#rathdown

[monsegu]

#hockey competition at #rathdown (at Rathdown School Alumni)

[monsegu]

#hockey competition at #rathdown (at Rathdown School Alumni)

[monsegu]

#hockey competition at #rathdown (at Rathdown School Alumni)

[greystonesharbour]

The Medieval Town of Rathdown, is it being eroded along with the north beach?

The discussion about the erosion at the North Beach has as far as I can make out, missed the most important aspect of this area of Greystones.

Just above the beach where the Gap Bridge is now literally a gap, is the site of the ancient medieval village/town of Rathdown which survived until the 17th Century. The current erosion is threatening what remains of the village and Castle (underground).

There is now little/no visible evidence of the 13th Century Castle that fell into ruins in 1600. Many artifacts have already been uncovered over the years in the area of the village and castle (which was built around the time of the Norman invasion) . Pottery dating from the 13th and 14th century has been recovered in the area.

Rathdown was the seat of the Mac Gilla Mo-Cholmocs and gives its name to the much larger Barony of Rathdown which stretched from our Three Trout stream south of Greystones to Merrion Gates in Dublin.

To quote the late Professor FX Martin (of UCD) in 1993: ”The recent discoveries at Rathdown confirm it to be a major medieval site of national and international importance. This treasure is an all important part of our national heritage and requires careful nurturing and development ... The Medieval Town of Rathdown is a significant National Monument that must be preserved in its archaeological and historical integrity.”

Incredibly, the old sewage works, now defunct, were built on part of the site, presumably by the Council. It is said that some of the stones of the castle remains may have been used in  the Gap Bridge.

We know that in 1534, the castle, 20 house plots, a watermill and a “crykka” remained. The old word “cryyka is similar to the modern word “creek” and according to some scholars its inclusion in the 1534 description suggests a small estuary which may have formed a natural harbour. 

All this is recorded in a publication  entitled “Ancient Rathdown and Saint Crispins Cell — A uniquely Historic Landscape” produced by the “Friends of Medieval Rathdown” in 1993 whose patrons included the late Eamon de Buitlear and Garret Fitzgerald.  To quote FX Martin again from the publication “”The Rathdown site has obvious potential as a tourist attraction………” 

Greystones is only in its infancy at 150 years of age when compared with the medieval village of Rathdown. This is surely a medieval and ancient legacy worthy of protection and enhancement. In March 1992 the entire area of the medieval town of Rathdown was designated as a National Monument. The Council recognised the site’s importance in its “Guide to the archaeology of Co Wicklow”, published in 1993.

[princefrightening-blog]

Stumbled across this on YouTube. A bunch of fifth year students from the Rathdown Scool in Dublin, I believe. Self taught choir mashup, mega inspiring and very well done. :)