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Malahide's roots are to
be found in the far
distant past. Recent
excavations have
revealed traces of a
settlement dating back
to 6000BC. The Danes
made encroachments in
the 8th century and
established a base, and
finally in the 12th
century, the Normans
made their appearance
with the installation of
Sir Richard Talbot as
Lord of Malahide Estate
in 1174. That dynasty
lasted for 8 centuries
up to the death of Milo
Talbot in 1973. Malahide
Castle and demesne is
now under the care of
Dublin County Council.
In the 18th and early
19th century Malahide
was very much a thriving
industrial centre.
Industries included a
silk factory, cotton
manufacturing, salt
works and cod liver oil
manufacture. The coming
of rail links in the
19th century began the
development of Malahide
as both a residential
and tourist town.
Valiant local effort has
ensured that despite its
aura of modernity,
Malahide still retains
its Old World charm and
elegance.
Visit the
Picture Gallery to
meet some of the people
and see some of the
town.
As a Place to
Visit
Often described as a
picturesque maritime
village, Malahide has
been the overall winner
of the Tidy Town
Competition and in the
summer months attracts
both Dubliners and
tourists to enjoy the
local ambience.
The sea has played a
major role in the
development of tourism
in the town. The
extensive Velvet Strand
stretches to the horizon
and is extremely popular
with bathers and water
sports enthusiasts.
Malahide also boasts a
marina with some three
hundred berths and the
only natural inlet along
the East Coast. As a
result Malahide is a
popular destination for
visiting yachts from
both Ireland and
overseas.
Malahide has also
acquired a reputation as
the gourmet capital of
the East Coast, with an
array of restaurants
noted for the quality
and variety of their
food representing many
nationalities. Pubs with
traditional music and
accommodation ranging
from a grade A hotel
with extensive
conference facilities to
an abundance of
moderately priced B&B's
are among the other
visitor attractions.
Introducing
Malahide
Malahide has a young,
vibrant, cosmopolitan
and ecumenical
population.
There is diversity about
the people of Malahide
that can perhaps be
illustrated by the fact
that the residents are
drawn from a countless
number of nations around
the world and that three
major denominations are
represented in the town.
Sporting traditions also
illustrate the wide
range of interests in
the community. Leading
sporting clubs include
GAA, Soccer, Rugby,
Tennis, Cricket and
Yachting, with national,
international and
Olympic representation a
particular feature.
There is a significant
history of community
based achievements, from
the winning of the Tidy
Towns Competition, to
the running of the
annual Malahide Festival
to the provision of a
wheelchair accessible
village atmosphere.
Malahide residents have
and will continue to
work towards the
improvement of the
community.
The Town of
Malahide
From its early
beginnings as an
agricultural, maritime
and industrial centre,
Malahide has developed
into a modern,
progressive town. While
retaining its 'village'
atmosphere in the centre
of the town, Malahide
has established a
reputation as one of
County Dublin's most
desirable places to
live.
Among the factors
contributing to this
status are the natural
beauty and amenities
such as the beaches and
castle grounds, the
extensive range of
shopping facilities, the
choice of schools in the
locality, the endless
list of societies and
associations, an
excellent social life, a
low crime rate and an
unequalled choice of
sporting activities.
Today, a highly active
Chamber of Commerce and
a strongly motivated
Community Council
continue their efforts
to enhance the town in
every aspect. Project
such as cobble-locked
pavements, underground
power / telephone
cabling, old style shop
fronts and lighting,
window boxes and
Christmas lights are all
examples of local
traders and residents
co-operating for the
betterment of the town.
Businesses
Considered by many
neutral observers as
having the highest
number of entrepreneurs
of any Irish town,
Malahide has evolved
into a business centre
with a strong emphasis
on the retail trade and
professional services.
Retail outlets range
from food to clothing
and stationary to
televisions while the
professional services on
offer vary from
solicitors and
accountants to estate
agents and management
consultants.
Public Services
Malahide, which comes
under the auspices of
Fingal County Council,
has access to such
public services as a
modern telephone
exchange, refuse
collection and
sanitation, post office,
Garda Siochana, Medical
Centre and Social
Welfare Office. Other
public services in the
town include the
library, Citizens Advice
Bureau and Meals on
Wheels.
Organisations of
Malahide
As the town has grown,
so the number and
variety of sporting,
social and leisure
activities have grown,
each backed up by strong
organisational
structures. There are 52
clubs, associations and
societies in Malahide
catering for everything
from Bridge to Drama and
Sport to Charity
fund-raising.
In addition, the youth
of Malahide are well
catered for in terms of
activities such as
Scouts, Girl Guides,
Boys Brigade, Girls
Brigade, Sea Scouts,
Cubs and Brownies, while
the local churches run
Youth Clubs and/or youth
based activity programs.
Associations
The strong community
spirit is also
illustrated by the
efforts of the
individual Residents
Associations that
represent the various
housing areas or estates
in the town. They have
encouraged residents to
maintain and improve
their property and the
neighbourhood generally,
have acted as a watchdog
against unwanted
developments and acted
as a voice for the
Malahide public when
required.
The Malahide Community
Council, an umbrella
organisation that is
made up of
representatives form the
residents associations
and the general public,
helps to co-ordinate
social services in the
community such as Meals
on Wheels.
Clubs &
Societies
There are over a dozen
sports that enjoy
organised activities in
the town, from three
varieties of football -
Gaelic, Rugby and Soccer
- to indoor games such
as Table Tennis, Bowls
and Badminton.
Music, drama and
horticulture are among
the many interests that
are represented with a
Society structure and
there is a strong
commitment to charity
and fund-raising through
the local branches of
the Lions Club, Rotary
and Junior Chamber.
Community
Success
There is an unmistakable
"winning philosophy"
about Malahide and its
residents that permeates
through so many
different activities.
Among the most obvious
manifestations of that
approach was the town
continuous success at
various levels in the
Tidy Towns Competition,
culminating in the
eventual winning of the
prestigious national
title. This was the
result of years of
effort by the Malahide
Tidy Towns Committee,
Chamber of Commerce,
Community Council,
Residents' Associations
and individual
residents.
A community commitment
to the needs of the
disabled persons is
evidenced by the number
of wheel chair access
ramps and sloped
pavement sections at
junctions. A special
Access Malahide
Committee continuously
monitors the needs of
the disabled.
The Malahide Festival is
regarded as one of the
most successful of its
kind in Ireland and
attracts a large number
of visitors to the town
each year.
The new marina, which is
due to be further
expanded in the near
future, is seen as a
major boost for tourism
in the town, as well as
a venue for boat repairs
and maintenance work.
In the area of sport,
Malahide has few equals.
For example, Malahide
sportsmen have achieved
international
recognition in such
areas as Golf (Philip
Walton), Cricket (Joe
Caprani), Sailing (David
Wilkins), Rugby (Ollie
Campbell) as well as
provincial and national
honours in GAA, Soccer,
Hockey, etc.
For further information
about the history of
Malahide see the
Malahide Historical
Society web site.
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