Tandy’s Lane has been around for quite a while. It appears on the earliest maps that we have of the Lucan area, including the Rocque map of 1760. Historically, it ran from the walls of Lucan Demesne up to Finnstown. It was, of course, named for the Tandy family, the best known member of which was relation Napper Tandy, a leader of the 1798 insurrection.
Things change, however, and with the emergence of Adamstown, Tandy’s Lane is changing too. Today. I thought I’d take a ramble along what is left of Tandy’s Lane to understand how it sits in today’s landscape.
I begin where the lane begins – a little up from the Ball Alley and across from a filled-in gap in the walls of Lucan Demesne. Behind these walls is an ancient holy well that was turned into a bathhouse a few centuries ago. I wonder if Tandy’s Lane was originally built as a pathway for those looking to venerate the well?
A little past Ardeevin and Ardeen, the N4 cuts through the Lane and I follow over the footbridge to continue. Growing up in Hillcrest during the bypass construction, the roadworks were my playground and, but for the deep, uncovered excavations, the shards of broken glass from levelled cottages, the heavy machinery and the lack of any fencing, it was perfectly safe.
I ramble up along Tandy’s Lane – past where Big J’s hardware shop used to be, and follow along to the Millstream Road. Those who take the 25 will know that the bus turns down a little laneway here, emerging at the statue of Mary, where each new journey begins. The laneway is actually a remnant of the original Tandy’s Lane.
I come face to face with the statue of Mary, erected in the national Marian Year of 1954. Now, when I was growing up in Ireland in the 1980s, statues weren’t stationary things like they are today. Or, at least, religious statues weren’t. Now. Religious statues used to move like they had a sound-activated micro dancing engine – or, at least, that was my understanding from the papers at the time. We in Lucan weren’t so fortunate. The school playgrounds had rumours of moving statues, but statues do not move on rumour alone. Then, in the midst of the statue craze, the Lucan statue went missing! It was referred to on national radio. It was in national papers! And we in Lucan felt that we were part of the speight of statue stories! Eventually, it was returned to Lucan Garda Station. I have heard that whoever took it was experiencing bad karma and wanted to do the right thing. Interestingly, I have talked to Lucanians that recall a moving Mary statue in a house near the Foxhunter at this time. They recall attending private prayer gatherings around the statue. Alas, while apparently, they were moved by the scene, the statue was not.
Soon, I reach the shiny new facade of Adamstown. Tandy’s Lane is a little disjointed here and I have to walk to the left to find it’s track again. However, I do not simply find its track: instead, I find the brand-spanking-new Tandy’s Lane Park. And so, as I enter the park, my ramble becomes a mosey.
This is, in a word, impressive. It is an ideal piece of social infrastructure for a growing community. Instantly, I can see playgrounds – four or five playgrounds! – making me and my memories of playing in the N4 construction works feeling a little left out.
There are many different paths to follow here. I enter beside an impressive pillar-cum-sculpture. I soon realise that every entrance has a different variation. They appear to look like stone versions of the tree branches that would have stood here. There are many paths to follow. I decide to opt for the grass-cut path that hugs the hedgerows. It is autumn now and the blackberries are dying. The first leaves have shed, exposing the last few proud, red haw berries. The hedgerow, I realise, runs along the old Tandy’s Lane route, past Somerton. I am effectively walking on the opposite side of the hedgerows that for so many years I drove alongside.
The park is filled with children. I see a rather odd concrete and steel playground that I would later learn is a parkour playground! At last – something that recalls the N4 construction playground from my childhood!
In the corner of the park I spy a ruin – though I’m not entirely sure what it is! Some of the ruined rooms have fireplaces. On the exposed brickwork it is possible to make out a stamp saying “The Athy Brick and Tile Co Ltd”. I’m guessing it was some sort of brick and tile company. Probably a limited one.
From here, I follow the pathway, flanked by flood ditches, back out to the main road. Tandy’s Lane disjoints at this point. It’s not what it used to be, but I reflect on its journey from what was an exclusive address to a very public and well planned park seems appropriate. It is changed from what it was in Lucan. But it can be more to us now.