Castleknock (barony)

Former administrative land unit in the former county of Dublin, Ireland

The barony of Castleknock (Irish: Caisleán Cnucha meaning "Cnucha's Castle")[1][l 1] is one of the baronies of Ireland. Originally part of the Lordship of Meath, it was then constituted as part of County Dublin. Today, it is in the modern county of Fingal, Ireland. The barony was originally also a feudal title, which became one of the subsidiary titles of the Viscounts Gormanston.

## History[edit]

The barony was created by Hugh de Lacy, Lord of Meath, as his own feudal barony, to be held directly from himself in capite (his vassals were commonly called "De Lacy's Barons").[2] The first vassal was Hugh Tyrrel in 1177. It was held for three and a half knight's fees, owed to the superior Lord of Fingal. The title and lands of Castleknock were held by the Tyrell family until 1370 when Robert Tyrell, the eighth Baron and his wife died of the plague, leaving two daughters and co-heiresses, Joan and Matilda. The lands later passed to the Viscount Gormanston.

## Location[edit]

At the heart of the barony is the civil parish of the same name - Castleknock \- which is one of eight civil parishes in the barony. In the townland of Castleknock itself is the location of the eponymous "Cnucha's Castle" - Castleknock Castle. The town with the biggest population in the barony is Blanchardstown. It is one of seven and a half baronies that used to comprise the old county of Dublin.[3] It stretches from Cabra to Blanchardstown (from east to west) and from Finglas to Chapelizod (from north to south).

The Castleknock barony is located between the baronies of Coolock to the east, Nethercross to the north and Dublin to the southeast. The River Liffey separates it from the remaining baronies of County Dublin. With the exception of the parish of Chapelizod, the remainder of the barony is contained within the modern county of Fingal and it is subject to Fingal County Council.

## Legal context[edit]

Baronies were created after the Norman invasion of Ireland as subdivisions of counties and were used for administration. At the time of its creation, Castleknock was part of the Lordship of Meath. While baronies continue to be officially defined units, they are no longer used for many administrative purposes. While they have been administratively obsolete since 1898, they continue to be used in land registration, and specifications such as in planning permissions. In many cases, a barony corresponds to an earlier Gaelic túath which had submitted to the Crown. This is probably true in the case of Castleknock.

## Civil parishes[edit]

### Civil parish of Castleknock[edit]

What is now the parish of Castleknock was granted to Hugh Tyrrel by Hugh de Lacy, Lord of Meath. Copies of the grant were discovered in the London Public Records Office in 1933 by Eric St. John Brooks.[4] In English, the grant reads:

> Henry, by the grace of God, King of England, Lord of Ireland, Duke of Aquitaine and Normandy and Count of Anjou to the Archbishops, Bishops, Ministers and all Earls, Barons, Justices, Sheriffs, Ministers and all his faithful French, English and Irish, greeting. Know that I have conceded, given, and by present Charter confirmed to Hugh Tirel, the man of Hugh de Lacy, Thwothyn and Thwothrom.[5]

Brooks deduces that "Thwo" is an Anglicisation of the Gaelic word túath and that "throm" is an Anglicisation of the word droma which means ridge or hill - a possible reference to the hill of Castleknock where Tyrrell was to build his castle.[citation needed]

Townlands in the civil parish of Castleknock:[l 2]

Townland | Acres | Image Description | Image

|
|
|

Abbotstown
Baile an Aba [6 1] | 101  | Abbotstown cemetery  |
Annfield
Gort Anna [6 2] | 351  | Apartment buildings
in Annfield

