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Rathcoole, Dublin
Encyclopedia
Rathcoole is a suburban village, south west of Tallaght
, Ireland
, in South Dublin County. It lies just off the N7 national primary road
. It borders the nearby village of Saggart
.
at the eastern end of the Village. Beechwood Lawns is located in between the main street and the park. Forest Hills is the single largest housing development in Rathcoole, lying between Beechwood Lawns and the western end of the village. A recent housing development, Broadfield Manor, is at the southern end of Rathcoole.
and Saggart, Rathcoole was on the periphery of the Pale and was the site of many battles with mountain-based rebels, particularly the noted Joyce clan.
In the late 18th century Rathcoole was composed mainly of mud huts, and as late as the early 20th century it consisted of only one street. Today it is home to more than two hundred and fifty businesses.
and in the Clondalkin Local Electoral Area for county council elections (with Clondalkin, Newcastle and Saggart).
and Tallaght and the villages of Saggart and Brittas
. There is also Holy Family National School located at the western end of Forest Hills and a Gaelscoil in Rathcoole Village.
One of Rathcoole's best known pubs is An Poitin Stil, which is built on the site of an original inn house dating back to 1649. The other pubs in the area are Muldowneys, Baurnafea House, and The Rathcoole Inn. There are four off-licenses located in Rathcoole: Centra, Spar, An Poitin Stil and Tesco.
club "Commercials Hurling Club" is located just off the Naas Road which has recently been fitted with a new bar in the upstairs of the main clubhouse. It was widely feared that constructing a bar in the middle of this busy road would endanger the lives of patrons, but as of mid-2009 no deaths have been reported. The local basketball club is known as "Rathcoole Rockets". Rathcoole is also well known for its famous former Olympic winning swimmer, Michelle Smith
, who won 3 gold medals at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta.
Rathcoole is close to a number of golf courses: Slade Valley, Citywest and Beechpark.
, :fr:École-Valentin France
officially twinned
since 14 April 2000
Tallaght
Tallaght is the largest town, and county town, of South Dublin County, Ireland. The village area, dating from at least the 17th century, held one of the earliest settlements known in the southern part of the island, and one of medieval Ireland's more important monastic centres.Up to the 1960s...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, in South Dublin County. It lies just off the N7 national primary road
National primary road
A national primary road is a road classification in the Republic of Ireland. National primary roads form the major routes between the major urban centres. There are over 2,700km of national primary roads. This category of road has the prefix "N" followed by one or two digits...
. It borders the nearby village of Saggart
Saggart
Saggart is a suburban village in South Dublin County, Ireland, south west of Dublin city. It lies between the N7 , Rathcoole, and Tallaght.-Name:A monk called Mosacra founded a settlement on the site of the village in the 7th century...
.
Geography
There is a park maintained by South Dublin County CouncilSouth Dublin County Council
South Dublin County Council is the local authority for the county of South Dublin in Ireland. It is one of three local authorities that comprised the former Dublin County Council before its abolition, and one of four councils in the Dublin Region...
at the eastern end of the Village. Beechwood Lawns is located in between the main street and the park. Forest Hills is the single largest housing development in Rathcoole, lying between Beechwood Lawns and the western end of the village. A recent housing development, Broadfield Manor, is at the southern end of Rathcoole.
Name
Rath is the Irish word for a ringfort, often erected by wealthy farmers or local chiefs. There are several forts in the parish of Rathcoole, and while there is no definite explanation for the name 'Rathcoole,' it could well be Rath Comhaill meaning 'the rath of Comhaill', the father of Fionn. Coole may also come from the Irish word for forest, 'coill'. The rath associated with Rathcoole is in a field between Rathcoole and Saggart.Historical Notes
The village was the birthplace in 1765 of the United Irishman Felix Rourke. Like nearby NewcastleNewcastle, County Dublin
The village of Newcastle , in Co. Dublin, Ireland was the location of the Castle of the Barony of Newcastle, more specifically referred to in historical and official documents as Newcastle-Lyons. This ancient name is currently undergoing a welcome revival in use, given the many places called...
and Saggart, Rathcoole was on the periphery of the Pale and was the site of many battles with mountain-based rebels, particularly the noted Joyce clan.
In the late 18th century Rathcoole was composed mainly of mud huts, and as late as the early 20th century it consisted of only one street. Today it is home to more than two hundred and fifty businesses.
Representation
Rathcoole is in the Dublin Mid West Dáil Éireann constituencyDublin Mid West (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Dublin Mid–West is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 4 deputies...
and in the Clondalkin Local Electoral Area for county council elections (with Clondalkin, Newcastle and Saggart).
Education
Holy Family Community School at the western end of the village recently celebrated 25 years. It a secondary school for students form Rathcoole and those commuting from the nearby towns of ClondalkinClondalkin
-Today:Modern Clondalkin is a busy satellite town of Dublin, with a population of 43,929 in 2006. Retail facilities include Tesco Ireland- and Dunnes Stores-led shopping centres, and Aldi and Lidl stores on the Fonthill Road and New Nangor Road respectively, and the village centre is a base for...
and Tallaght and the villages of Saggart and Brittas
Brittas, Dublin
Brittas is a village in South County Dublin just north of the border with County Wicklow on the N81 road. It is in the foothills of the Dublin Mountains and lies just 15 minutes drive from the remote outskirts of Dublin City....
. There is also Holy Family National School located at the western end of Forest Hills and a Gaelscoil in Rathcoole Village.
Amenities
Rathcoole has a well-maintained and landscaped park run by South Dublin County Council and a local community centre which caters for local events and training courses.One of Rathcoole's best known pubs is An Poitin Stil, which is built on the site of an original inn house dating back to 1649. The other pubs in the area are Muldowneys, Baurnafea House, and The Rathcoole Inn. There are four off-licenses located in Rathcoole: Centra, Spar, An Poitin Stil and Tesco.
Sport
The Rathcoole football club is known as "Rathcoole Boys". The well known GAAGaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
club "Commercials Hurling Club" is located just off the Naas Road which has recently been fitted with a new bar in the upstairs of the main clubhouse. It was widely feared that constructing a bar in the middle of this busy road would endanger the lives of patrons, but as of mid-2009 no deaths have been reported. The local basketball club is known as "Rathcoole Rockets". Rathcoole is also well known for its famous former Olympic winning swimmer, Michelle Smith
Michelle Smith
Michelle Smith is a retired Irish swimmer and practising Irish barrister. She was a triple gold medallist at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, for the 400 m individual medley, 400 m freestyle and 200 m individual medley...
, who won 3 gold medals at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta.
Rathcoole is close to a number of golf courses: Slade Valley, Citywest and Beechpark.
Twinned Town
École-ValentinÉcole-Valentin
École-Valentin is a commune in the Doubs department in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France.-Population:-References:*...
, :fr:École-Valentin France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
officially twinned
Town twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
since 14 April 2000
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland