Knocklyon () is a suburb of Dublin in county of South Dublin, within the old County Dublin, Ireland. Unlike many Dublin suburbs, Knocklyon was not developed around a village; rather it largely comprises modern housing built between the village of Templeogue and the former hamlet, now a suburb in its own right, of Firhouse. A number of old cottages and farmhouses along Knocklyon Road attest to the area's rural past. Etymology The area has been known historically in 14th-century scrolls as Cnoclín, literally 'flax mountain'. Until recently, roadsigns in Knocklyon had an incorrect "reverse anglicised" translation, giving Lyon's hill or Cnoc Liamhna, so for example, the Irish-language wording on signs for Knocklyon Road showed Bóthar Chnoc Liamhna. The local authority have updated their translation based on recommendations from the commissioned update on Irish placenames. Location Knocklyon is located among the southwestern suburbs of the city, in the foothills of the Dublin Mountains and south of the line of the River Dodder. It is bordered to the east and south by Rathfarnham, to the north by Templeogue, and to the west by Firhouse and Ballycullen. The M50 motorway divides Knocklyon, with most of the suburb lying east of the motorway. Housing estates to the east include Idrone, Knocklyon Avenue, Beverly, Dargle Wood, Coolamber, Knockcullen, Lansdowne, Delaford, Knockaire, Orlagh, Scholarstown Park, Woodfield and Templeroan. To the west of the M50 are estates such as Castlefield, Glenlyon, Monalea, Glenvara and Woodstown. The western and eastern portions of the suburb are linked by the Firhouse Road, by the flyover at Junction 12 of the M50 motorway, and by a footbridge close to where the Old Knocklyon Road formerly met Ballycullen Road. Population The population figure cannot be isolated from published census data as Knocklyon is composed of Firhouse-Knocklyon electoral division (ED) (population 39,602 in 2011), plus fractions of Ballyboden ED (57,085) and Firhouse-Ballycullen ED (77,773), not divided and published distinctly. Amenities Knocklyon Shopping Centre contains a supermarket and other retail outlets. There are also two shopping areas in the Orlagh and Woodstown estates. Both are anchored by a supermarket and have a number of fast food takeaway shops, as well as beauty salons and childcare centres. There is also a local public house. A division of the St. John Ambulance was established in 2010 which provides first aid training in the community. Knocklyon has a number of open spaces within its residential estates and