St. Catherine's Park

12 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in St. Catherine's Park, from 814 m² to 378,103 m² (37.81 ha, 93.43 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary; 19 neighbouring parcels touch it.

Download the townland: DXF, in Irish Transverse Mercator metres, with its boundary, parcels and buildings; GeoJSON or KML.

• G3HA - High Amenity (Conservation, amenity or buffer space, corridor/belt, landscape)
  The Fingal Development Plan 2023 – 2029, Fingal · 15 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
• G3HA-LV (Conservation, amenity or buffer space, corridor/belt, landscape)
  South Dublin County Development Plan 2022-2028, South Dublin · 3 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
• G3GB - Green Belt (Conservation, amenity or buffer space, corridor/belt, landscape)
  The Fingal Development Plan 2023 – 2029, Fingal · 2 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
• N2.2Transport & Utilities (Wastewater)
  Leixlip LAP 2020-2023, Kildare · 2 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
• G3Strategic Open Space (Conservation, amenity or buffer space, corridor/belt, landscape)
  Leixlip LAP 2020-2023, Kildare · 1 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
• G4Open Space and Amenity (Active open space)
  Leixlip LAP 2020-2023, Kildare · 0 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
• G4OS - Open Space (Active open space)
  The Fingal Development Plan 2023 – 2029, Fingal · 0 parcels The zoning objective in the plan

Source: Tailte Éireann and the Department of Housing (MyPlan), national zoning, CC BY 4.0.

• 13 May 2026Grant permission

  We, Vanisland Limited, intend to apply for planning permission for a c

  Permission · Fingal County Council, FW26A/0196E

Source: National Planning Applications, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Applicants are not shown.

Designated sites

• Proposed Natural Heritage Area: Liffey Valley 000128
• Proposed Natural Heritage Area: Royal Canal 002103

Recorded monuments

• DU017-001 House - 16th/17th century
  Description

  St Catherine's derives its name from a priory of the Canons of St Victor which was established soon after the Anglo-Norman invasion, located each side of a small stream at a ford of the Liffey. At Dissolution it was granted to Thomas Allen, Chamberlain of the Exchequer. It passed through a variety of owners, until in 1666 it was purchased by a William Davys. The Down Survey (1655-6) map shows a gabled house on the north bank of the River Liffey. This was incorporated into a mansion in the 18th-century (Ball 1906, 33-34; Joyce (1912, 338-359). It became an agricultural rather than residential holding. In 1754 a visitor described it as ‘downright ugly, enclosed in high walls with terraces supported by walls one above another as formal as bad taste could make it’. About this time it was purchased by Robert 3rd Earl of Lanesborough and subsequently became the residence of the La Touches, when it was completely destroyed by fire. Not visible at ground level. Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Updated by: Christine Baker Date of upload: 29 January 2015

