Ballyroan - Delineation and Decline.

**BALLYROAN TOWNLAND:

DELINEATION AND DECLINE**

By Kieran Swords

INTRODUCTION

The townland of Ballyroan has given its name to the Catholic Parish of the Holy Spirit despite the fact that the parish church is located in the neighbouring townland of Old Orchard. Ballyroan townland crosses both barony and civil parish boundaries. The 6” Ordnance Survey map (1936-7) shows Ballyroan as consisting of 115 acres, 1 rood, 3 perches in the civil parish of Tallaght in the barony of Uppercross and 10 acres, 0 roods, 15 perches in the civil parish of Rathfarnham in the barony of Rathdown. The fact that the townland boundary crosses the superior land divisions of parish and barony, the fact that the townland name is now used to cover a wider area than the townland itself and the present association of the townland with Rathfarnham rather than Tallaght points to a loss of identity of the townland; it is a townland over which and around which borders and events have moved with little regard for its boundaries. In this work I hope to explore the decline of the townland of Ballyroan as a distinct recognisable unit.

Ballyroan is situated on the northern slopes of the foothills of the Dublin/Wicklow mountains at a height of 250 feet above sea level. The soil is fertile, being based on glacial till and has a moderately wide use range. The resulting soil is heavy and sticky but because it occurs in an area of low rainfall it is suitable for both grassland and tillage.1

Ballyroan townland is surrounded by Old Orchard, Butterfield, Knocklyon, Scholarstown and Ballyboden townlands. The modern townland of Ballyroan consists of major portions of the lands of Sancta Maria College, St. Patrick’s National School, Mercy Convent, Ballyroan House and major portions of the following housing estates: Ashton Lawn, Ashton Close, Ashton Grove, Ballyroan Heights, Elkwood, Hillside Park and Templeroan Estate (excluding the major portion of Templeroan Green and a small portion of Templeroan Court).

ARCHAEOLOGY

The townland of Ballyroan has no listed archaeological remains although surrounding areas have a number of sites and potential sites of archaeological interest. An analysis of archaeological sites within 2.5Km of Ballyroan2 & 3 reveals sites from the Bronze Age through to Pre-Famine times. Late Bronze Age burials are widely distributed throughout south Co. Dublin while Iron Age remains are remarkably scarce. Late Bronze Age burial customs lasted down to Early Christian times, suggesting continuity between Late Bronze Age and Early Christian times in this district. Early Christian missionaries here may have preached Christianity to a people who in some respects were still in the Bronze Age.

The ‘rath’ in the name Rathfarnham signifies that there may have been a ringfort in the vicinity4, no trace of which has been found. The ringfort in Scholarstown has* *been excavated and the results of C14 analysis indicate that the site was occupied between 980 and 1160 AD.5. Early Christian ecclesiastical sites in the vicinity are found at Rathfarnham, Whitechurch and Killininny.6 The paucity of earlier archaeological remains in the immediate vicinity can probably be explained by the fact that the area has been subject to tillage for many centuries. In 1540 land at Ballyroan is noted as arable.7 On the higher ground where the economy was based on sheep grazing the older prehistoric and historic landscapes and artefacts survive.8 Another factor is the extensive urbanisation in the area. Who knows what archaeological remains have been destroyed or are at best masked by construction projects? Thus with the area around Ballyroan the preponderance of remains on lower ground are of Late Bronze Age, Early Christian, Medieval and later origin while those on higher ground to the south tend to be of earlier origin.9 While we don’t have remains in the townland of Ballyroan itself we can extrapolate that the area has been settled from at least the Late Bronze age.

SLIGHE CUALANN

In ancient Ireland the kingdom of Leinster lay to the south of the Liffey. The district comprising south County Dublin and part of County Wicklow was known as Cuala. Bruidean Da Dearga lay in Cuala and is still remembered in the name Bohernabreena which refers to the road which led to it - Bóthar na Bruigne. Tradition has it that Ireland was served by five major roadways, which provided access for Tara, the seat of the High King, to all parts of Ireland. One of these roads was Slighe Cualann, the Road of Cuala which followed the route Dublin, Tallaght, Saggart, Rathcoole, Kilteel, Ballymore Eustace, Dunlavin, Baltinglass, Rathvilly, Tullow, Leighlinbridge, Goresbridge, Ullard, Graig, St. Mullins, Ross, Rosbercon and Waterford. This was the great main road to the southeast.10

The roads which now occupy the course of Slighe Cualann towards the city from Bohernabreena are Firhouse Road, Butterfield Avenue, Rathfarnham Road, Harold’s Cross Road and Clanbrassil Street whence it joins another of the ancient major roadways Slighe Dala at Coombe, St. Patrick Street, Christchurch Place.11 The road system of ancient Ireland was extremely well developed. This is well attested to by the ease with which military expeditions were undertaken by the ancient Kings and by invaders such as the Vikings and the Normans. In the early days of the Irish Church, the founding missionaries wandered the land without great difficulty due to the extensive road system.

The existence of the Slighe Cualann provides further evidence that the area has been settled for a long time. The ancient roadway would have been unnecessary if the area had not been populated. In time, the Slighe Cualann seems to have diminished in importance, with a section of it being referred to as Butterfield Lane on the 1843 Ordnance map. In Rocque’s map (1760)12 there appears to be a discontinuation in the road approximately half way between Rathfarnham and Knocklyon. The road does not feature as a highway in Taylor and Skinner’s Maps of the Roads of Ireland (1783)13, which plot the important travel routes through Ireland at that time. The road through Templeogue and Tallaght was then the more important roadway.

BALLYROAN - THE NAME

John O’Donovan, one of the foremost Gaelic Scholars of the day14 was the field surveyor who surveyed the townland of Ballyroan. The Field Name Books list the official English version of the townland as ‘Ballyroan’ based on information from a number of sources. The variant ‘Ballyrowan’ from an inquisition at the time of James I is listed as is the variant ‘Ballyrone’ as supplied by Mr. Poole the occupier of Ballyroan House. O’Donovan lists the Irish version as ‘Baile Ui Ruadhain’ translated as ‘O’Roane’s town’ or as ‘O’Rowan’s town’15. In modern understanding and usage ‘baile’ is commonly identified with the concept of ‘townland’16 rather than just being limited to the literal translation ‘town’. The medieval townland was essentially a unit of tenure, the land held by a single sub-tenant. It is most likely that the townland is named after someone with a similar sounding surname to ‘O Ruadhain’ or ‘O’Rowan’. The initial connection is lost in the mists of time.

