About Balbriggan

Balbriggan is situated 20 miles north of Dublin, the capital of Ireland, on the East coast. Balbriggan, known in Irish as Baile Brigin (the town of the small hills), is situated on the coast just 15 minutes from Dublin Airport. On the main Dublin to Belfast rail line, Balbriggan boasts an active working harbour and four good bathing beaches. The "front-strand", where a summer Life-Guard service is provided, is just a few minutes walk from the train station and the town centre. Balbriggan is also a commuter town for Dublin, with many transport links into the city.

Industry
Balbriggan has a long history as an industrial centre. For many years it was in the heart of the Irish textile industry. In 1780, the Smyth & Co. factory opened, producing quality hosiery and underwear for 200 years. Indeed, the term Balbriggans became synonymous with quality underwear for men and women, particularly in the United States, and still commands a definition in the Websters Dictionary. During the reign of Queen Victoria, she insisted on only wearing stockings from the Smyth & Co. factory. The factory closed in 1980, after 200 years of service, with Smyth and Co going into liquidation.

While the textile industry has declined in the area from it's previous heights, the textile tradition is still maintained in some local industries. The major local industrial employer at present is Wavin Ireland, a subsidiary of a major Dutch company, manufacturing a wide range of plastic pipes. Sonopress, a subsidiary of the major German Group, Bertlesman, opened a facility manufacturing CD-ROMS in the recent past and are currently undergoing an expansion. Webtech is an Irish packaging company. Bridgestone tyres have their Irish distribution centre in the town. At the height of its industrial development, the factories of Balbriggan were producing a range of textile products.

Population
The current population of the town is just over 19,500, but when you take into account the neighbouring towns and surrounding countryside in the north Fingal region, the catchment area population is nearer 40,000.

Tourism
Balbriggan also has great potential for the tourist industry. Being a seaside town, Balbriggan has had a tradition for beach holidays. There are many local attractions in the town. Balbriggan can also act as a starting point for a holiday in the North Fingal area, with counties Meath and Louth very close by.