Have you heard of Clonmethan ED 1901? This place whispers tales of old Ireland. It speaks of ancient parishes and forgotten boundaries.
Clonmethan ED 1901 represents an electoral division in Fingal. It offers a glimpse into Ireland’s administrative past. District Electoral Divisions like Clonmethan were building blocks for electoral constituencies. Think of them as similar to census tracts.
These divisions helped organize the population. They helped in a way that was essential for governance. In 1901, Ireland had 3636 DEDs. Each one held an average of 1226 people. This contrasts with Alabama in 2000. Alabama had 1181 census tracts. Each tract held 3766 people.
Clonmethan’s history stretches back centuries. It was part of the ancient barony of Balrothery West. Clonmethan borders several parishes. Palmerstown to the west is one. Grallagh lies to the north. Hollywood sits to the northeast.
Historically, Clonmethan was linked to Swords. Swords was in the barony of Nethercross. The prebend of Clonmethan was key. It was one of St Patrick’s Cathedral’s original thirteen prebends.
In 1675, Dublin Castle united other parishes. Ballyboghill and Ballymadun joined Clonmethan. Palmerstown and Westpalstown were included too. The Archbishop of Dublin controlled this prebend.
The story of Clonmethan involves land and ownership. In 1317, the Archbishop of Dublin held land here. He obtained a grant from the crown. Services were reserved for the king.
Over the years, Clonmethan saw changes. In 1414, Thomas Cranley was sued. He was Prebendary of Clonmethan. He had been absent. The claim was dropped after he produced the king’s letters.
Nicholas Dowdall, another Prebendary, sought leave. In 1475, he got eight years to study at Oxford. The Begge family held lands here then.
At the dissolution, Nicholas Lyn was Prebendary. The prebend’s possessions included a manse. There were eight acres of land. Tithes came from hamlets like Clonmethan and Oldtown.
Alexander Craike was promoted in 1560. He became Bishop of Kildare. Yet, he kept his position as Dean of St. Patrick’s. This was because the bishopric was poor due to Irish rebels.
In 1695, Henry Rider, Bishop of Killaloe, was buried in Clonmethan church. By 1697, Edmund Murphy served as the Roman Catholic pastor. He oversaw Clonmethan, Palmerstown, and other parishes.
The parish comprises ten townlands. These include Clonmethan, Fieldstown, and Oldtown. Many townlands are named after former owners. Clonmethan lends its name to an electoral division.
Today, Clonmethan ED 1901 remains a historical marker. It reminds us of Ireland’s complex past. It showcases how land, religion, and governance shaped communities.