Swords, Dublin

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Template:Infobox Irish Place Swords (Sord Cholm Cille in Irish) is a large town near the periphery of the city of Dublin in the Republic of Ireland. The town has seen unprecedented growth in the last 15 years, and has the highest projected future growth for the next 20 years of any town in the Dublin Region, its estimated population is 40,000. The town and Dublin Airport is heavily under the influence of the city, and the majority of the working population would commute there, however, it remains disconnected from the city by a wide green belt around the airport. In 1994 Swords became the county town of the then newly established county of Fingal, and in 2001 it became the administrative centre for the county upon the completion of the €12m Fingal County Hall.

Swords is an ancient settlement dating back to 560, having been founded by Saint Colmcille (521-567). Legend has it that the saint blessed a local well, giving the town its name Sord meaning "clear" or "pure". However, An Sord also means "the water source" and could indicate a large communal drinking well that existed in antiquity.

The castle of Swords is undergoing a significant redevelopment and will become a centre of leisure and tourist attraction. While it is popularly thought that the body of Brian Boru was brought there after the Battle of Clontarf recent evidence would suggest that this was Swords Abbey which lies at slightly to the west of the Main Street.

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