A Candle in the Window

The Barony of Castleknock lies six miles from Dublin on the Navan Road. Its first castle was built by the Norman Hugh Tyrel and it was the rallying point for the forces of the last High King of Ireland, Rory O'Connor, in his vain attempt to drive the Gall from the village of Dublin in 1171. And that was only the beginning. There is no better guide to the place than Jim Lacey, whose family has lived in Carpenterstown for four generations, especially since his sparkling text is enhanced by the photographs and paintings of his parish priest, Father Eugene Kennedy. The story of the unquenchable candle of the title is only one of the fascinating tales of the area. Lacey's coverage extends backwards chronologically and forwards geographically, taking in Luttrelstown, Porterstown, Coolmine, Mulhuddart, Blanchardstown, Dunsink and Cabra, recording their often stormy histories. He makes us view the northwest of the Ford of the Hurdles in a new light, realising that a thousand years of history went in to its making. If stones could speak, they would praise the loving work of the pair of local patriots that contrived this fascinating book.