Ballymoon
Ballymoon is a townland in the civil parish of Dunleckny, barony of Idrone East, Co. Carlow. Its name in Irish is Baile Muáin.
- Area
- 169.3 ha
- 418 acres
- Land parcels
- 28
- registered freehold, median 7,000 m² (0.7 ha, 1.73 acres)
- Zoning
- —
- not in a zoned settlement
- Planning
- 3
- applications since 2010
Land parcels
Registered freehold land, Tailte Éireann
28 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Ballymoon, from 214 m² to 286,992 m² (28.7 ha, 70.92 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary. 25 neighbouring parcels touch it.
Download the townland as DXF, in Irish Transverse Mercator metres, with its boundary, parcels and buildings, or as GeoJSON or KML.
Zoning
Development plans, national zoning
No zone of a development plan covers Ballymoon in the national zoning. Outside zoned towns and villages, the county development plan's rural policies apply to each application.
Source: Tailte Éireann and the Department of Housing (MyPlan), national zoning, CC BY 4.0.
Planning applications
Sites that touch the townland, newest first
18 Feb 2019Conditional
revisions to dwelling constructed on foot of planning permission reference 04/836, the revisions include (a) alterations to front elevation consisting of the addition of double doors, increase eave and ridge height, (b) the addition of windows above ground floor level to north and south elevations and all associated site development works
Retention, 1 home · Carlow County Council, 1962
19 Dec 2017Conditional
Planning permission for the construction of a proposed dormer style dwelling, domestic single storey garage, appropriate waste water treatment system, bored well, upgrade of existing agricultural entrance to a domestic entrance with associated wing walls, and all ancillary site works.
Permission, 1 home · Carlow County Council, 17358
4 Dec 2017Unconditional
Ext of duration for PL 12-167 - Permission is sought to construct a two storey dwelling house , garage, new site entrance, septic tank and associated percolation area, all ancillary site works and services.
Extension of duration · Carlow County Council, 17342
Source: National Planning Applications, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Applicants are not shown.
Nature and heritage
Designated sites and recorded monuments
Designated sites
- Proposed Natural Heritage Area: Ballymoon Esker 000797
Recorded monuments
- CW016-049 Enclosure
Description
The following description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Carlow' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1993). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 17 July 2007 Aerial photograph (GSI S 268) shows cropmark of fosse enclosing oval area (est max. diam. c. 30m). Possibly a ringfort. No visible trace at ground level. Aerial photograph (GB89.S.09) shows cropmark of a circular enclosure defined by a fosse. Extensive quarrying in adjacent fields.
- CW016-050 Kiln - lime
Description
Mound visible on 1938-9 edition of OS 6-inch map represents the remains of the lime-kiln indicated on the 1839 OS 6-inch map. Small sections of walls still visible when inspected in 1987. Compiled by: Claire Breen Date of upload: 19 August 2011
- CW016-051 Enclosure
Description
Rectangular enclosure visible on aerial photograph (CUCAP, ATA 20). No remains visible at ground level when inspected in 1987. Compiled by: Claire Breen Date of upload: 19 August 2011
- CW016-052 Ringfort - rath
Description
The following description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Carlow' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1993). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 17 July 2007 Monument No. HM00319, this monument was entered in the Register of Historic Monuments on the 22 December 1980. Circular, slightly raised area (41m N-S, 40m E-W) enclosed by low bank with external fosse, latter now filled in.
- CW016-053 Enclosure
Description
The following description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Carlow' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1993). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 17 July 2007 Shown on oval enclosure with trees on 1839 'OS 6-inch' map (max. dims. 40m N-S, 30m E-W). Now incorporated into landscaped wood. Possibly ornamental in origin.
- CW016-054001 Moated site
Description
The following description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Carlow' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1993). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 17 July 2007 Subrectangular platform (28m N-S, 26.5m E-W) enclosed by dry fosse (Wth 10-11m; max. D 1.9m). Drystone facing (3-4 courses high) visible on NW inner angle of fosse. Possible traces of external bank.
