Tartaine/Artane (from the ancient denomination which is now uncertain, but from three different sources we have Ard Tain - Height of the Flocks ; Ard Aidhean - Aidhean's Height ; Ard In - the little Height), formed part of the extensive territory of Fingal or Ard Cianiochta as it used to be known after it was conquered in the 3rd Century by the legendary Milesian Chieftain, Cian.

In old documents Artane was called Tirten or Tirtane - the initial 'T' came from the practice of adding this letter to a word beginning with a vowel where it is preceded by the letter 'n'.

Mythology : If one stands on the top of Howth Head on a clear day and looks to the North-West, the plain known as Moynalty spreads like a carpet before one, notwithstanding the urban sprawl which is now Greater Dublin.

Moynalty or, more correctly, Magh nEalta, the plain of the flocks, was so called from the numerous flocks of birds that congregated there in ancient times. This was one of the first areas to be cleared of forests and this was, possibly, the reason for the flocking of birds to the place. Hence I favour the explanation 'Height of the Flocks' for Artane. According to Keatings "Forus Fearsa ar Eirinn", Magh an Ealta is the earliest recorded name of any place in Ireland.

It was to this region that one of the first invaders of Ireland are said to have come. Here landed the legendary Partholonians and made a settlement on the plain. Soon afterwards they were stricken by a plaque and the settlement was annihilated with the victims being buried in Tamhlacht Partholoin or Tallaght as it is known today. In referring to the death of Partholon, the Chief of the Partolonians, Keating, refers to the area as "sean Mhagh Ealta Eadair - the old plain of the Bird flocks of Eadair.

Magh an Ealta was next occupied by the race of Neimheach for a period of 217 years (according to Keating), when the Firbolgs arrived to dispossess them. Thirty six years later, the Firbolgs were forced to acknowledge the supremacy of new invaders, namely the Tuatha de Danann, a highly cultured race who brought with them the celebrated Lia Fail or Stone of Destiny reputed to be the stone upon which Jacob rested his head when he beheld the visions of angels(!!). The Tuatha de Danann remained in occupation of Magh an Ealta for nearly two centuries when they in turn were disposed by the warlike Milesians whose rule in this portion of Ireland remained undisputed for about 2,000 years.

Pre-History :
Evidence of early human habitation in the area dating from about 6000 B.C., has been found at Feltrim. This evidence includes hunting tools, flintstones and scrapers proving that these early inhabitants were advanced in hunting and farming methods.

Later invaders had more elaborate hunting tools and their societies seem to be very advanced. They made jewellery, fighting equipment and had elaborate burial ceremonies. New Grange in the Boyne Valley is a fine example of such a burial site but here in our own area these are also examples of elaborate burial sites of these ancient invaders.

When John Dalton was writing his History of Dublin there were several of these burial mounds or moats near the old village of Coolock. The most perfect of these mounds is still in existence in the grounds of Cadbury's factory near the village. Excavations of other such mounds showed they date from the Bronze Age period. Pots or urns called 'food vessels' are part of the grave goods found, as, are daggers, beads and other ornaments. This burial mound at Cadbury's is probably an early Bronze Age burial mound and is therefore the earliest actual evidence of prehistoric activity in the Coolock area. Several other mounds which are now, alas, no longer in existence, were located in Clonshaugh, Darndale and Bonnybrook. The place named Moatfield is still in existence in the area.

At the beginning of the Christian era the plain lying between the Liffey and the Boyne was called Magh Breagha or Bregia, and in the reign of Conor Mac Neasa this district was ceded to Ulster by Cairbre Nia Fer, a King of Leinster in consideration of obtaining the daughter of King Conor in marriage.

Ulster, however, did not retain this district for more than a century, judging from a record which tells us that when Tuathal Teachmhar ruled as High King (A.D. 116 to A.D. 160), Bregia was included in the province of Meath. From the 5th to the 9th century the plain of Magh-Mhuireadha in Bregia belonged to Meath.

Early Christian Times
In the years following the mission of St. Patrick, Christian churches grew up all over the country. The first Christian Church in the North Dublin area was built at Lusk in 496 A.D.

About four miles north of Coolock, a very famous church was founded in the early 7th century by St. Duileach (St. Doolough) who is thought was a native of the area. The full name of St. Doolough's as recorded in ancient writing is Clochar Duiligh which means the stone church of Doolough and is, today, one of the most admired sites of the Irish early Christian Church in the area. On the side of the main Dublin Malahide Road at the entrance to the church stands a plain stone cross which probably dates from the early days of the church.

Coolock also had its early Christian church which was dedicated to St. Brendan the Navigator who died in the year 577 A.D. This original church of St. Brendan was situated on the Tonlegee Road where the present Church of Ireland of St. John the Evangelist stands today. In the churchyard of this present day church stands a small -rough granite cross which probably comes from the original church and is thought to date from 900 A.D.

The Viking Period
Early in the 9th century, Scandanavian pirates invaded this area of the Plain of Moynalty and plundered the surrounding localities. Howth, Lambay and other parts of the district suffered from these raids. At a somewhat later period more organised raids were made by Norwegians and Danes and settlements were established. The Norwegians, being fair in colouring, were known to the natives as the Fionn-Gaill, or "fair strangers", while the Danes, being darker in complexion and hair colour, were known as the Dubh-Gaill or "dark strangers".

