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Clondalkin
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Clondalkin is a village and suburb 10 km west of Dublin City, Ireland, situated in the administrative County of South Dublin. The name is also used in relation to the area's religious parishes.
Clondalkin is home to an eighth-century round tower that acts as a focal point for the area. Acknowledged as one of the oldest and best preserved in the country (despite numerous storms and an explosion which destroyed the local mill in 1856), it is 25.6 metres high and has its original conical cap.
dalkin is believed to have been founded by Saint Mochua as a monastic settlement on the River Camac over 1400 years ago; the round tower was built around a century later (circa 600 AD) as part of the monastery.
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Encyclopedia
Clondalkin is a village and suburb 10 km west of Dublin City, Ireland, situated in the administrative County of South Dublin. The name is also used in relation to the area's religious parishes.
Clondalkin is home to an eighth-century round tower that acts as a focal point for the area. Acknowledged as one of the oldest and best preserved in the country (despite numerous storms and an explosion which destroyed the local mill in 1856), it is 25.6 metres high and has its original conical cap.
History
Clondalkin is believed to have been founded by Saint Mochua as a monastic settlement on the River Camac over 1400 years ago; the round tower was built around a century later (circa 600 AD) as part of the monastery. By the eighth 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 Liburg, Germany. Clondalkin was sacked by Vikings from Denmark in 832 AD, and the monastery was burned to the ground. One of the early Norse kings of Dublin Amlaíb 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, burned the fortress at Clondalkin and killed 100 of Amlaíb's followers. The district remained under Danish control until the Viking defeat by Brian Boru at the famous Battle of Clontarf in 1014.
Clondalkin witnessed another historic event during the Norman invasion in 1171 when there was a battle there between Richard de Clare (Strongbow) and the last High King of Ireland Ruairi O Conchúir.
Centuries later, Clondalkin was the scene for some of the fighting in the 1641 Rebellion, when the native Irish rose up against the British occupation. The rebels had taken hold of the town, but it was quickly seized and burned by English soldiers, who then massacred the civilian population.
Today
Modern Clondalkin is a busy satellite town of Dublin, with a population of 43,929 in 2006. There are three Irish-speaking schools in the area, Tesco Ireland and Dunnes Stores shopping centres, and Aldi and Lidl stores on the Fonthill Road and New Nangor Road respectively. The village is a base for small businesses including solicitors, restaurants, pubs, hairdressers, pharmacies and others.
Transport
Clondalkin is served by public transport to the city centre. Dublin Bus provide bus routes include the 51b, 51c, 68, 69, 78a and 151. The Luas Red Line runs from the Red Cow Roundabout park and ride station providing links to the town square in Tallaght and Dublin City Centre.
Clondalkin railway station opened on 4 August 1846 and was closed for goods traffic on 9 June 1947.. Commuter trains run to Heuston station - however both the Luas and the suburban train line are approximately half an hour's walk from Clondalkin Village. A new station is due to be built at Fonthill, north of Bawnogue. With links to Dublin Airport, the proposed Dublin Metro is expected to pass through Clondalkin.
Media
The area is served by the Clondalkin Echo and Clondalkin Gazette, the latter being published by Gazette Group Newspapers (part-owned by the Irish Times), and launched in October 2005.
Sport
The town's oldest sports club is the Round Towers GAA Club, which was founded in December 1884 and is located on Convent Road. Club members have represented Dublin in inter-county competition since the nineteenth century, when Tom Errity won All-Ireland Senior Football medals in 1892, 1894, 1898, 1899 and 1902.
Rugby union is played at Clondalkin Rugby Club, Kingswood, who were winners of the 2006 Spencer Cup and 2006 Under-18 Premier League. The club was formed in 1974 and fields three senior teams and under 20s, 18s, 16s, 14s, 12s, and 8s.
The town's two main association football teams are Moyle Park Past Pupils FC, and Neilstown Rangers (past winners of the FAI Junior Cup).
In basketball, Clondalkin Lakers has teams playing in Division 1 and 3 of the Dublin Men Basketball League, and is based in Clondalkin Sports and Leisure Complex. Leinster Lions basketball team is located in Moyle Park College and Colaiste Bride (U18s boys only).
Kickboxing is represented at the Bushido Martial Arts Academy in Clondalkin village.
Amenities
Clondalkin has a number of schools, including St. Joseph's Boys National School, Scoil Ide, Scoil Aine, Scoil Mhuire, Moyle Park College and Colaiste Bride.
On Friday, June 12th 1998 St. Joseph's Boys National School released a CD compilation of songs played by the school band called "PEACE". Mary Harney was so amazed with the CD she decided, on behalf on the government, to send all the party leaders involved in the Good Friday Agreement a copy, including English Prime Minister Tony Blair and American President Bill Clinton.
In the Minister's Press Release she paid tribute to St. Joseph's "for its unique and entertaining promotion of peace and the Good Friday Agreement". Needless to say, she went on to praise and compliment John Fitzgerald "for his dedication and vision in this project" and she wished the band every success with its visit to schools in Armagh on June 17th. The school band went on tour, playing their songs in both Catholic and Protestant schools.
The school band also recorded for a radio show: Donncha O' Dulaing's programme 'Failte Isteach' for R.T.E.
Local organisations
Community organisations include a local Toastmasters International, an Order of Malta branch and several youth groups - including Clondalkin Youth Theatre which is associated with the Irish National Association for Youth Drama.
The town is also home to St Joseph's Pipe band (established in 1937), and the Clondalkin Youth Band. The latter has won two golds and one silver medal at the European Marching Band Championships (2006), and second prize in the World Marching Band Competition (2004).
Áras Chrónáin operates in the village and there are three all-Irish schools, Gaelscoil Chluain Dolcáin, Colaiste Chillian and Gaelscoil na Camóige.
See also
External links
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