Things to do in Rathcoole
Attractions, heritage sites and walks around Rathcoole, drawn from open data. Distances are straight-line from the town centre.
In brief
Rathcoole is a town in County Dublin about 16 km from Dublin city centre. Open datasets list 45 Fáilte Ireland visitor attractions within 10 km, seven national monuments open to visitors within 20 km, two waymarked walking trails starting nearby. Everything below comes from published sources, refreshed regularly.
Attractions near Rathcoole
Visitor attractions listed by Fáilte Ireland within 10 km (top 12 of 45).
- RUA RED is South Dublin’s hub for creative activity for all ages – with Galleries, Films, Workshops, Classes, Performances, Community Events, Artistic tenants and…
- The village of Kilteel lies six miles north of Naas at the foot of the Wicklow mountains. It is here that we find Kilteel Castle.
- The Sean Walsh Memorial Park in Tallaght, County Dublin, is an oasis at the heart of a densely populated urban area, providing a landscaped parkland, ornamental…
- Hunting Brook Garden is located in Blessington, County Wicklow and is an inspiring tropical, prairie and woodland gardens. It is filled with rare plants from around…
- Tymon Park in Tallaght, Dublin City, is a valuable resource for visitors and locals in the surrounding hinterland. Opportunities to avail of a wide range of outdoor…
- St Mary’s Church is found in the heart of Leixlip Village, just 20 minutes west of Dublin City. The site has been a place of Christian worship for more than 800 years…
- The Lodge Park Walled Garden is located at The Steam Museum in Straffan, County Kildare. It is found adjoining one of Ireland's magnificent historic houses, Lodge Park.
- The Steam Museum and Lodge Park Walled Garden,two attractions in the same place, are located only 15kms west of Dublin and are 5kms from 2 arterial roads, N4 and N7
- Olly's Farm is nestled in the picturesque countryside in the Dublin Mountains overlooking Dublin City. Discover the smallholding farm lifestyle, meet the animals and…
- Rye River Brewing Co. is an independent Irish brewery based in Celbridge, County Kildare. Known for its modern, sustainable brewing approach, it produces a wide range…
- Experience the splendour of Castletown House, a Palladian mansion in County Kildare. Marvel at the magnificent building and take time to explore the 18th century…
- The gardens of Castletown House were designed in the 18th century in the French Baroque style. The parklands of a Palladian style mansion located in Celbridge, County…
Heritage and monuments
National monuments open to visitors within 20 km.
- The original castle at Rathfarnham dates back to the Elizabethan period and was built for Archbishop Adam Loftus, an ambitious Yorkshire clergyman, who came to Ireland as chaplain to the Lord Deputy and quickly rose to…
- One of the largest unoccupied gaols in Europe, covering some of the most heroic and tragic events in Ireland's emergence as a modern nation from 1780s to the 1920s.
- Today the wedge tomb at Kilmashogue is located in forestry, but originally it would have been situated on an open mountain side overlooking the lowlands now occupied by Dublin city.
- This great stone castle was founded in the early 13th century and became the principal residence of the Kildare branch of the Geraldines.
- Sited in the heart of the walled medieval city, St Audoen's Church is the only remaining medieval parish church in Dublin. It is dedicated to St Ouen the 7th century bishop of Rouen and patron saint of Normandy.
- St. Mary's Abbey is one of Dublin's best kept secrets. It was once the wealthiest Cistercian Abbey in Ireland. Today only two rooms remain - the Chapter House and the Slype.
- The Casino was designed by Sir William Chambers as a pleasure house for James Caulfeild, 1st Earl of Charlemont.
Walks and nature
Waymarked trails from Sport Ireland's National Trails Register and NPWS parks and nature reserves, starting near Rathcoole and across Co. Dublin.
- Ireland's largest national park and the only one in the east, almost 23,000 hectares of blanket bog, heath, oak woodland and upland lakes south of Dublin.
- North Bull Island Nature ReserveA UNESCO biosphere on a sandy island in Dublin Bay, internationally important for wintering wildfowl and waders.
- Rogerstown Estuary Nature ReserveA tidal estuary near Rush that is a key roost for Brent geese and other wintering birds.
- Baldoyle Estuary Nature ReserveA sheltered north Dublin estuary and saltmarsh, important for wintering waterfowl.
Plan around Rathcoole
- What's on across Leinster this week, refreshed every Monday.
- Thinking of moving here? Living in Rathcoole covers prices, rents and schools. Median sale price €535,000.
- See every nationally rated heritage building and monument in our heritage guide to Co. Dublin.
Attraction data from Fáilte Ireland Open Data (CC BY 4.0), last refreshed 13 July 2026. Monuments from the National Monuments Service and heritage buildings from the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (both data.gov.ie, CC BY 4.0). Trails from Sport Ireland's National Trails Register. Parks and reserves from the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Opening hours and admission can change; check the linked site before travelling.