The district where these foreigners settled were called "Fine Gall" or "the territory of the foreigners", and the name is retained to the present day. While Artane and Coolock are now part of Dublin City, it is interesting to note that in the new administrative areas of Dublin, the Northern section is called Fingal. These fair and dark invaders often fought against each other but about the middle of the 9th century the Fionn-Gaill were defeated at Carlingford by the Dubh-Gaill and after that they sorted out their differences and united under King Olaf the White. Their power was, however, broken at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014, after which period the settlers who were left became absorbed by the native Irish of their day. In connection with the Battle of Clontarf it is of note that in March 1934 mounds of human and animal remains were unearthed in the Bonnybrook area and the remains were thought, at the time, to be victims of the Battle of Clontarf.

Because of the importance of the church in those days in studying the evolution of the administrative divisions of Ireland, it is of interest to note that the Danish Church in Dublin was dependent on Cantebury which in turn was dependent on Rome. The Dublin bishops were ordained at Cantebury while the surrounding area was Celtic and intended to remain so. At the Synod of Rathbreasail in 1118, the first influence of the Roman system (as distinct from the Celtic or Eastern Monastic system) began to be felt.

Under the chairmanship of the Pope's Legate, Ireland was divided into 25 dioceses. Dublin City was to remain on its own, subject to Cantebury, while for the area around Coolock, Glendalough was to be its Diocese. At this time there was no parish system set up. At the Synod of Kells in 1152 it was decided to make Dublin an Archdiocese and that Glendalough would be united with it (and consequently our area of Coolock). Glendalough and the other dioceses other than Dublin were attempting to stay independent of Rome. At the time of the Noman invasion, Dublin had its most famous archbishop in the person of St. Laurence O Toole.

The Norman Period
The year 1169 was a critical one for Ireland in that it marked the beginning of British conquest in Ireland with the invasion of the Normans at the invitation of Dermod MacMurrough, King of Leinster. The Normans were only too aware of the in-fighting that existed between Irish clans and realised that an organised invading army would find it easy against such persistent in-fighting.

They introduced the feudal system of land ownership to Ireland and this process began the era of the Manor House whose overlord owned the surrounding land and sub let to lesser lords who in turn leased small amounts of land to Irish tenants.

The Barony was introduced to Ireland as a unit of land ownership and Ireland was divided up into 273 baronies, one of which was the Barony of Coolock. Around 1170, it became the property of the Nugent family, Barons of Delvin in Co. Westmeath. Gilbert de Nugent obtained his lands, not from King Henry 11, but from Henry's Chief Liege in the area, Hugh de Lacy, who was Lord of Meath.

In return he had to provide the services of 5 knights to his overlord when they were required. Under the feudal system Gilbert granted some of these lands to sub-tenants. It is of interest to note that the earliest recorded instance of the name Coolock is found in the document appointing a Walter Comyn to Swords church and its chapel at 'Culocke'.

Lands at Artane formed part of the Barony of Coolock. In the 14th and 15th centuries, the lands of Artane were acquired by Robert de Hollywood, Chief Remembrancer of the Exchequer or Crown debt collector. He had paid 40 s. (€2.54 in today's money) for permission from the King to get himself lands in Ireland. The Hollywood family are central to the history of Artane and this family in 1387 were responsible for the building of what is now known as Artaine Castle. This Anglo Norman family held property in the counties of Dublin, Meath and Wexford. The townland of Hollywood near the Naul in North County Dublin was also in their possession. The Hollywoods were established here from the twelfth century in a position of opulence and power. Their name became noted by the versatile writings of John de Sacre Bosco Hollywood, a mathematician and philosopher who lectured in Oxford and Paris. He was buried in the cloisters of the convent of St. Mathures in Paris in 1230 A.D. In 1310 Roger Hollywood was summoned to attend the Parliament of Kilkenny and Henry Hollywood, a Dominican Friar was employed by the English in 1334 to make peace with O Connor, the King of Connacht. It is believed that Robert Hollywood who built the Castle of Artane, was knighted by Lionel, Duke of Clarence. It is clear from the records of the 14th and 15th centuries that the family was held in high esteem by the Normans and given many important commissions.

On the 28th July 1534 an infamous event took place at Artane Castle. The Earl of Kildare had been imprisoned in the Tower of London by Henry V111. In Dublin, rumours were circulated by the King's friends, including the Archbishop, John Allen, that the Earl of Kildare has been murdered. Thomas Fitzgerald, Lord Offaly, who was then scarcely 21 years of age and who was nicknamed Silken Thomas from the silk tassels his followers wore, on hearing the rumours of his father's supposed death, rushed from the Castle at Maynooth to a room in St. Mary's Abbey.

