Clontarf parish (Church of Ireland)

The remains of the well supposed to have been used by Brian Boru can still be seen on Castle Avenue, just under 500 meters from the Parish Church.

An early church had existed on the Castle Avenue site and this was rebuilt in 1609, the new building remaining the Parish Church for over 250 years, serving Clontarf and later also the neighbouring Parish of St. Brigid, Killester, which was amalgamated with Clontarf in 1686.

A key arrival in the Parish was Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness, the grandson of Arthur Guinness, and his partner in running the brewery, who purchased lands in Clontarf and Raheny to form St. Anne's Estate (the remnants of which now comprise Saint Anne's Park).

Benjamin's cousin Dr. Arthur Grattan Guinness practised and lived in the parish and most of his children were baptised in the church.

Bram's family later moved to Artane Lodge but his younger siblings were also baptised in Clontarf.

Vernon of Clontarf Castle and substantial funding secured to build a second church at the Dollymount end of the parish.

These plans were brought to an advanced stage, with an architect appointed and a site leased, despite the reservations of the Rector, Rev.

William Kempston, who believed that the existing church was adequate and advised the Archbishop of his views.

The foundation stone was laid by Mr. Vernon with great ceremony on 9 August 1864 and the church was completed over the next two years.

In 1916, the fiftieth Anniversary of the building of the Church was celebrated at a special service on 14 May at which the Archbishop, Dr. Bernard, preached.

The 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s saw a building boom in the area and Clontarf grew to be one of the biggest parishes in the Church of Ireland.

The centenary of the Church was celebrated in 1966 with a programme of religious and social activities aimed at all age groups.

Lesley Robinson: instituted 20 September 2013 Representative Church Body Library Publications Extract from "Clergy of Dublin and Glendalough" Clontarf "The Parish belonged to the Hospitallers of Kilmainham in the Middle Ages.