Lusk, County Dublin

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Lusk is located 23 km north of Dublin City Centre. The name Lusk dates back to the time of Saint Maccullin, who founded a church there in the 450s. He is reputed to have either lived or been buried in a cave, hence the name Lusk from the Gaelic word Lusca meaning a cave or underground chamber.

[edit] History

A monastery was founded at Lusk about 450 by St Macculin and the site is also associated with St Maurus. It was plundered and burned several times in the succeeding centuries and the only remnant of an Early Christian foundation is the Round Tower. It stands about 27m high and retains its original conical cap. There are nine storeys including the basement. The flat-headed doorway is now less than 1m above ground level. The Round Tower is attached to a square tower built in the 15th or 16th century with three matching round towers at its corners. The large tower houses several medieval tombs including that of James Bermingham (1527) and the double-effigy tomb of Christopher Barnewell and his wife Marion Sharl (1589).