Holy Trinity Ch. — Enniscoush

The medieval parish church of Rathkeale, dedicated to the Holy Trinity was described by the Urban Survey as following; 'The present church is 19th century in date but the south wall of the medieval church lies c. 10m south of it although not precisely parallel to it. It is very fragmentary and overgrown but was built of uncoursed rubble limestone with traces of plaster on the internal wall. The wall is exposed to a maximum height of 1.5m on the north side but on the south is barely visible above ground level. It is c. 32.4m in length and c. 90cm wide, 11.8m from the east end is a splayed window embrasure. Architectural fragments: A limestone mullion chamfered with glazing grooves and bar holes (possibly from a switchline window) and a possible jamb with a large hollow moulding and chevron are in the south-west corner of the graveyard (LI029-031005-)' (Bradley et. al. 1989, 220). 19th century Holy Trinity C. of I. church described by the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage as a; ‘Freestanding Board of First Fruits Church of Ireland church, built in 1831, comprising four-bay nave with single-bay single-storey vestry to south elevation, and square-plan three-stage entrance tower to west. Graveyard to site with variety of carved stone grave markers. Site surrounding church to east and south further raised with rubble stone retaining wall having cut stone steps. Rendered boundary wall to west with cut stone copings surmounted by cast-iron railings. Square-profile cut limestone piers to entrance flanking cast-iron double-leaf gate, approached by cut limestone steps (www.buildingsofireland.ie; Reg. No. 21831005). Westropp (1904-5, 389-90) recorded the following details on Rathkeale; 'Rathguala fort is named in the "Book of Rights," ante 900, but not in the "Annals" of 622, that being Rathgale, near Donaghadee. Rathgel was held by Keynsham Abbey, 1223 (B.B.L.,p.75). Its church was granted to Limerick by Roger Waspayl, 1228 (B.B.L., p. 74), who got free warren of Radguel, June, 1252 (C.S.P.I., vol. ii., No- 55). Rathgaul was re-granted to Keynsham by Hen. Waspayl, 1287 (B.B L.,p. 74), but was resigned (p. 75). He granted it to John Maltravers, 1280 (C.S.P.I., 1778). A later J. Mautravers held it, on his death, in 1369, when an Inquisition found Rathgyell to be part of Iniskefty Manor. John Arundell held it as heir of Mautravers in 1380 (Mem. R., m. 28, 155), when it was seized by the Crown. The church was robbed by A. Keating, 1318 (Plea R, 123 of xi Ed. II, m. 34), and was dedicated to the Trinity, ante 1410; Rathgell, 1418 ; Rathgele, 1452 (Rental) Rachgaela 1487 (A.F.M.). The place was burned by Malbie, 1579. Temple Treenode parish, infra, Vill de Rathkealy, in Toghe Olybane, 1586 (Peyton, p. 253); Rachell, or Rochell, 1615. Site - The I. C. church is on the old site. It has a monument of Sir Thomas Southwell, 1676'. Compiled by: Denis Power Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 14 January 2019