Early History
The Celtic Church was primarily based around monastic settlements, and it is a local tradition that the first church at Clontarf was erected for or by St. Comgall, on a mission from one of the founding monastic houses of the Dublin area, probably Glasnevin. Based on this, Comgall was considered the patron of the parish into Anglo-Norman times. Dr. Donnelly noted in 1915, however, that there is no documentary or other evidence for this and that the first records of Christian activity are much later, long after even the Battle of Clontarf.
In the 12th century, the Irish Church moved towards a parochial model, and following restructuring under figures such as St. Malachy, Archbishop of Armagh, and the papal legate Cardinal Paparo in 1152, thirty-eight dioceses, each comprising a number of parishes, were approved. The Diocese of Dublin, previously a small "island" in the middle of the vast Diocese of Glendalough, was raised to the status of Archdiocese, with forty parishes, one of which was Clontarf. The boundaries of this ancient parish are probably best reflected today in those of the civil parish and the Church of Ireland parish of the same name.
Henry II of England visited Dublin in 1172 and founded a branch of the Knights Templar, granting them lands including "the Vill of Clumtorf". By the time of Edward III of England, the Manor of Clontarf was valued at over 125 pounds, with annual income of over 32 pounds, and had a parish church, to which the Templars had the right to appoint a chaplain. It is believed this situation continued into the 14th century, when the Templars were attacked by the King of France, with support from the Pope. A writ for their imprisonment and seizure of their assets reached Ireland in January 1308, and they were arrested within weeks. Some years later, the Pope dissolved the order and transferred their property to the Knights Hospitaller, who eventually took possession of Clontarf, making it a Commandery (this later became Clontarf Castle). It is believed that the Manor and Priory Church then continued under the jurisdiction of the Hospitallers until the dissolution of the monasteries.
Read more about this topic: Parish Of Clontarf (Roman Catholic)
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