Ecclesiastical site at Clondalkin, Co. Dublin (DU017-041013)

Zone of notification 23.15 ha

A zone of notification is the area around a recorded monument where the council normally refers a planning application to the National Monuments Service, which can ask for an archaeological assessment or conditions before permission is granted. Recorded monuments and planning permission: the guide.

The record DU017-041013

SMR number

DU017-041013

Class

Ecclesiastical site

Townland

Clondalkin, Co. Dublin

Named on the OS map

Clondalkin

National record

National Monuments Service record for DU017-041013

Crónán of Clondalkin was also referred to in sources as Mochua and Macotus whose feastday was commemorated on 6th of August. According to Ó Riain (2011, 233-4), Crónán of Clondalkin was; 'was the best-known of seven sons of Lughaidh son of Nathí of the Ui Chéithigh, a branch of the Laighin (Leinstermen) that gave name to the Kildare barony of Ikeathy. The mother of these saints, Cainnear, was attached to the church of Cluain Dá Shaileach, now Clonsilla (DU013-017001-), Co. Dublin'. The monastery at Clondalkin had close links with the monastic foundation at Glendalough (WI023-008005-) and St Kevin (Caoimhghin), in the Life of Caoimhghin, Crónán was described as the saint who baptised St Kevin of Glendalough (ibid.). It is possible that he may also have been the patron saint of the monastery of Kildrought (Ceall Droichid) (KD011-012004-), now Celbridge, Co. Kildare. He founded a monastery at Clondalkin (Chluain Dolcáin/Dolcáin's Meadow) which was described in the Urban Survey of Dublin (Bradley and King 1988, 215-24) as follows; 'The origins of the settlement of Clondalkin lie in the Early Christian period with the foundation of a monastery there in the seventh century by St Mochua (Crónán) (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 31). Abbots are first mentioned in the annals during the eighth century and it is recorded that the relics of Mochua were translated here in 789. The monastery was sufficiently important to be plundered by the Vikings in 833 and shortly afterwards Clondalkin became a base for Viking activities in the area. Little is known of this period of Clondalkin's history, which, is potentially significant archaeologically because it appears to be one of the few recorded Viking rural settlement sites. A fort was established by Olaf the White, the first Norwegian king of Dublin. It is recorded only once in the annals, when it was attacked and captured in 867 by two Leinster chieftains: "Amlaib's fort at Cluain Dolcain [Clondalkin] was burned by Gaithine's son and Mael Ciarain son of Ronan, and the aforesaid commanders caused a slaughter of a hundred of the leaders of the foreigners in the vicinity of Cluain Dolcain on the same day" (MacNiocaill 1983, 323). The implication of this entry is that there was also Viking settlement in the vicinity of Clondalkin but unfortunately the exact whereabouts of the fort itself is unknown. The Vikings may simply have taken over the early monastery and fortified it as they seem to have done elsewhere, at St. Mullin's [CW026-011----] and Monasterboice [LH021-062001-] for instance. It is equally possible, of course, that the Viking fort was simply located close to the monastery and the nearby placename Raheen may be significant in this regard (Ua Broin 1942, 206). Unfortunately the reference remains rather enigmatic and it is unknown whether the Vikings returned to settle here in the tenth century or not. It is of interest, however, to note the tradition that the church lands of Clondalkin were given to the archdiocese by the MacGilla Mocholmog family, who were vassals of the later Norse kings of Dublin (White 1959, no 111). The monastery was burned in 1071 but in 1077 it was the subject of a struggle between rival factions for control of the abbacy which; resulted in the granting of the church to the Célí Dé (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 31). Like the other Célí Dé monasteries of Tallaght [DU021-037002-] and Finglas [DU014-066----] the lands became part of the see lands of the diocese of Dublin. This happened before the Anglo-Norman invasion (White 1959, no. 111; Mason 1820, 26, note e) and it presumably reflects the diocesan reorganization that occurred after the Synods of Rath Breasail (1111 AD) and Kells (1152 AD). The curving boundary of the early monastic site is preserved in Orchard Lane and its continuation southwards, and in Main Street as far as the junction with Boot Road. The outline history of the early monastic foundation has been charted as part of the general introduction above and it is evident that it was already a place of significance by the middle of the eighth century. The curving sweep of Orchard Lane and Main Street evidently preserves the outline of the eastern half of the old monastic enclosure [DU017-041001-] and it presumably covered a further similar sized area to the west, creating an enclosure in which the church [DU017-041002-] and round tower [DU017-041006-] would have been roughly centrally placed'. To hear a medieval Irish chant from the Matins Office of Saint Brigid (Feb 1), Trinity College Dublin MS78, "Clondalkin Breviary" Anonymous, 15th century, visit; https://youtu.be/UNqfQctWnzc White, N.B. 1959 Registrum Diocesi Dublinensis: a sixteenth century Dublin precedent book. Stationery Office for the Irish Manuscripts Commission, Dublin. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 17 July 2023

Other records in the same zone

• DU017-041 Historic town · Clondalkin
• DU017-041001 Ecclesiastical enclosure · Clondalkin
• DU017-041002 Church · Clondalkin
• DU017-041003 Cross · Clondalkin
• DU017-041004 Cross · Clondalkin
• DU017-041005 Castle – unclassified · Clondalkin
• DU017-041006 Round tower · Clondalkin
• DU017-041007 Font · Clondalkin
• DU017-041008 Castle – unclassified · Clondalkin
• DU017-041009 Water mill – unclassified · Clondalkin
• DU017-041012 Graveyard · Clondalkin
• DU017-042 Church · Clondalkin
• DU017-042001 Graveyard · Clondalkin

Buildings of Ireland (NIAH) within 100 m

• 11209027 almshouse · Regional rating · 13 m
• 11209028 almshouse · Regional rating · 17 m
• 11209043 water pump · Regional rating · 22 m
• 11209029 almshouse · Regional rating · 23 m
• 11209030 almshouse · Regional rating · 31 m
• 11209026 St John's C of I Church · Regional rating · 34 m
• 11209031 Clondalkin Village National School · Regional rating · 44 m
• 11209032 The Old Schoolhouse · Regional rating · 55 m
• 11209025 Towerville · Regional rating · 75 m