Welcome to Sandyford

Sandyford is a special place in County Dublin, Ireland. Its story began long, long ago. In the past, Sandyford was mostly farmland. You could see green fields, animals, and farms everywhere. It became known for its rich soil and the delicious fruits and vegetables that grew there.

One important thing that happened in Sandyford is that it was a hub for making bricks! In the 19th century, that's the 1800s for you, some of the fields were used to dig clay for making bricks. This clay was very important as it was used to build many of the beautiful buildings you see in Dublin today.

Over time, Sandyford has changed a lot. The farms are mostly gone now, replaced by houses, shops, and even tall office buildings. But the history of Sandyford lives on in its name. Do you know what 'Sandyford' means? It literally means 'sandy ford', which is a shallow place in a river that people could cross over. This name tells us about the sandy soil in the area, so in a way, the name Sandyford carries a bit of its past with it.

So, that's a little bit about Sandyford. It's not just a town, but a place with a story that goes back hundreds of years!

  1. What was Sandyford mostly known for in the past?
  2. What was the clay from Sandyford used for in the 19th century?
  3. What does the name 'Sandyford' mean?
  4. How has Sandyford changed over time and what does this tell us about how places can change?
  5. Why do you think it's important to know about the history of a place like Sandyford?

All About Sandyford

Sandyford is an exciting area in County Dublin, Ireland. It's not just a place where people live, but it's also filled with fun things to explore! One of the most famous places is The Beacon Hospital, a big building where doctors help people get better.

Sandyford is also known for its business district. Imagine a place where lots of office buildings stand tall, like giants! People come here to work from all over Dublin.

But it's not all about buildings. Sandyford is also a home for many different plants and animals. You might spot the common Irish birds like robins and sparrows hopping around, and lots of pretty flowers and trees that make the area look like a colourful painting!

There are no big rivers or mountains in Sandyford, but there's something just as cool. The area has a lovely park, called Fernhill Park and Gardens. It's a great place for a picnic or to play games with your friends.

And there's one more thing you should know about Sandyford. It's a place where trams go by! They make a "ding-ding" sound as they travel along the tracks. These are called the LUAS, which means "speed" in Irish. Isn't that cool?

  1. Can you name some of the plants and animals you might see in Sandyford?
  2. What are some of the key landmarks in Sandyford?
  3. Why is the business district in Sandyford important?
  4. Using a map of Dublin, can you locate Sandyford and its key features like Fernhill Park and Gardens and the business district?
  5. Take a trip to Sandyford or use online resources to discover a geographical feature not mentioned in the text. What is it? Why do you think it's interesting?

My Family and Sandyford

Hi, I'm eight-year-old Notley from Sandyford, Co. Dublin. Living here is really fun because there are so many cool places to see! One of my favourite places is the Airfield Estate. It has a farm, gardens and a café. I love watching the cows, pigs and chickens. Sometimes, I even get to feed them!

Another place I like is the Dundrum Town Centre. It's one of the biggest shopping centres in Ireland. Even though I don't shop much, I love the ice-cream from Ben & Jerry's there. Oh, and did I mention the Sandyford Business Park? It’s not a playground but I love seeing all the big buildings and people in suits rushing around, it's like a scene from a movie!

I also love going to the Ticknock Forest with my family. We take long walks and enjoy picnics. From the top, you can see the whole city. It's really pretty especially during sunset.

  1. What is one of Notley's favourite places in Sandyford and why?
  2. What animals does Notley often see at the Airfield Estate?
  3. What does Notley like about the Dundrum Town Centre?
  4. What does Notley observe in the Sandyford Business Park?
  5. What does Notley do with their family at the Ticknock Forest?

The Logainm of Sandyford

Sandyford is a place in County Dublin, Ireland. The name 'Sandyford' is an English translation of the Irish name 'Áth an Ghainimh'. 'Áth' means a ford, which is a shallow place where people can cross a river. 'An Ghainimh' means of the sand. So, Sandyford means 'the sandy ford'. It was called this because there was a place where people could cross the small river there without getting too wet, and the ground was sandy.

Long ago, people didn't have bridges to cross rivers, so they used fords. Sandyford was an important place because people could cross the river there. They could travel to other places to trade things like food, clothes, and tools. Today, Sandyford is still important. It's not because of the ford now, but because it has a lot of businesses and homes. It also has a big shopping centre and a tram line that helps people travel just like the old ford did!

  1. What does 'Sandyford' mean in English?

  2. What is a ford?

  3. Why was Sandyford an important place long ago?

  4. Why is Sandyford important today?

  5. How does the tram line in Sandyford today help people in a similar way to the old ford?

Slideshow - Sandyford
A full set of teaching plans for teaching about Sandyford