THE ANGLO-NORMAN INVASION

The native chief of the area at the time of the Norman invasion was Mac Gillamochológ, one of the leading sub-righs of the provincial King of Leinster. The chief at the time was further bound to Mac Murrough, the King of Leinster by having married his daughter Dervorgil. When the conquest of Leinster was complete, Mac Gillamochológ appears no longer as chief. He seems to have settled into the position of a landlord of extensive lands in the district he had ruled.17 The grantees of land appear not in the character of colonists or settlers who had to clear and lay out the lands they received. Rather they appear as the new proprietors of lands fully settled and occupied, whose occupants continued on the lands, and retained their memories and traditions with respect to them.18

It is difficult to ascertain from any sources who might have been granted the land of Ballyroan after the Norman conquest as the townland is not always mentioned by name and may be included in some other townland. Mac Gillamochológ gave land to religious houses including St. Mary’s Abbey; the Archbishop of Dublin held land around Tallaght; Walter de Ridelsford held Knocklyon, Killakee and Qldcourt; Thomas de Flandrensis held Harold’s Grange and Whitechurch while Milo le Bret’s lands centred around Rathfarnham.19 Subsequently Thomas de Flandrensis’ lands passed to Robert de Saint Michael whose son Robert gave the land to St. Mary’s Abbey.20

Tallaght was the centre of the Archbishop’s manor in south-west County Dublin. The Calendar of Archbishops Alen’s Register, an account of the land held by Christ Church cathedral throughout the medieval period, has two separate listings for Ballyronan in an extent of March 14th. 1326.21 ‘At Ballyronan, 5l½a. in the hands of farmers which used to be in betagh’, 12d. an acre; 5a. waste no value, because stripped and ruined.’ and ‘the English farmers of Tauelagh hold 23a. at Ballyronan, 23s., and in war nothing.’ One of these entries may refer to the Ballyroan we are studying but even if not, it paints a picture of the area in this period. These lands were obviously borderlands and were only of value when peace reigned. There appears to have been a cycle of peace and war with land being farmed by the Normans or by the Normans’ tenants or else being left as waste land due to attacks from the hills by the native Irish. The extent mentioned above shows that a well organised Norman society existed. The Betaghs were the native servile tenants and continued as serfs under the Normans. They were transferred with the land by Irish chiefs (both before and after the Norman invasion) and also by the conquering Norman lords.22 When possible, the land in the region was subject to mixed farming by the settlers with oats, barley, meadow, pasture, cocks, and hen eggs being mentioned in the extents.23

The holding of land in Ballyroan by the farmers of Tallaght as mentioned above may be the basis for the major portion of Ballyroan being included in the civil parish of Tallaght. In many cases where civil parish boundaries cross barony boundaries the

root of the division can be traced back to landholding by the church where the holdings were fragmented.24 The current civil parish of Tallaght roughly corresponds to the Manor of Tallaght, one of the Archbishop of Dublin’s manors which had been confirmed by King John to the Church.25

THE PALE

Since the time of the Norman invasion this region of south County Dublin has been associated with defensive earthworks and castles due to its proximity to Irish attackers who used the Dublin foothills and the Wicklow mountains as their base. This can be illustrated by the gradual incastellation of the area and the development of the Pale ditch. The outer defences of the city of Dublin were undertaken in three major waves of castle building. After 1170 a series of earthen mottes were constructed around the city from Howth to Swords, to Castleknock and thence to Dun Laoghaire. Inside Lord Ely’s gate which is located on the banks of the Dodder below Rathfarnham Bridge is a steep sided motte sculpted out of a natural ridge with a rectangular bailey to the west 26

The next wave of castle building where the motte and bailey was strengthened by the moated or ditched castles built to the south and west is represented by Drimnagh Castle the moat of which is still filled with water. Dundrum Castle is another example of this phase. In 1429 a Pale Statute of King Henry VI offered a subsidy of £10 towards the building of castles sufficiently embattled or fortified of at least 20 feet long by 16 feet wide by 40 feet in height.27 These tower houses are very numerous in the area and are exemplified by those at Templeogue, Knocklyon and Killininny. On Butterfield Avenue there is a possible tower house amalgamated as part of the current ‘Old Orchard House’. The square section is clearly visible in the centre of the newer portion. The O.P.W. have been alerted to this and have been asked to investigate if it was a tower house. Its proximity to Rathfarnham Castle poses interesting questions. Rathfarnham Castle itself does not fit into this castle building scheme and is regarded as a transitional castle. It was the first of its type in Ireland, built in 1585 as a residence with defensive features.29

The land immediately outside the Pale was known as the March lands or Marches and was a type of hinterland. Usually these Marches were occupied by English and sometimes by Anglo-Irish, almost invariably by old soldiers and men accustomed to the use of arms. Often the lands were in a waste and desert condition

The earthen rampart of the Pale Ditch was constructed from 1488 to 1494, some four metres high, in spite of the fact that the inner boundary of the March lands of the Pale had proved to be a movable feature. In 1487-8 Archbishop Alen’s Register describes the line of the Pale thus ‘And in the third yere of King Henrie the seventhe, by acte of Parliament in Drogheda holden the friday after the Epiphanie, the bundes of the obedient shires within the Macre distinct from the Marches were limite within the countie of Dublin from Miryonge (Merrion) (inclusive)to the water of Dodor, by the neve diche to Tassagarde, Rathcowle, Kilhele, Rathmor and Ballymor, and so from thens to the countie of Kildare …‘32

This may mean that at some stage the Dodder itself was regarded as part of the defensive mechanism. A large stretch of rampart at Ballyogan and Balally survives33 and a portion has recently been discovered at Kiltalown near Tallaght. Near Ballyroan it is likely that the line of the Pale coincided with the Dodder river as portions of the Pale ditch have been discovered to the east at Ballyogan and at Balally and to the west at Kiltalown.

It was only in 1801 with the construction of the military road and the network of barracks which penetrated the mountains, that the continuous strife between the city of Dublin and its southern neighbours the O’Byrnes and the O’Tooles, was finally ended.35 The military road itself passed Ballyroan along Ballyboden Road.

ST. MARY’S ABBEY

In 1540, at the time of the dissolution of the monasteries the ‘Villata of Ballyrowan’ is listed among the property of St. Mary’s Abbey as: ‘V. of Ballyrowan. Near this V., 60 acr. ar, lately worth .20s. Now waste and unoccupied for lack of a tenant.’ No value is ascribed to ‘Ballyrowan’ in the Extents as it was generating no income while the nearby Grange in the Marshe also belonging to St. Mary’s Abbey containing 208 acres with four tenants and seven cottagers generated an annual income from rent, customs and tithes valued at 14.li. 16.s. 4.d. 36 & 37 The tenants of lands in Ballyrowan are listed as owing arrears to the Abbey.38 Villata means vill, town or township39 while the term Grange comes from the Anglo-French graunge or the Latin grangia meaning a grange or a barn40 and applied to an out farm, including its buildings, which was apart from the main abbey.

