The 1865 Rathcore evictions: A Local History

By Colin Eugene Rayfus

This study belongs to the strong tradition of Irish local history, where a single place is used to illuminate wider national forces. By focusing on Rathcore, situated in south County Meath, the book reveals how changes in land use, land laws, and power relations were experienced at the community level. The study's strength lies in its measured tone and respect for evidence, allowing the human consequences of eviction to emerge without polemic. In doing so, the study demonstrates how local histories can contribute meaningfully to a broader understanding of nineteenth-century rural Ireland.

While firmly grounded in historical sources, the study is equally concerned with memory, silence, and loss. The evictions of Rathcore are examined not as an isolated incident, but as part of a wider pattern that reshaped rural Ireland after the Great Famine. Through careful narration and restraint, the study restores attention to those most affected, showing how local experience can deepen our understanding of national Irish history.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1516884426
• ISBN13: 9781516884421
• Release Date: September 2015
• Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 454 Pages
• Weight: 1.33 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.0" x 9.0"