Historic town

The National Monuments Service's description

Located at the confluence of the E-flowing River Liffey and its tributary, the S-flowing Rye Water. According to Bradley et al. (1986 vol. 3, 304-305), the existence of a Scandinavian placename 'Lex-hlaup' / 'salmon leap', suggests a Viking settlement. In the late-12th/early-13th century, Leixlip was also known by the name 'Ernia' or 'Hernie', possibly derived from An Urnaidhe, meaning oratory, which may also indicate the presence of a pre-Norman ecclesiastical site. The earliest definite evidence for settlement occurs in the late-12th century when Adam De Hereford established a castle and borough and granted the church and burgage to St Thomas' Abbey. Subsequently another burgage was given to St. Mary's Abbey in Dublin. The borough was looted and burnt by Edward Bruce's army in 1317, but otherwise seems to have remained relatively undisturbed. A population of 100 was recorded in the census of 1659. The town was confined to a narrow strip of land between the Liffey on the S, a high ridge on the N, and the Rye Water on the W, with the main street running roughly E-W along the centre of this strip of ground. A burgage plot pattern survives on the N and S of Main Street. The settlement included an early castle (KD011-004002-), a church (KD011-004003-) and graveyard (KD011-004004-), and a tower house (KD011-004005-), while archaeological excavation has uncovered medieval deposits to the N of Main Street (KD011-004007-).

Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy

Date of upload: 10 June 2011