Clondalkin (Irish: Cluain Dolcáin, meaning Dolcan's meadow) is a village and suburb 10 km west of Dublin City, Ireland, situated in the administrative County of South Dublin. The name also relates to religious parishes. For other uses, see Dublin (disambiguation). ...

Clondalkin is home to a well preserved 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. ^[1] The round tower at Glendalough, Ireland, is approximately thirty metres tall A round tower was primarily a bell tower, or belfry, as the Irish form of the name cloictheach clearly indicates, and as was proved by George Petrie as long ago as 1845 and never seriously challenged since. ...

History

View from 1820

Clondalkin is believed to have been founded by Saint Mochua as a monastic settlement on the River Camac over 1400 years ago, sometime around 600 AD The round tower which still stands in the village centre was built around a century later, as part of the monastery. By the eighth century, Saint Fugillus was Bishop of Clondalkin and striking manuscripts of the gospels 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. The district remained under Danish control until the Viking defeat by Brian Boru at the famous Battle of Clontarf in 1014. Monasticism (from Greek: monachos—a solitary person) is the religious practice of renouncing all worldly pursuits in order to fully devote ones life to spiritual work. ... The River Camac (sometimes spelled Cammock) is a river in Dublin which rises to the west and flows through Inchicore and Kilmainham before entering the Liffey around Heuston Station. ... The name Viking is a loan from the native Scandinavian term for the Norse seafaring warriors who raided the coasts of Scandinavia, Europe and the British Isles from the late 8th century to the 11th century, the period of European history referred to as the Viking Age. ... Brian Bóruma mac Cennétig (926 or 941[1]–23 April 1014) (known as Brian Boru in English) was High King of Ireland from 1002 to 1014. ... Combatants Irish of Munster Irish of Leinster and Dublin Vikings Commanders Brian Boru† Máelmorda mac Murchada, Sigtrygg Strength ca. ...

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. Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke, Lord of Leicester, Justiciar of Ireland (1130 – 20 April 1176), known as Strongbow, was a Cambro-Norman lord notable for his leading role in the Norman invasion of Ireland. ... This does not cite its references or sources. ... Ruaidri Ua Conchobair (d. ...

Centuries later, Clondalkin was the scene for some of the fighting in the 1641 Rebellion, when the native Irish rose up against the English 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^{[citation needed]}. The Irish Rebellion of 1641 began as an attempted coup détat by Irish Catholic gentry, but rapidly degenerated into bloody inter communal violence between native Irish Catholics and English and Scottish Protestant settlers. ... “UK” redirects here. ...

Today

Modern Clondalkin is home to a busy satellite town of Dublin, with a population of 43,929 in 2006. There are three Irish-speaking schools in the area. Dunnes Stores provides grocery shopping needs in the Mill Centre, Tesco Ireland in the village and Aldi and Lidl on the Fonthill Rd. and New Nangor Rd. respectively. The village is a base for many small businesses including solicitors, restaurants, pubs, hairdressers, pharmacies amongst others. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with satellite city. ... Tesco Ireland Limited is a supermarket company in the Republic of Ireland. ...  , short for ALbrecht DIscount, is a discount supermarket chain based in Germany and one of the largest retail chains worldwide. ... Lidl in Middlesbrough, England Lidl in Lomma, Sweden Typical Lidl interior Lidl is a European discount supermarket chain of German origin that operates 7,000 stores. ...

Despite recent growth in the area (and the Irish economy in general), areas of North Clondalkin remain relatively disadvantaged^{[citation needed]}. These areas include Greenfort, Neilstown, Rowlagh. Unemployment is high in these areas, significantly higher than the national average^{[citation needed]}.

