County: Dublin Site name: RATHFARNHAM
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 95E0200
Author: Judith Carroll
Site type: House - fortified house
Period/Dating: Modern (AD 1750-AD 2000)
ITM: E 714390m, N 729174m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.300498, -6.283854
The excavation took place on the tract of land between Rathfarnham bypass and Rathfarnham Village between 9 and 25 October 1995. This tract of land was, until the bypass was built, part of the grounds of the castle. The site is at present owned by McInerney Constructions Ltd and the excavation of the passageway was carried out in advance of their plans for development.
Last year, trial-testing at this site (see Excavations 1994, 35) found evidence of the continuity of the underground passageway which runs under the kitchen wing of Rathfarnham Castle.
The passageway was most probably, during the latter phase of its use anyway, a 'servants' entrance' to the castle. It stretches from the castle kitchen wing across the grounds to the boundary walls of the estate at the village. Though the building of this passageway has not been closely dated, such passageways are very common in relation to castles and large country houses during the 18th/19th century.The passageway excavated on the development site was found to be in a completely collapsed state in this area, but had originally been similar to the part which remains still intact in the castle. It was approximately 2m high and, prior to its widening for drainage purposes, probably about 2-3m wide, with fairly rough stone and mortar walls. It also had a roof made of small stones and mortar mixed sporadically with pieces of brick. Pieces of 18th- and 19th-century pottery were found in the rubble collapse of the passageway. These indicate that it was demolished during the 19th century or later.
30 Ramleh Park, Milltown, Dublin 6