Ashtown
Baile an Ásaigh [6 3] | 285  | Moorings on the Royal Canal  |
Astagob
Steach Gob [6 4] | 76  | The Wren's Nest pub  |
Blanchardstown
Baile Bhlainséir [6 5] | 351  | Village crossroads
in 2020  |
Cabragh
An Chabrach [6 6] | 351  | Primary Care Centre
on the Navan Road  |
Carpenterstown
Baile an Chairpintéaraigh [6 7] | 166  | Stone placename on
the Carpeterstown Road  |
Cappoge or Cappagh
Ceapach [6 8] | 698  | Halting site  |
Castleknock
Caisleán Cnucha [6 9] | 1020  | St Bridget's
Church of Ireland  |
Castleknock (incl. part of Phoenix Park)
Caisleán Cnucha (cuid de Pháirc an Fhionnuisce) [6 10] | 787  | Dawn, Mountjoy Cross
towards Castleknock gate  |
Corduff
An Chorr Dhubh [6 11] | 353  | A "fairy fort"
in the townland  |
Deanestown
Baile an Déanaigh [6 12] | 173  | Entrance to
Waterville Park  |
Diswellstown
Baile an Diosualaigh [6 13] | 418  | Diswellstown stream
in the south-eastern corner
of the townland  |
Dunsink
Dún Sinche [6 14] | 351  | Dunsink observatory  |
Huntstown *
Baile an Huntaigh [6 15] | 299  |  |
Johnstown
Baile Sheáin [6 16] | 67  |  |
Mitchelstown
Baile Mhistéil [6 17] | 154  | Car showroom at
Mitchelstown Road  |
Pelletstown
Baile Pheiléid [6 18] | 259  | Sculpture of "The Lock Keeper"
Rathborne village,
10th lock Royal Canal  |
Porterstown
Baile an Phóirtéaraigh [6 19] | 219  | Porterstown Park in
lockdown - Apr 2020  |
Scribblestown
Baile Scriobail [6 20] | 272  | Candlemaker,
Rathbornes Candles  |
Sheephill
Cnoc na gCaorach [6 21] | 112  | Abbotstown House in Sheephill
(not Abbotstown proper)  |
Snugborough
Snugborough [6 22] | 53  |  |

* Not to be confused with Huntstown in Mulhuddart.

### Civil parish of Chapelizod[edit]

Chapelizod contains a single townland of the same name. However, 465 acres are within the walls of the Phoenix Park while the village proper, outside the walls, contains only 67 acres. It is the only part of the barony that is not within the modern county of Fingal. It is administered by Dublin City Council.

Townland | Acres | Image Description | Image

|
|
|

Chapelizod[4 1] | 465  | Within Phoenix Park
St Mary's Hospital  |
67  | Outside the walls
Chapelizod village  |

### Civil parish of Cloghran[edit]

The parish of Cloghran consists of three townlands.[l 3] Most of the land in the parish is taken up with the "Ballycoolen Industrial Estate".

Townland | Acres | Image Description | Image

|
|
|

Ballycoolin[2 1] | 511  | Eastern end  |
|  | Petrol station at the northern end |
Cloghran[2 2] | 95  |  |
Grange[2 3] | 171  |  |

### Civil parish of Clonsilla[edit]

Townlands in the civil parish of Clonsilla:[l 4]

Townland Name
English & Irish | Acres | Image Description | Image

|
|
|

Astagob
Steach Gob | 162 | Rugged Lane |
Barberstown[3 1]
Baile an Bhearbóraigh | 166 | Before the restoration of
the rail spur to Hansfield |
Barnhill
Cnoc an Sciobóil | 190 | Packenham Bridge
(Royal Canal) |
Blakestown
Baile an Bhlácaigh | 104 |  |
Broomfield
Gort na Giolcaí | 24 | Entrance gates |
Clonsilla
Cluain Saileach | 382 | St Mary's
(Church of Ireland) |
Casteheany[3 2]
Teach Chainnigh | 302 | Coláiste Pobail Setanta |
Coolmine
Cúil Mhín | 609 | Coolmine Community School |
Hansfield or Phibblestown[3 3]
Baile Fiobail nó Páirc Hans | 223 | Ongar Village |
Hartstown[3 4]
Baile an Hartaigh | 181 | Hartstown
Community School |
Kellystown
Baile Uí Cheallaigh | 174 |  |
Sheepmoor
Móinteán na gCaorach | 161 | Entrance to
Portersfield estate |
Woodlands[3 5]
Fearann na Coille | 571 | Luttrellstown
Golf Club House |

Note 1 The largest population centre in Castaheany / Hansfield is Ongar.

### Civil parish of Finglas[edit]

The 34 townlands of the parish of Finglas are split among two baronies.[l 5] The core village and two smaller parcels of land - exclaves of the village - lie in Castleknock. An additional exclave lies in Nethercross.

