Settlement cluster

The National Monuments Service's description

Listed as 'Village' in the Dublin Record of Monuments and Places issued in 1998 when it was assigned the RMP No. DU005-057----. This classification has been changed to Settlement Cluster as it relates to the settlement or village of Balrothery which was clustered around Balrothery Church (DU005-057003-), graveyard (DU005-057005-), Balrothery Castle (DU005-057006-) and the triangular shaped Fair Green located to the NE of the graveyard.  The terrier of the 1657 Down Survey map of the parish of Balrothery recorded that Patrick Barnewell was the owner of ‘Severall Tenements undistinguished’ in the townland of 'Balrudery'.   According to Lewis (1837, 170-1) the church of Balrothery was ‘anciently annexed to that part of the church of Lusk which in the earlier ages belonged to the archdeaconry of Dublin, and was separated from it about the year 1220 by Archbishop Henry. The village is situated on the road from Dublin to Balbriggan, from which latter it is distant about a mile, and in 1831 contained 84 houses’ (ibid.).  He also recorded the local tradition that ‘Jas. II. is said to have slept at the White Hart Inn here, before the battle of the Boyne: and the same distinction is claimed by another ancient house in the village, which was formerly an extensive inn’ (ibid.). Two fairs were held at Balrothery on the 6th of May and the 12th of August for the sale of ‘Cattle and Pedlar’s goods’ (Carlisle 1810).

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

References

Lewis, S. 1837 A topographical dictionary of Ireland, 2 vols. London. Lewis and Co. Carlisle, N. 1810 A topographical dictionary of Ireland. Printed for William Miller, Albemarle Street, by William Savage, Bedford Bury. London.
NLI, MS 714 – National Library of Ireland, The parish maps of the Down Survey for the County of Dublin by W. Petty attested 1657. Copied by Daniel O'Brien. A set of 42 maps with accompanying terriers, 1786-7. Dublin