbriggan+cloth&pg=PA22 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Local government==
Balbriggan is a [[local electoral area]] of [[Fingal]], electing five councillors to [[Fingal County Council]]. It contains the [[electoral division (Ireland)|electoral divisions]] of Balbriggan Rural, Balbriggan Urban, Holmpatrick and Skerries.<ref>{{cite ISB |year=2018 |type=si |number=616 |name=County of Fingal Local Electoral Areas Order 2018 |date=19 December 2018 |access-date=4 October 2022 |archive-date=23 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191123053043/http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2018/si/616/made/en/print}}</ref>

Balbriggan had [[town commissioners]] under the Towns Improvement (Ireland) Act 1854. This became a town council in 2002.<ref>{{cite ISB |year=2001 |number=37 |name=[[Local Government Act 2001]] |schedno=6 |stitle=Local Government Areas (Towns) |date=21 July 2001 |access-date=3 August 2022}}</ref> The jurisdictional area of the town was increased in 2009.<ref>{{cite ISB |year=2009 |type=si |number=17 |name=Balbriggan Town Boundary Alteration Order 2009 |date=28 January 2009 |access-date=4 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite ISB |year=2009 |type=si |number=18 |name=Balbriggan Town Boundary Alteration (Supplementary) Order 2009 |date=28 January 2009 |access-date=4 October 2022}}</ref> In common with all town councils, it was abolished in 2014.<ref>{{cite ISB |name=[[Local Government Reform Act 2014]] |year=2014 |section=24 |stitle=Dissolution of town councils and transfer date |number=1 |date=27 January 2014 |access-date=21 May 2022}}</ref>

It was within the [[rural district (Ireland)|rural district]] of [[Balrothery]], which was abolished in 1930.<ref>{{cite ISB |name=[[Local Government (Dublin) Act 1930]] |section=82 |stitle=Abolition of rural district councils in the County |year=1930 |number=27 |parl=ifs |date=17 July 1930}}</ref>

The old Balbriggan Town Hall, which was opened in St. George's Square in 1936,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/57476  |title= Strand Cinema|publisher=Cinema Treasures|access-date=26 November 2023}}</ref> was demolished and replaced by a new structure in 2005.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/dublin/fingal/historic-day-as-town-gets-new-council-chambers/27771324.html|title=Historic day as town gets new council chambers|date=23 December 2005|newspaper=Irish Independent|access-date=26 November 2023}}</ref> It served as home to Balbriggan Town Council until the council's dissolution in 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/fingalindependent/news/county-council-will-keep-offices-at-town-hall-30206050.html |work=Fingal Independent|title=County Council will keep offices at Town Hall |date=28 April 2014 |access-date=8 January 2021 |archive-date=4 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004055727/https://www.independent.ie/regionals/fingalindependent/news/county-council-will-keep-offices-at-town-hall-30206050.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Buildings of note ==
[[File:Balbriggan Lighthouse.jpg|thumb|Balbriggan Lighthouse]]
* Balbriggan Market House is a 5-bay two-storey building dating from 1811.
* Balbriggan Carnegie Free Library, built {{circa|1905}}.
* [[National Irish Bank]] building, Drogheda Street, built {{circa|1885}}.
* Balbriggan Court House, built {{circa|1844}}.
* Balbriggan Railway Viaduct, built {{circa|1843}}.
* Loreto Convent, built {{circa|1905}}
* St. Peter and St. Paul's Church, built in 1842 ([[Gothic Revival]] style), Catholic Church.<ref>{{cite web |title=Saint Peter and Paul's Roman Catholic Church |url=http://www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&county=FI&regno=11305035 |website=National Inventory of Architectural Heritage |access-date=18 July 2019 |archive-date=20 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230920115329/https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/11305035/catholic-church-of-saint-peter-and-saint-paul-dublin-street-balbriggan-balbriggan-dublin |url-status=live }}</ref>
* St. Georges Church (Balrothery), built in 1813 ([[Gothic Revival]] style), Church of Ireland.<ref>{{ Cite web |title=Balbriggan Churches |url=http://visitbalbriggan.com/explore/balbriggan-churches/ |access-date=2016-11-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161105025632/http://visitbalbriggan.com/explore/balbriggan-churches/ |archive-date=5 November 2016}}</ref>
* Lighthouse, built in 1761 and listed in the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) with reg. nr.11305017.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Balbriggan Lighthouse, Balbriggan Harbour, Balbriggan, Fingal |publisher=NIAH |url=http://www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&county=FI&regno=11305017 |access-date=2016-09-30 |archive-date=2 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161002174130/http://www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&county=FI&regno=11305017 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Bremore Castle, built in 14th century and later deteriorated, it has been restored by the Parks Department of Fingal County Council and the Balbriggan and District Historical Society.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bremore Castle, County Dublin |url=http://www.aboutireland.ie/bremore-castle.htm |publisher=About Ireland |access-date=2016-09-30 |archive-date=2 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161002025843/http://www.aboutireland.ie/bremore-castle.htm |url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Balbriggan also has a [[Martello Tower]] which was built by the British during the Napoleonic Wars. It is one of 29 [[Martello towers in the Greater Dublin Area]].

