Clonsilla (civil parish)

Clonsilla (Irish: Cluain Saileach) or "Clonsillagh"[9 1] is a civil parish and a townland located in the south-western corner of the modern county of Fingal, Ireland.

[1] In geology, the parish rests on a substratum of limestone and comprises 2943 statute acres, the whole of which is arable land.

During the sixth century Saint Mochta, a bishop and the "last survivor of St. Patrick's disciples", founded a monastery at Clonsilla.

Lewis observed that, "The demesne includes above 648 statute acres, exceedingly picturesque; the mansion is a noble building, in the castellated style.".

The most westerly townland is Barnhill which borders the part of Leixlip that lies in Fingal.

In the seventeenth century, the parish comprised the following townlands: Ballstown, Barberstown, Blackstaheney, Barnageeth, Clonsillagh, Coolmine, Cusanstown, Hartstown, Huntstown, Ininstown, Killiestown, Luttrellstown, Pibblestown, Ringwellstown, and Little Stackheney.

The River Liffey, flowing from west to east, forms the southern boundary of the parish.

Luttrellstown Castle – dating from the early 15th century and once owned by members of the Guinness family, it is now a hotel with associated golf course.

The Luttrelstown stream, flowing through the demesne, falls into the Liffey near the gate lodge on the Strawberry Beds road.