It is in civil parish of Dromtarrife in the barony of Duhallow.

[2] Rathcoole is within the Dáil constituency of Cork North-West.

Rathcoole is located south of the River Blackwater in between Millstreet and Banteer.

Rathcoole once had a train station on the Mallow–Tralee line but it closed in 1963.

[4] In Gaelic football and hurling, Dromtarriffe GAA club represents Rathcoole, and the club's sports ground is located just outside the village.