Welcome to Clondalkin

Clondalkin is a special townland in County Dublin in Ireland. A long, long time ago, even before your grandparents were born, in the 7th century, a monk named Saint Cronan Mochua started a monastery here. A monastery is like a school and a home where monks live and work. It's super old, one of the oldest in Ireland!

The most famous thing in Clondalkin is its Round Tower. It's over a thousand years old! Imagine that, a tower that's been standing for more than a thousand years. It's one of the four remaining towers in County Dublin. It's not just any tower, it's a 'round' tower, tall and skinny, reaching up to the sky. It was probably a safe place where monks hid when there were dangers.

Clondalkin has seen lots of changes over the centuries, from being a quiet monastery to a lively townland now. It's like a magic window to the past, reminding us of the old times. It's not just a place on the map, it's a treasure chest of stories. Imagine the tales it could tell if it could talk!

  1. Who started a monastery in Clondalkin in the 7th century?
  2. What is the most famous thing in Clondalkin?
  3. What was the Round Tower probably used for?
  4. If Clondalkin could talk, what kind of stories do you think it would tell? Use your imagination and write a short story.
  5. How has Clondalkin changed over the centuries? Can you think of reasons why these changes might have happened?

All About Clondalkin

Clondalkin is a special place found in County Dublin, Ireland. Imagine it like a big, beautiful playground with lots of things to see and explore! One of the most famous streets in Clondalkin is Main Street, where you can find the Round Tower Visitor Centre. This is a tall, round building that's over 1,000 years old! Isn't that older than your grandparents? The Grand Canal runs through Clondalkin, like a long, winding stream. It's home to many ducks and fishes. If you're lucky, you might even see a heron standing on one leg, fishing for its dinner! Corkagh Park is a big, green place full of trees and flowers. Here, you can find many different birds, squirrels, and even a Fairy Wood for tiny, magical creatures. The park also has a Rose Garden, which is like a rainbow made of roses in all kinds of colors! In Clondalkin, there are also many benches and lights along the streets. These are called street furniture. They are not for your house, but for everyone to use when they are outside. Isn't Clondalkin a wonderful place? It's a mix of old, new, and nature, all in one spot!.

  1. What is the Round Tower Visitor Centre and why is it significant?
  2. Describe the wildlife you might encounter at the Grand Canal.
  3. What can you find in Corkagh Park? Describe some of the features that make it special.
  4. Using a map, can you identify the route the Grand Canal takes through Clondalkin?
  5. Take a trip around your local area. Can you find something of geographical interest? Write a short paragraph describing what it is and why it's interesting.

My Family and Clondalkin

Hi, it's me, Riley! I'm eight years old and I live in Clondalkin, Co. Dublin. I love it here - it's got so much going on! My favourite place to visit is Corkagh Park. It's super-big and has an amazing pet farm with lots of animals. I like to feed the ducks at the fishery too. There's even a fairy wood where I imagine fairies live in the trees!

Another cool place is the Round Tower. It's very old and I can see it from my school. My teacher told us it's one of the oldest in Ireland. That's really awesome, right? There's also a big playground near my house where I play with my friends after school. We love to race on the swings and slide down the big slide. Sometimes, we even play hide and seek!

I also like going to the Clondalkin library. It's got stacks of books and I get to choose new ones every week. I'm reading about dinosaurs now - they're really fascinating! Living in Clondalkin is great and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else!

  1. What is Riley's favourite place to visit in Clondalkin and why?
  2. Describe the Round Tower as Riley sees it.
  3. What games does Riley like to play in the playground?
  4. What is Riley currently reading about in the library?
  5. Why does Riley love living in Clondalkin?

The Logainm of Clondalkin

Clondalkin is a fascinating place in County Dublin, Ireland. Its name may sound a bit tricky, but it has a special meaning in Irish. "Clondalkin" comes from the Irish words "Cluain Dolcáin," which means "Dolcan's meadow." Long, long ago, there was a man named Dolcan who owned a beautiful meadow, and that's how the place got its name.

Now, you might be wondering who Dolcan was. Well, he was an important person in old Irish tales. Dolcan was a brave warrior who fought in many battles. The meadow he owned was so beautiful that it was named after him. It's like having a park or a street named after you because you did something very special.

Today, Clondalkin is not just a meadow but a big town with many people living in it. The name still reminds us of the old days when brave warriors like Dolcan lived and fought. And just like Dolcan's meadow, Clondalkin is still a beautiful place where people love to live and visit.

  1. What does "Clondalkin" mean in English?
  2. Who was Dolcan and why was the town named after him?
  3. What does the name Clondalkin remind us of today?
  4. How does the history of Clondalkin connect to how it is today?
  5. Can you think of any other places that are named after people? Why do you think they were named after those people?

Slideshow - Clondalkin
A full set of teaching plans for teaching about Clondalkin