- CW016-054002 Earthwork
Description
A series of low earthworks are visible in the field in which moated site (CW016-054001-) is located. Compiled by: Claire Breen Date of upload: 19 August 2011
- CW016-055001 Castle - Anglo-Norman masonry castle
Description
National Monument No. 486. Situated on a low rise of ground in undulating countryside overlooked by higher ground to NE with stream 25m to E. Moated site (CW016-054001-) 270m to NNW. 1839 ed. OS 6-inch map shows marshy land located to N and E of castle. Earthworks (CW016-055002-) in field W of castle entrance may be the remains of a deserted medieval settlement or part of the designed landscape associated with the castle. O’Keeffe (2001, 170) suggests that Ballymoon Castle was constructed c. 1300 on lands that were then in the possession of the Carew family and that the castle may have been built by a wealthy descendant of the Carews. Early fourteenth-century castle consisting of a roughly square-shaped courtyard area (int. dims. 26m N-S x 25m E-W) enclosed by a range of buildings on all four sides protected by a curtain wall (ext. dims. 42m NE-SW x 41m NW-SE) which survives three storeys high. Leask (1944, 185) recorded the local tradition that the castle was never finished however he concluded that although ‘the point may never be settled satisfactorily but there is ground for believing that the castle was occupied’. The curtain wall has 4 latrine towers which are located off centre to W on N wall, at centre of E wall, on SE angle, and a large barrel-vaulted multi-storey tower containing a two garderobes located off centre to E in S wall. Three of the 4 mural towers contain double garderobe chutes while the SE angle tower contains a single garderobe making a total of 7 toilets present in the castle. In 1835 the castle was described as being enclosed externally by a moat which has since been filled in, however an earlier description from 1793 states that there was no enclosing moat around the castle. The curtain wall (H c. 6m; wall T 2.2m) is built with coursed granite rubble with no base batter visible. Numerous putlog holes visible in the curtain wall on all four sides. There is good evidence for external lime render on the N and E walls of the castle only with no traces visible on the S and W walls due to weathering. The castle courtyard is entered through a destroyed gateway located off centre to N in W wall. Evidence of portcullis slot inside entrance gate of castle with recess for possible external drawbridge visible in external face of gateway. The tie stones of a possible forebuilding or gatehouse can be seen projecting out from the face of of the wall at first floor level. The foundations of this forebuilding can be seen outside the entrance gate. Directly inside the entrance gate on the S side there is a pointed doorway leading to a spiral stairs which gives access to the upper floor levels of the gatehouse and to the range of buildings on the W side of the castle courtyard. The projecting mural latrine tower on the N wall contains two garderobe chute openings with Caernarvon arches. This tower is located off centre to W in the N wall of the castle and is located beside the large double fireplace visible in the centre of the N wall of the castle. This mural latrine tower has cruciform-shaped arrow loops with plunging sills in W and E faces which provides flanking fire along the external face of the N wall of the castle. The presence of the large double fireplace indicates the location of the Great Hall of the castle. The mural latrine tower with double garderobe in the E wall also possesses cruciform-shaped arrow loops in N and S faces of the tower providing flanking fire along both sides of the external face of the E wall of the castle. The larger three storey-high barrel-vaulted tower on the S wall of the castle also contains cruciform arrow-loops in E and W faces which provides flanking fire along external face of S wall of castle. The curtain wall of the castle has three cruciform-shaped arrow-loops at E end of S wall with no arrow loops in S wall to W of barrel-vaulted garderobe tower. The wall of the castle is defended by four cruciform-shaped arrow loops with four similar shaped arrow loops visible in N wall of castle. No cruciform arrowloops present in W wall of castle. Smal singlle light flat headed opes located either side of entrance gate with a second single light flat-headed ope located off centre to N in W wall at fround floor level. Pointed single-light window at first floor level in W wall to N of entrance gate. The windows are set into pointed arched embrasures with chamfered cut stones surrounds with good evidence of internal lime render visible on the sides and roof of the window embrasures. The garderobes in the E wall are entered through cut stone chamfered doorwars with Caernarvon arches. A broken out fireplace in the E wall of the castle can be seen located between two cruciform shaped arrowloops. Foundations of cellars and large numbers of embrasures, loops, window and garderobes indicate ranges of buildings on all sides. Foundations of cellars only suggests building may never have been completed (Leask 1944, 183-90). Cross-loops with expanded terminals and 'Caernarvon arches' indicate construction date no earlier than end of thirteenth-century. National Monument No. 486 under state guardianship. Ballymoon Castle was drawn (see attached plan) and described in 1793 as consisting of ‘walls rudely built of mountain stone, were originally 30 feet (9m) high, and still about 20 (6m), inclosing an area of 110 feet (33.5m) square. On the fourth side is the entrance d defended by a portcullis. At o were newel stairs leading to the parapet and battlements on the top of the wall. On the east side was a tower b which contained the principal apartments, having 3 stories, each containing a room 25 feet (7.6m) by 16 (4.8m), to which conducted a newel stair c. On the west side was another tower h. On the north side are three small apartments a ascended to by steps in the wall; each apartment is 12 feet (3.6m) by 6 (1.8m), and has a fireplace and one window in the form of a cross, small, and doth not appear to have been glazed. f,f,f,f are windows large on the inside but very narrow without. G the foundation of sheds, under which most probably the cattle were stalled. Within the area A were wells and other conveniences now filled up. The building is situated in a high rocky field without either ditch or mound, nor doth there appear to have been wither wood or habitation near it. This castle, from the architecture and ornaments, seems to be of the 14th century’ (Anon 1793, 274-5). The castle was described in 