placenamesTwinbrook
An Ladhar
Twinbrook grew as a planned housing estate on Belfast’s western edge, with schools developing alongside the new community.
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
- An Ladhar · Irish · main form · validated name
- Twinbrook · English · main form
Place & story
The first tenants
Twinbrook received its first tenants in 1971. It was conceived as a mixed-religion estate, with plans for about 3,000 families. Early residents formed a tenants’ association that tried to preserve that mixed character. John Darby’s contemporary study describes its community-relations committee, meetings with the Housing Executive and efforts to welcome new arrivals during the unsettled early 1970s. [2]
St Colm’s and a growing community
St Colm’s High School opened in 1974 and initially taught pupils in mobile classrooms. Imelda Jordan joined the staff as an English teacher in 1977 and became principal in 1999. On retiring in 2013, she recalled the school’s role in supporting children through the Troubles and the later development of partnerships with other schools across community and educational divisions. [3]
Geographic information
Sources & further reading
- Logainm.ie — Twinbrook. Place names and geographic record, licensed under CC BY 4.0.
- Intimidation in Housing, 1974, chapter 6: Lenadoon and Twinbrook · John Darby; reproduced by CAIN, Ulster University
- Area can be confident about future says retiring principal, 3 July 2013 · The Irish News
Name record retrieved 2026-10-25 · Source record modified 2021-05-26. How this page was prepared.