A visit to Rathkeale, Co. Limerick in 2012

A slideshow of photos I took during my first visit to Rathkeale in County Limerick on Thursday 16th August 2012.
Rathkeale (Irish: 'Ráth Caola’, meaning "Caola's ringfort”) is a town in West County Limerick. It is situated about 30 km 18 miles southwest of Limerick City, just off the N21 that runs from Limerick to Tralee, and lies on the River Deel.
In 2016, Rathkeale had a population of 1,441 people. It is the 6th largest urban area in Limerick after Limerick City, Newcastlewest, Abbeyfeale, Castleconnell and Kilmallock. A significant percentage of Rathkeale's population are Irish Travellers.
The importance of Rathkeale as a centre can be traced back to the foundation of an Augustinian priory in the town in 1289. Its location on the river Deel added to its influence in the area. The arrival of the Palatines also contributed to the development of Rathkeale.
The Palatines were Lutheran refugees who fled from the Rhenish Palatinate of Germany due to an invasion by the French. They came to the area in 1708-09 under the patronage of Lord Southwell. Approximately twelve hundred Palatines came to settle in the area and their new ideas in farming were a large contributing factor to the development of the town. Rathkeale was also a major market town for the area and held seven fairs throughout the year.
The Earls of Desmond used Rathkeale as a base. Castle Matrix was the principal stronghold of the Desmonds in the area and was built in or around 1410 by the Fitzgeralds of Desmond. In October 1580, two famous visitors came to stay at Castle Matrix. They were the poets Edmund Spenser and Walter Raleigh.
Sir Nicholas Malby burned the town of Rathkeale in 1579 after he defeated the forces of John, Earl of Desmond. John and his forces fled to Rathkeale from Manister where Malby had earlier defeated the Irish.
Captain Walter Raleigh ambushed the Irish, who were about to plunder what was left of the English camp once the troops had left. He received the freedom of the town in 1580, as a reward. Raleigh also repaired the castles at Rathkeale (Desmond's) and Matrix. The lands of the Munster Geraldines were in the main divided up amongst Spenser, Raleigh and Edmund Southwell. Raleigh gave some 'Virginia Tubers' as a present to Southwell. Southwell planted the tubers in the land around Castle Matrix and, in 1610, the crop was distributed throughout the province of Munster.
In 1654 Cromwell fixed the town as the place for the election of the counties of Limerick, Cork and Kerry for his parliament. However, Cromwell changed his mind on this point when the town refused to supply his army with sufficient provisions of food.
In the past church appointments were sometimes challenged by the local gentry. In 1748 the parish priest Fr. James Moore died. Henry Southwell lead opposition to the appointment of a number of priests by Dr. Lacy and finally the position of parish priest was successfully held by David Bourke who lived in the parish until his death in 1762.
In 1846 a hoard of coin was discovered in Rathkeale. These coins were minted during the reign of Edward III (1327-1377). It is believed that the coins may have been part of the spoils of the O'Briens victory at Monasteranenagh in 1370.
St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Rathkeale was completed in 1881. The church bell was installed in 1882. The architect of this church was J. J. McCarthy.
The Augustinian Abbey was founded in 1289. Augustinians from the Order of St Aroasia officiated at the Abbey. It was claimed that in 1436, St. Mary the Virgin worked several miracles here. The abbey was granted to Sir H. Wallop after the death of the prior of the abbey Gerot Baluff in the Desmond Rebellion. The monastery was officially suppressed in 1542 but it is thought that a small community of canons may have remained there until 1581. The abbey is in good condition and Muintir na Tire renovated it in 1970.
Rathkeale railway station opened on 1 January 1867, closed for passenger traffic on 4 February 1963 and finally closed altogether on 2 December 1974. The Great Southern Trail is a greenway rail trail, which follows the route of the former Limerick-Tralee railway line between Rathkeale and Abbeyfeale.
In the early 1990’s the N21 Limerick-Tralee & Killarney road bypassed Rathkeale as the town’s narrow streetscape was unable to cope with heavy traffic.
Bus Eireann provide a bus services from Rathkeale to Limerick City, Tralee and Killarney.