Rathmichael

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|date=April 2021}}

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.

File:A history of the County Dublin; the people, parishes and antiquities from the earliest times to the close of the eighteenth century (1902) (14787512393).jpg

The ruins of a church are found near the remains of what would once have been one of the largest ringforts (ráth) in Ireland.Pearson, p. 44. According to a Historic Landscape Character Assessment which was conducted for nearby Barnacullia, "At Rathmichael, there is evidence of a later Bronze Age hillfort, which encloses a ringfort with a souterrain (underground tunnel or chamber). This may have been a ceremonial site, and suggests social

organisation of the inhabitants of this period".{{cite web |url=https://www.dlrcoco.ie/sites/default/files/atoms/files/hlca_barnacullia_final_part_1-5.pdf |date=1 March 2006|title=Historic Landscape Character Assessment: Barnacullia (Parts 1-5 ONLY) |publisher=Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council |access-date=7 November 2024 }} The church is believed to be dedicated to a saint called Mac Táil, which was later corrupted as "Michael".Donnelly, p. 183-184.

File:Round Tower at Old Rathmichael Church.jpg]]

At the west end of the church are the remains of a round tower, {{convert|2|m|ft|abbr=off}} high.Corlett, p. 141. It has a circumference of {{convert|51|ft|m|abbr=off}}.Ball, p. 92. 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. The remains of a passage – possibly a souterrain – have been found close to the tower.

The site is a National monument.{{cite web | title=National Monuments in State Care: Ownership & Guardianship| access-date=2 April 2024 | url=https://www.archaeology.ie/sites/default/files/media/pdf/monuments-in-state-care-dublin.pdf| date=4 March 2009}}

Rathmichael Parish National School is attached to the Church of Ireland Parish of Rathmichael. 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|date=April 2009}}, The Old Glebe House; Jonathan Swift may have written part of Gulliver's Travels while staying here.

• Michael Fingleton, former chief executive of Irish Nationwide Building Society lives in Rathmichael with his wife Eileen.
• Pádraig Harrington, international golfer and winner of the 2007 and 2008 British Open and the 2008 USPGA tournaments, lives in Rathmichael.
• Ireland men's field hockey internationals, Kyle Good and Alan Sothern, both attended Rathmichael Parish National School.{{cite web|url=http://rathmichaelschool.com/category/sports/|title=Past Pupils scoring for Ireland|publisher=rathmichaelschool.com|access-date=20 May 2019|date=5 July 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://rathmichaelschool.com/2016/07/|title=Rathmichael past pupils in Rio|publisher=rathmichaelschool.com|access-date=20 May 2019|date=29 July 2016}}

• List of abbeys and priories in Ireland (County Dublin)

• {{cite book |last=Corlett |first=Christiaan |title=Antiquities of Old Rathdown. The archaeology of south County Dublin and north County Wicklow |year=1999 |publisher=Wordwell |location=Bray, County Wicklow |isbn=1-869857-29-1 }}
• {{cite book |last=Ball |first=Francis Erlington |title=A History of the County Dublin |volume=Part 3 |year=1905 |url=http://www.askaboutireland.ie/aai-files/assets/ebooks/256-261_A-History-of-the-County-Dublin/259%20A%20History%20of%20the%20County%20Dublin%203.pdf |access-date=9 August 2010 |publisher=Alex Thom & Co |location=Dublin }}
• {{cite book |last=Pearson |first=Peter |title=Between the Mountains and the Sea. Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County |year=1998 |publisher=O'Brien Press |location=Dublin |isbn=0-86278-582-0 }}
• {{cite book |last=Donnelly |first=Most Rev. N.|title=Short Histories of Dublin Parishes. Part V: Parishes of Sandyford; Glencullen; Killiney; Little Bray; Cabinteely |year=1977 |orig-year=first published 1905 as A Short History of Some Dublin Parishes |publisher=Carraig Chapbooks |location=Dublin }}

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{{Dublin residential areas}}

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Category:Places in Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown

Category:Towns and villages in Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown

Category:National monuments in County Dublin

Category:Civil parishes of Rathdown, County Dublin