The Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the former Swiftbrook Paper Mills mark two distinct chapters in Saggart’s history: 19th-century religious architecture and industrial paper production. Prehistoric standing stones can also be found nearby; the location of the Luas terminus is another useful detail for planning your trip.
Church and graveyard
The foundations of the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary were laid from 1844 onwards; the church was consecrated on 19 August 1849. It is faced with Wicklow granite and designed in the Gothic Revival style, which was popular at the time. It is also a stop on the Saggart Heritage Walk.
Saggart Graveyard stands on the grounds of former church buildings; the monastery of St Mosacra may also have been located there. The graveyard contains a memorial to Dublin merchant Edward Byrne.
Paper mills and prehistoric stones
Swiftbrook Paper Mills was established around 1760. Millponds and a few ruined buildings remain from the former mills; parts of the site have been redeveloped. Traces of the paper industry therefore sit alongside changes to the former mill site.
There is also a connection to the history of 1916: the paper used for the original 1916 Proclamation was bought by Connolly at Swift Brook Paper Mills in Saggart. This links local industrial history to a significant event in Irish history.
Near Saggart, the stones known as “Adam and Eve” stand on Boherboy Road, about 1.2 km from Saggart. Their precise date and original purpose are unknown. These prehistoric stones add an archaeological dimension to the church and mill history, although their date remains uncertain.
Getting to and finding your way around Saggart
The Luas terminus on the Saggart–City Centre route is about a five-minute walk from Saggart town centre. If you’re looking for accommodation in Saggart, you can use the town centre as a reference point when planning your stay.
Improvements to public spaces for all users have also been made in Saggart to encourage walking and cycling. These measures offer another indication of the town’s layout without describing a particular accommodation location or individual routes.
South Dublin in the wider region
The wider destination of South Dublin offers other distinct cultural and nature-related experiences. Patrick Pearse, a leader of the 1916 Easter Rising, lived at the Pearse Museum in South Dublin from 1910 to 1916 and ran his pioneering Irish-language school there. The museum features an exhibition about his life, as well as historic rooms where he, his family and his pupils lived and worked.
In Tallaght, South Dublin, Rua Red is a large multidisciplinary arts centre and a hub for creative activity. Its arts programme focuses on exhibitions accompanied by gallery talks and tours. Admission to the galleries is free to the public; check this current visitor information before your trip and find out about the programme.
The Dublin Mountains in South Dublin offer a different focus, with opportunities for hiking, walking, orienteering, mountain biking and jogging. Wildlife found there includes squirrels, grouse, kestrels, deer and badgers. The wider region therefore offers a choice of arts and nature experiences alongside local history.
Discover more destinations: Clondalkin, Rathcoole, Lucan.
Return to the main travel overview: South Dublin.
