Rathmines is a suburb in southern Dublin. The first recorded mention of the area was in the 14th century; the land was part of the estate of the canon of the St Patrick’s Cathedral. Later, the land became part of the Barony of Uppercross, just outside the old city’s walls. The town was also well known for its spa, the waters from which were said to have health-giving properties. It attracted people with all manners of ailments looking for cures to the area. Rathmines is perhaps most infamous historically for the bloody battle that took place there in 1649 during the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland. Parliamentarian forces defeated and routed the Royalist army, leading to the deaths of up to 5,000 people.
As the industrial revolution reached Ireland the Grand Canal was constructed on the northern edge of Rathmines, connecting Rathmines with Portobello. By the 19th century the Rathmines had become a suburb of Dublin and was with extremely popular with the rich and powerful, the spa however had fallen into disrepair and disputes arose between those who wished to preserve it and those who wished to get rid of it altogether. When the water quality tested the tester concluded that “It was, in all probability, merely the drainings of some ancient disused sewer…”. The Spa was soon blocked up and forgotten.
Today Rathmines well known for it’s two landmarks, the Cathal Brugha Barracks which is home to many units of the Irish army and the Copper dome of Mary Immaculate, Refuge of Sinners Church. The dome was originally destined for St Petersburg but the political and social upheaval there caused it to be diverted to Dublin. These days the rich and powerful upper class are gone from Rathmines and the population of the suburb are mainly young people, Rathmines village home to many students and young professionals with a range of amenities and with good transport links to Dublin city centre.