Newlands Cross Upgrade EIS - European Investment Bank

South Dublin County Council N7 Newlands Cross Upgrade
Environmental Impact Statement
Arup Consulting Engineers
Several of the placenames are Irish in origin and reflect the topography of the area, such as
Mooreenaruggan, probably from Móinín (or Muirthín) an Ruadháin meaning ‘the little bog of
the moorland’ (Ua Broin, 1944, 196). It is referred to in the Archbishop Alen’s Register, Jan 16
1404, as ‘the common moor of Clondolchane called Morcorgan’. Clondalkin refers to both land
usage and ownership, from Cluain Dolcain meaning Dolcan’s meadow. Belgard is likely to
derive from An Bealach Ard, meaning high way, road or pass and is undoubtedly a reference to
the natural hill on which the castle once stood to the south of Newlands Cross.
Two of the placenames may refer to public houses in the vicinity, Buckandhounds and
Bushelloaf. According to the O.S. Name Books (1837-8), the Buckandhounds said to have
received its name ‘from a public house having a Hunt painted on its showboard called the
Book and Hounds Public House’ (Ua Broin, 1944, 202). The townland of Bushelloaf (also
Bushy Loaf, Bush and Loaf, Bush a’ Loaf and Bushell Loaf) may retain the name of an inn of the
same name in this location. Another possible derivation survives in local tradition and refers to
the tale of a priest captured in penal times; he was tied to a bush until he died of hunger, with a
loaf of bread tied just out of reach on the bush with him (Ua Broin, 1944, 194).
12.3.2.4 Recorded Archaeological Sites within a 500m of radius of the proposed upgrade
works (Figure 12.1)
Two recorded archaeological sites will potentially be directly impacted by the proposed
scheme, DU021-014 (Gateway & Datestone) and DU021-016 (Road). Both sites lie under the
existing N7 dual carriageway junction, with the line of the old roadway extending southwest
through Newlands Golf Course and west-southwest along the N7 road.
A third recorded archaeological site lies c. 175m north of the proposed upgrade works
(DU021-010). The ecclesiastical remains in the townland of Brideswell Common comprise a
holy well (DU021-01001), an inscribed stone (DU021-01002) and a children’s burial ground
(DU021-01003).
12.3.2.5 Cartographic Analysis
Down Survey map of the Barony of Newcastle and Uppercross, dated c. 1656 (Figure 12.2)
The approximate location of the study area was identified on the map to the south of
Clondalkin on the ‘highway road to Naas’, an early alignment of the present N7 road from
Dublin to Naas. Belgard Castle is depicted and named ‘Old Castle’, within ‘Belgard towne’.
No further information could be gleaned from this early source.
John Rocque’s ‘An Actual Survey of the County of Dublin’ dated 1760 (Figure 12.3)
Rocque’s map shows the original Newlands crossroads, located to the south of Clondalkin
town and the townland of Brideswell. To the western extent of the propsoed upgrade a
milestone is shown, marking 4 miles from the city of Dublin. Structures are shown around the
cross roads. On the eastern extent three structures are depicted with rear garden plots on the
south side of the Naas Road. There is also a structure labelled as ‘Shoulder of Mutton’; this
refers to an inn (Joyce 1912, 219). Newlands townland is labelled to the south of the area of
proposed upgrade; the demesne is not depicted on the mapping.
John Taylor’s Environs of Dublin, dated 1816 (Figure 12.4)
The approximate location of the proposed route is shown as the ‘Great Southern Road’ and its
alignment differs from the current dual carriageway. The road is traversed by the Clondalkin-
Tallaght road (the present Belgard Road). A number of structures are located around the
northern side of the cross roads. The crossroads are labelled ‘Shoulder of Mutton’, derived
from the inn which was shown on Rocque’s map. It would appear that the inn no longer exists
December 2007 Page 186