"The Barony of Castleknock lies six miles from Dublin on the Navan Road. It was the rallying point for the forces of the last High King of Ireland, Rory O'Connor, in his vain attempt to drive the Gall from the village of Dublin in 1171. Today, Castleknock Barony comprises the following townlands: Abbotstown, Annfield, Ashtown, Astagob, Blanchardstown, Ballycoolin, Cabra, Cappagh, Clonsilla, Carpenterstown, Castleknock, Chapelizod, Corduff, Deanstown, Diswellstown, Dunsink, Huntstown Johnstown, Mitchelstown, Mulhuddart, Pelletstown, Porterstown, Scribblestown, Sheephill and Snugborough." "Castleknock and its environs have been the home of Celts, Norse, Welsh, Normans, English and the scattering of other nationalities, which make up the gene pool of today's Irish. A Castleknock local could be the descendant of a Norman knight or a Celtic chieftain. Jim Lacey helps the reader view these townlands in a new light, realising that a thousand years of history went into their making, as he records their often stormy histories."--BOOK JACKET.