The barony of Castleknock ( meaning "Cnucha's Castle")Barony of Castleknock 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 The barony was created by Hugh de Lacy, Lord of Meath, as his own feudal barony, to be held directly from himself (his vassals were commonly called "De Lacy's Barons").Vicissitudes of Families by Sir Bernard Burke, Ulster King of Arms, Longman Green Longman and Roberts, Paternoster Row, London, 1861 (pages 363-364) 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 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.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). 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 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
Civil parish of Castleknock 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.The Barony of Castleknock, A History", Lacey, Jim; The History Press Ireland, 2015, pg 98 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.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
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.
Townlands in the civil parish of Castleknock:Castleknock civil parish
TownlandAcresImage DescriptionImageAbbotstownBaile an Aba Abbotstown townland101Abbotstown cemeteryAnnfieldGort Anna Annfield townland351Apartment buildingsin AnnfieldAshtownBaile an Ásaigh Ashtown townland285Moorings on the Royal CanalAstagobSteach Gob Astagob townland76The Wren's Nest pubBlanchardstownBaile Bhlainséir Blanchardstown townland351Village crossroadsin 2020CabraghAn Chabrach Cabragh townland351Primary Care Centreon the Navan RoadCarpenterstownBaile an Chairpintéaraigh Carpenterstown townland166Stone placename onthe Carpeterstown RoadCappoge or CappaghCeapach Cappagh townland698Halting siteCastleknockCaisleán Cnucha Castleknock townland1020St Bridget'sChurch of IrelandCastleknock (incl. part of Phoenix Park)Caisleán Cnucha (cuid de Pháirc an Fhionnuisce) Castleknock (incl. part of Phoenix Park) townland787Dawn, Mountjoy Crosstowards Castleknock gateCorduffAn Chorr Dhubh Corduff townland353A "fairy fort"in the townlandDeanestownBaile an Déanaigh Deanestown townland173Entrance toWaterville ParkDiswellstownBaile an Diosualaigh Diswellstown townland418Diswellstown streamin the south-eastern corner of the townlandDunsinkDún Sinche Dunsink townland351Dunsink observatoryHuntstown *Baile an Huntaigh Huntstown townland299JohnstownBaile Sheáin Johnstown townland67MitchelstownBaile Mhistéil Mitchelstown townland154Car showroom atMitchelstown RoadPelletstownBaile Pheiléid Pelletstowntownland259Sculpture of "The Lock Keeper"Rathborne village,10th lock Royal CanalPorterstownBaile an Phóirtéaraigh Porterstown townland219Porterstown Park inlockdown - Apr 2020ScribblestownBaile Scriobail Scribblestown townland272Candlemaker,Rathbornes CandlesSheephillCnoc na gCaorach Sheephill townland112Abbotstown House in Sheephill(not Abbotstown proper)SnugboroughSnugborough Snugborough townland53 Not to be confused with Huntstown in Mulhuddart.
Civil parish of Chapelizod 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. TownlandAcresImage DescriptionImageChapelizodChapelizod civil parish465Within Phoenix ParkSt Mary's Hospital67Outside the wallsChapelizod village
Civil parish of Cloghran The parish of Cloghran consists of three townlands.Cloghran civil parish Most of the land in the parish is taken up with the "Ballycoolen Industrial Estate".
TownlandAcresImage DescriptionImageBallycoolinBallycoolen townland511Eastern end Petrol station at the northern endCloghranCloghran townland95 GrangeGrange townland171
Civil parish of Clonsilla Townlands in the civil parish of Clonsilla:Clonsilla civil parish
Townland NameEnglish & IrishAcresImage DescriptionImageAstagobSteach Gob162 Rugged Lane BarberstownBarberstown townlandBaile an Bhearbóraigh166Before the restoration ofthe rail spur to HansfieldBarnhillCnoc an Sciobóil190 Packenham Bridge(Royal Canal) BlakestownBaile an Bhlácaigh104 BroomfieldGort na Giolcaí24 Entrance gates ClonsillaCluain Saileach382 St Mary's(Church of Ireland)CasteheanyCasteheany townlandTeach Chainnigh302Coláiste Pobail SetantaCoolmineCúil Mhín609 Coolmine Community SchoolHansfield or PhibblestownHansfield or Phibblestown townlandBaile Fiobail nó Páirc Hans223Ongar VillageHartstownHartstown townlandBaile an Hartaigh181Hartstown Community SchoolKellystownBaile Uí Cheallaigh174 SheepmoorMóinteán na gCaorach161 Entrance toPortersfield estateWoodlandsWoodlands or Lutteralstown townlandFearann na Coille571Luttrellstown Golf Club House
Note 1 The largest population centre in Castaheany / Hansfield is Ongar.
Civil parish of Finglas The 34 townlands of the parish of Finglas are split among two baronies.Finglas civil parish The core village and two smaller parcels of land - exclaves of the village - lie in Castleknock. An additional exclave lies in Nethercross.
Civil parish of Mulhuddart Mulhuddart has 22 townlands, including:Mulhuddart civil parish
TownlandAcresImage DescriptionImageBuzzardstownBuzzardstown townland298Institute of Technology BlanchardstownLittlepaceLittlepace townland97Shopping centreDamastownDamastown townland351IBM car parkGallanstownRoad to Belgree near HollystownHuntstownRoad in Deerhaven estateHollystownHollystown townland196Hollystown Golf ClubMacetown MiddleDamastown AvenueMacetown SouthDamastown WayMoorestownDolly Heffernan's pubPowerstownPowerstown townland358Road in PowerstownTyrrelstownTyrrelstown townland427Houses in TyrrelstownYellow WallsField overlooking housingestate in Hollystown.
Civil parish of Saint James' The bulk of Saint James' parishSaint James' civil parish 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);Saint James' (part of Phoenix Park) townland the eastern part containing the Magazine Fort, the Zoological Gardens, the Wellington Monument and the Criminal Courts of Justice.
Civil parish of Saint Judes' The bulk of Saint Judes'Saint Judes' civil parish 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'. LongmeadowsLongmeadows townland 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.
Civil parish of Ward Townlands in the parish of Ward: Cherryhound, Irishtown, Killamonan, Newpark, Spricklestown, Ward Lower and Ward Upper.Ward civil parish
TownlandAcresImage DescriptionImageCherryhoundCherryhound townland112Roundabout at the M2NewparkNewpark townland351The White HousePub and Restauranton the N2 road.Ward LowerWard Lower townland285MilestoneKillamonanKillamonan townland76Horses grazingFebruary 2008
See also List of subdivisions of County Dublin
References From :
Civil parishes
Townlands of Cloghran
Townlands of Clonsilla
Townlands of Mulhuddart
Townlands of Saint James's
Townlands of Castleknock
Townlands of Ward
Townlands of other parishes
Other sources:
External links Local Government Act, 2001 Source given is "Ordnance survey".