* Trading estate in the townland of Ballyboggan South

* Ballygall House in the townland of Ballygall

* Old N2 road at the townland of Balseskin

* Breaker's yard in the townland of Cardiffsbridge

* Garda station in the townland of Cardiffscastle

* Charlestown Shopping Centre in the townland of Charlestown

* Old N1 road at the townland of Coldwinters

* Bridge in the townland of Kilreesk

* Old N2 road at the townland of Kilshane

* Seamus Ennis plaque in the townland of Jamestown Little

* IKEA store in the townland of Poppintree

* Prospect apartment blocks in the townland of Tolka

### Civil parish of Mulhuddart[edit]

Mulhuddart has 22 townlands, including:[l 6]

Townland | Acres | Image Description | Image

|
|
|

Buzzardstown[7 1] | 298  | Institute of Technology Blanchardstown  |
Littlepace[7 2] | 97  | Shopping centre  |
Damastown[7 3] | 351  | IBM car park  |
Gallanstown  |  | Road to Belgree near Hollystown  |
Huntstown  |  | Road in Deerhaven estate  |
Hollystown[7 4] | 196  | Hollystown Golf Club  |
Macetown Middle  |  | Damastown Avenue  |
Macetown South  |  | Damastown Way  |
Moorestown  |  | Dolly Heffernan's pub  |
Powerstown[7 5] | 358  | Road in Powerstown  |
Tyrrelstown[7 6] | 427  | Houses in Tyrrelstown  |
Yellow Walls  |  | Field overlooking housing
estate in Hollystown.  |

### Civil parish of Saint James'[edit]

The bulk of Saint James' parish[l 7] lies south of the River Liffey. A single townland, situated north of the river in the Phoenix Park, is part of the barony of Castleknock.

* Saint James' (part of Phoenix Park);[5 1] the eastern part containing the Magazine Fort, the Zoological Gardens, the Wellington Monument and the Criminal Courts of Justice.

Magazine Fort, part of the townland of Phoenix Park

### Civil parish of Saint Judes'[edit]

The bulk of Saint Judes'[l 8] parish lies south of the River Liffey. A single townland, situated north of the river, is part of the barony of Castleknock. It was carved out of the parish of Saint James'.

* Longmeadows[4 2] which is the strip of land between the Park walls and the river from its narrowest pinch point to Islandbridge on the South Circular Road.

View from the Liffey of the townland of Longmeadows

### Civil parish of Ward[edit]

Townlands in the parish of Ward: Cherryhound, Irishtown, Killamonan, Newpark, Spricklestown, Ward Lower and Ward Upper.[l 9]

Townland | Acres | Image Description | Image

|
|
|

Cherryhound[8 1] | 112  | Roundabout at the M2  |
Newpark[8 2] | 351  | The White House
Pub and Restaurant
on the N2 road.  |
Ward Lower[8 3] | 285  | Milestone  |
Killamonan[8 4] | 76  | Horses grazing
February 2008  |

## See also[edit]

* List of subdivisions of County Dublin

## References[edit]

From "Irish placenames database". logainm.ie (in English and Irish). Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. Retrieved 25 April 2014.:

Civil parishes

1. ^ Barony of Castleknock
2. ^ Castleknock civil parish
3. ^ Cloghran civil parish
4. ^ Clonsilla civil parish
5. ^ Finglas civil parish
6. ^ Mulhuddart civil parish
7. ^ Saint James' civil parish
8. ^ Saint Judes' civil parish
9. ^ Ward civil parish

Townlands of Cloghran

1. ^ Ballycoolen townland
2. ^ Cloghran townland
3. ^ Grange townland

Townlands of Clonsilla

1. ^ Barberstown townland
2. ^ Casteheany townland
3. ^ Hansfield or Phibblestown townland
4. ^ Hartstown townland
5. ^ Woodlands or Lutteralstown townland

Townlands of Mulhuddart

1. ^ Buzzardstown townland
2. ^ Littlepace townland
3. ^ Damastown townland
4. ^ Hollystown townland
5. ^ Powerstown townland
6. ^ Tyrrelstown townland

Townlands of Saint James's

1. ^ Saint James' (part of Phoenix Park) townland

Townlands of Castleknock

1. ^ Abbotstown townland
2. ^ Annfield townland
3. ^ Ashtown townland
4. ^ Astagob townland
5. ^ Blanchardstown townland
6. ^ Cabragh townland
7. ^ Carpenterstown townland
8. ^ Cappagh townland
9. ^ Castleknock townland
10. ^ Castleknock (incl. part of Phoenix Park) townland
11. ^ Corduff townland
12. ^ Deanestown townland
13. ^ Diswellstown townland
14. ^ Dunsink townland
15. ^ Huntstown townland
16. ^ Johnstown townland
17. ^ Mitchelstown townland
18. ^ Pelletstowntownland
19. ^ Porterstown townland
20. ^ Scribblestown townland
21. ^ Sheephill townland
22. ^ Snugborough townland

