Rathcoole, Dublin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rathcoole
Irish: Ráth Cúil
|
|
|---|---|
|
Village
|
|
Main Street
|
|
 Rathcoole
Location in Ireland
|
|
| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Leinster |
| County | County Dublin |
| Local government area | South Dublin |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.1 km2 (0.4 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 148 m (486 ft) |
| Population
(2022)
|
|
| • Total | 5,792 |
| • Density | 5,270/km2 (13,600/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+0 (WET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-1 (IST (WEST)) |
| Eircode routing key |
D24
|
| Irish Grid Reference | O019268 |
Rathcoole is a lively village in County Dublin, Ireland. It is located southwest of Dublin city. Rathcoole is part of the South Dublin area, which is a local government area. It is also known as a "civil parish" within the Newcastle area.
Contents
What's in a Name?
The name Rathcoole comes from Irish words. Ráth means a ringfort, which was a circular area often built by important farmers or local leaders. There are several old forts in the Rathcoole area.
The "Coole" part of the name might come from Cumhaill, who was the father of the famous Irish hero Fionn mac Cumhaill. So, Rathcoole could mean "the ringfort of Cumhaill." Another idea is that "Coole" comes from coill, which is the Irish word for forest.
Where is Rathcoole?
Rathcoole is in the southwest part of County Dublin. It is located just off the N7 main road. Nearby places include Citywest to the northeast and Saggart village to the east.
To the north, you'll find Baldonnel and Casement Aerodrome. This is where the Irish Air Corps keeps its planes. Other villages in this area are Newcastle and Brittas.
Several small streams flow around Rathcoole. Most of them flow into the Griffeen River. Some streams on the eastern side connect to the River Camac. Both of these rivers eventually join the River Liffey. Besides the main village, Rathcoole has newer housing areas like Beechwood Lawns, Forest Hills, Broadfield Manor, and Peyton.
A Look Back in Time
Rathcoole, like nearby Saggart and Newcastle, was on the edge of an old protected area called The Pale. Because of this, it was often a place where battles happened. Local rebels from the mountains, like the Byrnes and O'Tooles, often fought here.
The village used to have a special permission to hold a trading fair three times a year. This tradition stopped in the 1800s.
In 1765, a person named Felix Rourke was born in Rathcoole. He was part of the United Irishmen, a group who wanted more rights for Irish people. Another local person from the Clinch family was executed after the 1798 rising, which was a rebellion.
In the late 1700s, many homes in Rathcoole were simple mud huts. Even in the early 1900s, the village was mainly just one street.
Mercer's School Story
Between 1743 and 1745, a new school was built in Rathcoole. It was a "charter school," which meant it was set up by a special permission. The money for the school came from a gift left by Mary Mercer. Before this, the school was at Mercer's Hospital, but that place was not good for housing girls.
The school worked until 1826 when it closed. The school then moved to Castleknock and later joined with The King's Hospital school in 1970. The building in Rathcoole was used as a church house for over 100 years.
As of October 2024, the old school building is still standing. However, it has been badly damaged by fire.
Rathcoole House
Rathcoole is also home to Rathcoole House. This house was built in 1750. The Clinch family first owned it. Later, the Sheils family owned it from 1831 to 1962.
The house had two main floors and a basement. The basement had a kitchen and storage rooms. The ground floor had a hall, dining room, and drawing room. Part of the house was taken down in 1933. Today, Rathcoole House is a private home.
What to Do in Rathcoole
Rathcoole has a nice park that is looked after by the South Dublin County Council. It is at the eastern end of the village. There is also a community centre where local events and classes take place.
You can find a small supermarket, a bank, and a credit union in Rathcoole. There are also two service stations on the N7 road. One of Rathcoole's most famous pubs is An Poitin Stil. It is built where an old inn stood way back in 1649. Other pubs in the area include Muldowneys, Baurnafea House, and The Rathcoole Inn.
Getting Around Rathcoole
Rathcoole is served by the Dublin Bus route number 69. This bus can take you from Rathcoole to Dublin city.
The Luas Red Line tram is also close by. The nearest stop is Saggart, which is the last stop on the Red Line. It's about a 6-minute walk from Rathcoole. From Saggart, it takes about 45 minutes to get to Dublin city by tram.
There is a bus stop at An Poitín Stil for the "126" bus. This bus travels from Newbridge to Dublin city. Near the Avoca, you can catch the W6 bus. This bus goes from Maynooth to The Square in Tallaght, passing through Newcastle.
Schools in Rathcoole
Holy Family Community School is at the western end of the village. It is a secondary school that recently celebrated its fortieth birthday. Students from Rathcoole, Clondalkin, Tallaght, Saggart, and Brittas attend this school.
There is also Holy Family National School, which is located in the Forest Hills area. In Rathcoole village itself, you'll find a Gaelscoil called Scoil Chrónáin. A Gaelscoil is a school where lessons are taught through the Irish language.
Sports and Activities
If you like soccer, Rathcoole has its own club called Rathcoole Football Club. For GAA sports, the Commercials Hurling Club is located near the Naas Road. The local basketball team is called Rathcoole Rockets.
Rathcoole is also close to two golf courses: Citywest and Beech Park.
Coolmine Equestrian Centre started in Rathcoole in 1989. It offers horse riding lessons and guided trips on horseback. This centre welcomes visitors from other countries who come for learning programs, work experience, and holidays. The centre is now known as CEAD-Ireland. It hosts fun festivals in the summer with dance, music, pony rides, pet farms, dog shows, and horse riding competitions.
Famous People from Rathcoole
Many interesting people have connections to Rathcoole, including:
- Darragh Ennis, a "chaser" on the TV game show The Chase.
- Dermot Kennedy, a popular singer-songwriter.
- Paddy Reilly, a well-known folk singer and guitarist.
- Michelle Smith, who won three gold medals and a bronze medal in swimming at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta.
- Pat Taaffe, a famous Irish horse jockey.
- Bill Attley, an Irish trade union leader and football referee.
Rathcoole's Local Government
Rathcoole is part of the Dáil constituency of Dublin Mid-West. This is the area that elects people to the Irish parliament (Dáil Éireann). For local elections, Rathcoole is in the Clondalkin area. This area elects members to the South Dublin County Council, which manages local services.
Twinning with Another Town
Rathcoole has a special connection with a town in France. It is officially twinned with École-Valentin, France. This partnership started on April 14, 2000.
