Clondalkin

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Clondalkin (Cluain Dolcáin in Irish, meaning "Dolcan's meadow") is a town/suburb and parish 10km west of Dublin City, Ireland, situated in South County Dublin. Clondalkin is home to the well preserved 8th century round tower that acts as a focal point for the area. Acknowledged as one of the oldest and best preserved in the country, it is 25.6 metres high and has its original conical cap.[1]

1 History
2 Today
3 Media
4 Local Clubs
5 Transport
6 References

[edit] History

Clondalkin is believed to have been founded by Saint Crónán as a monastic site over 1400 years ago, sometime around 600 A.D. 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 beautiful 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 A.D., and the monastery was burned to the ground. The town remained under Danish control until the viking defeat to Brian Boru at the famous Battle of Clontarf in 1014. Clondalkin witnessed another historic event in 1171, when a fight broke out between Richard de Clare (Strongbow) and the last High King of Ireland Ruairi O Conchúir. Later on, Clondalkin was the scene for some of the fighting in the 1641 Rebellion, when the native Irish rose up against the British. The rebels had taken hold of the town, but it was quickly seized it and burned by British soldiers. Women and children were also involved in the ensuing massacre.

[edit] Today

Modern Clondalkin is a busy satellite town of Dublin, with a population of 43,929 in 2006. The area has grown into a centre for business and industry, education, culture and sports. There are three Irish-speaking schools in the area. The Round Towers Gaelic Athletic Association Club is the second oldest in the country, believed to have been founded by Michael Cusack in 1884. Despite recent growth in the area (and the Irish economy in general) area's of Clondalkin remain relatively poor, especially to the north of the town. Unemployment is high in these area's and is significantly larger than the national average and growing, crime is also high in these area's, however by and large Clondalkin would be considered to be a mainly middle class area.

[edit] Media

The Clondalkin Gazette, published by Gazette Group Newspapers, launched on Thursday 20 October 2005.

[edit] Local Clubs

Moyle Park Past Pupils FC are the senior soccer side in the village and play in the Leinster Senior League while Neilstown Rangers, past winners of the FAI Junior Cup are strong in North Clondalkin.

Clondalkin Lakers is a local basketball club that has teams playing in Division 1 and Division 3 in the Dublin Men Basketball League. The team plays and trains in Clondalkin Sports and Leisure Complex.

Kickboxing is well represented at all levels & ages at the Bushido Martial Arts Academy in Clondalkin Village.

Rugby union is well represented with Clondalkin Rugby Club winners of 2006 Spencer Cup and 2006 Under 18 premier league, fielding 3 senior teams, under 20s,18s 16s 14s 12s and 8s, formed in 1974. The U18's team also reached the final of the all Ireland cup, but lost by a single point.

The Gaelic Athletic Association has a local club the Round Towers GAA Club which is located at Convent Road. The Club is the oldest sports club in Clondalkin and was founded in December, 1884. Club members have represented Dublin in inter-county competition since the 19th century when Tom Errity won All-Ireland Senior Football medals in 1892, 1894, 1898, 1899 and 1902.