THE NORMANS
The Normans came to Ireland in 1169. Dundons were among the Norman Lords who travelled over from England. The Dundons (also known as Alneto, Auno, Alno, de Alneto, Dauno,
Dawnay and Dando) owned Compton Dando, or Compton Dundon. “Compton Dando is a small village and civil parish on the River Chew in the Chew Valley in England. It is in the District of Bath and North East Somerset and ceremonial county of Somerset, and lies 11.3 km from Bristol, 12.9 km from Bath, and 4.8 km from Keynsham. The parish has a population of 613.” [i]
[i] Compton Dando. Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia (2012).
As early as the period 1181 - 1212 there is a reference to a M. Dundon, in Archbishop Allen's Register. It reads:
[i] Compton Dando. Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia (2012).
As early as the period 1181 - 1212 there is a reference to a M. Dundon, in Archbishop Allen's Register. It reads:
Robert son of Richard grants in perpetual alms to Holy Trinity and to Archbishop John and his successors a knight’s fee in Carabria [*Note: By report of the bishop of Limerick the free tenant of this fee is M. Dondun, who has a castle there called (Stuardstone with a park...water and very pleasant arable land of the earl of Kildare there, in Munster a short distance from <the said monastery whose chief R. cor] rents XXs yearly.[i]
[i] Archbishop Allen’s Register, 126b (318) on p. 34. The Register is a pre-reformation record of the Diocese of Dublin, 1181-1212
This Carabria has been identified, by Brian Hodkinson, (Assistant Curator, Limerick Museum) as Ocarbry, an area near Croom on the river Maigue, where there was the Abbey of May. Stuardstone, (Howardstown) is in Bruree.
THE DUNDONS OF COMPTON DUNDON
Alexander de Alneto, who died c1195, had three sons, Robert (d. 1178), Fulk (d.1216), Adam (d. 1244) and one daughter, Lucy. Fulk had a son Godfrey (d. 1259). Godfrey is thought to have been the grandfather or uncle of John Dondon of Ballysiward (Howardstown), Co. Limerick. Adam lived at Kilcullane, Co. Limerick. Lucy married William de Marisco; he was a brother of Geoffrey de Marisco, Justiciar of Ireland (1214-1228) who lived in Shanid Castle, Co. Limerick.
Alexander de Alneto, who died c1195, had three sons, Robert (d. 1178), Fulk (d.1216), Adam (d. 1244) and one daughter, Lucy. Fulk had a son Godfrey (d. 1259). Godfrey is thought to have been the grandfather or uncle of John Dondon of Ballysiward (Howardstown), Co. Limerick. Adam lived at Kilcullane, Co. Limerick. Lucy married William de Marisco; he was a brother of Geoffrey de Marisco, Justiciar of Ireland (1214-1228) who lived in Shanid Castle, Co. Limerick.
DUNDON STRONGHOLDS IN COUNTY LIMERICK
There were three Dundon strongholds in County Limerick.
- Kilcullane.
2. Howardstown, parish of Bruree.
3. Ballysteen, parish of Iveruss.