Rathtoe
{{short description|Village in County Carlow, Ireland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox settlement
|settlement_type = Village
|name = Rathtoe
|native_name = {{Irish place name|Ráth Tó}}
|native_name_lang = ga
|image_skyline = St Patrick's church, Rathoe, Co. Carlow - geograph.org.uk - 1384759.jpg
|image_caption = St Patrick's church
|pushpin_map = Ireland
|pushpin_label_position = right
|pushpin_map_caption = Location in Ireland
|coordinates = {{coord|52.787|-6.799|dim:100000_region:IE|display=inline,title}}
|blank_name_sec1 = Irish Grid Reference
|blank_info_sec1 = {{iem4ibx|S810712}}
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = Ireland
|subdivision_type1 = Province
|subdivision_name1 = Leinster
|subdivision_type2 = County
|subdivision_name2 = County Carlow
|unit_pref = Metric
|population_as_of = 2022
|population_footnotes = {{cite web | title = Census Interactive Map – Towns: Rathtoe | url = https://visual.cso.ie/?body=entity/ima/cop/2022&boundary=C04160V04929&guid=8948d203-3eb6-4559-8921-dcd698a8bb08 | work = Census 2022 | publisher = Central Statistics Office | access-date = 7 December 2024}}
|population = 296
}}
Rathtoe ({{Irish place name|Ráth Tó}}),{{cite web|url = https://www.logainm.ie/1412416.aspx | publisher = Placenames Database of Ireland | website = logainm.ie | title = Ráth Tó / Rathtoe | accessdate = 31 May 2021 }} also spelled Rathoe,{{cite web|url = https://carlowtourism.com/rathoe/ | website = carlowtourism.com | title = Rathtoe | accessdate = 31 May 2021 }} is a village and townland in County Carlow, Ireland. The village is located in the civil parish of Gilbertstown, between Tullow and Ballon, County Carlow. The Burren River flows through the area.{{cite web|url = http://www.carlow.ie/wp-content/documents/uploads/rathtoe-lap.pdf | publisher = Carlow County Council | website = carlow.ie | title = Rathoe Village Draft Local Area Plan | date = | accessdate = 31 May 2021 }} Rathtoe is a census town, and had a population of 296 as of the 2022 census.
Evidence of ancient settlement in the area include the Bronze Age settlement of Ballon Hill (6 km to the south), and a ringfort (rath) within Rathtoe townland itself.{{cite book | title = Archaeological Inventory of County Carlow | place = Dublin | publisher = Government Stationery Office | date = 1993 }} The local Roman Catholic church is dedicated to Saint Patrick and was built {{circa|1890}}.{{cite web|url = https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/10301301/saint-patricks-catholic-church-rathoe-cross-roads-rathtoe-carlow | publisher = National Inventory of Architectural Heritage | website = buildingsofireland.ie | title = Saint Patrick's Catholic Church, Rathoe Cross Roads, Rathtoe, Carlow | date = | accessdate = 31 May 2021 }} The church is listed on the Record of Protected Structures for County Carlow, as is the nearby credit union building (formerly a school) which dates to 1837.{{cite web| url = https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/10301302/rathoe-credit-union-rathoe-cross-roads-rathtoe-carlow| publisher = National Inventory of Architectural Heritage | website = buildingsofireland.ie | title =Rathoe Credit Union, Rathoe Cross Roads, Rathtoe, Carlow | date = | accessdate = 31 May 2021 }}{{cite report |url = http://www.carlow.ie/wp-content/documents/uploads/carlow-county-development-plan-appendix-8-record-of-protected-structures.pdf | publisher = Carlow County Council | website = carlow.ie | title = Carlow County Development Plan 2015-2021 – Appendix 8 – Record of Protected Structures | page = 61 | date = August 2015 }}
The local Gaelic football club, Fighting Cocks GAA, has its grounds approximately {{convert|2|km}} west of the village. The club won the Carlow Senior Football Championship in 1938.{{cite web|url = https://www.independent.ie/sport/no-room-for-cynicism-in-the-grassroots-26132813.html | publisher = Independent News & Media | website = independent.ie | title = No room for cynicism in the grassroots | date = 22 November 1999 | quote = The 'Cocks won the Carlow senior {{sic|championhip}} in 1938 }}