Editing Swords, Dublin (section)

== Leisure and cultural facilities ==
=== Swords library ===
Swords library, located on Rathbeale Road, offers library services and runs cultural activities for children and adults.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

=== Historical society ===
Swords Historical Society, founded in 1982, is supported by volunteers who have worked to record, promote and preserve the heritage of the greater Swords area. The society's Museum and Heritage Centre at the Carnegie Library on North Street is run by volunteers and is open on weekday afternoons. The society's oral history project has produced an annual 'Swords Voices' publication, which chronicles the memories of local people.<ref name="Swords Historical Society">{{cite web|url=http://www.swordsheritage.com/|title=swordsheritage|website=www.swordsheritage.com|access-date=22 August 2012|archive-date=18 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130918014921/http://www.swordsheritage.com/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Ward River Valley Park ===
The Ward River Valley Park is a linear park on the banks of the Ward River approaching town. It covers an area of 89 ha. (220 acres) between Swords town centre and Knocksedan Bridge. Features include some 12th-century fortifications, woodland habitats, wetlands and rolling grassland. There are viewing points, picnic sites, sports pitches and tennis courts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fingalcoco.ie/CommunityRecreationandAmenitiesDepartment/Parks/ParksHeritageProperties/WardRiverValleyRegionalPark/|title=Ward River Valley Regional Park|publisher=Fingal County Council|website=www.fingalcoco.ie|access-date=13 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308061608/http://www.fingalcoco.ie/CommunityRecreationandAmenitiesDepartment/Parks/ParksHeritageProperties/WardRiverValleyRegionalPark/|archive-date=8 March 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> The park is known locally as "The Jacko", which is a nickname that is thought to have originated in the 1960s.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Jacko -The Ward River Valley Swords|url=https://www.swords-dublin.com/the-jacko-river.html|access-date=2021-11-02|website=Swords County Dublin|language=en|archive-date=2 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211102081122/https://www.swords-dublin.com/the-jacko-river.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Swords Town Park (with Swords Castle) ===
[[File:TownParkNorth.jpg|thumb|Swords Town Park, with Ward River on left]]
Swords Town Park is a small park situated in the centre of the town of Swords, along the Ward River.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fingalcoco.ie/CommunityRecreationandAmenitiesDepartment/Parks/ParksHeritageProperties/SwordsCastle/|title=Swords Castle|website=Fingal County Council|access-date=13 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080430230209/http://www.fingalcoco.ie/CommunityRecreationandAmenitiesDepartment/Parks/ParksHeritageProperties/SwordsCastle/|archive-date=30 April 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> It has tennis courts and a playground. Swords Castle lies within the park. It is the former residence of the Archbishop of Dublin and it is the only fortified residence of the Archbishop to survive in a reasonable state today (see above).

=== Balheary Park ===
Balheary Park is north of the town centre near the confluence of the Broadmeadow River and the Ward River, which flow to the northern and southern edges of the park. It meets Swords Business Campus / Balheary Business Park on three sides and has some playing pitches which are used by the Fingallians GAA club. In mid-2006, Fingal County Council built a [[skatepark]] and adjoining basketball courts/football court in Balheary Park. The park contains a bowl, a vert wall, a spine, some [[quarterpipe]]s, and a section of boxes in the middle of the park.

=== Broadmeadow River Linear Park ===
The Broadmeadow Linear Park is a small park north of Applewood along the Broadmeadow River. Fingal County Council plan to extend the park eastwards to Balheary Park and westwards into the proposed Swords Regional Park.<ref>[http://www.fingalcoco.ie/Planning/LocalAreaPlans/LocalAreaPlansDevelopmentPlan2005-2011/OldtownMooretownLAP/publications,32651,en.pdf Broadmeadow Linear Park]{{Dead link|date=January 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} (Section 3.1.2)</ref>

=== National Show Centre ===
A little south of Swords, near [[Dublin Airport]], the [[National Show Centre]] is an exhibition and conference venue owned by the [[Irish Kennel Club]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalshowcentre.ie/|title=Home - National Show Centre|website=NSC|access-date=25 August 2012|archive-date=5 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121005081944/http://www.nationalshowcentre.ie/|url-status=live}}</ref> The venue is used as a counting centre during elections for the [[Dublin Fingal (Dáil constituency)|Dublin Fingal]] constituency.