Shankill, Dublin

Shankill is an area in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The area, and the Shankill Road in particular, is famous for being at the centre of the political tensions in Northern Ireland. Greater Shankill has a population of around 5000. The area is predominantly Protestant and neighbours the much larger Catholic area of the Falls Road.

The Shankill Road was called the Antrim Road until 1831. Its new name was based on the Gaelic Sean Cill meaning Old Church. The area expanded greatly in the mid to late 19th century with the growth of the Linen industry. This industry, along with others that had previously been successful in the area, declined in the mid 20th century leading to high unemployment levels, which remain as of 2003.

During the Troubles The Shankill gained a reputation, due to events like the Shankill Butchers and the Bombay Street riots. The Shankill got it commupance in October 1993, when the IRA blew up a Fish shop bringing chaos to the Shankill.

Nowadays the Shankill resembles Bosnia in the Balkans war, as it is dilapidated, with the residents moving out to new housing schemes in Belfast. The atmosphere is bleek, when compared to its bigger and better rival, The Falls, which is enjoying a mini-renaissance.

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Shankill is also a suburb at the southern boundary of county Dublin, Ireland. Interestingly, there is a Falls Road in the Dublin Shankill, as well as the more well-known Belfast road.

Occasionally the primary schools in both Shankill's hold football or other sporting events to promote better North-South relationships.

There is also a Dublin Area Rapid Transit (DART) station in Shankill. It is the third last stop on the south side of the line.

There are three pubs in Shankill; Brady's, Mickey Byrnes, and The Corbawn Tavern.