Naul, Dublin
Encyclopedia
Naul is a village in the administrative area of Fingal
, County Dublin
, Ireland
. The name also encompasses the townlands which surround the village: southward as far as Hollywood Rath, and northward to the River Delvin beside the village, which marks the boundary between County Dublin
and County Meath
.
s, the latter being the traditional route between Dublin and the port of Drogheda
, while the R122 travels from Finglas
in the south to Balbriggan
.
as archaeological finds include numerous prehistoric earthwork
s, and the nearby megalithic chambered cairns at Fourknocks on the Meath side of the village, discovered in 1949 on the lands of Thomas Connell. Four prehistoric tumuli
, or mounds, were discovered. They contain a chamber wider than the one at Newgrange
, and within the passage are strange stone engravings, indicating that the chambers were built about 4,000 years ago.
There was also a "White Castle", of which nothing now remains. Built in the 13th century, it was the home of Richard Caddell, whose descendants were evicted by Cromwell
's forces. The Caddell family were still around in the 19th century, indicated by a monument known locally as Caddell's Folly, erected for unknown reasons during the period by another Richard Caddell. The "White Castle" originally had inside stairs leading to the roof on which there was a powerful telescope. According to legend, Caddell watched the Bellewstown
Races through the telescope, because he had had a disagreement with the race committee and vowed never to be seen in the area again.
An Aill meaning "The Cliff
" as there is a substantial cliff on either side of the River Delvin just outside the village. Locally, the village is still known as The Naul as a throwback to the original Irish name, although this is not recognised officially.
is the local Gaelic Athletic Association
club. It was founded in 1957 and currently fields football teams from Under-8 to Under-18. There are two adult male football teams that play in Divisions AFL3 and AFL10N, and a ladies football team.
The idea for a cultural centre based on the achievements of Séamus Ennis
had its origins in the Scoil Shéamuis Ennis, a festival held every October in the Naul area. It is a non-profit organisation set up to:
Fingal
Fingal is a county in Ireland. It is one of three smaller counties into which County Dublin was divided in 1994. With its county seat located in Swords, it has a population of 239,992 according to the 2006 census...
, County Dublin
County Dublin
County Dublin is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Dublin Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Dublin which is the capital of Ireland. County Dublin was one of the first of the parts of Ireland to be shired by King John of England following the...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. The name also encompasses the townlands which surround the village: southward as far as Hollywood Rath, and northward to the River Delvin beside the village, which marks the boundary between County Dublin
County Dublin
County Dublin is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Dublin Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Dublin which is the capital of Ireland. County Dublin was one of the first of the parts of Ireland to be shired by King John of England following the...
and County Meath
County Meath
County Meath is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Mide . Meath County Council is the local authority for the county...
.
Location
The village is a crossroads between the R122 and R108 regional roadRegional road
A regional road in Ireland is a class of road not forming a major route , but nevertheless forming a link in the national route network. There are over 11,600 kilometres of regional roads. Regional roads are numbered with three digit route numbers, prefixed by "R" A regional road in Ireland is a...
s, the latter being the traditional route between Dublin and the port of Drogheda
Drogheda
Drogheda is an industrial and port town in County Louth on the east coast of Ireland, 56 km north of Dublin. It is the last bridging point on the River Boyne before it enters the Irish Sea....
, while the R122 travels from Finglas
Finglas
-See also:* List of towns and villages in Ireland* List of abbeys and priories in Ireland...
in the south to Balbriggan
Balbriggan
Balbriggan is a town in the northern part of the administrative county of Fingal, within County Dublin, Ireland. The 2006 census population was 15,559 for Balbriggan and its environs.- Name :...
.
