Rathnew

Rathnew (Irish: Ráth Naoi, meaning 'ringfort of Naoi')^[2] is a village in County Wicklow, Ireland. Located south of the capital Dublin along the M11 between Dublin and Wexford, it is close to the county town of Wicklow, which is situated 3 km (1.9 mi) to the east.^[3] The village is in a civil parish of the same name.^[2]

Rathnew Irish: Ráth Naoi
Village
Rathnew village centre
Rathnew Location in Ireland
Coordinates: 52°59′26″N 6°05′07″W
Country	Ireland
Province	Leinster
County	Wicklow
Elevation	71 m (233 ft)
Population  (2022)[1]	3,482
Time zone	UTC+0 (WET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-1 (IST (WEST))
Irish Grid Reference	T285952

Shops by the roundabout on Main Street

Education

Rathnew is home to Gaelscoil Chill Mhantáin, an Irish language primary school, which was established in 1996.^[4] The school was Ireland's first inter-denominational primary school,^{[citation needed]} and draws pupils from Rathdrum, Brittas and Newcastle, as well as Rathnew.^{[citation needed]}

Rathnew is also home to St Coen's National School, a co-educational national (primary) school which was formed following the amalgamation of a number of former/smaller schools in the area.^[5] As of 2019, it had over 270 pupils enrolled.^[5]

The local secondary school is Coláiste Chill Mhantáin, which opened in September 2011. Coláiste Chill Mhantáin is the amalgamation of two previous secondary schools based in Wicklow Town, Abbey Community College (now Educate Together Secondary School) and De La Salle.^[6][7]

Since late 2006 Clermont Convent, previously a private Secondary School for girls, has reopened on the same grounds as a Third Level College affiliated to the Institute of Technology, Carlow.^{[citation needed]}

Sport

The village's Gaelic football team has won the Wicklow Senior Provincial Championship more than 30 times, most recently in 2017.

Rathnew's soccer club was founded in 1958. For a time there the village had two soccer teams, Rathnew Ernans and Rathnew Celtic. Rathnew Celtic was the only team to ever go through the Leinster Junior Cup without conceding a goal in the 1978/1979 season.^{[citation needed]} In 1986 both teams joined to make Rathnew A.F.C. a team which is still present today The club is based in Shamrock Park.^{[citation needed]} Since late 2010, Rathnew A.F.C. has also played host to Rathnew Ladies A.F.C. soccer side, the first women's team in the history of the club, and which won the DWSL Shield in 2011.^{[citation needed]}

Tourism

Front view of Tinakilly House

Rathnew is home to the historic Tinakilly House, the former residence of Capt. Robert Halpin and now a hotel. It is situated in the centre of the village opposite the local cemetery with a narrow entrance to a mile-long avenue. The building was first built in 1883 when it became Halpin's residence.^[8] The house overlooks the Irish Sea with a large garden surrounding it.

Transport

Rathnew railway station opened on 1 September 1866, closed for goods traffic on 9 June 1947, and finally closed on 30 March 1964. For rail transport today, the closest station is Wicklow railway station, two miles inwards.^[9]

The local bus goes through the village every hour and stops outside the local primary school.

Economy

The local postoffice is located at Merrymeeting Shopping Centre.^[10]

Community Space

• Rathnew Women's Shed^[11]
• Rathnew Men's Shed^[12]

People associated with Rathnew

• Susyn M. Andrews (b. 1953) - horticulturist
• Francis Chomley (1822–1892) - businessman
• Tom Cullen (1891–1926) Irish republican
• Johnny Doran (1908–1950) - uilleann piper
• Leighton Glynn (b. 1982) - Gaelic footballer
• Patricia O'Brien (b. 1957) - diplomat

See also

• List of towns and villages in Ireland