St. Mary’s Abbey was founded in 1139 near the city of Dublin on the northern side of the Liffey.41 The twelfth century chapter house is all that remains of the Abbey buildings. The Cistercians were willing to accept grants of land which had not been previously cultivated and were renowned for land reclamation and new agrarian techniques. Their austere life, their poverty and their love of solitude had a particular appeal in an Irish context for they reminded people of the ascetic lives of the early Irish saints.42

At the time of the dissolution St. Mary’s held large tracts of land throughout Co. Dublin. It was the greatest landowner among the monastic houses with 17,079 statute acres including 853 statute acres in the Grange in the March or the Grange of Balgeeth (Harold’s Grange) and the small townland of Whitechurch and around 100 statute acres (60 plantation acres) in Ballyroan. Whitechurch contains the Ecclesia Alba of the original Cistercian settlement. The present townland of Ballyroan is separated from Harold’s Grange and Whitechurch only by the small townland of Ballyboden.43

The early Cistercians had no tenants or serfs and they relied on the labour of their own hands. When necessary they hired labour. Because of the obligation on the monks to chant the complete Divine Office they could never work far from the monastery. As a result the work on the monastic granges was carried out by the lay brothers. Lay brothers had been introduced so that the monks would be free to dwell within the cloister and attend to the duties of the choir. It was expected that on Sundays and feast days that they would return to the Abbey for Mass but when a number of lay brothers could not make it a monk was sent out to the grange to hear their confessions and preach a sermon.44 Gradually the granges became residential and in 1255 Pope Adrian IV allowed altars on them.45 It is likely that Ballyroan was not lived on by the lay brothers as it was the smaller part of the holdings in the area and the lay brothers probably lived on the larger portion. At the time of the dissolution the lands had been let to tenants and had not been worked by the monks or lay brothers for some time.

AFTER THE DISSOLUTION

‘Ballyrowan’ is one of the parcels of land mentioned in a lease under King’s letter in 1552 of land to Walter Peppard one of the gentleman ushers of the king’s chambers.46 In 1574-75 Elizabeth I granted land including ‘Ballyrowan in the Marches of the Co. Dublin’ to Thomas Earl of Ormond and Ossory47. She granted lands in ‘Ballyrowane’ under Queen’s letter to Anthony Deeringe, gent, one of the Queen’s pensioners in 158448 .In 1617-18 Ballyroan is mentioned in connection with Adam and Dudley Loftus in an inquisition of James. I.49

On 5 May 1645, Sir Adam Loftus is noted as the owner of ‘Rathfarnham, Tymon, Killyneeney, Creagh, Tybrodan, Woodtowne, Stageny, Oldcourt, Scallerstowne, Ballybodan, Harold Grange, Ballyroan & Butterfield farme’ in connection with a debt of 80s. which he owed to a John Hill. The property was delivered to the debtor’s administrators on 20 June 1656. On 7 April 1665 the Inquisition jurors did not know who was then in possession or how Sir Adam Loftus held the premises.50

Neither the Census of Ireland circa 1659 51 nor the Hearth Money Rolls of 1664 52 have entries under a Ballyroan townland in this area. Was it uninhabited at the time and thus did not merit a mention or was it included with the return for one of the neighbouring townlands? Any townlands which are named have a population listed. Knocklyne is listed as having a population of 9 English and 10 Irish; Butterfield, 1 English and 16 Irish; Schellerstowne, 7 English and 6 Irish and Old Orchard, 2 English and 23 Irish. With such populations in the neighbouring townlands it is unlikely that Ballyroan was uninhabited but must be included as part of another townland.53 It is probably included with Butterfield as the above mentioned inquisition seems to couple Ballyroan and Butterfield.

In 1669-70 ‘Ballyrowan’ is listed in a petition of Sir Robert Sterling requesting ‘lands escheated to his majesty by the treason of the owners. 54

In 1723 Philip Duke of Wharton, Marquis of Malmesbury and Carlow sold the castle, manor or lordship of Rathfarnham to William Conolly for £62,000. The Duke of Wharton had acquired the Loftus estates by marriage with Lucia, the daughter and heiress of Adam Loftus. At that time the manor or lordship of Rathfarnham consisted of ‘Rathfarnham, Ballintaggart, Ballycragh, Bannochmore, Whitehouse farm, Stoughton’s farm, Old Orchard farm, Little Newton near the river Dodder, Old Court, Kilanenan, Stagonny, Butterfield, Ballyroan, Knocklyne, Timon, Grange of Balgeeth, alias Harold’s Grange, Great Newton alias Cruaghnaclogh, Cruaghnatemple, Woodtown, Kilnemanagh, the prebend of Timon etc. and all and singular, the great and small tithes of the lands of Timothan and Grange, and sundry other premises all situate in the County of Dublin, and a chiefry of £25, payable out of the lands of Kilgobbin, and all other the estate and inheritance of the said duke therein, with all courts, fairs, markets, royalties etc. thereto appertaining’. The list of placenames is an interesting amalgam of names of Irish, of Norman and of English origin illustrating the various influences in the area up to this time.

IRISH NORMAN ENGLISH

Rathfarnham Grange of Balgeeth Whitehouse farm

Ballintaggart Harold’s Grange Stoughton’s farm

Ballycragh Grange Old Orchard farm

Bannochmore   Little Newton

Killanenan   Woodtown

Ballyroan   Butterfield

Timon    

Cruaghnaclogh    

Cruaghnatemple    

Timothan    

Grange of Balgeeth    

Kilgobbin    

The preponderance of names of Irish origin illustrates that despite its closeness to the Pale and the seat of English power the area as a whole maintained its own identity.

In 1742 Archbishop Hoadley purchased Rathfarnham Castle. He died in 1746 and the castle passed to Mr. Bellingham Boyle who had married Hoadley’s only daughter and child. In 1767 Nicholas Loftus, second Earl of Ely purchased the castle. Nicholas was succeeded at Rathfarnham by his uncle Henry who was succeeded in turn by his nephew Charles Tottenham.57

The previously mentioned association of Ballyroan with Butterfield is further attested to in various memorials in The Registry of Deeds. In a lease of 1761 Ballyroan is noted as being ‘part of the lands of Butterfield containing 71 acres’58 In 1765 Ballyroan is described in a lease as ‘part of the lands of Butterfield’. 59 A deed of 1777 contains the first reference to a ‘dwelling house and offices’ in Ballyroan. 60 In a mortgage of 1813 61and a marriage settlement of 183162 Ballyroan is described as ‘being part of the lands of Butterfield’ while Ballyroan is included in Rathfarnham in a deed of mortgage of 1849.63

In 1848 Jacob Poole sold 38a. 3r. 36p. to Henry Frances Burroughs.64 This was the beginnings of the distinct holding known as Ballyroan which eventually belonged to the Sisters of Mercy. This portion of the townland and the house thereon was called Ballyroan while the other portion and house were called Ballyroan House. Older locals still use the two similar names, Ballyroan and Ballyroan House to distinguish between the two holdings. 65

LIFE IN THE EARLY NINETEENTH CENTURY

In 1801 Lieutenant Joseph Archer carried out a statistical survey of Co. Dublin. At this time there was only a small proportion of tillage carried on in Co. Dublin, as close to the city the land was occupied by gardens, nurseries, dairy cows and horses.66

Archer describes Rathfarnham as a large handsome village, situated on a dry bank.67 He mentions Rathfarnham Castle ‘the seat of the most noble Marquis of Ely; a very grand house; a large demesne, beautifully wooded and watered, and laid out in magnificent stile; the gardens are beautiful and extensive, with a great quantity of glass, and enclosed with a remarkable high wall’ ‘Marly’ is described in similar terms.

