Church (in Ruins) — Lucan Demesne

The residential tower attached to the N side of St Mary's church (DU017-019002-) at Lucan, was mistakenly identified as the medieval castle of Lucan. In 1702/03 a gentleman called John Green submitted a claim No. 1984 at Chichester House, College Green, Dublin, for an interest in a lease of 31 years, dated 25th of March 1700 by a deed dated the 9th of January 1699 against the property described as the 'Castle, and great white house at Lucan, the Land called the wood and several other premises' which was the property of Patrick Sarsfield (Anon. 1701, 226, Claim No. 1984). This claim which was rejected suggests that the 17th-century Lucan House (DU017-019008-) was built beside or attached to the medieval castle of Lucan. The Urban Survey of Dublin (Bradley and King 1988, 254) recorded the following details about the medieval castle of Lucan; 'As the centre of a manor [DU017-019----] Lucan would have had a castle which was probably located in the vicinity of the present Lucan House unless it is to be equated with the earthwork [DU017-021001-] south of the town. The residential tower attached to the church has been mistaken by virtually all previous writers for the castle. Little is known of its history until the seventeenth century when, while it was in the possession of Sir Theophilus Jones, was described as one of the fairest houses in Co. Dublin, and it contained twelve hearths (Ball 1902-20, iv, 43)'. The house referred to as one of 'fairest houses in Co. Dublin' which contained 12 hearths refers to a 17th century gable fronted house (DU017-019008-) depicted on the 17th century Down Survey map which was probably replaced by the current Lucan House in the 18th-century. The precise location of the medieval castle of Lucan has not been identified. It has been suggested that the site of the medieval castle stood beside the present 18th-century Lucan House (Bradley and King 1988, 254; Salter 2004, 37). Salter also suggested that there was a second castle (DU017-019012-) situated in the main Street of Lucan village (ibid.). Salter (ibid.) recorded the following details about the medieval castle of Lucan; 'Agmondisham Vesey's mansion of 1772 lies beside the site of a castle probably built by Sir William Sarsfield, Mayor of Dublin after he acquired the estate upon the attainder of the 10th Earl of Kildare in 1534. During the 1650s and 60s it was held by the Cromwellian Sir Theophilus Jones but was restored to Patrick Sarsfield, who was created Viscount Tully and Earl of Lucan. A second castle site lies in Main Street at 032352'. In 1553-4 there is a reference to Lucan Castle when the Crown granted a 21 year lease to; 'Matthew King ; of the manor of Lucan, lands of Lucan and Waspayneston, county Dublin, parcel of the possessions of Gerald, earl of Kildare, attainted. (Recites that King having obtained a lease of the premises xxix. Hen. VIII., sold his interest to Osburn Itchingham, whose widow Mary conveyed (v. Ed. VI) to Richard Rede, knt., who again had conveyed to Matthew King). To hold for twenty-one years, at a rent of £30 13s. 4d. Lessee to inhabit the castle or cause it to be inhabited by liege men, who shall use the English tongue and dress, and keep no communication with the Irish' (Nicholls 1994, 298). Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 23 May 2023