== Education ==

=== Primary ===
Balbriggan has a number of primary schools, including several Roman Catholic and Church of Ireland [[national school (Ireland)|national schools]], an Irish-language medium [[gaelscoil]], and several [[Educate Together]] schools.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}

Additional primary schools are located in nearby Balscadden and Balrothery.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}

=== Secondary ===
There are five secondary schools in the town, including Ardgillan Community College (opened 2009), Bremore Educate Together, Loreto Secondary, Balbriggan Community College and Coláiste Ghlór na Mara (an Irish-language secondary school).{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}

Ardgillan Community College was closed abruptly in October 2018 after adverse fire safety findings. Problems were identified, and are being found, are other schools built by the same Dungannon-based company, Western Building Systems.<ref>Cork, Ireland: The Irish Examiner, [https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/part-of-dublin-school-building-to-close-after-significant-structural-issues-found-877164.html Part of Dublin school building to close after 'significant structural issues' found] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181026143208/https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/part-of-dublin-school-building-to-close-after-significant-structural-issues-found-877164.html |date=26 October 2018 }}, Sunday, 21 October 2018, Digital Desk reporters</ref>

=== Adult education ===
Fingal Adult Education Service offers adult education courses both full and part-time.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.fingaladulteducation.ie/ |title=Fingal Adult Education |access-date=5 December 2021 |archive-date=11 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131011095422/http://www.fingaladulteducation.ie/ |url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Sport ==
=== Athletics ===
Balbriggan and District AC is the local athletic club, with members starting at 6 years old in ''Little Athletes'', and competing from 8 years old up to senior and masters level. The club is all-inclusive and has runners at every level.<ref>{{cite web |title=Balbriggan and District Athletic Club |publisher=Balbriggan.info |year=2018 |url=https://www.balbriggan.info/listings/balbriggan-district-athletic-club/ |access-date=28 February 2018 |archive-date=28 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180228223930/https://www.balbriggan.info/listings/balbriggan-district-athletic-club/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Gaelic games ===
[[O'Dwyers GAA]] is the local [[Gaelic Athletic Association]] club which was founded in 1918. The club operates "skills camp"s for underage players (indoors) during winter. The club plays [[Gaelic football]] and [[hurling]] at several underage levels (girls, boys and mixed). There is also a juvenile [[camogie]] team. At the adult level, the club has one football team competing in AFL4, the Dublin Intermediate Football Championship and one Junior hurling team (AHL9).{{citation needed|date=January 2021}} There are two adult male football teams that play in AFL4, AFL10N, a Junior Hurling team (AHL9) and a Div 1 Ladies Senior Team.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}

=== Soccer ===
Balbriggan has a number of [[association football|soccer]] clubs. These include Balbriggan FC (formerly known as Clonard Celtic and founded in 1982). This club amalgamated with another club in the area, Balscadden Blues, in the 1990s. Balbriggan FC now fields underage teams and three senior teams. The latter play in the Leinster Senior League and work has been completed on a new clubhouse located in Bremore, Balbriggan.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}

Glebe North FC was established in 1945. Several past players with this club have received international honours.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}} The club has two senior teams playing in the Leinster Senior League and 16 schoolboy/girl teams playing in the NDSL Leagues. The club's facilities are located at Market Green, and include a floodlit main pitch and an all-weather pitch.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}

Hyde Park FC and Ringcommon Wanderers FC also represent the area. The latter was established in late 1999 and consists of a women's and a men's senior team which play at the Ring Commons Sports Centre.