The housing of the poorer classes or cottagers in County Dublin is described as being wretched with the use of thatch being too prevalent. Many were mud-walled. Archer advocates the construction of masonry houses with raised floor and slated roof. He states that an employee provided with such a cottage would be more comfortable and would find it in his interest to act properly.69

The food of the cottiers was potatoes and milk. When potatoes were dear, bread was substituted. Occasionally stirabout was made using oatmeal and water. The poor suffered greatly due to the scarcity and high price of provisions.70

At the time of Archer’s survey a labourer’s wages near the city was 8s. to 9s. per week where in constant employment and 9s. 9d. per week for short term work. At harvest time they could have earned more depending on the exact nature of the employment, whether food was provided, the importance or urgency of the job or other circumstances. Some specific chores such as planting, digging, mowing and hoeing were subject to piece-work, the worker being paid the going rate for a unit of work. Labourers worked from six o’clock in the morning to six o’clock in the evening, being allowed half an hour for breakfast and an hour for dinner.

At harvest time the working day was from sunrise to sunset and in winter the length of daylight determined the working day. “Farmers and others ought to oblige their workmen when paid their weekly wages, to go to the meal-shops or bakers for change and not to whiskey-shops to dissipate their hard earnings” 71 commented Archer.

English was the main language in the county. Few were in the habit of speaking Irish except those who had come from more remote counties 72

Archer lists mills in the area as follows - Rathfarnham: one flour mill, two paper mills and one corn-mill; Rockbrook: six paper mills; Kilmashogue: one corn-mill; Marly: one threshing- mill; Templeogue: one flour-mill and three paper mills.73 As well as agricultural employment there would have been employment opportunities in the mills. In fact the area was one of the earliest to undergo industrialisation. In the main this was due to a concentration of fast flowing rivers and streams such as the Dodder, the Owendoher, Whitechurch stream etc.

CARTOGRAPHY AND THE ORDNANCE SURVEY

The name Ballyroan does not appear on earlier maps such as the Down Survey map (1655), Petty’s map (1685) or Rocque’s map. John Taylor’s Map of the Environs of Dublin (1816) 74 shows ‘Lands of Ballyroan’ in italics with a house called Ballyroan roughly where Ballyroan Cottage is shown on the 1843 Ordnance Survey map. The houses Ballyroan (now Sancta Maria), Ballyroan House, and Ballyroan, Knocklyon Road do not appear on the map. ‘Lands of Ballyroan’ forms part of the area enclosed by Butterfield Lane, Knocklyon Road, Ballyboden Road and Scholarstown Road with no public road running through this area or townland. The most noticable entrance to this unit of land is the lane at the side of Washington Lodge along the line of the current Washington Lane with the entrance to each house on the land presumably from the nearest public road e.g. Ballyroan, Old Orchard, Edenbrook and Fairbrook from Ballyboden Road. The area we are dealing with is an example of Taylor’s cavalier attitude to territorial boundaries in County Dublin where he ignored civil parishes and where his barony boundaries are very sketchy. The barony boundary which runs through the townland of Ballyroan is not shown at all on the map. No significance can be attached to Taylor’s caption “Lands of Ballyroan” as he was fond of using ‘floating names’ (identifying territories without delimiting them) so as to maintain a balance between script and outline.76 The significance of the use of italics cannot be determined definitely from the map as even a casual observation shows an inconsistent use of font sizes and styles which are not explained in the legend. Thus we cannot assume that Ballyroan was the base for landholding in this parcel of land. Neither can we assume that there weren’t other houses on the land such as Ballyroan House. Demesne houses were included on his map but other houses were treated selectively, the main though not only criteria for their inclusion being whether they formed towns, villages or hamlets and whether they stood next to roads.77 Planimetrically the map is inaccurate but that should not concern us.78 The interesting feature for us is that Ballyroan i.e. ‘Lands of Ballyroan’ is shown.

On the other hand William Duncan was a highly regarded surveyor and had to be threatened with legal action by the Grand Jury of County Dublin before he would admit himself finished with his map of County Dublin. The results were worth waiting for however.79 His map of 1821 80 showing Ballyroan with Ballyroan House built on a slight promontory on the land. The house had two entrances, one from Butterfield Lane near Washington Lodge and one from the present Ballyboden Road, probably indicating that the owner or occupier of Ballyroan House also held some land in Butterfield and possibly in Old Orchard. Another feature of interest on Duncan’s map is a stream which crosses the laneway to Ballyroan House approximately halfway between the house and Butterfield Lane and enters the Dodder closer to Rathfarnham village. This stream is not evident on Rocque’s, Taylor’s or the 1843 Ordnance Survey map. The initial portion of this stream approximately corresponds on all three maps but Rocque and Taylor show this stream entering the Dodder near Firhouse, while only Duncan shows it following the alternative course. This probably means that the stream was diverted sometime after 1816 and rerouted before 1843 to follow its original course. This points to Ballyroan townland being associated with a larger portion of land over which the occupier had control, including at least part of Butterfield and part of Knocklyon. Furthermore the stream runs along the contours rather than across them, indicating the influence of man rather than nature. It is most likely that the stream was used as a water feature or for agricultural purposes rather than as a source of power. Diverting it along contours would have made it more difficult to extract power. Today this stream is no longer on the surface but a major portion was culverted in the early 1980’s as part of the surface water drainage for the area and enters the Dodder along a line which is a continuation of the Knocklyon Road. 81 Duncan also shows the barony boundary to the west of Ballyroan townland, not dividing the townland as in later maps or as surveyed in the Field Name Books.

The Field Name Books describe Ballyroan House as ‘an excellent house with offices, garden, lawn plantations etc. in good condition’ 82 In the field name books there is a considerable variation in the value ascribed to the two portions of the townland with the smaller portion valued at £5 per acre83 and the larger portion valued at £8 - £9 per acre,84 the value given to the better land. This is probably because a significant portion of this part of the townland was the lane to Ballyroan House and thus was of little agricultural value. No explanation is offered for the division of the townland by both barony and the civil parish boundaries. The reason must be further back in time as at this stage both portions form a unit, mainly occupied by one person, a Mr. Poole.

Boundaries in the region are problematic. The neighbouring townland of Ballyboden is in the civil parish of Whitechurch in the barony of Rathdown. Scholarstown in the civil parish of Rathfarnham is in the barony of Uppercross while the larger portion of Rathfarnham civil parish is in the Barony of Rathdown.

TITHE APPLOTMENT AND GRIFFITH’S VALUATION

The Tithe Applotment Book for the Parish of Tallaght dated 12 May 1826 lists Ballyroan as occupied by Mr. Poole Esq. and containing 61a. 3r. and 0p.(plantation measure), l00a. 0r. 4p.(statute measure) meadow and pasture.85 In the Tithe Applotment book for the Parish of Rathfarnham (1825) a William Poole is listed as occupying 15a. 0r. 3p. in the townland of Butterfield.86 In Griffith’s Valuation (1849-50) Joshua Watson occupies 57a. 3r. Op. from Reps. T. Connolly Esq. comprising house, offices and land while Andrew O’Reilly occupies 8a. 1r. 2p. from Henry F. Burroughs Esq. comprising house, offices and land. Henry F. Burroughs Esq occupies 48a. 1r. 4p. of land from the Reps. T. Connolly Esq. T. Connolly would appear to be the owner of all 114a. 1r. 4p. in this part of the townland 87 along with the portion in the parish of Rathfarnham comprising 9a. 3r. 31p. of land occupied by Joshua Watson while a gate-lodge is occupied by William Connor from Joshua Watson. Joshua Watson also occupies 41a. 1r. 28p. of land in the townland of Butterfield while a John Reilly occupies the house and office on this parcel from Joshua Watson.88 Joshua Watson is also listed as occupier of 3a. 3r. 17p. in Old Orchard 89 and 22a. 2r. 8p. in Scholarstown. Land occupancy now appears to be independent of townland units. **

CENSUS DATA **

Only the portion of the townland of Ballyroan in the civil parish of Tallaght is listed as populated in the census returns for the period from 1841 to 191191 There is no return of population or of buildings for the smaller portion of the townland in the parish of Rathfarnham during the period covered.

