I visited on a very wet windy day, in January 2016, but the windmills were locked-down ... maybe the weather was unsuitable. Back then I used a Sony A7RII and a Sony FE35 35mm F1.4 lens. The name Clongriffin is a modern invention, a concatenation of "clon", the anglicisation of cluain (the Irish language word for meadow), and griffin. A griffin, griffon, or gryphon (the Irish of which is ghrífín) is a mythical beast and may be an element in the name of the adjacent district, Balgriffin.
Allegedly, architect David Wright gave Clongriffin its name while working on its development. However, a friend of mine claims that I was always known as Clongriffin (I am not at all confident about his claim).
The redeveloped Father Collins Park, running to the northern edge of Donaghmede, and adjacent to Clongriffin, was officially reopened in May 2009 and is Ireland's first wind powered and "self-sustainable" public park. The park has since won a number of awards such as The Sustainability Award 2010, Best Public Space 2010, and Best Public Park & Best Environmentally Friendly Initiative for 2010. It was short listed by the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture in 2011.
Five 50 kilowatt wind turbines provide power for the projection of water from its central lake, public lighting, maintenance depots, and sports club changing rooms. The 54 acre (26 hectare) park includes some natural woodland. There is a peripheral running/cycling track, six playing pitches and six fitness stations. There are also a promenade, concert amphitheatre, and picnic areas with outdoor chess or draughts boards, two playgrounds and a skate park.
In October 2003, Francis Street's well-established and reputable traders joined forces to form Dublin's first and foremost Antique Quarter, and to launch it they published a slick little guide to Francis Street listing its many antique shops, art galleries and restaurants.
