Partially indicated — Clondalkin

The monastic enclosure of Clondalkin (Chluain Dolcáin/Dolcáin's Meadow) was described in the Urban Survey of Dublin (Bradley and King 1988, 215-24) as follows; 'The origins of the settlement of Clondalkin lie in the Early Christian period with the foundation of a monastery there in the seventh century by St Mochua (Cronan) (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 31). Abbots are first mentioned in the annals during the eighth century and it is recorded that the relics of Mochua were translated here in 789. The monastery was sufficiently important to be plundered by the Vikings in 833 and shortly afterwards Clondalkin became a base for Viking activities in the area. Little is known of this period of Clondalkin's history, which, is potentially significant archaeologically because it appears to be one of the few recorded Viking rural settlement sites. A fort was established by Olaf the White, the first Norwegian king of Dublin. It is recorded only once in the annals, when it was attacked and captured in 867 by two Leinster chieftains: "Amlaib's fort at Cluain Dolcain [Clondalkin] was burned by Gaithine's son and Mael Ciarain son of Ronan, and the aforesaid commanders caused a slaughter of a hundred of the leaders of the foreigners in the vicinity of Cluain Dolcain on the same day" (MacNiocaill 1983, 323). The implication of this entry is that there was also Viking settlement in the vicinity of Clondalkin but unfortunately the exact whereabouts of the fort itself is unknown. The Vikings may simply have taken over the early monastery and fortified it as they seem to have done elsewhere, at St. Mullin's [CW026-011----] and Monasterboice [LH021-062001-] for instance. It is equally possible, of course, that the Viking fort was simply located close to the monastery and the nearby placename Raheen may be significant in this regard (Ua Broin 1942, 206). Unfortunately the reference remains rather enigmatic and it is unknown whether the Vikings returned to settle here in the tenth century or not. It is of interest, however, to note the tradition that the church lands of Clondalkin were given to the archdiocese by the MacGilla Mocholmog family, who were vassals of the later Norse kings of Dublin (White 1959, no 111). The monastery was burned in 1071 but in 1077 it was the subject of a struggle between rival factions for control of the abbacy which; resulted in the granting of the church to the Célí Dé (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 31). Like the other Célí Dé monasteries of Tallaght [DU021-037002-] and Finglas [DU014-066----] the lands became part of the see lands of the diocese of Dublin. This happened before the Anglo-Norman invasion (White 1959, no. 111; Mason 1820, 26, note e) and it presumably reflects the diocesan reorganization that occurred after the Synods of Rath Breasail (1111 AD) and Kells (1152 AD). The curving boundary of the early monastic site [DU017-041013-] is preserved in Orchard Lane and its continuation southwards, and in Main Street as far as the junction with Boot Road. The outline history of the early monastic foundation has been charted as part of the general introduction above and it is evident that it was already a place of significance by the middle of the eighth century. The curving sweep of Orchard Lane and Main Street evidently preserves the outline of the eastern half of the old monastic enclosure (diam. c. 310m) and it presumably covered a further similar sized area to the west, creating an enclosure in which the church [DU017-041002-] and round tower [DU017-041006-] would have been roughly centrally placed'. See attached Google Earth orthoimages showing the modern settlement and the line of the inner and outer enclosures of the monastery of Clondalkin White, N.B. 1959 Registrum Diocesi Dublinensis: a sixteenth century Dublin precedent book. Stationery Office for the Irish Manuscripts Commission, Dublin. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 17 July 2023