Ireland's oldest company Rathbornes 1488

Sceala Clann T.D. Location: Wicklow

After Waterford crystal...it was inspirational to watch a fascinating video on RTE today.
Beating the recession shows how ....Rathbornes ...Ireland's oldest company ....is still going strong, working on through booms and busts since 1488.
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Rathbornes Candles is the oldest candle manufacturer in the world. It was founded in 1488 in Dublin. In 1616 the Candlelight Law decreed that every fifth home should display a light for passers-by. Later in the seventeenth century, Rathbornes Candles was contracted to supply street lighting in Dublin. In 2004 it moved from premises in East Wall Road, Dublin, since 1925 to its current premises located in Rosemount Business Park, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15. It does a range of candles, varying from paraffin wax to pure beeswax. It is the sponsor of "Atmospheric Restaurant of the Year" award in Ireland. The Rathborne family are long associated with various areas in Dublin 15 including Dunsinea, Ashtown and Scribblestown although other historical locations for the business in Dublin are documented. Near to its earlier location in Scribblestown, there is now a housing development named after it.
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Rathborne candles also have a division known as Lalor Church Candles for candle supplies and other ecclesiastical products. Rathbornes acquired Lalor Ltd. in 1966.
The History of Rathbornes
Rathborne Candles have been Dublin Candlemakers since 1488. In 2002 we moved to new premises at Rosemount Business Park, Blanchardstown. This is just a short distance from Dunsinea in Abbottstown, where for nearly two hundred years from the 1700's we produced our candles, drawing on labour from the small village of Ashtown and the small labourers cottages on Blackhorse Avenue, between the Hole in the Wall public house and the Ashtown Park Gates. We returned to this area to ply our trade in the art of candlemaking, maintain our long heritage as Ireland's Oldest Company, and survive to celebrate our sixth century. We are very proud to look back at our past, and eager to look forward into the future.

1488 - Wynetavern Street (near Christchurch Cathedral ): Rathbornes came to Ireland in 1488, driven from Chester by the silting-up of the River Dee, which was slowly strangling economic activity at the port. Chester was at that time a thriving area and conducted a busy trade with Ireland, Scotland and the ports of Europe. Joseph Rathborne came to Dublin and later established a candle manufacturing business in Dublins Wynetavern Street. For nearly 150 years Rathbornes produced their candles on Wynetavern Street before locating on the the north side of the city in St. Mary's Abbey.

1620 (circa.) - St. Mary's Abbey: The relocation to the north side of the Liffey which continues to the present day.

1630 (circa.) - Prussia Street/Pill Lane: From 1700 onwards the firm gradually expanded, securing the contract to supply the streets of Dublin with light - the light being the humble candle. In addition the company secured lucrative contracts supplying the lighthouses around the coast - in those days it was candles which supplied the light in the lighthouses protecting our coasts.

1720 (circa.) - Great Brittain Street (now Parnell Street):

1764 - Dunsinea, Castleknock: In his will dated 1737, Joseph Rathborne left the business to his son Joseph on the condition that his son ran the factory for a period of ten years after so inheriting it. In 1763 William Rathborne erected a fine house on his lands at Dunsinea, "Dunsinea Manor", the stone coming from the local quarry, and also established a factory known as the Phoenix Candle Works in Dunisea. It is assumed the factory took its name from the nearby Phoenix Park. At the same time he also developed premises he had in the city centre, in Essex Street, as offices and warehousing, now the offices of the Dublin District Court.

William Rathborne died in 1779 and the business passed on to his son William. He in turn passed on the firm to his son Henry, who himself built a fine home in 1811, called Dunsinea House. Still in pristine condition it is now part of the headquarters of Teagasc, the old Agricultural Institute in Abbotstown.

In 1836, following the death of Henry, the factory passed into the hands of John G. Rathborne, a shrewd businessman who guided the form through difficult trading years when Dublin city and its institutions had gaslight installed, thus cutting in on Rathborne's market.

1865 - East Wall Road (Dublin Petroleum Stores): In the 1860's John G Rathborne purchased a site on Dublin's North Lotts, which had been earmarked for a Cattle Market. The proposal never got off the ground and the Cattle Market was relocated from Smithfield to Aughrim Street/ Prussia Street. John G. constructed an extensive storage facility on the East Wall Road called "the Dublin Petroleum Stores". He also registered the name John G. Rathborne Limited with the Companies Office.

The last member of the Rathborne dynasty to run the factory was Henry Burnley Rathborne.

1910 - Lalor Ltd: In 1910 A.J. Lalor established Lalor Church Candles.

1914 - Rathborne Family sell company: In 1914 Henry B. Rathborne sold the factory to John Barrington & Sons of Parnell Street, a subsidiary of Lever Bros,. and moved out of Dublin, settling in County Fermagh.

1923 - Shell & BP: The firm was later transferred to E. Daly & Company, another Lever Group company. In 1923 it was acquired by Shell & BP Limited, now Irish Shell.

1925 - East Wall Road: In 1925 the firm re-located to its East Wall Road site, where a new factory was constructed and completed in March of that year. Shell kept on the manager and office manager of Henry B. Rathborne, and they remained with the firm until after the Second World War, Stanley Kay Sloan retiring in 1945 and Dermot Reilly Sidford retiring in 1946.

1966 - Rathbornes acquired Lalor Ltd.: This was the biggest rationalisation in the history of Irish candlemaking, consolidating production of both companies at East Wall Road.

2002 - Rosemount, Blanchardstown: Rathborne Candles relocates to its new premises in Rosemount Business Park, Blanchardstown.

As one receives a candle from this Dublin Company one is getting a product that was first manufactured by the firm within the old city walls some 514 years ago. It is interesting to note that handmade wax candles are still crafted in much the same way as they have always been.

I recall Finn quoting the Irish song Waxies dargle ...was based around the Dublin candle makers annual works outing ...I recall it because the outing was to Bray ...Wicklow.

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Ireland's oldest company Rathbornes 1488

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