Townlands of Ward

1. ^ Cherryhound townland
2. ^ Newpark townland
3. ^ Ward Lower townland
4. ^ Killamonan townland

Townlands of other parishes

1. ^ Chapelizod civil parish
2. ^ Longmeadows townland

Other sources:

1. ^ "History of the name of Castleknock". Archived from the original on 2 June 2006. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
2. ^ Vicissitudes of Families by Sir Bernard Burke, Ulster King of Arms, Longman Green Longman and Roberts, Paternoster Row, London, 1861 (pages 363-364)
3. ^ According to the "Local Government Act, 2001", section 10(2): "The State continues to stand divided into local government areas to be known as counties and cities which are the areas set out in Parts 1 and 2, respectively, of Schedule 5." It is clear from SCHEDULE 5, Local Government Areas (Counties and Cities, PART 1, that "Dublin" is defined only as a city (as distinct from a county).
4. ^ The Barony of Castleknock, A History", Lacey, Jim; The History Press Ireland, 2015, pg 98
5. ^ The Grant of Castleknock to Hugh Tyrel., The journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland. 7th series; Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland; Dublin Hodges, Figgis; 3v.; English; Holdings: Vol. 1-vol. 3; 1931-1933.; Also numbered vol. 61-63 of consecutive series. Continues 6th series; University of Liverpool Libraries

## External links[edit]

* Local Government Act, 2001
* Walsh, Dennis (2003). "Barony Map of Ireland". Archived from the original on 15 January 2007. Retrieved 13 February 2007. Source given is "Ordnance survey".

* v
* t
* e

Baronies of County Dublin

* Balrothery East
* Balrothery West
* Castleknock
* Coolock
* Dublin
* Dublin City
* Nethercross
* Newcastle
* Rathdown
* Uppercross

* Other baronies of Ireland: complete list
* by county

* v
* t
* e

Regions of County Dublin

* County seats: Dublin
* Dún Laoghaire
* Tallaght
* Swords

Cities|

* Dublin

County Dublin in Ireland

Towns and villages|

* List of towns and villages in County Dublin

Counties|

* Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown
* Fingal
* South Dublin

Other regions|

* Northside
* Southside
* Greater Dublin Area
* County Dublin

Civil sub-divisions|

* List of subdivisions of County Dublin
* List of townlands of County Dublin
* List of Dublin postal districts

Baronies of Dublin|

* Balrothery East
* Balrothery West
* Castleknock
* Coolock
* Dublin
* Dublin City
* Nethercross
* Newcastle
* Rathdown
* Uppercross

* v
* t
* e

Places in Fingal

County town: Swords

Towns and large suburbs|

* Balbriggan
* Blanchardstown
* Castleknock
* Donabate
* Malahide
* Rush
* Skerries
* Swords

Villages and
smaller suburbs|

* Baldoyle
* Ballyboughal
* Bayside
* Clonsilla
* Corduff
* Garristown
* Hollystown
* Howth
* Lusk
* Mulhuddart
* Naul
* Oldtown
* Ongar
* Portmarnock
* Portrane
* Rolestown
* Sutton
* Tyrrelstown

Baronies
broken out by civil parish
(* denotes article not on the
civil parish or barony
specifically but on the
modern district, village or
town of the same name)|

| Castleknock|

* Castleknock
* Chapelizod*
* Cloghran
* Clonsilla
* Finglas
* Mulhuddart*
* St James'
* Ward

|

Balrothery East|

* Baldongan
* Balrothery*
* Balscaddan
* HolmPatrick
* Lusk*

Balrothery West|

* Ballyboughal*
* Ballymadun
* Clonmethan
* Garristown*
* Grallagh
* Hollywood
* Naul*
* Palmerstown
* Westpalstown

Coolock|

* Baldoyle*
* Balgriffin*
* Cloghran
* Howth*
* Kinsaley*
* Malahide*
* Portmarnock*
* St. Margaret's
* Swords (partly)*

Nethercross|

* Donabate*
* Killeek
* Killossery
* Kilsallaghan
* Portrane*
* Swords (partly)*

See also

* County Dublin
* List of civil parishes in Fingal
* Dublin 15
* Category:Geography of Fingal

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