Castleknock (barony)
The barony of Castleknock is one of the baronies of Ireland. Originally part of the Lordship of Meath, it was then constituted as part of the historic County Dublin. Today, it lies in the modern county of Fingal. The barony was originally also a feudal title, which became one of the subsidiary titles of the Viscounts Gormanston.
History
The barony was created by Hugh de Lacy, Lord of Meath as his own feudal barony, to be held directly from himself in capite The first vassal was Hugh Tyrrel in 1177. It was held for three and a half knight's fees, owed to the superior Lord of Fingal. The title and lands of Castleknock were held by the Tyrell family until 1370 when Hugh Tyrell and his wife died of the plague. It later passed to the Viscount Gormanston.Location
At the heart of the barony is the civil parish of the same name - Castleknock - which is one of eight civil parishes in the barony. In the townland of Castleknock itself is the location of the eponymous "Cnucha's Castle" - Castleknock Castle. The town with the biggest population in the barony is Blanchardstown. It is one of seven and a half baronies that used to comprise the old county of Dublin. It stretches from Cabra to Blanchardstown and from Finglas to Chapelizod.The Castleknock barony is located between the baronies of Coolock to the east, Nethercross to the north and Dublin to the southwest. The River Liffey separates it from the remaining baronies of County Dublin. With the exception of the parish of Chapelizod, the remainder of the barony is contained within the modern county of Fingal and it is subject to Fingal County Council.
Legal context
Baronies were created after the Norman invasion of Ireland as subdivisions of counties and were used for administration. At the time of its creation, Castleknock was part of the Lordship of Meath. While baronies continue to be officially defined units, they are no longer used for many administrative purposes. While they have been administratively obsolete since 1898, they continue to be used in land registration, and specification such as in planning permissions. In many cases, a barony corresponds to an earlier Gaelic túath which had submitted to the Crown. This is probably true in the case of Castleknock.Civil parishes
Civil parish of Castleknock
What is now the parish of Castleknock was granted by the Lord of Meath to Hugh Tyrrell. Copies of the grant were discovered in the London Public Records Office in 1933 by Eric St. John Brooks. In English, the grant reads:"Henry, by the grace of God, King of England, Lord of Ireland, Duke of Aquitaine and Normandy and Count of Anjou to the Archbishops, Bishops, Ministers and all Earls, Barons, Justices, Sheriffs, Ministers and all his faithful French, English and Irish, greeting. Know that I have conceded, given, and by present Charter confirmed to Hugh Tirel, the man of Hugh de Lacy, Thwothyn and Thwothrom."
Brooks deduces that "Thwo" is an Anglicisation of the Gaelic word tuath and that "throm" is an Anglicisation of the word droma which means ridge or hill - a possible reference to the hill of Castleknock where Tyrrell was to build his castle.
Townlands in the civil parish of Castleknock:
| Irish | English |
| Baile an Aba | Abbotstown |
| Baile an Ásaigh | Ashtown |
| Baile an Chairpintéaraigh | Carpenterstown |
| Baile an Déanaigh | Deanestown |
| Baile an Diosualaigh | Diswellstown |
| Baile an Huntaigh | Huntstown * |
| Baile an Phóirtéaraigh | Porterstown |
| Baile Bhlainséir | Blanchardstown |
| Baile Mhistéil | Mitchelstown |
| Baile Pheiléid | Pelletstown |
| Baile Scriobail | Scribblestown |
| Baile Sheáin | Johnstown |
| An Chabrach | Cabra |
| Caisleán Cnucha | Castleknock |
| Ceapach | Cappoge or Cappagh |
| Cnoc na gCaorach | Sheephill |
| An Chorr Dhubh | Corduff |
| Dún Sinche | Dunsink |
| Páirc Anna | Annfield |
| Snugborough | Snugborough |
| Steach Gob | Astagob |
- Not to be confused with Huntstown in Mulhuddart.
Abbottstown house.jpg|Abbotstown House in the townland of Abbotstown
Annfield townland 2020.jpg|Annfield townland
New Moorings on the Royal Canal at Ashtown, Co. Dublin - geograph.org.uk - 857713.jpg|Royal Canal at the townland of Ashtown
The Wrens Nest pub.jpg|The Wren's Nest pub in the townland of Astabob
Blanchardstown crossroads 2020.jpg|Village crossroads in the townland of Blanchardstown
Navan Road Primary Care Centre, Cabra.jpg|Primary Care Centre on the Navan Road in the townland of Cabra
Halting Site on Cappagh Road, Finglas - geograph.org.uk - 511090.jpg|Halting site in the townland of Cappoge
Community Centre Tree Line.jpg|Carpenterstown townland
Corduff Fort1.jpg|A "fairy fort" in the townland of Corduff
Dursey Row, Deanestown - geograph.org.uk - 731040.jpg|Apartents in the townland of Deanstown
Dunsink Observatory - 20140101000247.jpg|Dunsink observatory in the townland of Dunsink
Porterstown Park in lockdown.jpg|Lockdown in a park in the townland of Porterstown
Pictures sorted alphabetically by townland.
