History of the Area
The civil parish of Donadea occupies the southern area of
the ancient barony of Oughterany and contains six townlands,
Cooltrim north, Cooltrim south, Donadea, Donadea Demesne,
Kilnamoragh north, and Kilnamoragh south, a total of 1937
acres.
The name derives from the Irish word Domnach which signifies
a church and also Sunday. It is believed that all churches
bearing this name were founded by St. Patrick, and the foundations
were marked out on a Sunday.
One of the earliest references of the manor of Donadea was
in connection with an inquisition taken in Cloncurry in 1312
Sir Walter Fitzhenry held the lands at that time. In 1356
John De Birmingham held the manor of Donadea, until his son
was accused of treason. The lands was confiscated by Richard
II and granted to the earls of Ormond. The Ormonds in turn
granted the lands to the Aylmers of Lyons, who in 1597 settled
the manor of Donadea on Gerald. In 1621, King James I created
Gerald the first baronet of Donadea.
By the mid 1800s the Donadea estates were one of the largest
in Co. Kildare, amounting to almost 16,000 acres. It was
around this time that extensive development occurred in
the grounds surrounding the castle. The works included the
construction of a stone wall surrounding almost 600 acres,
the development of an artificial lake, a massive programme
of tree planting within the demesne and the realignment
of existing roads.
In 1936 the Irish land commission acquired the lands of
Donadea from the Aylmer estate. In 1981 Paddy Power T.D.
for Kildare and Minister for Fisheries and Forestry opened
Donadea Demesne to the public. The estate is at present
under the care and maintenance of An Coillte.
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