Since the 1300's a manor house had stood on the site. About
1750 the Clinch family had Rathcoole House built.
The kitchen and milling
room were on the lower level; a large hall, dining room and drawing room on the
second level; five bedrooms on the third level. The dining room and the drawing
room could be opened into one large ballroom. There was also a family room off
the hall, but that part of the house was demolished in 1933. This part of the
house had a secret area and a penal cross and chalice were found during the
demolition. They are thought to have belonged to
Father Harold, transported to
Australia in 1799.
The Clinch family
lived in Rathcoole House for 80 years and then the Sheil family for about 130
years, Florrie Sheil being the last member of the family to live there. The
Stassens owned the house from 1952 to 1962, until they sold it and its grounds
to a building developer. |
