33 things you’ll remember if you grew up in Swords
Dublin People 08 Jun 2016
SWORDS is one of the largest suburban areas in the country, having experienced a huge population growth in recent years. No longer just a rural village in North County Dublin, the Fingal capital now feels like a city in its own right.
Its proximity to Dublin Airport has made it one of the most significant commuter hubs in the capital – even though it doesn’t even have its own rail service. But with its modern shopping centre, pubs and restaurants, the lively town has become a lot more self sufficient in recent years.
Here are a few things you might remember if you grew up in Swords.
1. Hanging around outside the Amusements, known as the ‘Musees’, and watching the really cool ones going in.
2. Drinking down the Jacko, “where everyone knows your name”.
3. The Central disco upstairs and sitting on the covered pool tables.
4. The Big Tree – where the old style (but sounder) Swords people drank.
5. Making up dances with your friends for Fingallian’s disco and wearing your shades even though it was dark.
6. Going into town on a Saturday with £20 to buy an outfit for that night.
7. The Lord Mayor’s disco bar where getting in was a weekly roulette, no matter your age or proof of ID.
8. Falling over the steps of the Acorn Shop.
9. JC’s Supermarket and him giving us a laugh with his funny intercom chat. The offers – when they’re gone, there’s more!
10. Michael Savage’s supermarket in the Main Street – smaller and more expensive… but very handy.
11. Taking a walk with your fella to the Corn Field, now Highfields. You knew what that meant.
12. The Scout Den disco – where the cool kids smoked their brains out upstairs and the lesser mortals danced in a circle looking moody.
13. Jets. Need I say more?
14. The Jets bus. Last chance saloon.
15. The last 41c home on a Saturday night. The boogie bus.
16. Clarke’s shop – if they didn’t sell it, it didn’t exist.
17. Being excited when the Omni Centre opened in Santry as it meant only having to spend an hour on the bus.
18. Crying when another tourist delayed the bus going through the airport.
19. Who’s Eddie? playing the Harp on a Monday night.
20. The hollow at the back of the School House – when you couldn’t be bothered to make the journey to the Jacko.
21. The shoe mender’s – it’s still there!
22. When after the pub you had two options – go to the Roxy for chips or pay a fortune for a taxi to Tamango or Jets.
23. Ordering red lemonade in The Lord Mayor’s on a Sunday night because you wanted to see someone and had spent all your money on Saturday.
24. Ryan’s – where you tried to talk nice grownups into buying you cans of Tennants.
25. Summer projects that took us to exotic places like Clara Lara and the zoo.
26. Fishing for minnos in the Jacko with nets made from tights.
27. The big field where St Colmcille’s Girls’ School is now. The first time they’d cut the grass and you’d be allowed to play there – I can still remember the smell.
28. Being “claimed” by large, aggresive girls. Not only was this considered an acceptable form of bullying, it was one worthy of an audience.
29. Running through St Colmcille’s Cemetry for a dare – one very scary place.
30. Many establishments now gone: the old sit-down river café, Mary O’Grady’s shop and Donoghue’s, both on North Street. The old Superquinn/Dixie’s shop; Fitzgerald’s old shop on Main Street. Jimmy’s newsagents beside JC’s. The BP garage/shop on the Rathbeale Road.
31. Climbing the jagged fence into the CBS to cut off the Forrest Road – and often losing skin in the process.
32. Being asked “what’s in the can, lads?” in an Offaly accent.
33. Having the best childhood ever with friends that remain to this day.
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