What stories do these stones hold? This is Rathmichael DED 1971. It is a place where history whispers through the wind. It is a suburb south-east of Dublin. It lies near the southern border of the traditional County Dublin. Rathmichael is west of Shankill. The M50/M11 motorways roughly separate them.
Rathmichael’s name has an interesting origin. The modern Irish name Ràth Mhichìl seems to come from an English corruption. Rathmichael likely evolved from Ràth Mhic Tàil. This means Mac Tàil’s Ringfort.
Today Rathmichael is known as an affluent area. It features low-density dwellings. Large houses and gardens are interspersed with open spaces. The area rises towards Carrickgollogan hill. You can see the chimney of disused lead mines. The ruins of Puck’s Castle also overlook the area.
The ruins of a church stand near the remains of a ringfort. This ringfort was once one of the largest in Ireland. This suggests social organization of the inhabitants of this period. The church is believed to be dedicated to a saint called Mac Tàil. This name was later changed to Michael.
At the west end of the church are the remains of a round tower. It stands about 2 meters high. The tower’s circumference is 51 feet. Locals call the tower The Skull Hole. This refers to when skulls and bones were deposited here. These remains came from the adjoining burial ground. This happened when the graveyard was cleared. The clearing created additional space. A story tells of an underground passage. It leads from the round tower to the sea. A piper descended into the passage playing his instrument. He was never seen again. The remains of a passage have been found close to the tower. It may be a souterrain. The Rathmichael site is a National Monument.
Rathmichael Parish National School is attached to the Church of Ireland Parish. Aravon Preparatory School was also present. It closed in 2013. It was the oldest school of its kind in Ireland.
Old Conna Golf Club is on Ferndale Road. Rathmichael Church and graveyard are nearby. The oldest house in southern County Dublin is here too. It is The Old Glebe House. Jonathan Swift may have written part of Gulliver’s Travels here. He may have written it while staying here.
In the wider context of Ireland in 1971 some notable events occurred. Ireland and the United Kingdom both switched to decimal currency. Aer Lingus took delivery of its first Jumbo Jet. The Eurovision Song Contest was held in Dublin. Internment without trial was introduced in Northern Ireland.
Rathmichael Woods surrounds the base of Rathmichael Hill. A hillfort encloses the summit. It may date back to the Late Bronze Age. Hillforts were important places for gatherings and celebrations. A fine socketed spearhead was discovered here. It reflects the high status of the site. A smaller enclosure may be a ringfort. It may be from the early medieval period. With views over Bray Head and the Irish Sea it is easy to see why this area has been favored for millennia. A medieval wayside cross stands near the eastern entrance of the wood.
Rathmichael has been a place of worship for millennia. St Comgall of Bangor founded the first monastery here. He founded it in the 6th century. Part of the ancient monastic enclosure can still be seen. It is the gently curving stone walling to the north-west of the church. Other evidence includes the stump of a round tower. It once stood here around the 10th century. The tower became known as The Skull Hole. It became the repository for skulls and bones from the graveyard. Rathmichael also has unusual gravestones. They are known as the Rathdown Slabs. These graveslabs bear abstract decoration. It is believed to have been influenced by Hiberno-Norse art. Within the graveyard you can see traces of an inner monastic enclosure. There is a depression which may mark a souterrain. The remains of the church date to around the 13th century. It possibly stands on the site of an earlier church.
Also in the area is Puck’s Castle. It was likely constructed in the 15th century. King Henry VI gave a subsidy to anyone who would build a castle. This helped fortify The Pale. According to tradition King James sheltered within the castle. He stayed for a night during his flight southwards. This followed his defeat at the Battle of the Boyne. The name Puck’s Castle may derive from the Irish word pùca. This means a ghost. Perhaps this suggests an old belief that the castle is haunted.
From ancient ringfort to medieval church Rathmichael whispers tales of Ireland’s past. Take a moment. Listen closely. What will you discover?