The Rathkeale Poor Law Union was officially declared in 1838. The Workhouse was opened in 1841 at a cost of £7,600. It was built to house a maximum capacity of 660 inmates. The Rathkeale Workhouse was built to accomodate people from the areas of Adare, Ardcanny, Askeaton, Croagh, Croom, Dunmoylan, Iverus, Kilcornan, Kildimo, Kilfenny, Kilfergus, Kilmoylan, Kilscannel, Lismakeery, Loughill, Nantenan, Rathkeale, and Shanagolden.
The Rathkeale Workhouse closed in 1921 with the remaining inmates being relocated to the county home. A few months later it was burned down by Republican forces to prevent it being used as an auxillary base by the British army.
The Rathkeale Workhouse site is now occupied by a meat processing plant with some original buildings surviving.
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