Balrothery FC is the newest club in Balbriggan.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}} This (small) club also uses the Ring Commons sports facilities, which include two soccer pitches, floodlit soccer training areas, an 18-hole [[pitch and putt]] course, and a rugby pitch. The clubhouse includes a meeting hall, as well as offices, a kitchen, changing rooms, toilets, showers and a bar.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}

=== Rugby ===
Balbriggan Rugby Football Club was founded in 1925.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.balbrigganrfc.com/ |title=Balbriggan Rugby Football Club |website=balbrigganrfc.com |access-date=2 September 2021 |archive-date=23 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923044817/http://balbrigganrfc.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref> They field men's and women's teams. The men's team play in the Leinster League, Div.2A and Leinster North East Area League (McGee Cup). The women's team play in Division 2. They also field several underage teams from U7s through to U18s as well as fielding girls' youth rugby teams and special needs rugby teams. The club started the 2007–08 season playing at the new club grounds outside of [[Balrothery]], County Dublin next door to North County Cricket Club. The club plans further major development including new pitches and training areas. On Friday 14 November 2008 the 500 Lux Flood Lighting system was turned on for the first time on the main pitch, soon to be followed by the second pitch. The third full-size sand-based all-weather pitch was opened during the 2009–10 season. In 2020, the club opened the highly-anticipated clubhouse: the club's first permanent clubhouse since its establishment.

=== Other sports ===
Balrothery Balbriggan Tennis Club is a Tennis Ireland member club serving Balrothery, Balbriggan and surrounding areas.{{citation needed|date=December 2021}}

Balbriggan Cricket Club's home ground is in the 'Town Park', beside the Catholic Church.

Balbriggan Golf Club is an 18-hole parkland golf course, about 30&nbsp;km north of Dublin city, established in 1945, and redeveloped in 2007–09. Ringcommons Pitch & Putt club was established in 1998 and has an 18-hole [[pitch and putt]] course.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}

== Religion ==
Balbriggan is a Roman Catholic [[parish]] in the [[List of parishes of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin by deanery#Fingal North|Fingal North deanery]] of the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin]]. The parish church is the Church of Ss. Peter and Paul, with Mass available in English and Polish. This church features two stained glass windows by [[Harry Clarke]].{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}

In the [[Church of Ireland]] structure, Balbriggan forms part of a combined parish with Balrothery and Balscadden. The parish church, on Church Street, is dedicated to St. George.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}

There are [[Baptists|Baptist]] and [[Pentecostalism|Pentecostal]] congregations which meet on Dublin Street and Hampton Street.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}

== References in literature ==
The village is mentioned in [[James Joyce]]'s short story "[[The Dead (Joyce short story)|The Dead]]". Gabriel Conroy, the main character/narrator, mentions his brother is a [[Catholic]] priest in Balbriggan.<ref>{{cite book |first=James |last=Joyce |author-link=James Joyce |title=The Dead |publisher=B.W Heubsch |location=New York |date=1917 |url=https://archive.org/stream/TheDead1917/joyce_james_1882_1941_dead#page/n7/mode/2up/search/balbriggan |pages=9 |access-date=17 October 2017}}</ref>

The vampire Cassidy, one of the main characters in [[Garth Ennis]]'s comic book series ''[[Preacher (comics)|Preacher]]'', was born in Balbriggan in 1900.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://comicvine.gamespot.com/cassidy/4005-10527/ |title=Cassidy (Character) – Comic Vine |website=Comic Vine |language=en |access-date=2018-05-30 |archive-date=3 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703050437/https://comicvine.gamespot.com/cassidy/4005-10527/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Jacek, the lead character in the novel ''Pantha rhei'' by Kamil Brach, discovers that his biography has changed after travelling back from the future. While searching for his "new" past he discovers accidentally that his alter ego from his reality lived with his fiancée in Balbriggan, and his disappearance didn't go unnoticed. While on the train, near the train station, Jacek sees a poster with his face on and he goes into the city. Looking for information he passes Mill Street. Eventually, he is recognised by a waitress in Molly's Café.<ref>{{cite book | last=Brach | first=Kamil | title=Panta rhei | publisher=Nabius | publication-place=Lublin | date=2021 | isbn=978-83-940784-3-0 | language=pl | page=360 | id = Chapter XII}}</ref>

