Where did the name Kill o’ the Grange come from? Kill o’ the Grange. It means church of the monastic grange. This place holds secrets from centuries ago.
Kill o’ the Grange is an ancient parish. It sits in the half-barony of Rathdown. This is in County Dublin. You might hear it called a twin of Deansgrange. It’s about five miles southeast of Dublin.
The early church here is a National Monument. It is associated with St Finnian of Clonard. The church dates back to the 11th century. Some parts may even be from the 6th century. They look like remains at Glendalough.
Originally, the church was a simple rectangle or nave. Later, they added a chancel and belfry. It was first known as Clonkeen.
Look around and you’ll see more than just the church. There’s a bullaun here. It’s about 25 cm across. People believe the holy well has special properties.
Back in the 14th century, this site belonged to the Priory of the Holy Trinity. That later became Christ Church Cathedral. Records from that time describe a busy monastic site. They built a kiln house with a thatched roof. Its walls were made of wattle and daub. The grange was built with timber. They bought it from the native Irish. They likely got it in the Dublin Mountains.
Today, there are two more churches in the area. One is the Church of Ireland church. It’s near the traffic lights. William John Welland and John Gillespie designed it in 1863. They were architects to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. The church opened in 1864. It has a rectangular shape with a double height apse.
The other church is the Roman Catholic church. You’ll find it near Bakers Corner. People often call it the boiler house since the 1970s. It is known for how it controls light from above.
Kill o’ the Grange is more than just churches. It is also home to some old houses. Kill Abbey is one of them. John Usher built it in 1595. It is the oldest house in the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown area.
So, Kill o’ the Grange has transformed over the centuries. From an early religious site to a modern community. It still holds pieces of its past. The name itself connects us to its monastic roots. The church of the monastic grange.