Features

Clane has two Liffey tributaries, the Butter Stream at the south west, with a small park, and the Gollymochy River at the eastern side.

Places of interest

Clongowes Wood College, a secondary school run by the Jesuit Fathers is located nearby; James Joyce was educated there. Other places of interest include the Wogan Mausoleum and churchyard at Mainham, and Clane College, a local educational institute.

Clane today

Clane used to be a haven of peace and tranquility pleasantly situated on the River Liffey, but modern life and expanding housing has made it a virtual dormitory town to Dublin 32 km (20 mi), or 30 minutes drive outside rush hours, from Dublin, at the crossroads of the R403 and R407 regional roads, halfway between Maynooth and Naas in north Kildare.

Transport

A commuter railway station in Sallins, some 6 km (4 mi) from Clane, has a regular service to Dublin. The town is also served by Bus Éireann, which operates regular bus service between Edenderry and Dublin. A rapid town link service, provided by private operator J.J. Kavanagh and Sons operates hourly between Clane, Sallins and Naas, while a route to [NUI Maynooth] served by the same company operates on weekdays.

Sport

There are 10 golf courses within 16 km (10 mi) of the town, the most famous of which is the K Club, where the 1995 European Open was held, and which hosted the 2006 Ryder Cup.
Clane Rugby Club boast 2 senior sides and a strong youth set up, with pitches situated on the Ballinagappa Road, Clane.
Clane GAA is located on Prosperous Road.

Education

Scoil Mhuire (Community School)
Hewetsons N.S. (Primary school)
Scoil Bhride G.N.S. (Primary school)
St Patricks B.N.S. (Primary school)
Clane College (private college)
Clongowes Wood College

Shopping

The town is a destination for residents of smaller areas located around Clane, boasting several stores such as Aldi, Lidl, Tesco, and one of Ireland’s largest SuperValu stores. Other smaller stores in the town include a Londis and a Centra for convenience.

Food & Drink

Clane is home to several pubs and restaurants. There are maybe six bars in the town, including the GAA club, Millicent Golf Club and the Oak Bar at the Westgrove Hotel. Popular restaurants include Zest Restaurant and cafe, the Exchange restaurant at the Westgrove Hotel, the Flaming Wok and the Lemongrass.

Clane in Fiction

The town of Clane is one of the settings in the early life of Stephen Daedalus, the protagonist in James Joyce’s novel, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man.

Notable People Associated with Clane

Willam Dongan, 1st Earl of Lymerick (ca. 1626-1698), Royalist and Cavalier, was a supporter of King Charles I of England during the English Civil War and the contemporary wars in Ireland; afterwards he worked for the restoration of King Charles II of England during his exile in Europe. He was a landowner in Clane barony with 32,000 acres (12,950 ha) in Ireland. Successor to Sir Walter Dongan, 3rd Baronet, he was 4th Baronet (cr. 1622/23), and was subsequently created 1st Baron Dongan of Castletown and 1st Viscount Dungan of Clane, both in 1661/62. He became 1st Earl of Lymerick (now spelled “Limerick”) in 1685/86. Privy Councillor (I.); Knight of Alcantara, and governor and regimental colonel (Spain); Colonel, the Earl of Lymerick’s Regiment of Dragoons; Governor of Limerick; and Lord Lieutenant of Co. Kildare.

Charles Handy, contemporary social commentator
Graham Hopkins, musician

Josef Locke, tenor

Charles Wolfe, poet

Theobald Wolfe Tone, patriot

Ronnie Wood, musician

David Fitzpatrick, poet, proven to have an eidetic memory.

Bibliography
Hermann Geissel, 1996: The Shady Road to Clane
Bryan Sammon, Paddy Behan and Liam Burke, 2006: Clane: The Village We Knew
Journal the Kildare Archaeological Society, references include: Volume I: pp17, 25-33, 91, 168, 189, 292, 311, 312, 313. Volume II: pp50–51, 158, 370, 457(Corrigenda). Volume IV: pp35–46, 68, 460. Volume V: pp349. Volume VI: pp180, 302-303, 343, an on specific topics:
Bridge of Clane, Volume III: p106.
Clane Abbey Volume III: pp101–106.
Clane Abbeyland Volume XIII: p64.
Clane Priory Volume III: pp105–106. Volume XII: p393.
Clane Rangers Volume VI: p347.
Clergy of Clane, Volume IV: pp36, 44, 46, 169.
Moat at Clane, Volume I: pp27, 313, 405. Volume III: pp107–111.
Parish Register of Clane, Volume IV: pp40–41.
St. Brigid’s thimble, chair, road and well Volume III: p269.
Union of Clane Volume XVII: pp118–120.
Clane & Rathcoffey Ecclesiastical History Committee, 2011: A History of Christianity in Clane & Rathcoffey