Clondalkin
| Clondalkin Irish: Cluain Dolcáin | |
| County Dublin | |
|---|---|
 The Clondalkin round tower | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | O070312 |
| Location: | 53°19’13"N, 6°23’41"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 46,813 (2016) |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | South Dublin |
| Dáil constituency: |
Dublin Mid-West |
Clondalkin is a suburban town in County Dublin, six miles south-west of Dublin city centre. It features an 8th century round tower that acts as a focal point for the area.
The name of the town is from the Irish Cluain Dolcáin meaning 'Dolcan's meadow'.
Clondalkin is within the Barony of Uppercross.
History
Clondalkin is believed to have been founded by St Cronan Mochua as a monastic settlement on the River Camac over 1,400 years ago (possibly late 6th or early 7th centuries). The round tower was built perhaps two centuries later (circa 790 AD[1]) as part of the monastery. By the 8th century, Saint Fugillus was Bishop of Clondalkin and noted gospel manuscripts were produced – the most famous of these being the Clondalkin mass book which is on display in Karlsruhe, Germany.[2]
The monastery was sacked by Vikings in 832 AD and burned to the ground. One of the early Norse kings of Dublin, Olaf Conung, built a fortress on the site in the middle of the 9th century. In 867 a force led by Cennétig mac Gaíthéne, king of Loígis (Leix), burned the fortress at Clondalkin and killed 100 of Olaf's followers. The monastery was later restored and, with help from other surrounding monasteries, influenced the Viking settlers in their conversion to Christianity.[3] The district remained under Norse control until the Viking defeat by Brian Boru at the famous Battle of Clontarf in 1014.
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During the Norman invasion in 1171, Strongbow fought a battle here with the last High King of Ireland Ruaidhrí Ua Conchabhair.
During the 1641 rebellion Clondalkin was the scene of fighting.
Clondalkin Paper Mill was established at the start of the 19th century by Thomas Seery and Son. Having changed ownership over the years, activity peaked during the First World War as the focus moved to war production. Productivity slowed until the mill closed its doors for the last time in 1987. The Mill Shopping Centre was later built on the same street, keeping the name alive.
Sights of the village
The Clondalkin round tower, an is the eighth-century tower and one of the four remaining towers in County Dublin.[4] Acknowledged as one of the oldest in the country, it is 84 feet high and has its original conical cap.[5]
In July 2017, The Round Tower Heritage Centre opened in the village core, which addresses the history of Clondalkin and the round tower.
Clondalkin is also home to St Brigid's Well, which is said to have been established as a well for baptising pagans by Saint Brigid in the 5th century. It was believed that the well-possessed powers of healing.[6]
Tully's Castle is a castle and a National Monument.
Media
- The Clondalkin Echo
- The Clondalkin Gazette
- The Clondalkin News, delivered free to households in Clondalkin.
Sport
- Gaelic games: Round Towers GAA, was founded in 1884
- Football:
- Clondalkin Celtic F.C., formed in 1969
- Booth Road Celtic
- Castle Park F.C.,
- Moorefield United
- Knockmitten United
- Rugby: Clondalkin RFC
- Basketball: Dublin Lions Basketball Club
The National Baseball Facility in Ireland, O'Malley Field, is located in Corkagh Demesne Park, in southwest Clondalkin. This is the home of the Irish national baseball team.
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Clondalkin) |
References
- ↑ "South Dublin Libraries". http://source.southdublinlibraries.ie/bitstream/10599/8866/3/ClondalkinWalkingTourPrintable.pdf.
- ↑ "History". http://homepage.eircom.net/~clondalkintour/history.htm.
- ↑ O Corrain, Donnchadh (1997). The Oxford Illustrated History of the Vikings. New york: Oxford. pp. 107.
- ↑ "Clondalkin Round Tower". http://www.megalithicireland.com/Clondalkin%20Round%20Tower.html.
- ↑ "Round Tower, Clondalkin, Dublin". 15 September 2013. http://archiseek.com/2010/776-round-tower-clondalkin-co-dublin/.
- ↑ "St Brigid's Holy Well, Clondalkin Megalithicireland.com. Retrieved on 12 October 2013". http://www.megalithicireland.com/St%20Brigid%27s%20Well,%20Clondalkin.html.