• DU017-002001 Ritual site - holy well
  Description

  Located on the side entrance into St. Catherine's Park. There are two wells side by side, with arched coverings. This one is higher than the other (DU017-002002-). Tradition has it that the water from the larger well was drunk and the water from the smaller well was used to bathe sore eyes. Joyce described the wells as being canopied, the larger having a wooden door and a stone head (1912, 359). In 1958 the stone head fixed to the higher arch had been stolen more than once (Ó Danachair 1958, 82). This has since been removed and the well hood vandalised. No longer venerated. Folklore collected from Palmerstown School recorded the following details about St Catherine's Wells; 'There are two wells beside each other in a farm called St. Catherine's now owned by Mr. McMahon. The two wells are connected. The water of one flows into the other. It is said that the two are holy wells and are named St. Catherine's Wells. Mr. McMahon told me that the well to the right is the Holy Well and that the other well is not. Over the well at the right there is the model of a head. It is said that it represents St. Catherine. The waters are believed to have the virtue of curing sore eyes. People used to come there to pray and to wash their eyes with the water. I don't know if they left rags or other articles after them at the well or not. The water of the well to the left are used for many purposed but the waters of the other well are never used. Those who pass by stop at the this well and drink a little of the water, and perhaps pray there' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0795, Pages 101d-f; https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4428221/4386928). Folklore collected in 1937 from Lucan Presentation Convent recorded the following tradition about this well; 'St. Catherines's Well between Lucan and Leixlip is a very ancient Well. It is said that a man wished to bring it to his house with pipes. He asked the priest. If he would give him leave to do so. The priest said he could not that if he did he would never get the water hot. But the man did as he liked he put the pipes from it but he could never get the water warm no matter how much fuel he put on the fire' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0794, Pages 38-9). A second story collected from the same school recorded that; 'In the western side of Lucan is the famous St. Catherine's. There is a well still here called St. Catherine's Well. Was it one of the holy wells of Ireland? A bust of the Saint is all that is left to tell the tale. Many a poor villager have I known to make a pilgrimage there and with its waters to bathe the weak eyes, the deaf ears, and the languid limbs. In the year 1219 the Canons of the Congregation of St. Victor took possession of the hallowed spot. Warrisius de Peche gave the site. It was he who built the Church of the Blessed Mary of Lucan, and it was to this community he left it in charge; and there they prayed and laboured with ceaseless zeal for the temporal and eternal weal of the people of Lucan. The Lord of Leixlip, Sir Adam de Hereford, assigned then lands in Leixlip, on the condition they would pray for the repose of the souls of his forefathers' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0794, Pages 39-40; https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4428213/4386676). Folklore collected from Lucan School in 1937 recorded that; 'In the northern end of Lucan parish about a half mile from the Liffey and about three quarters of a mile away from Leixlip, there are two wells one of which is called St Catherine's Well. One is a large one and the other is a small one; the water of the small one has a cure for sore eyes. About a furlong away from the wells are the ruins of an old convent. It is said that in olden times that St Catherine was taken from the convent and was slain where the wells are now. It is also said that these wells came from where the blood lodged when she was killed, and above another furlong away from the well there are the ruins of an old chapel, ghosts are seen her frequently' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0794, Pages 307-8; https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4428214/4386574) See attached photos taken by Caoimhín Ó Danachair, courtesy of and © National Folklore Collection, UCD. The Photographic Collection, F024.06.00392 accessible online at https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbeg/34329 and F024.06.00389 accessible online at https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbeg/16745. Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Updated by: Christine Baker Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 17 April 2023

• DU017-002002 Ritual site - holy well
  Description

  Located on the side entrance into St. Catherine's Park. There are two wells side by side, with arched coverings. This one is higher than the other (DU017-002001-). Tradition has it that the water from the larger well was drunk and the water from the smaller well was used to bathe sore eyes. Joyce described the wells as being canopied, the larger having a wooden door and a stone head (1912, 359). In 1958 the stone head fixed to the higher arch had been stolen more than once (Ó Danachair 1958, 82). This has since been removed and the well hood vandalised. No longer venerated. Folklore collected from Palmerstown School recorded the following details about St Catherine's Wells; 'There are two wells beside each other in a farm called St. Catherine's now owned by Mr. McMahon. The two wells are connected. The water of one flows into the other. It is said that the two are holy wells and are named St. Catherine's Wells. Mr. McMahon told me that the well to the right is the Holy Well and that the other well is not. Over the well at the right there is the model of a head. It is said that it represents St. Catherine. The waters are believed to have the virtue of curing sore eyes. People used to come there to pray and to wash their eyes with the water. I don't know if they left rags or other articles after them at the well or not. The water of the well to the left are used for many purposed but the waters of the other well are never used. Those who pass by stop at the this well and drink a little of the water, and perhaps pray there' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0795, Pages 101d-f; https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4428221/4386928). Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Updated by: Christine Baker Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 17 April 2023

