2011 MIGHT HAVE BEEN MY FIRST VISIT
The LUAS tram service was extended to Cherrywood in October 2010. Many months passed before I decided to explore the narrow lane uphill from the Lehaunstown stop. Having done no research, I was surprised to find several ancient historic sites completely unknown to me.
Since then, I have visited Lehaunstown and the surrounding area at least twice a year. I've frequently found my access to many of the historic sites restricted or blocked. The church site was even fenced off for about two years, 2019-2021. My most recent visit to the Cherrywood area was in March 2024, and I was amazed by how much the area had changed.
The heritage of the Cherrywood area is a unique resource. It encompasses both the archaeological record of the development and defence of south Dublin, along with the built heritage of castles, houses and their associated buildings.
Lehaunstown Spelling
According to the local council, the ongoing redevelopment of Cherrywood is in the townland of Laughanstown. The spelling of this name has varied considerably over time, and in some periods was almost indistinguishable from Loughlinstown. The spelling Laughanstown was adopted and fixed at the time of the original Ordnance Survey in the 1830s. However, the evidence suggests that the name used locally was Lehaunstown, and this is the spelling used throughout the Planning Scheme documentation.
National Monuments
There are a significant number of National Monuments within or immediately adjoining the Planning Scheme area, namely Tully Church, graveyard and two high crosses, Lehaunstown Wedge Tomb, Carrickmines Castle, and Brenanstown Dolmen. The Tully complex is the most significant monument at the heart of the Planning Scheme area.
Tully Church is part of a pre-Norman ecclesiastical settlement, occupying the high point of the Cherrywood Planning Scheme area. The site consists of a ruined church, an oval shaped graveyard, three associated crosses (dating from 8th to 11th Centuries AD) and three Rathdown slabs (removed to the National Museum). The church and two high crosses (owned by the state) and the graveyard itself (owned by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council) are all National Monuments. The vistas from Tully Church, the graveyard, and its immediate environs are recognised as being important. In particular, the vistas encompassing natural and built heritage landmarks such as Killiney Hill and Obelisk, Puck’s Castle in Rathmichael, the lead mines chimney in Ballycorus, Two Rock and Three Rock mountains, and Lehaunstown Castle.
Since then, I have visited Lehaunstown and the surrounding area at least twice a year. I've frequently found my access to many of the historic sites restricted or blocked. The church site was even fenced off for about two years, 2019-2021. My most recent visit to the Cherrywood area was in March 2024, and I was amazed by how much the area had changed.
The heritage of the Cherrywood area is a unique resource. It encompasses both the archaeological record of the development and defence of south Dublin, along with the built heritage of castles, houses and their associated buildings.
Lehaunstown Spelling
According to the local council, the ongoing redevelopment of Cherrywood is in the townland of Laughanstown. The spelling of this name has varied considerably over time, and in some periods was almost indistinguishable from Loughlinstown. The spelling Laughanstown was adopted and fixed at the time of the original Ordnance Survey in the 1830s. However, the evidence suggests that the name used locally was Lehaunstown, and this is the spelling used throughout the Planning Scheme documentation.
National Monuments
There are a significant number of National Monuments within or immediately adjoining the Planning Scheme area, namely Tully Church, graveyard and two high crosses, Lehaunstown Wedge Tomb, Carrickmines Castle, and Brenanstown Dolmen. The Tully complex is the most significant monument at the heart of the Planning Scheme area.
Tully Church is part of a pre-Norman ecclesiastical settlement, occupying the high point of the Cherrywood Planning Scheme area. The site consists of a ruined church, an oval shaped graveyard, three associated crosses (dating from 8th to 11th Centuries AD) and three Rathdown slabs (removed to the National Museum). The church and two high crosses (owned by the state) and the graveyard itself (owned by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council) are all National Monuments. The vistas from Tully Church, the graveyard, and its immediate environs are recognised as being important. In particular, the vistas encompassing natural and built heritage landmarks such as Killiney Hill and Obelisk, Puck’s Castle in Rathmichael, the lead mines chimney in Ballycorus, Two Rock and Three Rock mountains, and Lehaunstown Castle.
2011 MIGHT HAVE BEEN MY FIRST VISIT