Swords, County Dublin

Swords
Sord / Sord Cholmcille (Irish)
Suburban town
Clockwise from top: Main Street, Swords; Ward River Valley Park; interior of Swords Pavilions
Swords
Location in Dublin area
Swords
Swords (Ireland)
Coordinates: 53°27′37″N 6°13′12″W / 53.4603°N 6.2200°W / 53.4603; -6.2200
CountryIreland
ProvinceLeinster
RegionEastern and Midland
CountyCounty Dublin
Local government areaFingal
Founded560
County town1994
Founded bySt Colmcille
Named after(possibly) St Colmcille's Well
County HallMain Street, Swords
Electoral divisions
List
  • Swords–Lissenhall
  • Swords–Glasmore
  • Swords–Forrest
  • Swords Village
  • Swords–Seatown
  • Swords–Manor
  • Holy well
  • Applewood
  • Brackenstown
  • Cloghran
  • Airport
Government
 • TypeLocal authority
 • BodyFingal County Council
 • EP constituencyDublin
 • Dáil constituencyDublin Fingal East
 • Local electoral areas
  • Swords
  • Howth—Malahide
Area
 • Urban
11.35 km2 (4.38 sq mi)
 • Metro
15.99 km2 (6.17 sq mi)
 Source: CSO Sapmap Viewer
Highest elevation
60 m (200 ft)
Lowest elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
 (2022)
 • Rank8th
 • Urban
40,776
 • Urban density3,615/km2 (9,360/sq mi)
Ethnic or cultural background
 • White Irish30,946
 • White Other7,089
 • Asian or Asian Irish1,169
 • Black or Black Irish1,142
 • White Irish Traveller96
Time zoneUTC0 (WET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+1 (WEST)
Postal Hub
Postal Sorting Office
SWORDS
Dialing Code+353(0)1
GeocodeO184469
ISO 3166 codeIE-D
Vehicle registrationD
WebsiteSwords on fingal.ie

Swords (Irish: Sord [sˠoːɾˠd̪ˠ] or Sord Cholmcille) in County Dublin, the county town of the local government area of Fingal, is a large suburban town on the east coast of Ireland, situated ten kilometres north of Dublin city centre. It is the eighth largest urban area in Ireland, with a population of 40,776 as of the 2022 census. The town was reputedly founded c. AD 560. Located on the Ward River, Swords features Swords Castle, a restored medieval castle, a holy well from which it takes its name, a round tower and a Norman tower. Facilities in the area include the Pavilions shopping centre, one of the largest in the Dublin region, a range of civic offices, some light industries, the main storage facility and archive of the National Museum of Ireland and several parks. Dublin Airport is located nearby.

The name "Swords" gives its name to a townland of Swords Demesne, a civil parish, and a local electoral area.