| Clane Claonadh
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| — Town — | |
| Clane | |
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Clane
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Leinster |
| County | County Kildare |
| Elevation | 70 m (230 ft) |
| Population (2006)[1] | |
| • Total | 4,968 |
| Irish Grid Reference | N872278 |
| Website | www.clane.ie |
Clane (Irish: Claonadh) is a town on the River Liffey and in the barony of Clane in County Kildare, Ireland, 32 km (20 mi) from Dublin.
Its population of 4,968 (as recorded in the Census of 2006)[2] makes it the eighth largest town in Kildare and the 78th largest in the Republic of Ireland.
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The town most probably owes its origin to the foundation of an abbey in the sixth century, from about 520 A.D., when St. Ailbe, Bishop of Ferns, founded an Abbey in Clane, and made St. Senchel the Elder its first Abbot. St. Ultan Tua, who used to put a stone into his mouth to prevent him from speaking during Lent, and his brother Fotharnaise, are said to have been buried in Clane. They were brothers of Maighend, Abbot of Kilmainham, from whom the parish and church of Mainham, near Clane, were probably called.
The ruins of the Franciscan monastery founded at Clane by Sir Gerald FitzMaurice, 3rd Lord Ophaly, in 1272 still exist. In 1542 Henry VIII’s Commissioner granted the site and precincts of this House of Friars, manor or preaching-house of the preaching Friars of Clane to Robert Eustace, Roger Roche and Ed. Brown for £177. Besides about 70 acres (28 ha) of land in the neighbourhood - its possessions consisted of a church, cemetery, chapter-house, dormitory, store, kitchen, two chambers, stable and orchard. The dormitory and other buildings probably stood on the north side of the Abbey Church, and have long since completely disappeared.
The parish of Clane has the distinction of being the place where the rebellion of 1798 broke out; for it was at Prosperous that the temporary barracks occupied by some of the North Cork Militia, and a Welsh cavalry regiment called the Ancient Britons, were attacked and burnt; and Captain Swayne and most of the soldiers were slain.[3]
Clane has two Liffey tributaries, the Butter Stream at the south west, with a small park, and the Gollymochy River at the eastern side.
Clongowes Wood College, a secondary school run by the Jesuit Fathers is located nearby; James Joyce was educated there. Other places of interest include the Wogan Mausoleum and churchyard at Mainham, and Clane College, a local educational institute.
Clane used to be a haven of peace and tranquility pleasantly situated on the River Liffey, but modern life and expanding housing has made it a virtual dormitory town to Dublin 32 km (20 mi), or 30 minutes drive outside rush hours, from Dublin, at the crossroads of the R403 and R407 regional roads, halfway between Maynooth and Naas in north Kildare.
A commuter railway station in Sallins, some 6 km (4 mi) from Clane, has a regular service to Dublin. The town is also served by Bus Éireann, which operates regular bus service between Edenderry and Dublin. A rapid town link service, provided by private operator J.J. Kavanagh and Sons operates hourly between Clane, Sallins and Naas, while a route to [NUI Maynooth] served by the same company operates on weekdays.
The town is a destination for residents of smaller areas located around Clane, boasting several stores such as Aldi, Lidl, Tesco Express, and one of Ireland's largest SuperValu stores. Other smaller stores in the town include a Londis and a Centra for convenience.
Clane is home to several pubs and restaurants. There are maybe six bars in the town, including the GAA club, Millicent Golf Club and the Oak Bar at the Westgrove Hotel. Popular restaurants include Zést, the Exchange restaurant at the Westgrove Hotel, the Flaming Wok and the Lemongrass.
The town of Clane is one of the settings in the early life of Stephen Daedalus, the protagonist in James Joyce's novel, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man.
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