Overview
In the 7th century a monk named Mosacra founded a religious house at Saggart that grew into a nunnery of more than 80 women, until Viking raiders scattered the community in the 9th century. The stone foundations still sit in a field near the modern village. That layered past is the reason to stop here, because on the surface Saggart is now mostly commuter Dublin: its population has roughly doubled since 2011, and the Citywest business and leisure complex has spread across the fields around it. Come for the standing stones and the valley, not for the village centre.
The Luas Red Line terminates here, putting you about 45 minutes from the city with no transfer. If you have an hour, walk out to the “Adam and Eve” stones and back; if you have a morning, follow the Slade of Saggart valley instead.
History and heritage
The name comes from the Irish Teach Sagard, “the priest’s house”. After Mosacra’s foundation and the Viking raids, the Normans recorded the settlement as Tasagart by 1207 and made it a prebend of St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin. The old parish church had fallen down by the 1630s; the present Catholic church, dedicated to the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, was built between 1847 and 1849 and is still the village’s main landmark.
The ground around Saggart is unusually thick with prehistoric markers. The best known are the “Adam and Eve” standing stones at Boherboy, a pair of Neolithic uprights in open field. The Raheen Standing Stone stands alone off the Blessington Road, and a 10th-century pilgrim’s stone rests in the local graveyard. Later industry left its own traces: the Swift Brook Paper Mill worked here from the mid-18th century for over 200 years, and the Dublin and Blessington Steam Tramway ran through the village from 1888 until 1932, decades before the Luas.
What to see and do
Standing stones and monastic ruins
- Adam and Eve standing stones – at Boherboy, free to visit and a short walk from the village. The single most worthwhile stop here.
- Raheen Standing Stone – a solitary Neolithic monolith along the Blessington Road near Crooksling.
- Coolmine monastic ruins – the remains of Mosacra’s 7th-century foundation, on the grounds of the Coolmine Equestrian Centre about 1.5 km from the village.
- Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary – a well-kept 19th-century stone church with stained glass, still in use for Sunday worship.
Walking and the valley
- Slade of Saggart and River Camac – the village sits at the head of this narrow east–west valley, where the River Camac begins its run down towards the Liffey near Heuston Station.
- Slade Valley walking trail – a route linking the valley to Saggart Reservoir through mixed woodland and open field. Parts of it were still under construction as of 2021, so check locally before setting out, and expect mud in winter; there is a gravel section that stays drier. A downloadable village heritage walk covers the historic core.
Around the village
- Citywest Shopping Centre – anchored by Dunnes Stores, with a pharmacy, cafés and everyday shops.
- Jacob’s Bar – a traditional pub established in 1901, with live music.
- St Mary’s GAA – founded in 1906, fielding Gaelic football and hurling teams.
Getting there and practical information
Saggart is one of the two western termini of the Luas Red Line, alongside Tallaght. Trams run roughly every 20 minutes and reach the city centre in about 45 minutes, with tickets around €2–3. By road the N7 (Naas Road) passes close by. Dublin Bus route 69 and GoAhead Ireland’s W6 also serve the village; the 69 from Usher’s Quay takes about 51 minutes and costs €3.
For parking, the Luas park-and-ride at Saggart charges €2 per day, or €1 for up to four hours – it is smaller than the Red Cow lot, so it fills. There are also 16 on-street spaces on Main Street kept for shoppers. For a quiet walk, head up the Slade Valley early: the trail is at its best before the weekend crowds and while the birdlife is still about.