Balbriggan (Baile Brigín in Irish) is a town (Pop. 11,132) in North Dublin, Ireland, now forming part of County Fingal.

According to P.W. Joyce the name arises from "Baile Bhrecan" which literally means "Bhrecan's Town"). Bhrecan is a common medieval first name and there are several other Brackenstowns in Ireland. There is also a possible link to the of Bracken River. In this case the name could derive from Bhreac-in (Little Trout).

There is no chronological consensus about the "foundation" of the town, other than there may always have been a small settlement of fishermen, weavers and some sort of agricultural trade post.

An eighteenth Century Traveller describes Balbriggan as " ..a small town situated in a small glin where the sea forms a little harbour - it is reckoned safe and is sheltered by a good pier. The town is resorted to in Summer time by several genteel people for the benefit of bathing."

The town has a sad place in history as it was subjected to the brutality of the Black and Tans in September 1920, an event known as the "Sack of Balbriggan" when the town was burned and large numbers of its inhabitants were rendered homeless. It was also the location of the 19th-century Smith's Stocking Mill, which made stockings for Queen Victoria, as well as men's "Long-Johns" called Balbriggans. The latter are referred to in several John Wayne films.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has located a passport production facility in Balbriggan. There is also a proposal to relocate the Drogheda International Seaport to the north (Bremore area) of the town.

The River Bracken, which flows through the town, once formed a lake there known locally at "The Canal". This lake was reclaimed through land-fill in the early 1980s to create a public park.

Balbriggan is situated 36 km north of Dublin city, on the Belfast–Dublin main line of the Irish rail network. Commuter rail services serve the town, which is also located next to the M1 motorway. Balbriggan is the most northerly town in Fingal(although the village of Balscadden lies further north within the county). The town is very close to Drogheda.

Balbriggan is currently experiencing a building boom as a result of the demand for housing within the wider Dublin region. Very few of the towns inhabitants have a connection with Balbriggan longer than 30 years.

See also

• List of towns in the Republic of Ireland

External links

• Balbriggan Town Council
• Balbriggan.net (unofficial)
• Central Statictics Office population
• Drogheda Port
• Dublintourist.com
• Fingal County Council
• The Great North Road and Fingal
• Wavin company's website