Rathfarnham

About

Rathfarnham (Irish: Ráth Fearnáin, meaning 'Fearnán's ringfort') is a southside suburb of Dublin, Ireland. It is south of Terenure, east of Templeogue, west of Churchtown, and is in the postal districts of Dublin 14 and Dublin 16. It is between the local government areas of Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown and South Dublin.

Located within the historical baronies of Rathdown and Uppercross, Rathfarnham village originally developed around a fortification overlooking a ford on the River Dodder. From the medieval period, Rathfarnham was on the perimeter of the Pale (the area of Anglo-Norman influence in Ireland, centred on Dublin), and a number of defensive structures were built in the area. Rathfarnham Castle, a fortified house, was built in the late 16th century. Developed around these structures, by the 19th century there were a number of mills operating in the area, and Rathfarnham was still somewhat rural by the early 20th century. During the 20th century, with the expansion of metropolitan Dublin, Rathfarnham became a largely residential suburban area.