Artane, Dublin

A village and parish in Coolock barony, Dublin county, three miles N. from the General Post Office, Dublin, comprising an area of 954 acres. Population, 457. The village is on the road to Malahide. The parish, anciently called "Tartaine," for centuries formed part of the estate of the Hollywood family, and the castle of Artane likewise belonged to that of the Donnellans. The ruins were taken down in 1825, and on its site Artane House was erected.^{[verification needed]}

[edit] The Hollywood Family

The site on which St Davids C.B.S. now stands was formerly occupied by an historic and ancient structure known as Artane Castle.^{[verification needed]} For many centuries the Artane Manor was owned by a remarkable family named Hollywood.^{[verification needed]}

In the thirteenth century a member of this family, John Hollywood, was world-famous as a mathematician and philosopher who went on to become a professor of mathematics (one of the first) at University of Paris until his death in 1256.^{[verification needed]} The name was Latinised Joannes de Sacrobosco, hence he was known among scholars as "Sacrobosco".^{[verification needed]} His book, ‘De Sphaera’ was a best seller for more than 400 years and nobody dared question his findings, such was the esteem in which he was held.^{[verification needed]} John mixed with some famous names, including St. Thomas Aquinas and de Sacrobosco became famous for his ability to write textbooks, detailing many aspects of astronomy.^{[verification needed]} His writings were the foremost findings on the subject and only challenged by Copernicus and Henry Newton in later centuries.^{[verification needed]} He expanded on the idea of Ptolemy’s astrolabe, a graduated quadrant, from which one could judge the height of the sun in the sky and then translate that into the correct time of day, very much in the realms of a sundial.^{[verification needed]} John never made it home, dying in Paris but the university made sure he would be remembered, a public funeral arranged to honour his name and his tomb placed in the church of St Mathurin in Paris.^{[verification needed]} What’s more he is one of the rare breed of people to have a lunar crater named after him by NASA!^{[verification needed]}

In the reign of Edward III another of the family, R. Hollywood, was Chancellor of the Exchequer.^{[verification needed]}

In 1559 the celebrated Christopher Hollywood was born at the Manor.^{[verification needed]} At the age of twenty he entered the Society of Jesus, and stuied with distinction at Padua. He was sent back to Ireland in 1589, but was arrested and imprisoned in the Tower of London. After the death of Queen Elizabeth he was shipped to the Continent. He succeeded however, in reaching Ireland in 1604. At that time there were only 4 Jesuites in the island. He was appointed Superior, at the time of his death in 1626 the company numbered forty two.^{[verification needed]}

[edit] Silken Thomas and Artane Castle

In 1532, when Silken Thomas appeared in Dublin, the citizens, feeling themselves unable to defend the city, allowed his troops to enter and lay siege to the Castle. Among those who had taken refuge in the Castle was John Alen, Archbishop of Dublin. He had incurred the enmity of the FitzGeralds (also know as the Geraldines) by zeal in promoting Wolsey's plans, and now dreaded their vengeance. He tried to escape by sea, but his ship was driven ashore at Clontarf and he was captured. When brought before Silken Thomas he implored the Earl to spare his life, but the young lord turned away with contempt, saying "Beir uaim an bodach" - (take the fellow away).^{[cite this quote]} These words were interpreted as an order to put him to death and he was murdered in cold blood. For this crime Silken Thomas was excommunicated by the Pope and thus lost many of his adherents. A slab bearing his name is still to be seen the Archbishop's cemetery. In this old cemetery we also have the tomb of Hollywood family and the ruined church.^{[verification needed]} |

[edit] Artane Industrial School

The Artane Industrial school was set up in 1871 and ran by the Congregation of Christian Brothers to take in orphaned or abandoned boys or those who were involved in petty crime. Even such a minor offence as skipping school was enough for a boy to be sent there.^{[verification needed]} The school housed around 700 boys at any one time and they stayed there until they were 16 years of age.^{[verification needed]} More than 15,000 youngsters passed through the gates of the school from 1871 to its closure in 1969.^{[verification needed]}

[edit] Artane Band

The Artane Boys' Band | was founded in 1872 in what was then the Artane industrial school. The first public performance was given in 1874, for the Prince of Wales, on the school lawn. On the 14th of June, 1886, the band gave its first Gaelic Athletic Association performance and since then has become synonynous with big match days in Croke Park. In 1969 the Band was moved to the old refectory, with its previous building becoming a secondary school^{[verification needed]}

Many followers of the GAA have abiding memories of the Artane Boys’ Band parading the teams | around the ground in their distinctive blue and scarlet uniforms. The band, also known as “the biggest little band in the world”, now permits girls to participate and as a result the band changed its name to the Artane Band |. The band performs regularly at events throughout Ireland and continues to entertain and enthrall wherever it goes.^{[verification needed]}

In 1988, formers Band members got together to form the Artane Senior Band. For the first 12 years of its existence the band consisted entirely of past members of the Artane Boys' Band.^{[verification needed]}

[edit] The Stardust

Main article: Stardust disaster

The Stardust was a popular disco located on the Kilmore Road. In the early hours of February 14, 1981, a fire took place in which 48 people lost their lives and 214 were injured. 841 people had attended the disco that night.