EARLY CHRISTIAN TIMES
Local Churches
In the years after St. Patrick came to Ireland, Christian Churches grew up all over the country. The first Christian Church in the North Dublin area was built in Lusk in 496A.D.
ST. DOOLOUGH’S
About three miles North of Coolock, a very famous church was founded in the early 7th century. The founder of this church was St. Dúileach, who lived around the year 600 A.D.
St. Dúileach was probably a native of the district. Local tradition tells us that Dúileach was a hermit and spent his days fasting and praying alone. He shut himself away from all human contact and took his food through a small hole in the wall of his cell, part of which can be seen in the building as it is today.
The full name of St. Doolough’s as recorded in ancient writings is Clochar Dúiligh which means "The Stone Church of St. Doolough". It is the oldest building in the area and is in perfect condition. The oldest part of the present Church at St. Doolough’s was built in the 13th century.
It is rectangular in shape and is vaulted. Above the vault there is an attic room. This part of the church has a steep pitched stone roof.
This roof is built in the same way as the roof of St. Kevin’s Kitchen in Glendalough, St. Flannan’s Church, Killaloe, County Clare, St. Cormac’s Chapel, Cashel and St. Columba’s House, Kells, Co. Meath.
At the west end of the church is a small room called the "Hermit’s Cell" which is said to be the burial place of the founder, St. Doolough. Above this room a square tower rises.
On the side of the main Malahide road, at the entrance to St. Doolough’s Church, there is a plain stone cross. This probably dates from the early days of the church.
St. Brendan’s Church
There was also another early Christian Church in Coolock. This church was dedicated to St.Brendan the Navigator who died in the year 577 A.D.
The church was situated on Tonlegee Road just up from the Santry River near the present Smurfit factory. Unfortunately any last remains of this early church disappeared when the present Protestant Church of St.John the Evangelist was built on its site.
There is a small rough granite cross near the entrance to the churchyard which is probably of early date, possibly 900 A.D.The main part of the present church was built in 1760.
There was also an early Church in Artane beside the Christian Brothers complex near the present McDonalds restaurant. This Church is now ruined. It probably dates from as early as Norman times.