Settlement deserted - medieval

The National Monuments Service's description

According to Bradley et al (1986 vol. 4, 422-35), the place name Rathmore derives from 'Rath Mhór', "the big fort", but it's unclear whether this refers to the motte (KD020-009004-) or to an earlier ringfort. Prince John, in a document of 1185-9, confirmed the grant of Rathmore to Gerald Fitzgerald, ancestor of the Fitzgerald barons of Offaly and earls of Kildare, and also granted him a weekly market there. The granting of a charter establishing a borough at Rathmore by Gerald Fitzmaurice before his death in 1203 is confirmed by reference to it in another charter of c. 1220 by Gerald's son Maurice, in which Maurice granted the burgesses the liberties of Breteuil and 96 burgages with their appurtenances at an annual rent of 12d. Of the 96 burgages, 85 were to contain seven acres and a frontage each, and 11 were of a half-acre with frontage. An extent of the possessions of Richard FitzThomas, earl of Kildare, drawn up in 1331, included £19 in rents from the burgesses and tenants of Rathmore. Several long, narrow plots running SW between Main St. and a wide, grassy track running parallel to Main St. and which is shown as a road on a 17th century map of the village, may preserve some of burgage-plot lines, while others may survive as low earthworks NW of the road between the motte and Segrave's Castle (KD020-009002-). Rathmore's frontier location is illustrated by the fact that in 1355-6, Maurice Fitzgerald, earl of Kildare, was ordered by the King, on pain of forfeiting the manor, to go to Rathmore in person, accompanied by five men-at-arms with armoured horses, 12 well-armed hobelars, 40 archers and other footmen well-equipped, in order to resist the incursions of the O'Broin and their allies. The absence of historical references after the 14th century suggests that the borough declined, but Tirlagh Doyne was listed as its provost in 1608, indicating it was not completely abandoned. Rathmore was said to have been burned by Rory Og O'More, who died in 1577, and partly burned by the O'Byrnes in 1580. The Civil Survey of 1654 notes a 'Manor House or Castle', three other castles, and a mill, all of which were described as waste (Simington 1952, 43), and the locations of which (apart from Segrave's Castle) are unknown. (Herity 2002, 56 (165); Mayo, 7th earl of, 1896-9, 112-5; De Burg 1896, 315; Hendrick-Aylmer 1899-1902, 380-81; Fitzgerald 1903-5, 498; Killanin and Duignan 1967, 408; Meagher 1979-80, 118)

Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy

Date of upload: 10 June 2011

References

Bradley, J., Halpin, A., and King, H.A. 1986 Urban Archaeological Survey - County Kildare (4 vols.). Unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public Works, Dublin.

Herity, M. (ed.) 2002 Ordnance Survey Letters Kildare. Dublin. Four Masters Press.

Simington, R.C. (ed.) 1952 The Civil survey, AD 1654-1656. Vol. VIII: county of Kildare. Dublin. Irish Manuscripts Commission.

Killanin, M.M. and Duignan, M.V. 1967 (2nd ed.) The Shell guide to Ireland. London. The Ebury Press.

Hendrick-Aylmer, H. 1899-1902 Rathmore. Journal of the Kildare Archaeological Society 3, 372-81.

Mayo, Earl of, 1896-8 Rathmore: the big rath. Journal of the Kildare Archaeological Society 2, 112-5.