Raheen, County Wexford

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Raheen
Irish: An Ráithín
County Wexford
Location
Grid reference: S869277
Location: 52°23’31"N, 6°47’38"W
Data
Local Government

Raheen is a townland and village in County Wexford, 17 miles from Wexford, seven miles from New Ross, and 14 miles from Enniscorthy.

The name 'Raheen' is from the Irish Ráithín, which means 'the little rath or ringfort'. A rath or ringfort was a fortified wooden human dwelling.[1]

History

For most of the Norman period, the area was controlled by the Howell family. They gave their name to nearby 'Courthoyle', where they had a chapel and castle.

During the Irish Rebellion of 1798, one of the main rebel camps was located at nearby 'Carrigbyrne Hill'.[2]

Formerly a Roman Catholic church stood at Courthoyle, nearby to the village of Raheen. The current R.C. church of Raheen dates from 1814.

A Protestant church that once stood in the townland of Templeshelin (about half a mile away) has since been demolished. This belonged to the former Church of Ireland parish of Adamstown. The adjacent cemetery is still in existence and contains some of the victims of the Scullabogue barn fire that took place during the Irish Rebellion of 1798, as well as a small number of other graves.

Amenities

Raheen village contains a primary school,[3] a shop, a Roman Catholic church,[4] a childcare centre, a community centre, and a few houses. There is also a cemetery located about half a kilometre away at Courthoyle. Raheen Roman Catholic (R.C.) church, a curacy, is part of the R.C. Parish of Newbawn. The parish church is located at Newbawn.

Sport

  • Gaelic sports: Adamstown GAA, whose main pitch is at Adamstown, about two miles away, though another pitch, at Newbawn, is sometimes also used.

References

  1. An Ráithín/Raheen: Placenames Database of Ireland
  2. Dickson, The Wexford Rising in 1798, p. 119.
  3. Raheen National School (N.S.)
  4. Raheen RC Church.
  • Dickson, Charles. The Wexford Rising in 1798. London: Constable & Co., 1997. ISBN 0-09-477250-9.
  • Brooks, Eric St. John. Knights’ Fees in Counties Wexford, Carlow and Kilkenny (13th-15th century). Dublin: Stationery Office, 1950