County: Dublin Site name: Rathcoole Court of Petty Sessions
Sites and Monuments Record No.: DU021-030 Licence number: 22E0614
Author: Philippa E. Barry
Site type: Urban
Period/Dating: Modern (AD 1750-AD 2000)
ITM: E 701973m, N 726733m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.281099, -6.470851
Rathcoole Courthouse is a Protected Structure (SDCC ref. 319) on the south side of Main Street, Rathcoole, Co. Dublin. The impact of the development was assessed under a Part VIII application here.
The courthouse is not in the Rathcoole village Architectural Conservation Area but is within the Zone of Archaeological Potential (RMP DU021-030). The courthouse is listed in the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage's survey of South County Dublin (Ref. 11213015), where it maintains a rating of regional importance, and is of architectural, social and technical interest.
Monitoring of demolitions, ground reduction and foundation strips took place throughout 2022. No archaeological remains were identified, however only less than 2m squared of natural ground was observed at 1.6m depth at the south-east corner of the site. It was evident that the ground level had been raised using a mottled yellow brown clay, prior to the insertion of 3 features associated with structures on the 1839 OS map.
The natural was a shale and clay mix - similar was noted to the south under monitoring by Ó Riordáin in 2003 (03E0846 - no summary).
Internal trenches were only excavated to 0.2m depth to facilitate repairs to the floor. The roof was also repaired. The courthouse has been extended via a break in the rear wall of the Judge's Robing Room and will house a community space and café. Works were completed on the project in 2023.
Archaeology Plan, 32 Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin 2