History
The area is thought to have been occupied since the Stone AgeStone Age
The Stone Age is a broad prehistoric period, lasting about 2.5 million years , during which humans and their predecessor species in the genus Homo, as well as the earlier partly contemporary genera Australopithecus and Paranthropus, widely used exclusively stone as their hard material in the...
as archaeological finds include numerous prehistoric earthwork
Earthworks (archaeology)
In archaeology, earthwork is a general term to describe artificial changes in land level. Earthworks are often known colloquially as 'lumps and bumps'. Earthworks can themselves be archaeological features or they can show features beneath the surface...
s, and the nearby megalithic chambered cairns at Fourknocks on the Meath side of the village, discovered in 1949 on the lands of Thomas Connell. Four prehistoric tumuli
Tumulus
A tumulus is a mound of earth and stones raised over a grave or graves. Tumuli are also known as barrows, burial mounds, Hügelgrab or kurgans, and can be found throughout much of the world. A tumulus composed largely or entirely of stones is usually referred to as a cairn...
, or mounds, were discovered. They contain a chamber wider than the one at Newgrange
Newgrange
Newgrange is a prehistoric monument located in County Meath, on the eastern side of Ireland, about one kilometre north of the River Boyne. It was built around 3200 BC , during the Neolithic period...
, and within the passage are strange stone engravings, indicating that the chambers were built about 4,000 years ago.
There was also a "White Castle", of which nothing now remains. Built in the 13th century, it was the home of Richard Caddell, whose descendants were evicted by Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
's forces. The Caddell family were still around in the 19th century, indicated by a monument known locally as Caddell's Folly, erected for unknown reasons during the period by another Richard Caddell. The "White Castle" originally had inside stairs leading to the roof on which there was a powerful telescope. According to legend, Caddell watched the Bellewstown
Bellewstown
Bellewstown is a village on the Hill of Crockafotha in County Meath in Ireland. The village is situated in a rural setting with views of the Mourne Mountains to the north and the Irish Sea to the east....
Races through the telescope, because he had had a disagreement with the race committee and vowed never to be seen in the area again.
Name
The name is anglicised from the IrishIrish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
An Aill meaning "The Cliff
Cliff
In geography and geology, a cliff is a significant vertical, or near vertical, rock exposure. Cliffs are formed as erosion landforms due to the processes of erosion and weathering that produce them. Cliffs are common on coasts, in mountainous areas, escarpments and along rivers. Cliffs are usually...
" as there is a substantial cliff on either side of the River Delvin just outside the village. Locally, the village is still known as The Naul as a throwback to the original Irish name, although this is not recognised officially.
Gaelic games
Clann Mhuíre CLGClann Mhuíre CLG
Clann Mhuíre is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based at Naul, County Dublin, Ireland, serving Naul and its surrounding areas.The club currently fields teams from U-8 to U-16 for both boys and girls....
is the local Gaelic Athletic Association
Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
club. It was founded in 1957 and currently fields football teams from Under-8 to Under-18. There are two adult male football teams that play in Divisions AFL3 and AFL10N, and a ladies football team.
Séamus Ennis Cultural Centre
The Séamus Ennis Cultural Centre was officially opened on 23 October 2001. It promotes and develops the traditional arts, and it organises and hosts regular recitals, music sessions, workshops and classes.The idea for a cultural centre based on the achievements of Séamus Ennis
Séamus Ennis
Séamus Ennis was an Irish piper, singer and folk-song collector.- Early years :In 1908 James Ennis, Séamus's father, was in a pawn-shop in London. Ennis bought a bag of small pieces of Uilleann pipes. They were made in the early nineteenth century by Coyne of Thomas Street in Dublin. James worked...
had its origins in the Scoil Shéamuis Ennis, a festival held every October in the Naul area. It is a non-profit organisation set up to:
- commemorate the work and life of the late Séamus Ennis;
- provide a range of support measures for the preservation and development of local and national culture, particularly music;
- organise and facilitate the running of events, including educational classes, workshops, festival or any other activity, which promotes the Irish languageIrish languageIrish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
, the traditional culture of Ireland, or of any other country; - to provide an outreach service to schools and other institutions;
- to create specific training, education, employment and work experience opportunities for those involved or interested in cultural activities for community development.
See also
- Naul HillsNaul HillsThe Naul Hills, or Man-of-War Hills are low-lying hills in north County Dublin, close to the village of Naul, formerly called The Naul,...
- List of towns and villages in Ireland