Ratoath
Encyclopedia
Ratoath is a town in the barony of the same name
, County Meath
in Ireland
. The town is centered on the point where the R125
and R155
regional road
s meet. In the 1996 census, the population was recorded as 1,061. In the 2006 census, it was 7,249. The Broad Meadow River flows through the town.
Just outside the town is the horse racing
track, Fairyhouse racecourse
where the Irish Grand National
is held.
Ratoath gives its name to a village, a townland
, a parish
, an electoral division and to a barony
. The derivation or meaning of the word is uncertain. Two alternative Irish forms are cited: Ráth-Tógh and Ráth-Tábhachta. These placenames occur in Irish manuscripts and scholars say that the writers were referring to Ratoath. Evidently they were trying to give a phonetic rendering of a name that was unfamiliar to them. Mruigtuaithe occurs in the Book of Armagh
as the name of one of these places in Meath where St Patrick founded a church and Eoin MacNeill
identifies it as Ratoath. If this is correct it would seem that the second portion of the word comes from the Irish
word tuath which means a territory belonging to a family or sept. Mruig means a grazing plain. Ráth is the Irish for a fortified mound or a Motte
.
Joe Lynch was the first and only Lord Mayor in the village and raised the largest amount of cash to help with the construction of the former Community Centre. He was involved in most community activities in the parish and was a great loss when he died at the age of 62.
Ratoath (barony)
Ratoath is a barony in County Meath. It comprises ten parishes and portion of two others viz Rathbeggan, Dunshaughlin, Kilbrew, Crickstown, Killegland, Cookstown, Donaghmore, Ratoath, and portions of Ballymaglasson and Trevit.-Feudal History:...
, County Meath
County Meath
County Meath is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Mide . Meath County Council is the local authority for the county...
in 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,...
. The town is centered on the point where the R125
R125 road
The R125 road is a regional road in Ireland, linking Kilcock on the County Meath / County Kildare border to Swords in County Dublin via the towns of Dunshaughlin and Ratoath....
and R155
R155 road
The R155 road is a regional road in Ireland, linking the R147 to the N2 in County Meath via the town of Ratoath, where it crosses the R125. It passes the main entrance to Fairyhouse Racecourse near the town.The route is 14 km long....
regional road
Regional road
A regional road in Ireland is a class of road not forming a major route , but nevertheless forming a link in the national route network. There are over 11,600 kilometres of regional roads. Regional roads are numbered with three digit route numbers, prefixed by "R" A regional road in Ireland is a...
s meet. In the 1996 census, the population was recorded as 1,061. In the 2006 census, it was 7,249. The Broad Meadow River flows through the town.
Just outside the town is the horse racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
track, Fairyhouse racecourse
Fairyhouse Racecourse
Fairyhouse Racecourse is one of Ireland's premier horse racing venues. Situated in the parish of Ratoath in County Meath, on the R155 regional road, 3 km off the N3. It is the home of the Irish Grand National. The first race meet was held in 1848...
where the Irish Grand National
Irish Grand National
The Irish Grand National is a National Hunt chase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Fairyhouse over a distance of about 3 miles and 5 furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-four fences to be jumped...
is held.
Ratoath gives its name to a village, a townland
Townland
A townland or bally is a small geographical division of land used in Ireland. The townland system is of Gaelic origin—most townlands are believed to pre-date the Norman invasion and most have names derived from the Irish language...
, a parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
, an electoral division and to a barony
Barony (Ireland)
In Ireland, a barony is a historical subdivision of a county. They were created, like the counties, in the centuries after the Norman invasion, and were analogous to the hundreds into which the counties of England were divided. In early use they were also called cantreds...
. The derivation or meaning of the word is uncertain. Two alternative Irish forms are cited: Ráth-Tógh and Ráth-Tábhachta. These placenames occur in Irish manuscripts and scholars say that the writers were referring to Ratoath. Evidently they were trying to give a phonetic rendering of a name that was unfamiliar to them. Mruigtuaithe occurs in the Book of Armagh
Book of Armagh
The Book of Armagh or Codex Ardmachanus , also known as the Canon of Patrick and the Liber Armachanus, is a 9th-century Irish manuscript written mainly in Latin. It is held by the Library of Trinity College, Dublin...
as the name of one of these places in Meath where St Patrick founded a church and Eoin MacNeill
Eoin MacNeill
Eoin MacNeill was an Irish scholar, nationalist, revolutionary and politician. MacNeill is regarded as the father of the modern study of early Irish medieval history. He was a co-founder of the Gaelic League, to preserve Irish language and culture, going on to establish the Irish Volunteers...
identifies it as Ratoath. If this is correct it would seem that the second portion of the word comes from the Irish
Goidelic languages
The Goidelic languages or Gaelic languages are one of the two branches of the Insular Celtic languages, the other consisting of the Brythonic languages. Goidelic languages historically formed a dialect continuum stretching from the south of Ireland through the Isle of Man to the north of Scotland...
word tuath which means a territory belonging to a family or sept. Mruig means a grazing plain. Ráth is the Irish for a fortified mound or a Motte
Motte-and-bailey
A motte-and-bailey is a form of castle, with a wooden or stone keep situated on a raised earthwork called a motte, accompanied by an enclosed courtyard, or bailey, surrounded by a protective ditch and palisade...
.
Joe Lynch was the first and only Lord Mayor in the village and raised the largest amount of cash to help with the construction of the former Community Centre. He was involved in most community activities in the parish and was a great loss when he died at the age of 62.
See also
- Barony of Ratoath
- Ratoath (Parliament of Ireland constituency)Ratoath (Parliament of Ireland constituency)Ratoath was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons.-Boundaries and boundary changes:This constituency was the manor of Ratoath in County Meath.Following the Act of Union 1800 the constituency was disenfranchised.-Members of Parliament:...
- List of towns and villages in Ireland
Sports and Clubs
- Ratoath Chess Club
- Ratoath GAA Club
- Ratoath Harps Football Club
- Ratoath Rugby Club
- Ratoath Scout Group
- Ratoath Athletics Club
- Ratoath Tennis Club