Rathconnell Court,
County Westmeath

Documenting our Heritage

The townland and parish of Rathconnell are said to have derived their name from the ancient leader, O'Connell Carnagh, who suffered defeat in a war, the details of which have been lost to history. The area was known as Rochonnell, which can be interpreted as O'Connells rout or defeat. Later the name became Rathconnell.

As recorded in the annals, battles were fought on the site in the year 798 and again in 1159, when Murtagh O'Loughlin led an army from the North and seized the lands from Dermot O'Melaghlin. Murtagh later awarded the entire Kingdom of Meath to his brother, Donnagh.

Several hundred years later, Rathconnell Castle had been built on the site. It was here that in 1642, Thomas Preston, 1st Viscount Tara, and the General of Leinster for the Irish Confederates, was defeated by Sir Richard Grenville and his army of the English Parliament. Grenville later became governor of Trim.

Rathconnell Court first appears in historical records on Griffiths Valuation circa 1850. The house and land was occupied by Francis Adams. Francis's ancestor, Reverend Randolph Adams, who originated from Lincolnshire, England had travelled to Ireland and become one of the Commissioners inquiring into the losses of the 1641 Rebellion. The Adams family went on to acquire substantial estates in county Westmeath.

In 1867, Reverend Cogan records the old church of Rathconnell, which stands a short distance from Rathconnell Court, in his book The Diocese of Meath : ‘The old church of Rathconnell is situated on a lofty hill, commanding an extensive view. The bell-tower, which is of great height, stands on the north side of the sanctuary. The church measures about seventy feet by twenty-two. The baptismal font is here ; it has an aperture, and the bowl measures one foot six inches in diameter.’

By 1900 both Rathconnell Court and the church of Rathconnell were recorded as ‘In Ruins’. Today the gaunt walls of Rathconnell Court stand testament to a once fine estate. A tower, also in ruins, stands behind the house. There is no evidence of the earlier Rathconnell Castle. The old Rathconnell Church is now so overgrown that its walls are barely recognisable.

If anybody knows more, please do get in touch.

This article is the copyright of Tarquin Blake, Abandoned Ireland, and may not be reproduced in any form without permission.