Moll Rooney's Loaf and Griddle

at
Tallaght

in
Dublin

In the grounds of Saint Maelruain's Church of Ireland at Tallaght lies an unusual relic.

It has been known as both Moll Rooney's Losset and Moll Rooney's Loaf and Griddle.

Moll Rooney's - Saint Maelruains, Tallaght

There is a Laois connection to both this Church and Saint Maelruain through Óengus the Culdee who founded a monastery at Dysart Enos in Laois.

No trace of this monastery nor a reputed Round Tower are to be found at Dysart Enos now but a late period ruined Church marks the site on a small rural hilltop.

The Church at Tallaght is described as an 1829 Gothic revival Church with a Crenellated Bell Tower. The Bell Tower is a remnant surviving from a previous medieval Church that was located on the site.

The medieval Church that preceded it was obviously a fortified Church and not too dissimilar from those at Balrothery or Lusk in North County Dublin.

The present site of the Church is presumed to be where an 8th Century Celi De ( Céile Dé / Culdee) monastery was formed by Saint Maelruain in the latter part of that Century.

Saint Maelruain is also referred to as Máel Ruain.

Maelruain along with Óengus are sometimes believed to be and credited as the authors of the Martyrology of Tallaght - the Martyrologium Tamlactense.

The manuscript is a list of Saints and their Feast days and was probably partially copied from elsewhere with later additions added to it as well.

Moll Rooney's Losset is an unusually large Granite Font and much larger than any traditional Fonts usually associated with Churches.

The word Losset is accepted as an old Irish word which meant a kneading tray or trough or a large breadboard.

There is a story which tells of Cromwellian troops occupying the Church and using the Font as a watering trough for their horses. I have no idea how to verify that particular claim.

A simple Latin Cross with a single line carved horizontally near its base is erected on a small circular base which may or may not be a Mill Stone.

This is the reputed burial place of Saint Maelruain.

The Stained Glass artist Evie Hone is also buried nearby in the Graveyard.

What is particularly interesting is that this site in Tallaght is representative of an ecclesiastical tradition dating back farther than 1200 years into the past.

This fact alone is enough to have ones interest piqued in another of the hidden historical artifacts to be found in what can be taken

at first sight as a modern and expanding concrete jungle bereft of vernacular character or ancient heritage.

Like many other large suburbs lying on the edges of Ireland's major cities, an enormous wealth of heritage is often waiting to be discovered and hiding in plain sight.