Ballymun

Where and what is Ballymun?

Ballymun

A satellite town built on part of the Albert Agricultural College (now the site of Dublin City University ) on the northern outskirts of Dublin city.  An English architect Arthur Swift, acting on behalf of the National Building Agency and Dublin Corporation Planning Department designed seven fourteen-storey towers together with eight-and four-storey blocks, creating a four arm spiral with a central roundabout having a pedestrian underpass for crossing a new dual carriageway.  The precast structural buildings complex was opened in 1967 by the Minister for Local Government, Neil Blaney.  Built at a cost of over £12 million the scheme has been much criticised for its design and layout which have created social problems.

Now in 1999 Ballymun has a population of 20,000 in a mixture of the above tower and multi-storey blocks together with two storey houses.

In 1998 a £261 million development plan to change the face of Ballymun was launched by Dublin Corporation through Ballymun Regeneration Ltd. some details of which can be viewed on the following pages or by visiting the Ballymun Regeneration Website.