• DU017-002003 Stone head
  Description

  In the 1950's there was a carved stone head fixed to the higher arch of the upper (DU017-002001-) of two adjoining wells. In 1958 the stone head had been stolen more than once (Ó Danachair 1958, 82). This has long since been removed. Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Updated by: Christine Baker Date of upload: 29 January 2015

• DU017-003 Church
  Description

  Situated on the north bank of the River Liffey. Located at the base of a hill by tarmaced walkway within St Catherine's Park. This is a late structure into which architectural fragments of medieval date have been inserted. It is built of limestone masonry and brick with plastered brick crenellations. Entrance is in the W through a Tudor-style doorway. The interior is overgrown (L 8.20m E-W, Wth 7.1m). There is a fine double-light, cusped, tracery window in E gable and two tall, pointed arched windows of brick in the S wall (D'Alton, 1838, 663-664; Joyce 1912, 358-359). According to a 2011 structural survey 'The structure is very vulnerable and decaying rapidly. It is a good example of the damage that can be inflicted on buildings by uncontrolled vegetation'. Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Updated by: Christine Baker Date of upload: 29 January 2015

Architectural heritage

• Saint Catherine's Holy Wells, holy well, 1500–1700 · Regional interest
  Description

  Holy wells, dating to pre-1700, comprising two rubble stone arched openings with collapsed headstones.

• Gate lodge, 1780–1820 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached single-bay two-storey gate lodge, c.1800, with castellated brick parapet. Adjoining ashlar limestone castellated gateway and rubble stone screen walls, c.1830. Outbuildings to site.ROOF: Hipped slate roof with tall red brick chimney stack; coping; hidden behind castellated parapet to front. WALLS: Rubble stone; some lime render; granite coping to parapet; canted cut stone voussoirs to pointed arch of gateway; blocked up pointed archway to side retaining cutstone voussoirs. OPENINGS: Pointed arched and square headed window openings; brick surrounds; granite cills; pointed carriage arch to side.

Designated sites: National Parks and Wildlife Service. Recorded monuments: Sites and Monuments Record, National Monuments Service. Buildings: National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Works at or in relation to a recorded monument need two months' written notice to the National Monuments Service (National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994, section 12).

Radon

About 1 in 20 homes in this area is likely to have high radon levels. Testing a home

Landslides

Susceptibility moderately low, low, low (inferred), on the 1:50,000 map.

Terrain model

LiDAR of the Office of Public Works, flown in 2011, at 2 m: tile OPW_2969 (ZIP).

Flooding

The flood maps of the Office of Public Works: floodinfo.ie.

Radon Risk Map of Ireland, Environmental Protection Agency; Landslide Susceptibility Classification, Geological Survey Ireland; both CC BY 4.0. LiDAR: contains Irish Public Sector Data (Geological Survey Ireland & the Office of Public Works) licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.

No address of the register names St. Catherine's Park with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Dublin.

Name

St. Catherine's Park · Páirc San Caitríona

Area

790,474 m² (79.05 ha, 195.33 acres)

Civil parish

Leixlip, and its townlands

Barony

Newcastle

Electoral division

Lucan North, the unit of the census

Census 2022

Lucan North electoral division: 1,765 people in 477 households; 84% of households own their home; 76% of homes were built since 2001; 2% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 0% were holiday homes.

Neighbouring townlands

Allenswood, Coldblow, Confey (Co. Kildare), Lucan Demesne, St. Catherine's (Co. Kildare), St. Catherine's Park (Co. Kildare)

Placenames

St. Catherine's Park on logainm.ie, the Placenames Database of Ireland

Townlands, civil parishes, baronies and electoral divisions, National Statutory Boundaries, Tailte Éireann, CC BY 4.0. Census 2022, Small Area Population Statistics by electoral division, Central Statistics Office, CC BY 4.0. A townland is the smallest land division of Ireland, and the unit of a rural address; old registers such as the 1901 and 1911 censuses file it under its civil parish and barony.