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. Dublin Bus (Irish: ) is a public transport operator in the Republic of Ireland. ... Luas [l̪ˠuː(É™)s̪ˠ] (Irish for speed), also promoted in the development stage as the Dublin Light Rail System, currently encompasses two unconnected on-street light rail lines in Dublin, Ireland. ... The red cow roundabout is the junction where the N7 crosses the M50. ... // WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: , Irish Grid Reference O093265 Statistics Province: Leinster County: Elevation: 90 m Population (2006) 64,282  Tallaght (Irish:Tamhlacht), is a large town within the traditional county of Dublin in Ireland. ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

Clondalkin railway station opened on 4 August 1846 and was closed for goods traffic on 9 June 1947.^[2]. Commuter trains are available 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 (due to be completed by 2015) is expected to will pass through Clondalkin. Clondalkin railway station serves the town of Clondalkin in County Dublin Category: ... is the 216th day of the year (217th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1846 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... is the 160th day of the year (161st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1947 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Dublin Heuston, commonly called Heuston station, is located in Dublin, Ireland is one of the countrys main railway stations, serving the south, southwest and west of Ireland. ... Private spiral ramp access to the main terminal building of Dublin (Áth Cliath) Airport Dublin Airport (IATA: DUB, ICAO: EIDW), or Aerfort Bhaile Átha Cliath in Irish, is operated by the Dublin Airport Authority plc. ... Photomontage of proposed metro tunneling on O Connell Street (looking north). ...

Clondalkin village's one-way system is frequently congested by heavy traffic particularly in the early evening, with long tailbacks sometimes stretching along Monastery Road and to the Red Cow roundabout^{[citation needed]}.

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 of 2005^[3]. The Clondalkin Gazette has since been discontinued, and is now a free paper.^{[citation needed]} The Irish Times is Irelands newspaper of record, launched in the late 1850s. ...

Sport

The towns oldest sports club is the Round Towers GAA Club, which was founded in December 1884. 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. For more details of the GAA in Dublin, see Dublin GAA and Dublin Senior Club Football Championship or Dublin Club Hurling Championship. ...

Rugby union is played at Clondalkin Rugby Club , Kingswood, 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. For other uses, see Rugby (disambiguation). ...

The town's two main association football teams are Moyle Park Past Pupils FC (who play in the Leinster Senior League), and Neilstown Rangers (past winners of the FAI Junior Cup). “Soccer” redirects here. ... The Football Association of Ireland (FAI; Irish: Cumann Peile na h-Éireann) is the organising body for the sport of association football (soccer) in the Republic of Ireland. ...

Clondalkin Lakers basketball club has teams playing in Division 1 and 3 of the Dublin Men Basketball League, and is based in Clondalkin Sports and Leisure Complex. Kickboxing is represented at all levels and ages at the Bushido Martial Arts Academy in Clondalkin village. This article is about the sport. ...

Local organisations

Community organisations include a local Toastmasters International^[4], an Order of Malta branch and several youth groups - including Clondalkin Youth Theatre which is associated with the Irish National Association for Youth Drama. Toastmasters International (TI) is a nonprofit educational organization that operates clubs worldwide for the purpose of helping members improve their communication, public speaking and leadership skills. ... Logo of OMAC The Order of Malta Ambulance Corps (OMAC) is a charitable voluntary organisation in Ireland. ...

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).

Aras Chrónán operates in the village and there are three all Irish schools, Gaelscoil Chluain Dolcáin, Colaiste Chillian and Gaelscoil na Camóige.

Leinster Lions basketball team is located in Moyle Park and cater for girls of all ages.

References

Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 243rd day of the year (244th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

See also

• List of abbeys and priories in the Republic of Ireland (County Dublin)
• List of towns in the Republic of Ireland

Abbeys and priories in the Republic of Ireland is a link page for any abbey, priory, friary or other monastic religious house in the Republic of Ireland. ... This is a link page for cities and towns in the Republic of Ireland, including larger villages, and villages and townlands of note, as well as towns, townships or urban centres in Dublin. ...

External links

• Clondalkin on South Dublin County History website