YEAR Male Female Total Houses (Occupied) Houses (Unoccupied) Out Offices and Farmsteadings

1841 22 16 38 5 0 Not recorded

1851 8 7 15 3 2 Not recorded

1861 14 10 24 6 0 Not recorded

1871 11 16 27 6 0 14

1881 19 29 48 11 0 37

1891 19 21 40 9 1 31

1901 23 24 47 10 0 39

1911 16 18 34 7 7 33

Table 1: Population of Ballyroan townland 1841-1911.

The decrease in population in Ballyroan from 38 in 1841 to 15 in 1851 and up to 24 in 1861 is not reflected in the neighbouring townlands and possibly has a local explanation. Likewise with the drop in population in Scholarstown, from 29 in 1881 to 4 in 1891 and rising to 40 in 1901. The following table lists the population in Ballyroan and in the neighbouring townlands of Scholarstown and Butterfield.

Date Ballyroan Scholarstown Butterfield

1841 38 75 62

1851 15 76 89

1861 24 59 80

1871 27 48 88

1881 48 29 66

1891 40 4 59

1901 47 40 74

1911 34 40 110

Table 2: Population 1841-1911 in Ballyroan and two neighbouring townlands.

 Analysis of the census returns for 190192 and 191193 reveals the existence of two classes of people, the landowners/merchant class and the servants and labourers who worked for them. In 1901 21/47 (45%) of the population was born outside Dublin while in 1911 this figure was 14/34 (41%). In 1901 all the property owners were Irish Church or Church of Ireland while in 1911 2/3 (66%) were Roman Catholic. Only three of the ten households from the 1901 census are returned for the 1911 census.(The number of households had dropped to 7). These figures speak of an open society which was highly mobile where catholics were joining the property owning class. **

FURTHER LOSS OF DEFINITION **

Until the major housing construction in the area in the 1960s the small portion of Ballyroan in the civil parish of Rathfarnham seemed to function mainly as the thoroughfare leading to the larger portion in the civil parish of Tallaght which contains Ballyroan House. Yet at least since 1645 the whole townland has been associated socially and in terms of land tenure with Rathfarnham. 94

Ball notes in his History of the County Dublin for both Tallaght and Rathfarnham civil parishes that both civil parishes appeared in the seventeenth century as containing certain townlands not including Ballyroan and that at the time of writing they both contained a more extensive list of townlands including Ballyroan 95 & 96

Very interestingly the census enumerator for 1901, Constable John J. Storey had originally entered the inhabited portion of Ballyroan as District Electoral Division of Rathfarnham in the Barony of Rathdown in the Parish of Tallaght on the returns and these entries have been amended to Tallaght, Uppercross and Tallaght respectively. If a Constable who was used to townland divisions for legal purposes could make this mistake what chance had the ordinary person got? Again in 1911 the enumerator Constable Thos. Maguire repeats the exact same error!

As a result of the massive growth in population in the area in the 1960s, the Church of the Holy Spirit, Ballyroan was built. It was blessed and opened on December 3rd. 1967.92 In the following year the catholic parish of Ballyroan was established from the catholic parish of Rathfarnham, with approximately 10,000 people.98 The new catholic parish included the larger inhabited portion of the townland of the same name. The naming of the parish after the townland of Ballyroan may have been a conscious or unconscious recognition of the religious involvement of the Sisters of Mercy in the area since 1932. Their convent was the house originally named Ballyroan, located in the townland of Ballyroan. Archbishop McQuaid who established the catholic parish of Ballyroan had requested the sisters to establish a preventorium in 1940 and as a result of another request by him, Sancta Maria College was established in 1960.99 The catholic parish boundaries generally consider housing estate units and road access. Thus they can be a more meaningful physical and social unit today than the townland or civil parish unit. However, even the catholic parish boundary has been overtaken by subsequent housing developments. The portion of Elkwood which is accessed from Ballyroan Heights is in Knocklyon parish but could better be served by Ballyroan parish.100 This serves to illustrate the problem with any boundary. Developments can cause what was a meaningful boundary to become less relevant.

Ballyroan is listed in Thom’s Directories101 under Ballyboden in the Parish of Rathfarnham until 1960 when the listings in Thom’s were reorganised under the now familiar street listings. In 1851 Thom’s Directory lists a fair held on July 10th. and in 1928 three fairs were listed May 15, July 10 and October 7. This points to Ballyroan gravitating towards Ballyboden and Rathfarnham for supplies and services. In 1851 Thom’s notes that the area abounds in pretty seats and villas, which description was still being used in 1955. In the case of Ballyroan the major occupiers had businesses in Dublin city and resided in Ballyroan. Thom’s also shows a fairly transient population with property holding in the majority of cases not passing to people with the same surname.

Housing Estates in Ballyroan are now listed in Thom’s s Directories as being in Templeogue. This is a further blurring of the identity of the townland and area. Templeogue is a townland of which the major portion including the village of the same name is on the northern side of the Dodder. This encroachment by Templeogue can possibly be explained by the development of the public transport system in the area. The 15B bus which originally served Templeogue now serves Ballyroan with its terminus at Anne Devlin Park.102 & 103 In addition Templeogue may possibly be regarded as a more marketable property label than Tallaght, Rathfarnham or Ballyroan. Thus in the case of Templeroan estate, the most recently constructed major housing estate in the area, the name is a hybridisation of Templeogue and Ballyroan - a 50% recognition of the townland name.

In the register of electors in force 1996-1997, the townland of Ballyroan is effectively divided in two as follows:

IJ **KNOCKLYON 2

Polling District** **IL BALLYROAN 2

Polling District**

Ashton Close Ballyroan

Ashton Grove Ballyroan Heights

Ashton Lawn Elkwood

Templeroan Avenue (Part of) Hillside Park

Templeroan Close Sancta Maria

Templeroan Court Templeroan Avenue

Templeroan Crescent Templeroan Downs

Templeroan Drive Templeroan Meadows

Templeroan Green  

Templeroan Grove  

Templeroan Lodge  

Templeroan Park  

Templeroan View  

Templeroan Way  

Polling District IJ Knocklyon 2 is in the County Electoral Area of Rathfarnham in the District Electoral Division of Firhouse- Knocklyon while Polling District IL Ballyroan 2 is also in the County Electoral Area of Rathfarnham but in the District Electoral Division of Ballyboden. This partition is based on the division of the area based on road access.