Civil parish of Chapelizod
contains a single townland of the same name. However, 465 acres are within the walls of the Phoenix Park while the village proper, outside the walls, contains only 67 acres. It is the only part of the barony that is not within the modern county of Fingal. It is administered by Dublin City Council.Civil parish of Cloghran
The parish of Cloghran consists of three townlands. Most of the land in the parish is taken up with the "Ballycoolen Industrial Estate".| Townland | Acres | Image Description | Image |
| Ballycoolin | 511 | Eastern end | |
| Petrol station at the northern end | |||
| Cloghran | 95 | ||
| Grange | 171 |
Civil parish of Clonsilla
Townlands in the civil parish of Clonsilla:| Irish | English |
| Baile an Bhearbóraigh | Barberstown |
| Baile an Bhlácaigh | Blakestown |
| Baile an Hartaigh | Hartstown |
| Baile Fiobail nó Páirc Hans | Phibblestown or Hansfield |
| Fearann na Coille | Woodlands or Luttrellstown |
| Baile Uí Cheallaigh | Kellystown |
| Cluain Saileach | Clonsilla |
| Cnoc an Sciobóil | Barnhill |
| Cúil Mhín | Coolmine |
| Gort na Giolcaí | Broomfield |
| Móinteán na gCaorach | Sheepmoor |
| Steach Gob | Astagob |
| Teach Chainnigh | Castaheany Note 1 |
Civil parish of Finglas
The 34 townlands of the parish of Finglas are split among two baronies. The core village and two smaller parcels of land - exclaves of the village - lie in Castleknock. An additional exclave lies in Nethercross.Trading estate in the Tolka Valley - geograph.org.uk - 593692.jpg|Trading estate in the townland of Ballyboggan South
Ballygall House.jpg|Ballygall House in the townland of Ballygall
Old N2 at Balseskin, North of Finglas, Co. Dublin - geograph.org.uk - 1271824.jpg|Old N2 road at the townland of Balseskin
Car Breakers' Yard, Finglas - geograph.org.uk - 511083.jpg|Breaker's yard in the townland of Cardiffsbridge
Finglas Garda Station - geograph.org.uk - 491629.jpg|Garda station in the townland of Cardiffscastle
Charlestown Shopping Centre complex.JPG|Charlestown Shopping Centre in the townland of Charlestown
N1, looking south, Coldwinters, Co. Dublin. - geograph.org.uk - 906081.jpg|Old N1 road at the townland of Coldwinters
County Dublin - Killreesk Bridge - 20190505202241.jpg|Bridge in the townland of Kilreesk
R135 at Kilshane, Co. Dublin - geograph.org.uk - 1271768.jpg|Old N2 road at the townland of Kilshane
Seamus Ennis 5.jpg|Seamus Ennis plaque in the townland of Jamestown Little
IKEA - BALLYMUN, DUBLIN, IRELAND - panoramio.jpg|IKEA store in the townland of Poppintree
Finglas Prospect H 130323-01.jpg|Prospect apartment blocks in the townland of Tolka
Civil parish of Mulhuddart
has 22 townlands, including:- Buzzardstown
- Huntstown
- Damastown
- Hollystown
- Littlepace
- Powerstown
- Tyrrelstown
Institute of Technology Blanchardstown - geograph.org.uk - 546771.jpg|Institute of Technology in the townland of Buzzardstown
Damastown Avenue - geograph.org.uk - 624406.jpg|Roads in the townland of Damastown
Hollystown Golf Clubhouse - geograph.org.uk - 546878.jpg|Golf club in the townland of Hollystown
Littlepace, Dublin 15 - geograph.org.uk - 710725.jpg|Shopping centre in the townland of Littlepace
Powerstown Road, Dublin15 - geograph.org.uk - 687963.jpg|Road in the townland of Powerstown
Tyrrelstown - geograph.org.uk - 738722.jpg|Houses in the townland of Tyrrelstown
County Dublin - Our Ladys Well - 20170928160954.jpg|Holy well straddling the townlands of Tyrrelstown and Buzzardstown
Civil parish of St James'
The bulk of St. James' parish lies south of the River Liffey. Two townlands, which are situated north of the river, are part of the barony of Castleknock. They are:- Phoenix Park; the eastern part containing the Magazine Fort, the Zoological Gardens, the Wellington Monument and the Criminal Courts of Justice.
- Longmeadows which is the strip of land between the Park walls and the river from its narrowest pinch point to Islandbridge on the South Circular Road.
Dublin Irland-61.jpg|Magazine Fort, part of the townland of Phoenix Park
File:Spectator Sport.jpeg|View from the Liffey of the townland of Longmeadows
Civil parish of Ward
Townlands in the parish of Ward: Cherryhound, Irishtown, Killamonan, Newpark, Spricklestown, Ward Lower and Ward Upper.File:M2 Kilshane northbound.png|Roundabout at the M2 in the townland of Cherryhound
The White House Pub and Restaurant, Ward, Co. Dublin - geograph.org.uk - 1271702.jpg|Pub on the N2 in the townland of Newpark
Milestone on the R135 at Ward, Co. Dublin - geograph.org.uk - 1271731.jpg|Milestone in the townland of Ward Lower