Its centre of population, which was originally situated on one of the chief roads to the north of Ireland, has now been by-passed by the M2 motorway.

[citation needed] After the Norman invasion of Ireland, the lands of la Garde, or the Ward, were possessed by the family of le Bank.

Nicholas le Bank was granted extensive property in Ireland by King Henry II of England.

[3] In the first half of the thirteenth century a right of turbary in his "tenement near Finglas" was conveyed by Sir Raymond le Bank to the canons of All Saints.

During the first half of the sixteenth century the castle, round which the village sprang up, was occupied by Richard Delahide, who was a judge.