Society for Old Lucan (SOL)

SOL Blog

  • SOL historical tour of Lucan Demesne with Paul Butler, Sat 14 Oct 23.

    SOL historical tour of Lucan Demesne with Paul Butler, Sat 14 Oct 23.

    The next guided historical tour around Lucan Demesne by SOL volunteers will be this Sat 14 Oct 2023, with historical photographer & drone operator Paul Butler guiding and local historian Elaine Hurley doing check in and assisting. Paul will take you through the history, mysteries and new discoveries we’ve made about Lucan Demesne, House, and… Read more

  • Loss and Love in WWI

    Loss and Love in WWI

    By Anne McCabe Conmey Through the wrought iron gates of Esker Cemetery in Lucan, down some rows to the right, a headstone stands bearing the names of my grandparents, James and Lilian McLoughlin. Behind the names, undoubtedly like many of those surrounding it, it has its own unique story to tell. My grandfather, James McLoughlin,… Read more

  • Lucan’s Gothic & Gothic Revival Architecture by Jonathan Cully, SOL.

    Lucan’s Gothic & Gothic Revival Architecture by Jonathan Cully, SOL.

    Lucan has a fantastic array of Gothic Architecture which ranges from original medieval Gothic features through to the Early Gothic Revival period, the later Victorian Neo Gothic period, and beyond with lingering flourishes in the mid-20th century. Lucan’s gothic architecture can be found in a variety of settings from original medieval churches to Gothic Revival… Read more

  • St Edmundsbury Hospital by Joe Byrne

    St Edmundsbury Hospital by Joe Byrne

    Lucan St Edmundsbury House and Demesne was acquired as a branch of St Patrick’s Hospital James Street in 1898. [Editor’s note: St. Edmundsbury started off life as just “Edmundspery” after its owner “Edmund S. Pery” who was an Anglo-Irish politician. Edmund Sexton Pery was the Speaker of the Irish House of Commons in the late… Read more

  • Lucan and 1798: the story of the Lynch brothers by Helen Farrell

    The sons of the owner of The Orange Tree, a late 18th century pub in Lucan village, Thomas (jnr.) and Patrick Lynch, were both heavily involved in the 1798 Rebellion. We think the location of The Orange Tree may be where Kenny’s Pub is now, but we are still researching this, and would welcome any… Read more

  • BEWLEY AVENUE, LUCAN: What’s in a name? – by Barry Mahady

    BEWLEY AVENUE, LUCAN: What’s in a name? – by Barry Mahady

    Last week I stood in Lucan Garda Station looking at an old map of Lucan on the wall. I couldn’t help noticing how much the landscape has changed in Ballyowen from rural hinterland to a major residential district. The latter half of the 20th century saw a population flight from the four corners of the… Read more