Kill, Rathdown facts for kids

Kill (Irish: An Chill) is a special type of area in Ireland called a civil parish. It's part of a larger historical region known as the barony of Rathdown. You can find Kill in the county of Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown, which is near Dublin.

The name "Kill" comes from a place called Kill of the Grange. This place was named after an old church that is now just ruins. Kill parish includes many smaller areas called townlands. Some of these are Ballinclea, Cabinteely, Cornelscourt, Deansgrange, Foxrock, Galloping Green South and North, Johnstown, Mulchanstown, Newpark, Newtownpark, Rocheshill, Rochestown Domain, Scalpwilliam or Mount Mapas, Thomastown, Tipperstown, and Woodpark.

The eastern side of Kill parish touches the Irish Sea at a spot called Scalpwilliam or Mount Mapas. It also has several neighbours! To the east is Dalkey, to the north is Monkstown, and to the northwest is Stillorgan. To the west, you'll find Kilmacud, while Tully is to the south, and Killiney is to the southeast.

What is a Civil Parish?

A civil parish is an old way of dividing up land in Ireland. These divisions were first set up a long time ago, often based on church areas. Even though they are not used for everyday government today, they are still important for history and for describing locations.

Barony of Rathdown

Kill is part of the Barony of Rathdown. A barony is an even older and larger way of dividing land. Think of it like a big historical district. Rathdown covers parts of what are now County Dublin and County Wicklow.

Where is Kill Located?

Kill parish is in Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown, a county in the eastern part of Ireland. This county is known for its beautiful coastline and many towns. Kill's location means it's close to the sea, which has shaped its history and landscape.

Borders and Neighbours

The parish has a natural border with the Irish Sea on its eastern side. This means some parts of Kill are right by the coast. It also shares borders with several other parishes, like Dalkey and Monkstown. This shows how different areas in Ireland are connected.

The Townlands of Kill

Within Kill parish, there are many smaller areas called townlands. A townland is the smallest official land division in Ireland. They often have unique names and histories. Some of the townlands in Kill include:

• Ballinclea
• Cabinteely
• Cornelscourt
• Deansgrange
• Foxrock
• Galloping Green South and North
• Johnstown
• Mulchanstown
• Newpark
• Newtownpark
• Rocheshill
• Rochestown Domain
• Scalpwilliam or Mount Mapas
• Thomastown
• Tipperstown
• Woodpark

These townlands are like small neighbourhoods that make up the larger Kill parish.

The Name 'Kill'

The name "Kill" comes from the Irish word cill, which means "church" or "church cell". Many places in Ireland start with "Kill" because they were once the site of an early Christian church or monastery. In this case, Kill parish is named after an old church that is now in ruins in the townland of Kill of the Grange. This tells us that the area has a long history connected to early Irish settlements and religious sites.