Donadea ( ga, Domhnach Dheá) is a civil parish in the

barony Barony may refer to: * Barony, the peerage, office of, or territory held by a baron * Barony, the title and land held in fealty by a feudal baron * Barony (county division), a type of administrative or geographical division in parts of the British ...

Ikeathy and Oughterany Ikeathy and Oughterany () is a barony in County Kildare, Ireland. Etymology Ikeathy takes its name from the Uí Cheithig túath, who claimed descent from Ailill Cétach, a son of the legendary Leinster king Cathair Mór. Oughterany derives its ...

in the north of

County Kildare County Kildare ( ga, Contae Chill Dara) is a county in Ireland. It is in the province of Leinster and is part of the Eastern and Midland Region. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county, ...

, Ireland. There are seven townlands in the parish. There are no large centres of population in the parish. Donadea is noted for its public forest park which is one of the most popular outdoor venues in county Kildare. The nearest villages are

Staplestown Staplestown () is a village and townland in north County Kildare, Ireland, located 40 kilometres west of Dublin. The village has a church, a school and is home to St Kevin's GAA. The local national (primary) school is Scoil Naomh Mhuire Nation ...

(4 km distant) and Prosperous (7 km distant). The parish name is derived from a church, traditionally said to have been founded by

Saint Patrick Saint Patrick ( la, Patricius; ga, Pádraig ; cy, Padrig) was a fifth-century Romano-British Christian missionary and bishop in Ireland. Known as the "Apostle of Ireland", he is the primary patron saint of Ireland, the other patron saints be ...

. A small 17th-century church of the Church of Ireland, St Peter's, still exists within the Donadea

demesne A demesne ( ) or domain was all the land retained and managed by a lord of the manor under the feudal system for his own use, occupation, or support. This distinguished it from land sub-enfeoffed by him to others as sub-tenants. The concept or ...

Townlands

The following are the townlands: Cooltrim North, Cooltrim South, Donadea, Donadea Demesne, Kilmurry, Kilnamoragh North, and Kilnamoragh South.

Demense

The Normans came to Donadea in the 12th century and established a

manor Manor may refer to: Land ownership *Manorialism or "manor system", the method of land ownership (or "tenure") in parts of medieval Europe, notably England *Lord of the manor, the owner of an agreed area of land (or "manor") under manorialism *Man ...

. The manor house was built on or close to the present castle. This structure was the first of many castles on the site throughout the Middle Ages. In 1558 the Aylmer family acquired the manor. In 1581, Gerald Aylmer commenced a new tower in Donadea which was not completed until 1624. It is now the oldest part of the Castle. In 1626, he repaired the medieval church. Gerald was ennobled as the first Baronet of Donadea.

Ecclesiastical parish

The Book of Armagh records St Patrick’s visit to Dunmurraghill in 455, where he marked out the foundations for a religious settlement. The St. Peter’s site was laid out at the same time. The earliest churches were wooden in construction. The Danes destroyed Dunmurraghill in 832. The church at the St. Peter’s site was rebuilt by the Normans. In 1550 the Aylmer family of Lyons acquired the Manor of Donadea from the

Earls of Ormond Earldom of Ormond may refer to: *Earl of Ormond (Scotland), created twice in the Peerage of Scotland for the House of Douglas *Earl of Ormond (Ireland) The peerage title Earl of Ormond and the related titles Duke of Ormonde and Marquess of Orm ...

. In 1626 the first Aylmer baronet, Sir Gerald Aylmer, rebuilt the church. The Ecclesiastical Report of 1809 stated that: "the Church was in a tottering state but neat and clean.". It is now part of the Clane Union of Parishes. In the Catholic Church, the territory is part of the parish of "Clane and Rathcoffey" in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin. The Church of St Patrick and St Brigidin is located in Clane while the Church of the Sacred Heart is located in Rathcoffey. ''* Further information:''

William Pilsworth William Pilsworth was Church of Ireland Bishop of Kildare between 1604 and 1635. Nominated to the see on 23 July 1604, he was consecrated on 11 September 1604 and served as bishop until his death on 9 May 1635. Prior to his consecration as bishop ...

, vicar of the Church of Ireland.

Forest Park

Donadea Forest Park was opened in 1981 and is currently managed by

Coillte Coillte (; meaning "forests"/"woods") is a state-owned commercial forestry business in Ireland based in Newtownmountkennedy. Coillte manage approximately 7% of the country’s land, and operates three businesses - their core forestry business, a ...

. The Park comprises approximately of mixed woodland. It was part of the old Aylmer family estate. The last of the Aylmers, Miss Caroline died in 1935 leaving the property to the Church of Ireland, who in turn sold it to the State. There are many historical features including the remains of the castle, walled gardens, church, tower, ice house, boat house and Lime Tree Avenue. There is also a lake with ducks and other birds and a wonderful display of water-lilies in the summer. Walled streams form part of the drainage of the park. There are many different walks through the forest, including the 5 km Aylmer loop, the lake walk (wheelchair accessible) and a nature trail with stops. A small café serves light refreshments and is open year round. The park is a designated National Heritage Area. There is a "9/11" Memorial at Donadea. The memorial was inspired by the memory of Sean Tallon, a young fire fighter, whose family had emigrated from Donadea.

References

{{Reflist

External links

Donadea Running Club

Sean Tallon Fallen Firefighters Roll of Honor Civil parishes of County Kildare Tourist attractions in County Kildare