Rathmines

This new historical atlas of Rathmines explores the vibrant Dublin suburb through word, map and image. The emergence of Rathmines from village through township to suburb of Dublin is explained in a thoroughly researched text, illustrated with thematic maps, early views and photographs. A series of historic maps shows how the topography changed from medieval ráth to early modern castle, and from nineteenth century village to wealthy residential suburb, local government administrative centre and twentieth-century flatland. A gazetteer of over 1,000 sites and accompanying essay gives the detailed topographical history of Rathmines from earliest times up to c. 1970.

Through the atlas, we discover that over the centuries Rathmines has shifted north, its ancient core centred on the original Rathmines Castle (present-day Palmerston Park). Farms gave way to country villas, before the Grand Canal, Portobello Barracks, fine terraces and grand squares from the nineteenth century left their lasting imprint. We are shown how well-known aspects of Rathmines topography, such as Rathmines Road and the Town Hall, have transformed and endured through time. While other once distinctive features — the Swan River, the world-famous Grubb’s astronomical works and two large skating rinks — have disappeared.

Rathmines by Séamas Ó Máitiú is the second in a series of atlases devoted to Dublin suburbs being produced by the Irish Historic Towns Atlas project in the Royal Irish Academy, in association with Dublin City Council. Clontarf by Colm Lennon was published in 2017.