== Notable people ==
{{more citations needed section|date=October 2024}}
* [[Diane Caldwell]], footballer for the [[Republic of Ireland women's national football team|Republic of Ireland national team]]<ref name="IT">{{cite news |last=Hannigan |first=Mary |title=Diane Caldwell says Colin Bell's Ireland exit was 'heartbreaking' |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] |date=29 August 2019 |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/international/diane-caldwell-says-colin-bell-s-ireland-exit-was-heartbreaking-1.4000417 |access-date=18 June 2023 |archive-date=10 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410094019/https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/international/diane-caldwell-says-colin-bell-s-ireland-exit-was-heartbreaking-1.4000417 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Sinéad de Valera]] (1878–1975), author and wife of former [[Taoiseach]] and President [[Éamon de Valera]]
* [[Jordan Doherty]], Irish footballer for [[Tampa Bay Rowdies]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fitzmaurice |first1=Aidan |title=Bohemians strengthen squad with signing of US-based midfielder Jordan Doherty |url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/bohemians-strengthen-squad-with-signing-of-us-based-midfielder-jordan-doherty-41172351.html |date=21 December 2021 |work=[[Irish Independent]] |access-date=18 June 2023 |archive-date=14 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230114051600/https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/bohemians-strengthen-squad-with-signing-of-us-based-midfielder-jordan-doherty-41172351.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[George Hamilton (Irish politician)|George Hamilton]] (1732–1793), politician, judge and local landowner, owner of Hampton Hall, who did much to improve the town and harbour of Balbriggan{{sfn|Ball|1926}}
* [[George Alexander Hamilton]] (1802–1871), MP, civil servant and local landowner, grandson of George Hamilton and like him a noted benefactor of the town 
* [[Harry Reynolds (cyclist)|Harry Reynolds]] (1874–1940), first Irishman to win the world championship in cycling in 1896. In 2005 Harry Reynolds Road in Balbriggan was named in his honour.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/fingalindependent/news/the-cycling-king-of-balbriggan-who-won-a-world-title-in-1896-27768666.html |title=The cycling king of Balbriggan who won a world title in 1896 |website=The independent |access-date=5 December 2021 |archive-date=5 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205184526/https://www.independent.ie/regionals/fingalindependent/news/the-cycling-king-of-balbriggan-who-won-a-world-title-in-1896-27768666.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Lesley Roy]] (born 1986), singer/songwriter who represented Ireland at the [[Eurovision Song Contest 2020|2020]] and [[Eurovision Song Contest 2021|2021]] [[Eurovision Song Contest]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Martin |first1=Megan |title=Who is Lesley Roy? Balbriggan native, music career, wife and Eurovision |url=https://www.rsvplive.ie/news/celebs/who-lesley-roy-balbriggan-native-21648224 |website=RSVP Live |date=6 March 2020 |access-date=23 August 2021 |archive-date=17 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211017092808/https://www.rsvplive.ie/news/celebs/who-lesley-roy-balbriggan-native-21648224 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Trevor Sargent]] (born 1960), former leader of the Green Party and [[Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine]]
* [[Gertie Shields]] (1930–2015), founder of "Mothers against Drink Driving" and member of the town council

== Twinning ==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in the Republic of Ireland}}
Balbriggan is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with the following places:
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Belmar, New Jersey|Belmar]], United States<ref>{{cite web |title=Welcome to Belmar |url=https://www.healthandlifemags.com/welcome-to-belmar/ |website=healthandlifemags.com |publisher=Monmouth Health & Life |date=2019 |access-date=2021-01-03 |archive-date=23 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230323054155/https://www.healthandlifemags.com/welcome-to-belmar/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/fingalindependent/lifestyle/town-forging-links-with-us-coastal-community-27788370.html |work=Fingal Independent|title=Town forging links with US coastal community |date=28 August 2008 |access-date=1 January 2021 |archive-date=3 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221003185657/https://www.independent.ie/regionals/fingalindependent/lifestyle/town-forging-links-with-us-coastal-community-27788370.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* {{flagicon|GER}} [[Sankt Wendel]], Germany<ref>{{cite web |title=Städtepartnerschaft |url=https://www.sankt-wendel.de/rathaus/staedtepartnerschaft/ |website=sankt-wendel.de |publisher=Sankt Wendel |language=de |access-date=2021-01-03 |archive-date=2 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602213336/https://www.sankt-wendel.de/rathaus/staedtepartnerschaft/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[List of towns and villages in the Republic of Ireland|List of towns and villages in Ireland]]
* [[Market Houses in the Republic of Ireland|Market Houses in Ireland]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Wikivoyage|Balbriggan}}
{{Commons category|Balbriggan}}

{{EB1911 poster|Balbriggan}}

* [http://www.balbriggan.info/ Balbriggan.info] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117082302/http://www.balbriggan.info/ |date=17 January 2021 }} A local website for residents and visitors, with photos, news, events, shopping, businesses, clubs, leisure, schools, history
* [http://www.balbriggan.net/ Balbriggan.net]
* [http://www.balbriggansummerfest.com Balbriggan Summerfest]
* [https://balbriggancricketclub.com Balbriggan Cricket Club]

{{Dublin residential areas}}
{{Fingal}}
{{Largest urban areas in the Republic of Ireland by population|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Balbriggan| ]]
[[Category:Beaches of Fingal]]
[[Category:Towers in the Republic of Ireland]]
[[Category:Balrothery East]]
[[Category:Townlands of Fingal]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in the Republic of Ireland]]