Lucan Village

The Early Years

Lucan, the place of the Elm Trees was inhabited before the dawn of Christianity. The Vikingspassed through Lucan in the 10th century and its history can be traced with accuracy from after the coming of the Normans in 1169.

We know that in the 10th century the Viking invaders passed through Lucan, going up the Liffey ” as far as the salmon swims upstream “, which is Leixlip. According to the Annals of the Four Masters, a battle took place in Confey, Leixlip, in 915, where the Vikings, led by Sitric, defeated the men of leinster who were led by their king, Ugaire MacAilell.

After the Norman Invasion, King Henry II awarded the lands of Lucan to Alard Fitzwilliam.

At some time before 1204 Lucan was granted to Warris De Peche, a native of Hampshire, and his descendants held them for over a century. King John, who twice visited this country, confirmed the grant “in consideration of forty marks and a palfrey sent to the King’s Treasurer”.

In 1219 Warris De Peche founded a monastery at St. Catherine’s, Leixlip, for the Canons of St. Victor. The same order also had charge of the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Lucan, which church ajoined a small castle.

The remains of a small castle and adjoining church can still be seen in the manorgrounds. This castle was probably used by the monks who looked after the church.Later , a much larger castle was built on the site of the present Lucan House.