Preface to Vol. 1.

Preface To The First Part

Some explanation is, I feel, needed of the reasons which have led me to attempt a task which has already been performed with credit by another author.

The undertaking of this work has been due to no feeling of confidence that John D’Alton’s “History of the County Dublin,” so far as his general treatment of the subject is concerned, could be improved upon. It has originated in a consideration of the quantity of material which has been made available since my predecessor wrote, and of the inadequate space allotted by him to the annals of some of the districts.

My aim has been to interest the ordinary reader, rather than the specialist, who can best obtain his information from original authorities; and for this reason I have avoided technical descriptions and details. As the events of the last hundred years would have occupied an undue proportion of the history I have practically confined its scope to the conclusion of the 18th century.

The parish, which I have chosen as the geographical unit, has been selected because in England it has been found the most convenient division for local history, and though Irish parishes are sadly wanting in the wealth of historical material which those of England afford, still they rival them in early origin, and in most cases possess remains of the primitive church in which their inhabitants at one time united in common worship.

Much of the information, which this part contains, has been contributed to the proceedings of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland in two papers read by the late Professor Stokes on “The Antiquities from Kingstown to Dublin,” and in five papers of my own entitled, “Stillorgan Park and its History,” ” Some Residents of Monkstown in the Eighteenth Century,” “Monkstown Castle and its History,” “Loughlinstown and its History,” and “The Castle of Carrickmines and its History.” For the opportunity thus given me of revising my work, and for kindly sympathy as well as assistance, my thanks are due, and are most gratefully given to my brother fellows and members.

It would be impossible for me to mention all the friends to whom I am indebted for encouragement and help, but there are some to whom I must express in particular my acknowledgements. To one who is no longer with us, my valued friend, Professor George T. Stokes, I owe my introduction to archaeology, and the conception of this history. Mr. James Mills, the Deputy Keeper of the Records in Ireland, has contributed largely to the completeness of this part by his suggestions and acquaintance with the district of which it treats. With generosity all their own, the Rev. William Reynell has ever placed at my service the result of his extensive original research, and Mr. C. Litton Falkiner has given me the benefit of his wide knowledge of Irish historical literature. To Mr. Tenison Groves, whose mastery of Irish records is only equalled by his industry, I am indebted for transcripts of many of the documents of which I have made use. And amongst others who have assisted me I cannot omit Captain W. H. Rotheram, R.E., Dr. P. W. Joyce, Mr. Robert Cochrane, Mr. M. J. M’Enery, Mr. James Talbot Power, Major Herbert W. Domvile, Mr. William P. Geoghegan, Sir Arthur Vicars, Mr. G. D. Burtchaell, and, last but not least, Mr. Alfred de Burgh and the assistants in the library of Trinity College, Dublin, Mr. T. W. Lyster and the assistants in the National Library of Ireland, Mr. J. J. M’Sweeney and the assistants in the library of the Royal Irish Academy, and the librarians and assistants of the Bodleian, and of the British Museum.

The Controller of His Majesty’s Stationery Office has given me permission to make use of the Ordnance Map for the purposes of the frontispiece; and the blocks from which some of the illustrations have been taken have been lent me by the Council of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland.

F. ELRINGTON BALL.

Dublin, *January, *1902

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