RATHFARNHAM, a parish and village in Uppercross and Rathdown baronies, Dublin county, four miles south from the General Post Office, Dublin, comprising an area of 2,581 acres, of which 60 are occupied by the village and ponds. Population of parish, 4,469; of village and ponds, 867, inhabiting 141 houses. It is situated on the road to Whitechurch, and near where the Military-road commences that crosses the mountains into Wicklow county.

The village consists of one long irregular street: the Church on the right side, with a tower and spire. The Chapel, with a residence for the priest, is a large building. The Loretto Convent, in the vicinity, formerly the residence of the late George Grierson, esq., is a large modern brick building, attached to which there is an elegant chapel, a female free school, also a ladies' boarding and day school. There is also at Firhouse a Carmelite Convent, and there are Parochial and Hibernian Society Schools in the village, also a Dispensary, a Petty Sessions Court-house, and District Constabulary Police Station. A fair is held on July 10. The bridge of' Rathfarnham, of one arch, over the river Dodder, is several hundred yards from the village, the approach to which is rising ground, thickly shaded in summer by the trees of the demesnes on each side. Near the bridge are the Ely woollen mills of Thomas Murray, giving employment to upwards of 100 hands. The neighbourhood abounds in pretty seats and villas, commanding rich views of the Dublin mountains and bay. The castle of Rathfarnham, was built by Archbishop Loftus in the reign of Elizabeth. One of the entrances to the demesne, fronting the Dodder, is in the style of a Roman triumphal arch. The entrance to the castle is by a portico of eight Doric columns that support a dome painted in fresco with the signs of the zodiac.

Ballyboden. a village in the parish of White-church, is about one and a quarter miles farther on, and comprises an area of two acres, population 252, inhabiting 52 houses, near which the Military-road passes; and in the vicinity there are numerous handsome seats and picturesque villas, among which are Marlay and Glen Southwell, or the Little Dargle. In the grounds of the former there is a mausoleum, in which is interred the late Right Hon. John David Latouche, and his, sister, the Countess of Lanesborough. Here also is Priory, the seat of George .Hatchell, esq., and where the celebrated Right Hon. John Philpot Curran lived many years.

The mail arrives here at thirty minutes past 8 o'clock, A.m., and at fifteen minutes past :3 o'clock, p.m.; despatched at 15 minutes past 10 o'clock, a.m., and at thirty minutes past 4 o'clock, p.m.