Rathmichael (Irish: Ráth Mhichíl) is a suburb south-east of Dublin, in the local government area of Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown, near the southern border of the traditional County Dublin. It is situated west of Shankill from which it is, roughly, separated by the M50/M11 motorways. It is also a civil parish in the barony of Rathdown.
Etymology
The modern Irish name Ráth Mhichíl appears to be derived from an English corruption. Thus, Rathmichael is likely to have come from Ráth Mhic Táil, meaning "Mac Táil's Ringfort".[citation needed]
Location and nature
Rathmichael is an affluent suburb, characterised by extensive tracts of low-density dwellings, with large houses and gardens interspersed with open areas. It rises to the west towards the hill of Carrickgollogan in the foothills of the Dublin Mountains. The chimney of the disused lead mines and the ruins of Puck's Castle on the northern flank of Carrickgollogan overlook the area. Multiple small streams come together to form the Wood Brook or Crinken Stream in the area, flowing to the sea north of Bray.
History
The ruins of a church are found near the remains of what would once have been one of the largest ringforts (ráth) in Ireland.[1] The church is believed to be dedicated to a saint called Mac Táil, which was later corrupted as “Michael”.[2]
At the west end of the church are the remains of a round tower, 2 metres (6.6 feet) high.[3] It has a circumference of 51 feet (16 metres).[4] The tower is known locally as "The Skull Hole", a reference to the occasion when skulls and bones from the adjoining burial ground were deposited there rather than being re-interred when the graveyard was cleared to create additional space. There is a story of an underground passage that leads from the round tower to the sea and of a piper who descended into the passage playing his instrument never to be seen again.[3] The remains of a passage – possibly a souterrain – have been found close to the tower.[3]
The site is a National monument.[5]
Amenities
There are two schools, Rathmichael Parish National School, attached to the Church of Ireland Parish of Rathmichael, and St. Anne’s National School. Aravon Preparatory School, which closed in 2013, was the oldest school of its kind in Ireland, being 151 years old.
Also present are Old Conna Golf Club (on Ferndale Road), Rathmichael Church and graveyard (Church of Ireland), and the oldest house in southern County Dublin[citation needed], The Old Glebe House; Jonathan Swift may have written part of Gulliver's Travels while staying here.
Corlett, Christiaan (1999). Antiquities of Old Rathdown. The archaeology of south County Dublin and north County Wicklow. Bray, County Wicklow: Wordwell. ISBN1-869857-29-1.
Ball, Francis Erlington (1905). A History of the County Dublin(PDF). Vol. Part 3. Dublin: Alex Thom & Co. Retrieved 9 August 2010.
Pearson, Peter (1998). Between the Mountains and the Sea. Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County. Dublin: O'Brien Press. ISBN0-86278-582-0.
Donnelly, Most Rev. N. (1977) [first published 1905 as A Short History of Some Dublin Parishes]. Short Histories of Dublin Parishes. Part V: Parishes of Sandyford; Glencullen; Killiney; Little Bray; Cabinteely. Dublin: Carraig Chapbooks.
