Rathcoole
House
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.
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