Perhaps Esker North’s story is etched in the very land it occupies. Esker North is a townland steeped in local history. It resides within the electoral division of Lucan. Esker North also lies within the civil parish of Esker. This places it in the barony of Newcastle. All this is within County Dublin.
Esker North’s Irish name is An Eiscir Thuaidh. The name connects it to the country’s rich Gaelic heritage. Esker North can be found at 53° 21′ 12″ N latitude and 6° 26′ 6″ W longitude. Its relatively small size makes it the 54074th largest townland nationwide. Within County Dublin, it ranks as the 802nd largest.
Interestingly, Esker North borders other townlands. However, subtownlands within Esker North are unknown. Brianh added Esker North to OpenStreetMap on January 31, 2015.
The nearby St. Finian’s Esker church and graveyard adds to the area’s historical allure. This site is located in Esker near Lucan village. The church and graveyard sit atop a hill. This offers views of the surrounding landscape. Its location is significant. It lies on the Esker Riada along the Slighe Mhór. The Slighe Mhór was a major ancient route.
Esker was one of four Medieval Royal Manors of Dublin. The church stands near the original Manor House of Esker. An ancient stone bridge, King John’s Bridge, is also nearby. The National Inventory of Architectural Heritage and the National Monument Service of Ireland have recorded the church and graveyard. It is designed in a nave and chancel style. It has been reconstructed over centuries.
Records indicate the church was re-roofed in the 16th century. By the early 17th century, it was in ruins. The west gable wall once supported a double bellcote. There is a double ogee arch window in the south wall. Only the foundations of the east wall remain. A short length of herringbone masonry adorns the north wall. This is an uncommon feature in Irish churches.
Several notable memorials exist within the graveyard. One commemorates Father James McCartan. He was murdered in nearby Lucan in 1807. Another memorial features a carved skull and crossbones. This is a memento mori motif. A transcription of the gravestones was published in 1989. It records approximately 60 memorials.
In 2019, the site was selected for the Heritage Council’s “Adopt a Monument” scheme. Conservation work began in October 2020. Funding came from the National Monuments Service Community Monuments Fund. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and South Dublin County Council also supported this.
The Esker Riada itself is a system of eskers. These stretch across the middle of Ireland. They run between Dublin and Galway. These eskers are ridges of sand, gravel, and boulders. Water deposited them beneath a glacier. The glacier melted at the end of the last ice age.
The name Eiscir Riada reflects its historical importance. “Eiscir” means “a ridge.” “Riada” refers to “riding” or “driving.” The Esker Riada divided Ireland into two political entities. This followed a battle at Mag Lena in the second century. The slightly higher ground provided a route through the bogs. It formed a highway between east and west. Its ancient Irish name is “An tSlí Mhór,” meaning “The Great Way.”
Today, the Esker Riada still serves as a highway. The N6 Dublin to Galway road closely follows it. Sand and gravel extraction has occurred along the eskers. Awareness of its historical significance has led to increasing restrictions. Offaly County Council seeks to protect the ridge. They have even pushed for it to be recognized as a World Heritage Site. Esker North stands as a testament to Ireland’s enduring history.