1835 as the ruins of a castle forming a ‘square, measuring about one hundred and twenty feet (36.5m) on each side. It was formerly surrounded by a moat, now almost filled up. The interior has totally fallen into ruins-some trace of cross-walls remaining here and there, and the base of a few pillars, scarcely distinguishable. There are two square towers- in the south, one and in the north, another. The windows, mere loop holes, are in good preservation, about five feet (1.5m) in height, four inches (0.1m) broad and of a crucifix form at top. The entrance is on the west, by a cut-stone arched gateway, the upper part of which has fallen from its place. The main walls. Which are about 31 feet (9.4m) in height, are not less than eight feet (2.4m) thick, and are covered with earth and grass. The centre appears to have been at all times an open, uncovered area. The architecture is of great strength and durability. To the right, on entering, is a pointed arch; inside which, and in the main wall, are some steps leading to a loop-hole’ (Anon 1835, 249-50). Harbison (1970, 32) described Ballymoon as following: ‘The castle consists of a square central courtyard surrounded by walls which are eight feet (2.4m) thick and twenty feet (6m) high, with square towers projecting from three sides. On the fourth side is the gate with a pointed arch and a groove for the portcullis. The interior of the castle is bare, but originally there were two-storey structures built up against the in
- CW016-055002 Designed landscape feature
Description
Low earthworks in field to W and NW of Ballymoon Castle (CW016-055001-) which are visible on OSI aerial photographs may be the remains of a deserted medieval settlement or form part of the designed landscape associated with the Anglo-Norman castle. The earthworks visible on aerial photographs appear to form small enclosures or fields located to the W of a medieval road running N-S towards the entrance gate of Ballymoon Castle. There are no clear house sites visible on the aerial photographs and the earthworks appear to form small fields rather than a classic series of houses located to the W of this roadway. According to McNeill these earthworks represent the remains of a 'quite extensive village or small town' (McNeill 1997, 110). O’Keeffe (2001, 172) however argues that these ‘earthworks have neither the regularity nor the requisite house-plots and property boundaries to support such an identification’, he goes on to suggest that the earthworks ‘constitute a form of landscape architecture, with banks and platforms which guide the choreography of movement to and from the castle, thereby enhancing its visual magnificence’. A series of earthworks located in the adjoining field to the N of the castle some of which may be medieval and others which are probably related to post-medieval drainage. In this field are the remains of an Anglo-Norman moated site (CW016-054001-). The earthworks in the fields were not visible at time of inspection as the grass in the field was very high. Compiled by: Claire Breen Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 13 August 2015
- CW016-056 Kiln - lime
Description
Indicated as a circular feature on the 1839 and 1938-9 eds. of the OS 6-inch map. In hilly terrain on gentle NNW facing slope with fair views to the N. Marked by a slight rise in the field. Compiled by: Claire Breen Date of upload: 19 August 2011
- CW016-105 Mound
Description
The following description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Carlow' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1993). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 17 July 2007 Low rise (H c. 0.5m; diam. c. 18m) visible in ill-drained area, 100m SE of castle (CW016-055001-).
- CW016-115 Enclosure
Description
Rectangular enclosure visible on aerial photograph (CUCAP, ATA 20). No remains visible at ground level. Compiled by: Claire Breen Date of upload: 19 August 2011
- CW016-117 Rock art
Description
Rock art noted between Ballymoon castle (CW016-055001-) and the road (pers. comm. Tommy Clarke). Not located when inspected in September 2004. Compiled by: Claire Breen Date of upload: 13 January 2012
Architectural heritage
No building of the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage stands in the townland of Ballymoon.
Designated sites: National Parks and Wildlife Service. Recorded monuments: Sites and Monuments Record, National Monuments Service. Buildings: National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Works at or in relation to a recorded monument need two months' written notice to the National Monuments Service (National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994, section 12).
Ground and risks
Radon, landslides, flooding
- Radon
- At the centre of the townland of Ballymoon, about 1 in 10 homes in this area is likely to have high radon levels. Testing a home
- Landslides
- The 1:50,000 map rates the landslide susceptibility here as moderately high, moderately low, low, partly inferred.
- Terrain model
- No LiDAR survey of the Office of Public Works covers the centre of the townland of Ballymoon.
- Flooding
- The Office of Public Works publishes its flood maps on floodinfo.ie.
Radon Risk Map of Ireland, Environmental Protection Agency, and Landslide Susceptibility Classification, Geological Survey Ireland, both under CC BY 4.0. LiDAR: contains Irish Public Sector Data (Geological Survey Ireland & the Office of Public Works) licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.
Homes sold
Property Price Register
No address of the register names Ballymoon with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Carlow.
The townland
- Name
- Ballymoon · Baile Muáin
- Area
- 1,692,980 m² (169.3 ha, 418.34 acres)
- Civil parish
- Dunleckny, and its townlands
- Barony
- Idrone East
- Electoral division
- Ballymoon, the unit of the census
- Census 2022
- 351 people lived in 120 households in the Ballymoon electoral division. 95% of households owned their home. 39% of homes were built since 2001. 9% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 1% were holiday homes.
- Neighbouring townlands
- Ballywilliamroe, Bohermore, Curraghacruit, Kilcarrig, Seskinryan
- Placenames
- Ballymoon on logainm.ie, the Placenames Database of Ireland
Townlands, civil parishes, baronies and electoral divisions, National Statutory Boundaries, Tailte Éireann, CC BY 4.0. Census 2022, Small Area Population Statistics by electoral division, Central Statistics Office, CC BY 4.0. A townland is the smallest land division of Ireland, and the unit of a rural address. Old registers such as the 1901 and 1911 censuses file it under its civil parish and barony.