Documenting our Heritage

Rathcoffey,

Kildare.

Rathcoffey Demesne

Its a sunny but bitter cold day. The wind chills us right to the bone.

We’re looking round the bleak, open landscape pondering on why Archibald Hamilton Rowan chose to build his mansion house up here on this exposed hill?

Of course, referring to an early map of the area we find the landscape was totally different back then - the estate was wooded with walled gardens, formal gardens and approached by a fine tree lined avenue.

The landscape today - the original estate has been totally decimated.

This occurred after the 1970s.