Editing Swords, Dublin (section)

== Features and historical attractions ==
Some historical attractions are listed below. Many of these are promoted by Swords Historical Society.<ref name="Swords Historical Society"/>
[[File:Swords Castle wall with Constable's Tower.jpg|thumb|Swords Castle as seen from Swords Town Park]]

=== Swords Castle ===
{{Main|Swords Castle}}
Swords Castle was built as the manorial residence of the 1st [[Archbishop of Dublin (Roman Catholic)|Archbishop of Dublin]], John Comyn, around 1200 or a little later in Swords, just north of Dublin. It was never strong in the military sense, but covers a large pentagonal walled area of nearly {{convert|1.5|acre|m2}} with a tower on the north and a gateway complex on the south. The adjoining chapel, built in the late thirteenth century, was probably used as the Archbishop's private oratory.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

Other buildings, recorded in an inquisition in 1326, have now vanished, including the great hall on the east side of the enclosure. The Archbishop abandoned Swords once a new palace was built at [[Tallaght]] in 1324. The stepped battlements suggest some form of occupancy during the fifteenth century, but by 1583, when briefly occupied by [[Dutch people|Dutch]] [[Protestants]], it was described as "the quite spoiled old castle". It was used as a garden in the nineteenth century and sold after the [[Church of Ireland]] was disestablished.

Swords Castle has undergone restoration and is open as a tourist attraction. The castle was used as a film location for the production of TV series ''[[The Tudors]]'' in the spring of 2010.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/tv-radio/swords-castle-features-in-the-tudors-1901486.html |title=Swords Castle – The Tudors |newspaper=Evening Herald |access-date=5 October 2012 |archive-date=29 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231129123933/https://www.independent.ie/regionals/dublin |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== St. Colmcille's Well ===
[[File:County Dublin - Townparks Holy Well-St Colmcilles Well - 20170925132515.jpg|alt=St Colmcilles Well|thumb|St Colmcilles Well]]
On Well Road, also known as St. Columb's Well. In a locked chamber. Reputed to be where Swords got its name when St. Colmcille blessed the well of clear water, 'Sord' being the Irish for 'clear or pure'.

=== St. Columba's Church, Belfry & Round Tower ===
[[File:StColmcillesTower.jpg|thumb|left|St. Columba's Church and round tower]]
The round tower is the surviving remnant of St. Colmcille's monastic settlement. The only remaining relic of the medieval church is its belfry, from {{circa|1300}}, which is open to the public in the summertime. The original church is said to have fallen into ruin sometime in the seventeenth century. The new church of early Gothic style was built in 1811 on the foundations of the old.<ref>[http://www.fingaldublin.ie/interior-pages/activities-attractions-amp-conference/castles-churches-and-towers/swords-round-tower/ St. Columba's Round Tower] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130312091529/http://www.fingaldublin.ie/interior-pages/activities-attractions-amp-conference/castles-churches-and-towers/swords-round-tower/ |date=12 March 2013 }} Fingal Tourism</ref> The Sexton's Lodge was built in 1870. The body of [[Brian Boru]] was said to have been brought there in 1014 to be waked after the [[Battle of Clontarf]], while on the way to be buried in [[Armagh]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://homepage.eircom.net/~aroundswords/swordshistory.htm|title=Around Swords History|website=homepage.eircom.net|access-date=28 December 2012|archive-date=24 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024035147/http://homepage.eircom.net/~aroundswords/swordshistory.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
As well as St. Columba's, Swords was served by [[Cloghran Parish Church (Church of Ireland)|Cloghran-Swords church]], south of the town, up until it was merged with Santry in 1872.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}

=== Old Borough School ===
Located on Main Street, the building was designed by the architect Francis Johnston. In 2015, [[Wetherspoon]] bought the premises, and now operates The Old Borough as a public house.

=== St. Colmcille's Catholic Church ===
On Chapel Lane, a pre-Catholic emancipation church was built in 1827 on a site donated by James Taylor of Swords House. The graveyard contains the headstones of nationalist politician [[Andrew Kettle]], who was known as "Parnell's Righthand Man".

=== Courthouse ===
[[File:CourtHouseSwords.jpg|thumb|Swords Courthouse]]
Designed by Alexander Tate, Swords Courthouse is located on North Street and was built in 1845 in Classical style.

=== Lord Mayors ===
Founded in 1668, the 350-year-old Lord Mayors is a Swords landmark. The thatched-roof pub is the oldest structure in the village.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dublinlive.ie/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/lord-mayors-pub-swords-closing-16192819|title=Iconic 350-year-old North Dublin pub set to close its doors for good|last=Lyne|first=Laura|date=2019-04-28|website=Dublin Live|access-date=2020-04-24|archive-date=13 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200513113926/https://www.dublinlive.ie/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/lord-mayors-pub-swords-closing-16192819|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Lord mayors closed for business in April 2019<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-ie/news/newsireland/350-year-old-lord-mayors-pub-in-swords-set-to-close-its-doors-for-good/ar-BBWn4Gu|title=350-year-old Lord Mayors pub in Swords set to close its doors for good|website=MSN|access-date=2020-04-24}}</ref> leaving the premises vacant, with some locals questioning the plan to build 172 apartments on the site of the historic structure.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-news/locals-slam-plans-turn-former-17825573|title=Plan to build apartments on pub site 'turning town into concrete jungle'|last=O'Brien|first=Mark|date=2020-02-27|website=Dublin Live|access-date=2020-04-24|archive-date=13 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200513203440/https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-news/locals-slam-plans-turn-former-17825573|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Fingal County Hall ===
[[File:Fingal County Hall.jpg|thumb|left|Fingal County Hall]]
The modern [[County Hall, Swords|Fingal County Hall]], by Bucholz McEvoy Architects, is located at the northern end of Main Street. It is built on the site of Swords House, the home of the Norman family, the Taylors of Swords. Records show the family arrived there in the 13th century and built a 'Mansion House' in 1403.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}