The Catholic Church in Ireland came under increasing pressure, and with the assumption of control of properties by the new Church of Ireland, found itself without many places of worship, and with its priests under suspicion. One consequence of this was that it became impossible to continue to operate all the historical parishes, and at the Synod of Leinster at Kilkenny in 1614, many were grouped. It was at this time that the Union Parish of Coolock was formed, combining the existing parishes, of widely differing size and population, of Raheny, Glasnevin, Clonturk (also known as Drumcondra), Santry, Clontarf, Killester, Artaine (or Tartaine) and Coolock itself. The distinct identity of the constituent parishes such as Raheny remained, at least to some degree, and there are references to them in documents over the centuries. The chief office of the new parishes was designated be "Parish Priest".