At the meeting which was in session, he flung down the Sword of State, which he was holding in place of his father, as a gesture of rebellion against the King and his forces. Archbishop Allen on hearing of Silken Thomas's rebellion, either through fear or a guilty conscience, decided to flee the country immediately. He left that evening on a boat going from near Dame Gate in the city. Either through treachery or genuine shipwreck he did not get very far. He scrambled ashore at Clontarf and made his way to Artane Castle. He immediately went to the Castle and ordered the prelate to be brought out in front him. There is some controversy as to whether Silken Thomas meant literally his next words of " Beir uaim an Bodach" (Take this Clown away from me). Either way, Archbishop Allen was brutally murdered in the grounds of Artane Castle.

For centuries afterwards, the area was fenced off and it was only in the last century that the area was levelled and brought back into use.

Around this time the effects of the Reformation was ripping through these islands and offered great inducements to the gentry. Untold wealth in confiscated lands was at the disposal of the Government as a result of the looting of the monasteries but to their credit the Hollywoods remained loyal to their religious principles.

The most distinguished of the Hollywoods, Christopher, was born in Artane in 1559. Because of his religion he was sent abroad to be educated and in 1579 he entered the Jesuits at Dole in France. Known to his contemporaries as Christopher a Sacre Bosco, he speedily made a name for himself in the universities of Europe. He became Professor of Scripture at Ferrara and later at Padua. At this time persecution of Irish Catholics was at its highest.

The pope sent Father Hollywood to Ireland to report on the situation. He left Italy in 1598 and spent the next six years imprisoned in the Gatehouse prison, the Tower of London and Wisbeck Castle. The accession of James 1 to the throne brought him relief. The King ordered his immediate deportation to Flanders but Christopher instead resumed his journey to Ireland and landed on March 16, 1604. He was immediately elected superior by his brethren and for more than twenty years worked tirelessly as a priest.

During the Penal Laws, the Hollywoods made their Castle at Artane a centre of refuge for people on the run from the worst excesses of these laws. Spies of the Government constantly sent in reports about the number of priests that found shelter there and their suspicion that Mass was celebrated in the Castle.

In 1630, Fr. James, Drake, Parish Priest of Coolock, who administered a huge area from the present day Boot Inn to the Tolka and the sea, resided in the Castle during the worst days of the persecution. There is also a report of that year which shows a Patrick Drake 'a Parish Schoolmaster to whom the children thereabouts goes to schoole'. This is a reference to a hedge school in the grounds of the Castle.

During the rebellion of 1641, Artane Castle was commandeered by a Luke Neterville and his small army from Fingal. It is said that he occupied the castle with the agreement of Christopher Hollywood. In 1642 at Kilmainham court the following Artane people were outlawed for their part in the 1641 Rebellion : John Coleman, yeoman Christopher Hollywood, gentleman Nicholas Hollywood, Esquire In 1663, Nicholas Hollywood was indicted and outlawed for high treason and his lands, including Artane with 244 acres and 60 acres in Santry, were declared confiscated. As a result the lands passed to the ownership of his son, John Hollywood.

In 1687, we read that the lands of Artane once again were the subject of a Court ruling. John Hollywood, died in 1663 and the lands at Artane passed to his son and heir, Christopher. In 1748, we read of a 'failure of the male line' of John Hollywood and the land becomes vested in the Earl of Granard. However members of the Hollywood family continued to reside at the Castle for some years more. Within a short period, however, the lands of the Hollywoods were in the hands of different landlords. These included a family called Donnellans of Ravensdale.

In 1825 a Matthew Boyle acquired the lands at Artane. He demolished the old, historic Artane Castle and in its place he built himself a modern residence on a site a few hundred metres away from the Castle. He called this house Artaine Castle. It later passed on to his nephew, a Mr. M. O'Callaghan who in 1870 sold it to the Irish Christian Brothers. It is said that some of the stones from the old castle were used in the erection of what became the Brothers' monastery attached to the Artane Industrial School. This building is now demolished.

Artaine church cannot be viewed in isolation from Artaine Castle and the Hollywood family. It is, today, the only visible reminder of Artaine Castle and can be seen from the Kilmore Road or the side entrance to St. David's C.B.S. behind the Oratory of the Resurrection.

The date for the foundation of this church is unknown but a reference relates to monies being paid to the Mother Church at Finglas. Also a chapel at Artane is listed in the 'Crede Mihi' which is the oldest existing record of the state of parishes in the Diocese of Dublin, dated 1275 A.D.

According to the Register of Archbishop Allen, the "Capella de Tirten" would appear to have been founded sometime between 1181 and 1212 and according to the Reportorium Viride of the same Archbishop (compiled 1532) it was dedicated to St. Nicholas.

As it was situated adjacent to the Castle it was to all intents and purposes a family chapel of the Hollywoods (within the remains of the chapel, was a tomb erected by Christopher Hollywood for his wife Elizabeth, daughter of John Talbot of Malahide who died in 1711). Christopher himself was interred in the same grave seven years later. The Hollywood memorial contained a centrally positioned sarcophagus, a later brick-vaulted tomb and four intact memorials.

The church probably fell into ruin around 1640. It was in ruin in 1783 when one, Austin Cooper, visited the site. The memorials indicate that burials continued in and around the church up to 1874.

John McGarry