St Patricks Church, Esker/Dodsboro/Adamstown, Lucan. Co. Dublin Esker is so called because this spot marks the beginning of the “Esker Riada” a line of sand and gravel hills dating from the iceage which stretches across the Country to Esker, in Co. Galway. Here in the Parish of Esker, the faith has been lived and celebrated for centuries.

Not far from this Church lie the ruins of St Finian which dates from the 12th century. Historians tell us that in the 16th century there were 7 religious establishments in Esker, all have disappeared except the ruins of St Finian. A Bog Oak Cross thought to be from these ruins now hangs on the right hand wall of the present Church.

While the old Esker is dead and gone a new Parish of Esker was introduced in 1978 by Archbishop Dermot Ryan and later in October 1985 the present Church was opened and blessed by Archbishop Kevin McNamara. Great thanks is due to the local community who contributed so much to the building of this Church. To help meet the needs of a modern Parish a Meeting Room, Parish Office, Kitchenette and Toilets had to be added to the Church. They were blessed on 10th December 2005 by the Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin Dodsboro is the area between Esker and the old Celbridge Road.

Its northern boundary is the old Lucan/Leixlip Road and its southern boundary is at Finnstown. However, the area of Dodsboro now in St Patrick’s Parish is somewhat smaller than the original townland. The oldest road going through Dodsboro is Tandy’s Lane, called after the Tandy Family who leased land here from the 18th, 19th to early 20th centuries. The United Irishman James Napper Tandy was one of this family. Dodsboro Cottages is the oldest housing estate, the first lot being built in 1939, and the second in 1950. A Marian Shrine (1943) is maintained by the residents.

It has been suggested that the name ‘Doddsborough’ (Dodsboro) may come from the name ‘Dowd’, which may also have links with ‘Ballydowd’.

Adamstown derives its name from a family called Adam. Its castle dated from the 16th century, and belonged to Thomas Adam, who died in the year 1556, and desired to be buried in Esker Churchyard (St Finians). Adamstown Castle was situated on what is now the Lock/Newcastle/Adamstown Road, at Kilsaran Concrete. It is thought to have been about the same size as Ballyowen or Ballydowd Castles, having six hearths. What was left of the ruined castle was demolished in 1969. It is thought that Finnstown Castle and the area derived its name from ‘Fin of Cloncurry’, brother of the Bishop of Kildare, whom we know was granted land somewhere in this area in the early 13th century. A square castle structure with stone walls four feet in width, is still to be seen in the grounds of Finnstown House today. At one time the lands of Finnstown extended as far as Peamount Hospital to the south and as far as Celbridge to the west, and Dodsboro to the north. The Nottingham Family of Ballyowen, also owned the lands and castle at Finnstown up to 1648. In the 1650’s Walter Kennedy was resident at Finnstown. He died in 1672 and was succeeded by his son, Christopher. There has been a Kennedy Family somewhere in Esker down through the years. Finnstown House (Hotel) is thought to be late 1700’s and was the home of the Nash Family, who founded Lucan Dairies, and also operated a successful water and ginger-beer company. Stone jars in which the water was sold are on display in the hotel. The Nash Family owed Finnstown up to the early 1970’s.