One of the few existing reminders of the unity of the old townland of Ballyroan is the current Elkwood Estate, which is effectively divided in two into Elkwood, Ballyroan Heights and Elkwood, Knockcullen Drive with a walkway connecting the two parts. Both parts share a name and a townland but by road they are approximately 1.4 miles apart. This is an example of the physical division of Ballyroan which is now physically divided into five distinct, portions when viewed in terms of road access: the portion served by Ballyroan Crescent; the portion served by Ballyroan Heights; the portion served by Hillside Park; the portion served by Templeroan and the portion served by Knockcullen.

CONCLUSION

In less mobile times people closely identified with their townland and the townland was a reference point of much significance. However in the city and suburbs the townland has been engulfed and its dimensions are of little use in the context of modern government and social organisation. This loss of identity has been further exaggerated by development in the area which means that the original townland is not just absorbed into a larger unit but is physically split in four as a result of road developments. Thus today the townland division is an archaic territorial division.

The townland of Ballyroan has not been recognisable as a discrete unit at different periods of history. This may be due to the fact it is split by the barony boundary and thus was confusing in legal terms. It is probable that folk memory rather than civil documentation has led to its eventual delineation and the recognition points to a long history. The eventual delineation of the townland may have been helped by a memory of its control by St. Mary’s Abbey or its occupation by the farmers of Tallaght.

The very fact that the townland is in two parts means that the barony boundary as delineated was reflecting an earlier reality. Ballyroan may have been split into two or more separate landholding units. However it is more likely that the original townland of Ballyroan annexed part of the original Old Orchard and Butterfield townlands in order to provide a prominent site for Ballyroan House. The site obviously included access from Ballyboden Road, the nearest road. A house has stood on the site since at least 1821. and possibly since 1777 or earlier as mentioned above. This could explain the portion in the civil parish of Rathfarnham and would imply that the original townland of Ballyroan was the portion which is in the civil parish of Tallaght.

In general, boundaries in this area can be confusing as three civil parishes and two baronies meet in the vicinity. Scholarstown townland which is in the main further from Rathfarnham than Ballyroan is, is in the civil parish of Rathfarnham but in the barony of Uppercross. The major portion of Rathfarnham civil parish is in the barony of Rathdown.

The later identification of Ballyroan with Rathfarnham owes as much to the proximity of services and a social and religious centre as to the influence of land owners. If the owners of Rathfarnham had not had influence over Ballyroan, Ballyroan would probably still have gravitated towards Rathfarnham as the major social, church and services centre in the vicinity.

The open nature of society in the past one hundred and fifty years and the changing pattern of land ownership across townland boundaries has further helped to blur the edges.

 FOOTNOTES

1. Gardiner, M. J. and Radford, T, *Soil Associations of Ireland and their Land Use Potential, *(An Foras Taluntais, Dublin, 1980), p. 113.

2. Archaeological Survey of Ireland, *Sites and Monuments Record County Dublin, *(O.P.W., Dublin, 1988), pp 50-54.

3. Archaeological Survey of Ireland, *Constraint Maps, *(O.P.W, Dublin, 1988), sheet 22.

4. Stout, Geraldine and Stout Matthew, ‘Patterns in the Past: County Dublin 5000BC

• l000AD’ in Aalen, F.H. and Whelan, Kevin (eds), *Dublin City and County from Prehistory to the Present. *(Geography Publications, Dublin, 1992), p.19.

5. Knocklyon Guild I.C.A., *Knocklyon Past and Present, *(I.C.A., Dublin, 1992), p. 5.

6.* Sites and Monuments Record, *pp 50-54.

7. White, Newport B. (ed.), *Extents of Irish Monastic Possessions, 1540-1541 From Manuscripts in the Public Record Office, London, *(Stationery Office, Dublin, 1943), p.10.

8. Office of Public Works, *Archaeology in County Dublin, *(O.P.W., Dublin, 1993), p.3.

9. Stout, Geraldine and Stout Matthew, op. cit., p. 5.

10. Ó Lochlainn, Colm, ‘Roadways in Ancient Ireland’ in Ryan, John (ed.), *Essays and Studies presented to Professor Eoin MacNeill, *(Dublin: Three Candles, 1940), p.

12. Little, George A., Dr., *Dublin Before the Vikings, *(Gill, Dublin, 1957), p.

14. Rocque, John, *An Actual Survey of the County of Dublin *(Dublin, 1760) a new edition by Robert Laurie and James Whittle, (London, 1799).

15. *Taylor and Skinner’s Maps of the Roads of Ireland,(*2nd.edn.), (Longman, London, 1873), p. 138.

16. Nolan, William, *Sources for Local Studies, *(Geography Publications, Dublin, 1982), p. 105.

17. Ordnance Survey, *Field Name Book of Rathfarnham No. 1 County Dublin, *Book 1, 1836, pp 68-69 (Typewritten copy held in Gilbert Library)

Ordnance Survey, *No. 2 Field Name Book of Tallaght County Dublin, *Book 142, 1836, p.69. (Typewritten copy held in Gilbert Library)

16. Flanagan, Deirdre and Laurence, *Irish Place Names, *(Gill and Macmillan, Dublin, 1994), pp 20-26.

17. Mills, James, ‘The Norman Settlement in Leinster- The Cantreds near Dublin’ in *R.S.A.I.Jn., *Vol 24, 1894, pp 161-162.

18. Ibid., p. 174.

19. Ibid., pp. 161-169.

20. *Extents of Irish Monastic Possessions, *p.10.

21. McNeill, Charles, (ed.), *Calendar of Archbishop Alen’s Register C. 1172-1534, *(Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, Dublin, 1950), p.181.

22. Mills, James, ‘Tenants and Agriculture near Dublin in the Fourteenth Century’ in *Proceedings of the Royal Society of Antiquaries, *Vol. XXI, 1890-1891, p. 54.

23. Ibid. pp 181-183.

24. Nolan, William, ‘Some Civil and Ecclesiastical Territorial Divisions and their Geographical Significance’ in Nolan, William,(ed.) *The Shaping of Ireland The Geographical Perspective, *Cork: Mercier Press, 1986, p. 80.

25. Ball, Francis Elrington, *A History of the County Dublin, *(Gill and Macmillan, Dublin, 1979),(6 vols. ),(Reproduced by Photo Lithography from the 1st. impression of 1902), vol. II, p. 4.

26. Johnson, D. Newman, *Dublin Castles, *(Briefing Sheet no. 17),(ENFO, Dublin, 1990).

27. Leask, Harold, *Irish Castles and Castellated Houses, *(Dundalgan Press, Dundalk, 1977), pp 76-77.

28. Johnson, D. Newman, op. cit.

29. Ibid.

30. Joyce, Weston St. John, *The Neighbourhood of Dublin, *(Gill and Macmillan, Dublin, 1977), (Text is a photographic reproduction of the 1939 edition, originally published, 1912) p. 431.

31. Johnson, D. Newman, op. cit.

32. *Calendar of Archbishop Alen’s Register C. 1172-1534, *p. 250.

33. Goodbody, Rob, *On the Borders of the Pale, A History of the Kilgobban, Stepaside and Sandyford area, *(Pale Publishing, Dublin, 1993), p. 30.

