What is recorded here

Kilmasantan is the buried heart of a sixth-century monastery founded by St Santan, though later maps misnamed it after St Ann. The church ruins still stand beside a medieval font and earthen enclosure on the western slope of Glenasmole, overlooking the River Dodder. In 962 AD the Annals of the Four Masters recorded the death of Caenchomraic, abbot of Cill Easpuig Sanctan, proving the community remained active centuries after its founding. Santan’s bloodline stretched across seas, linking Ulster kings, Welsh genealogies and the Manx parish of Kirk Santan, while Dublin mountains kept his chapel hidden under a foreign name.

Kilmasantan (Ceall Easpaig Shantáin/Kilmasanctan/Kilnasantan/Kill Sanctan) Church ruins (DU025-033001-) annotated St Ann's Chapel on historic OSi maps, stands on an early Christian monastery founded by St Santán, whose feastday falls on the 9th of May and 10th of June (Ó Riain 2011, 546-7; O'Hanlon 1875-1903, Vol. VI, 614). St Santán also known as Bishop Sanctan, probably founded the monastery here in the 6th-century. Santán, son of Samuel Ceanníseal, 'head-bent' (Sawyl Benisel in Welsh genealogies), brother of the pilgrim Madóg (from Welsh Madawg) and his mother was Deichtir daughter of Muireadhach Muindearg, king of Ulster (Ó Riain 2011, 546; Baring-Gould & Fisher 1913, 171). In the Isle of Man, a parish was named Kirk Santan after the saint who, as in Ireland, was later confused with St Ann (ibid.). In the year 962 AD, The Annals of the Four Masters recorded the death of 'Caenchomraic, abbot of Cill Easpuig Sanctan'. Situated in the upland river valley of Glenasmole, in the Dublin Mountains, on the W facing slope of rising ground overlooking the E bank of the River Dodder. Inside the gate of the graveyard (DU025-033002-) immediately to the N there is a medieval font (DU025-033003-). Adjoining the NW side of the graveyard are the remains of a circular-shaped area enclosed by an earthen bank which may represent the remains of an ecclesiastical enclosure (DU025-033005-) associated with the early Christian monastery of Kilmasantan. Baring-Gould, S. and Fisher J. 1913 The Lives of the British Saints: The Saints of Wales and Cornwall and Such Irish Saints as Have Dedications in Britain, Volume 4 Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 10 March 2023

St Ann's Chapel at Glassavullaun was built as part of an early Christian monastery founded by St Santán, likely between the 6th and 9th centuries. It is dedicated to St Ann and reflects a monastic tradition significant to the local early Christian community.

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