South Dublin (Irish: Átha Cliath Theas) is a county in the Republic of Ireland which forms part of the now historical county of Dublin. The centre of Local Government of South Dublin is Tallaght. South Dublin achieved county status in the 1993 Local Government (Dublin) Act, and more formally in the 2001 Local Government Act. It was created alongside two other authorities to replace Dublin County Council.
The Coat of Arms for South Dublin reads "This We Hold In Trust" in both English and Irish, while incorporating elements of the history, geography and present day infrastucture of the area.
South Dublin is the last county in Ireland to have any alterations made to its boundary, these being made in 1993 to accomodate the M50 motorway. It is also the last county to undergo a name change, its original name of "Belgard" being changed to South Dublin when the area was altered from being an Electoral County to an Administrative County in 1994 (Fingal and Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown's boundaries and names were both set in 1985). The name of Belgard did have a historical association with the area, being the designation of one of the border fortresses of the Pale which existed in that area. It was altered however under the view that the name Belgard would create associations to certain areas of modern development in the vicinity of Tallaght that now also use that name.
The area of South Dublin covers 222.74 square kilometres and lies about 10 miles south west of the capital. It is bounded by the Dublin Mountains to the south and stretches from the River Liffey at Lucan through Palmerstown, Clondalkin, south to Newcastle, Rathcoole, Saggart. It includes Tallaght West, South and Central and stretches east to Templeogue and Rathfarnham. South Dublin is bordered by the Counties of Kildare, Wicklow, Fingal and Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, as well as Dublin City. The Institute of Technology, Tallaght is located within the county.
The current mayor is Robert Dowds. The Deputy Mayor is Eamonn Walsh.
As of April 2005, the South Dublin county boundary now appears on all Ordnance Survey Ireland "Discovery Series" (3rd edition) national maps, and from 2006 onwards South Dublin will be portrayed on these maps with full county status.
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