placenamesSpringfield
Achadh an Tobair
Springfield’s housing, schools and parish developed together during Tallaght’s rapid expansion in the 1970s.
The name
These Irish name elements are associated with this record in the Logainm glossary.
An element’s translation is a clue, rather than a complete explanation of the name. Its form and meaning depend on local history and the full Irish name.
Recorded forms
- Achadh an Tobair · Irish · main form · validated name
- Springfield · English · main form
Place & story
A new housing estate
Springfield homes went on the market in 1972. Original advertising material examined by the Echo listed starting prices of £4,650 and deposits of £470. Local historian Ken Larkin, who moved to Springfield in 1978, recalled the community forming around its parish and youth organisations. The surviving sales material records the estate’s beginnings, while his account describes the social connections that developed as new residents arrived. [2]
From temporary church to Saint Mark’s
Springfield parish was formed in 1972 from Tallaght–Bohernabreena. The parish’s own history places its temporary church on the site later occupied by the Scout Hall. A permanent Saint Mark’s Church opened in July 1975. Across the road, the junior and senior schools created a closely connected group of community institutions, reflecting the needs of the families settling in this new part of Tallaght. [3]
The schools’ first generation
Saint Mark’s junior and senior schools trace their beginnings to 1973. Their fiftieth-anniversary celebration took place in Saint Mark’s Church in June 2024, bringing the schools and parish together again. In the contemporary report, senior-school principal Michael Daly described both schools as central to Springfield’s community. Their history follows the growth of the estate through generations of children educated locally. [4]
Geographic information
Sources & further reading
- Logainm.ie — Springfield. Place names and geographic record, licensed under CC BY 4.0.
- Do you remember when houses in Springfield first went on the market?,14 June 2019 · James Reynolds, The Echo, with original material from Ken Larkin
- About Saint Mark’s: parish history · Saint Mark’s Parish, Springfield
- Saint Mark’s junior and senior national schools celebrate50years,27 June2024 · Aideen O’Flaherty, The Echo
Name record retrieved 2026-10-25 · Source record modified 2024-06-28. How this page was prepared.