Church in Rathcoole

The present Church of Ireland is located on the crest of the early burial ground with the S, long side, of the church excavated into and standing below the surrounding ground level. To the S and W there are extensive views of the foothills of the Dublin mountains with views to the N and E somewhat restricted by adjacent buildings. The church occupies the site of medieval parish church which was assigned in the 13th century to St. Patrick's Cathedral (Ball 1905, 125). In 1630 the church was described as in 'good repair' (Ronan 1941, 72). As well as a very fine vault, several table tombs and grave-markers dating to the 18th and 19th century within the graveyard there is a granite stone cross (DU021-030003-) and holed stone (DU021-030006-) embedded in the ground surface, SE of the church. Austin Cooper's diaries from the 18th century (Price 1942, 54) also describes a graveslab decorated with an incised cross (DU021-03005-). The precise location of this monument is unknown. Rathcoole Church site was described by Ní Mharcaigh (1997, 275) as follows; 'There is now no trace of the medieval church of Rathcoole, and no account of its size or appearance can be traced. The site is now occupied by a small churchyard surrounding an eighteenth-century church. In the churchyard is an equal-armed granite cross, bearing worn concentric arcs'. Compiled by: Geraldine Stout and Margaret Keane Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 10 May 2023