Dunshaughlin, County Meath is the most likely candidate for the origins of my Shaffrey family. The village is named after Saint Seachnall, a contemporary of Saint Patrick, who established a church there in the 5th century. Dunshaughlin (or more specifically, the townland of Lagore) is famous for an ancient crannóg or settlement from the 7th century where a number of Irish antiquities were discovered.
The oldest families still in this location are descendants of the Muintir Uí Fhloinn, who are recorded at the latest in 1550 and the Muintir Uí Mhuirí who are recorded at the same time. Outside the village, families such as the Uí Ruanaidh in Trevet continue to exist on the site where they were recorded to be in 1550.
Dunshaughlin is 29 km northwest of Dublin and is a satellite town of the nation's capital. There is a VEC-run secondary school, Dunshaughlin Community College, which was recently selected as one of 12 schools worldwide to take part in Microsoft's Innovative Schools program. Dunshaughlin also has a famous historical workhouse.
I didn't really glean much information online about Dushaughlin. I guess I will need to go there someday and see it for myself.
