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from a beautiful lake in the park, of 20 acres, rolls over
a rocky bed and forms a cascade about 30 feet high.
The other seats are Coolmine., the residence of A. Fitz-
patrick, Esq.; Clonsillagh, of R. H. French, Esq.;
Broomfield, of the Rev. S. Thompson; Clonsillagh, of
Ignatius Callaghan, Esq.; Hansfield, of T. Willan, Esq.;
and Phibblestown, of Capt. H. Reid, R. N. The parish
formerly belonged to the priory of Malvern, in Worces-
tershire. It is a rectory, in the diocese of Dublin, and
is part of the union of Castleknock: the tithes amount
to £240. The church is a small neat building. In the
R. C. divisions it also forms part of the union or district
of Castleknock, and has a neat chapel at Porterstown,
built by the late L. White, Esq., who also built a school-
house, with apartments for the master and mistress:
the school is supported by subscription, and there is one
on the lower road, near the Liffey; they afford instruc-
tion to about 90 children.
CLONSKEA, anciently CLONSKEAGH, a small
village, in that part of the parish of ST. MARY, DON-
NYBROOK, which is in the half-barony of RATHDOWN,
county of DUBLIN, and province of LEINSTER, 2
miles (S.) from the Post-Office, Dublin, on the road
to Enniskerry, by way of Roebuck; the population
is included in the return for the parish. It contains
a dye stuff factory and iron-works; and is within
the jurisdiction of the city of Dublin court of requests.
Clonskea Castlegh, the handsome residence of G. Thomp-
son, Esq., affords fine views of the city and bay of Dub-
lin, with the adjacent mountains; it was built by H.
Jackson, who acted a prominent part in the disturban-
ces of 1798. On digging in front of the mansion, a
few years since, a layer of muscle shells, about three
feet thick, and imbedded in clay, was found about eight
feet below the surface. The other seats are Rich View,
the residence of M. Powell, Esq., and Virge Mount, of
the Rev. J. C. Crosthwaite.
CLONTARF, a parish, in the barony of COOLOCK,
county of DUBLIN, and province of LEINSTER, on the
northern shore of Dublin bay, 2½ miles (E. N. E.) from
the Post-Office, Dublin; containing 3314 inhabitants,
of which number, 1309 are in the village. Clontarf
stands in a very richly wooded and finely cultivated
country, and is distinguished in Irish history as the
scene of a sanguinary battle, which put a final period to
the Danish power in Ireland. But although this me-
morable battle takes its distinguishing name from this
parish, it is probable, from the numbers of human bones
discovered in excavating the ground for streets on the
north side of Dublin, and at Knockbrush Hill near Fin-
glass, that the scene of action embraced a much more
extended tract of country. On the first invasion of Ire-
land by the English, O’Brian and O’Carrol, who came
to the assistance of Roderic, the last king of all Ireland,
at the siege of Dublin, took post in this vicinity. The
principal lands in the parish appear to have been vested
in a religious house founded here in 550, and erected
into a commandery of Knights Templars in the reign of
Hen. II., which, on the suppression of that order, be-
came a preceptory of Knights Hospitallers of St. John
of Jerusalem, and was one of the chief appendages of
the grand priory of Kilmainham. Sir J. Rawson, the
last prior, after the surrender of this house and its reve-
nues, was created, by Hen, VIII., Viscount Clontarf,
with a pension of 500 marks per annum. Since that
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period, the possessions of the establishment, after pass-
ing through various hands, were erected into a manor
and conferred by the Crown on Admiral Vernon, whose
descendant, J. E. Venables Vernon, Esq., is the present
proprietor. This place was burned in 1641, by the par-
liamentarian general, Sir C. Coote, on the 15th of De-
cember.
The present village is of considerable extent, and is
much frequented for sea-bathing by visiters from the
north of Dublin; and the scenery in many parts is
highly interesting. It was formerly a fishing town of
some importance, and along the water’s edge are still
many wooden buildings, called the Clontarf sheds, for-
merly used for the purpose of curing the fish taken here.
Several neat lodging-houses have been erected and nu-
merous pleasant villas and ornamented cottages have
been built in detached situations. Near the strand was
formerly the Royal Marine charter school; the build-
ings now belong to Mr. Brierly, who has erected large
hot and cold sea-water baths. Opposite to Dollymount
is an extensive causeway stretching into the sea, erected
by the Ballast Board to deepen the channel between
Poolbeg, or the south wall lighthouse and the north wall
light. From this causeway is a long strip of sandy
ground, called the North Bull, which is partly green,
extending towards the hill of Howth, and surrounded
on all sides by the sea; and off the sheds is a profitable
oyster bank. The parish comprises 1039 statute acres,
as applotted under the tithe act, and valued at £5283
per annum. On the shore is the shaft of a lead mine,
which has been opened at different times since the reign
of Jas. I., and although it afforded a considerable quan-
tity of rich ore, both of the common sulphate and cu-
bicular kinds, the operations have invariably been un--
successful from the influx of sea water. The Drogheda,
or Grand Northern Trunk railway from Dublin to Dro-
gheda will, when completed, pass through this parish;
and there is a constabulary police station. Clontarf
Castle, the seat of J. E. V. Vernon, Esq., was one of the
most ancient castles within the English pale, and is sup-
posed to have been erected either by Hugh de Lacy or by
Adam de Frepo, one of his knights, to whom he granted
the lordship; the old castle was taken down in 1835,
and a handsome mansion in the later English style, with
a tower of Norman character, is now in progress of
erection, from a design by Mr. W. Morrison. There are
many handsome seats and pleasant villas: the principal
are Furry Park, the residence of T. Bushe, Esq.; Sybil
Hill, of J. Barlow, Esq.; Clontarf House, of Mrs. Col-
vill; Elm View, of W. C. Colvill, Esq., formerly the
seat of Lords Shannon and Southwell; Verville, of C.
A. Nicholson, Esq., Convent House, of the Hon. Arthur
Moore, second justice of the court of common pleas;
Dollymount, of T. and L. Crosthwaite, Esqrs.; Prospect,
of R. Warren, Esq.; Bellgrove, of R. Simpson, Esq.;
Beachfield, of J. Tudor, Esq.; Clontarf, of B. Mitford,
Esq.; Ivy House, of R. Ellis, Esq.; Danesfield, of J. Camp-
bell, Esq.; Seafield House, of T. Gresham, Esq.; Mer-
champ, of E. Shaw, Esq.; Thornhill, of H. O’Reilly,
Esq.; Bay View, of F. L’Estrange, Esq.; Baymount
House, of J. Keily, Esq., formerly for some years the
residence of Dr. Trail, Bishop of Down and Connor;
Bedford Lodge, of W. I. Moore, Esq.; Rose Vale, of
Sir E. Stanley, Knt.; Strandville, of Alderman Tyndall;
Strandville House, of W. Minchiner, Esq.; Merville, of