34. This linear earthwork will appear as SMR21:81 in *The Record of Monuments and Places *1996.(Letter of 21/2/96 from Geraldine Stout, OPW to Heritage Awareness Group, Tallaght).

35. Nolan, William, ‘Some Civil and Ecclesiastical Territorial Divisions and their Geographical Significance’ in Nolan, William,(ed.), *The Shaping of Ireland The Geographical Perspective, *(Mercier Press, Cork, 1986), pp 75-76.

36. *Extents of Irish Monastic Possessions, *p. 10.

37. Griffith, Margaret C., *Calendar of Inquisitions, *(Stationery Office for Irish Manuscripts Commission, Dublin, 1990), p. 81, (no. 139/34 of Henry VIII).

38. Ibid. p.25

39. Gooder, Eileen A., *Latin for Local History An Introduction, *(Longman, 1961), p. 170.

40. Ibid. p. 139.

41. Gwynn, A., ‘The Origins of St. Mary’s Abbey, Dublin’ in *R.S.A.I.Jn., *vol. LXXIX, 1949, p110.

42. Stalley, Roger, *The Cistercian Monasteries of Ireland, *(Yale University Press, London and New Haven, 1987), p.13.

43. Ó Conbhui, C., O.C.S.O., ‘The Lands of St. Mary’s Abbey, Dublin’ in *Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, *Vol 62, Section C, No. 3, 1962, p. 55.

44. Carville, Geraldine, *Baltinglass Abbey of the Three Rivers, *(Bolton Abbey & West Wicklow Historical Society, 1984), pp 41-43.

45. Ibid. p.45.

46. Irish Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns, *(introduced by Kenneth Nicholls), (Edmund Burke, Dublin, 1994), Vol. I, p. 203, (Fiant 1083/1224 Edward VI).

47. Ibid. Vol. II, p. 340, (Fiant 2562 Elizabeth I).

48. Ibid., Vol. II, p. 655, (Fiant 4575 Elizabeth I).

49. *Inquisitionum in Officio Rotulorum Cancellariae Hiberniae, *no. 33 of Jac. I, a.d. 1617-1618, National Library Reading Room, RR 941.

50. Griffith, Margaret C., *op. cit., *p. 417, (no. 2/1 of Charles II).

51. Pender, Seamus M.A. (ed.), *A Census of Ireland circa 1659, *Dublin: The Stationery Office, 1939, pp 377-378.

52. ‘Hearth Money Rolls for Co. Dublin 1664’ in *Co. Kildare Archaeological Society Journal, *vol XI, pp 386-466.

53. *A Census of Ireland circa 1659, *pp 377-378.

54. *Calendar of State Papers 1669-70 Addenda, *p. 394, National Library Reading Room, RR 941.

55. Ball, *op. cit., *vol II, pp 129-130.

56. D’Alton, John, *The History of County Dublin, *(Tower Books, Cork, 1976), p. 396 (Originally published Hodges & Smith, Dublin, 1838.).

57. Ball, *op. cit., *vol. II, pp 134-139.

58. Registry of Deeds, 214/105/140452.

59. Registry of Deeds, 233/331/154222.

60. Registry of Deeds, 324/103/212446.

61. Registry of Deeds, 658/169/453143.

62. Registry of Deeds, 872/465/579966.

63. Registry of Deeds, 1849/17/157/490.

64. Registry of Deeds, 1848/8/91/209.

65. Conversation with Mr. Jack Smullen, 11/6/92.

66. Archer, Joseph, *Statistical Survey of the County Dublin, *(The Dublin Society, Dublin, 1801), p.11.

67. *Ibid., p. 95.

68. Ibid., p. 161.

69. Ibid., pp 110-111.

70. Ibid., p. 111.

71. Ibid., pp 112-113.

72. Ibid., p. 201.

73. Ibid., p. 206-207.

74. Taylor, John, *John Taylor’s map of the Environs of Dublin 1816, *(Phoenix Maps, Dublin, 1989), (facsimile of the edition of 1816).

75. Andrews, J. H., *John Taylors Map of the Environs of Dublin *(Phoenix Maps, Dublin, 1989), p. 4.

76. Ibid. p. 5.

77. Ibid. p. 4.

78. Ibid. p. 7.

79. Andrews, J. H., *Irish Maps, *(Eason and Son Ltd., Dublin, 1978), p. 30.

80. Duncan William, *Map of the County of Dublin, *1821.

81. Sweeney, Clair L., *The Rivers of Dublin, *(Dublin Corporation, Dublin, 1991), pp 54-55. Also information supplied by Environmental Services, South Dublin County Council.

82. *No. 2 Field Name Book of Tallaght County Dublin, *Book 142, 1836, pp 73-76.

83. *Field Name Book of Rathfarnham No. 1 County Dublin, Book 1, 1836, *p. 41.

84. *No. 2 Field Name Book of Tallaght County Dublin, *Book 142, 1836, pp 73-76.

85. *Tithe Applotment Book Civil Parish of Tallaght County Dublin, *1826, Ballyroan townland. (microfilm copy in Gilbert Library).

86. *Tithe Applotment Book Civil Parish of Rathfarnham County Dublin, *1925, Ballyroan townland, (microfilm copy in Gilbert Library).

87. *General Valuation of Ireland County of Dublin South Dublin Union Barony of Uppercross, *(Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, Dublin, 1850), p. 77. (microfilm copy in Gilbert Library).

Valuation Field Books, *1844, Ballyroan townland, Uppercross Barony. (Held in Valuation Office). *

General Valuation of Ireland, *Valuation Map, Sheet 22, (1844-1850). (Held in Valuation Office).

88. *General Valuation of Ireland County of Dublin Barony of Rathdown South Dublin and Rathdown Unions, *(Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, Dublin, 1849), p. 115.

89. Ibid., p. 117.

90. *General Valuation of Ireland County of Dublin South Dublin Union Barony of Uppercross, *p. 29.

91. *Census of Ireland, *1841-1911, Tallaght civil parish, Uppercross Barony and Rathfarnham civil parish, Rathdown Barony. (microfilm copy in Gilbert Library).

92. Ibid.

93. *Census of Ireland *1911, Ballyroan, Co. Dublin, Tallaght D.E.D. 81/10, National Archives.

94. Griffith, Margaret C., *op. cit., *p. 417. (no. 2/1 Charles II).

95. Ball, *op. cit., *vol. II, p. 114.

96. Ball, *op. cit., *vol. III, p. 1.

97. *Blessing and Opening of The Church of The Holy Spirit Ballyroan Sunday, December 3rd. 1967. *(souvenir booklet).

98. O Neill, Seamus, *Firhouse History, Legends, People, Places, *(Scoil Treasa Publications, Dublin, 1992), p. 43.

99. Local History Group Knocklyon I.C.A., *Knocklyon Past and Present, *(Irish Countrywomen’ s Association, Dublin, 1992), p. 19.

100. *The Catholic Parish Of Ballyroan, *(map supplied by Fr. Aquinas Duffy, Dublin Diocesan Parish Boundary Commission).

101. *Thom’s Directory *1844 to date.

102. Flanagan, P. J. and Mac an tSaoir, C. B., *Dublin’s Buses, *(Transport Research Association, Dublin, 1968), p.34.

103. *Dublin Bus Timetable, *June 1995.

104. South Dublin County Council, *Register of Electors 1996-1997, *sections IJ and IL.

 BIBLIOGRAPHY **

 1. Original Sources (Including calendared material) **

 Archaeological Survey of Ireland, *Constraint Maps, *Dublin: O.P.W., 1988. *

The Catholic Parish Of Ballyroan, *(map supplied by Fr. Aquinas Duffy, Dublin Diocesan Parish Boundary Commission). *

Census of Ireland, *1841-1911, Tallaght civil parish, Uppercross Barony and Rathfarnham civil parish, Rathdown Barony. (microfilm copy in Gilbert Library). *

Census of Ireland *1911, Ballyroan, Co. Dublin, Tallaght D.E.D., 81/10, National Archives. *

Down Survey of the Barony of Newcastle and Uppercross, *1655.

Duncan William, *Map of the County of Dublin, *1821. *

General Valuation of Ireland County of Dublin Barony of Rathdown South Dublin and Rathdown Unions, *Dublin: Her Majesty’s Stationery Office 1849. *

General Valuation of Ireland County of Dublin Barony of Uppercross South Dublin Union, *Dublin: Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1850. *

General Valuation of Ireland, *Valuation Map, Sheet 22, (1844-1850). (Held in Valuation Office).

Griffith, Margaret C., *Calendar of Inquisitions, *Dublin: Stationery Office for Irish Manuscripts Commission, 1990.

‘Hearth Money Rolls for Co. Dublin 1664’ in *Co. Kildare Archaeological Society Journal, *vol XI, pp 386-466. *

Inquisitionum in Officio Rotulorum Cancellariae Hiherniae, *National Library Reading Room, RR 941. *

Irish Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns, *(introduced by Kenneth Nicholls), Dublin: Edmund Burke, 1994, 4 vols.

McNeill, Charles, *The Calendar of Archbishop Alen’s Register c.1172-1534, *Dublin:, Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, 1950.

Ordnance Survey, *Ballyroan, *(revised 1993-1995). (Map prepared by Mr Gerry Carroll, Planning Department, South Dublin County Council).

Ordnance Survey, *Field Name Book of Rathfarnham No. 1 County Dublin, *Book 1, 1836.

Ordnance Survey, *No. 2 Field Name Book of Tallaght County Dublin, *Book 142, 1836.

Ordnance Survey, *Rathfarnham 1843, *Dublin: Ordnance Survey, 1843.

Ordnance Survey, *Rathfarnham 1964, *(revised 1936-7), Dublin: Ordnance Survey, 1964.

Ordnance Survey, *Sheet 22 *X, (revised 1975 and updated on an ongoing basis by Dublin County Council and South Dublin County Council to include new developments).

Pender, Seamus M.A. (ed.), *A Census of Ireland circa 1659, *Dublin: The Stationery Office, 1939.

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South Dublin County Council, Register of Electors 1996-1997.

Taylor, John, John Taylor’s map of the Environs of Dublin 1816, Dublin: Phoenix Maps, 1989. (facsimile of the edition of 1816). *

Taylor and Skinner’s Maps of the roads of Ireland, *1786, p. 138. *

Tithe Applotment Book Civil Parish of Rathfarnham County Dublin, 1925. *(microfiche copy in Gilbert Library). *

Tithe Applotment Book Civil Parish of Tallaght County Dublin, *1826.

White, Newport B. (ed.), *Extents of Irish Monastic Possessions, 1540-1541 From Manuscripts in the Public Record Office, London, *Dublin: Stationery Office, 1943. *

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 2. Modern Works

Aalen, F.H. and Whelan, Kevin (eds), *Dublin City and County from Prehistory to the Present. *Dublin: Geography Publications, 1992.

Andrews, J. H., *John Taylor’s Map of the Environs of Dublin *Dublin: Phoenix Maps, 1989.

Archaeological Survey of Ireland, *Sites and Monuments Record County Dublin. *Dublin: O.P.W., 1988.

Archer, Joseph, *Statistical Survey of the County Dublin, *Dublin: The Dublin Society, 1801

Ball, Francis Elrington, *A History of the County Dublin, *Dublin: Gill and Macmillan, 1979. (6 vols.)(Reproduced by Photo Lithography from the 1st. impression of 1902), vols II & III.

Brennan, Eilis (ed.), *Heritage: A Visitors Guide, *Dublin: O.P.W., 1990.

Carville, Geraldine, *Baltinglass Abbey of the Three Rivers, *Bolton Abbey and West Wicklow Historical Society, 1984.

Colmcille, Fr. 0.C.S.O., ‘The Lands of St. Mary’s Abbey at the Dissolution of the Abbey’ in *Reportorium Novum, *Vol. III, No. 1,1962.

D’Alton, John, *The History of County Dublin, *Cork, Tower Books, 1976. (Originally published Dublin: Hodges & Smith, 1838.)

Flanagan, Deirdre and Laurence, *Irish Place Names, *Dublin: Gill and Macmillan, 1994.

Flanagan, P. J. and Mac an tSaoir, C. B., *Dublin’s Buses, *Dublin: Transport Research Association, 1968. *

General Alphabetical Index to the Townlands and Towns, Parishes and Baronies of Ireland, *Dublin: Alexander Thorn, 1861.

Goodbody, Rob, *On the Borders of the Pale, A History of the Kilgobban, Stepaside and Sandyford area, *Dublin: Pale Publishing, 1993.

Gooder, Eileen A., *Latin for Local History An Introduction, *Longman, 1961.

Gwynn, A., ‘The Origins of St. Mary’s Abbey, Dublin’ in *R.S.A.I.Jn. *vol. LXXIX (1949), pp 110-125.

Gwynn, Aubrey and Hadcock, R. Neville, *Medieval Religious Houses in Ireland, *Longman, 1970.

Johnson, D. Newman, *Dublin Castles, *Dublin: ENFO, 1990.(Briefing sheet no. 17).

Joyce, Weston St. John, *The Neighbourhood of Dublin, *Dublin: Gill and Macmillan, 1977. (Text is a photographic reproduction of the 1939 edition, originally published, 1912) *

Land Owners in Ireland: Return of Owners of Land of One Acre and upwards etc. (1871) *reprinted, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co. Inc., 1988.

Leask, Harold, *Irish Castles and Castellated Houses, *Dundalk: Dundalgan Press, 1977.

Little, George A., Dr., *Dublin Before the Vikings, *Dublin: Gill, 1957.

Local History Group Knocklyon I.C.A., *Knocklyon Past and Present, *Dublin: Irish Countrywomen’s Association, 1992.

Mills, James, ‘Tenants and Agriculture near Dublin in the Fourteenth Century’ in *Proceedings of the Royal Society of Antiquaries, *Vol. XXI, 1890-1891.

Nolan, William, (ed.) *The Shaping of Ireland The Geographical Perspective, *Cork: Mercier Press, 1986.

Nolan, William, *Sources for Local Studies, *Dublin: Geography Publications, 1982.

Ó Conbhui, C., O.C.S.O., ‘The Lands of St. Mary’s Abbey, Dublin’ in *Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, *Vol 62, Section C, No. 3, 1962.

General Contents. .