Burren

1 registered freehold parcel lies mostly in Burren, from 1,099,466 m² (109.95 ha, 271.68 acres) to 1,099,466 m² (109.95 ha, 271.68 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary. 17 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.

No zone of a development plan covers Burren 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.

No planning application touches the townland of Burren in the national file, which goes back to 2010.

Source: National Planning Applications, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Applicants are not shown.

Designated sites

• Special Area of Conservation: Corratirrim SAC 000979
• Proposed Natural Heritage Area: Corratirrim 000979

Recorded monuments

• CV004-001 Megalithic tomb - portal tomb
  Description

  Situated in a forest overlooking Lough Macnean Upper. This roofed chamber is exposed in a hole in a peat-grown cairn of oval outline, measuring 20m by 16.5m by 2m high. The chamber, in the western half of the cairn, is rectangular in plan and measures about 2m long and 0.65m wide. Entry to it is at the W between two tall portal-stones, 0.65m apart. Behind each is a low sidestone. A backstone is set between the ends of the sidestones. A corbel rests on the southern sidestone and there are two superimposed examples on the northern one. Two overlapping roofstones cover the chamber. A small slab has been jammed between the roofstones. 'A fine urn' is said to have been found in the chamber. (de Valera and Ó Nualláin 1972, 106, No. 4) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cavan' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1995). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 22 December 2008 See linked document with details from Ruaidhrí de Valera and Seán Ó Nualláin, Survey of the Megalithic Tombs of Ireland. Volume III. Counties Galway, Roscommon, Leitrim, Longford, Westmeath, Laoighis, Offaly, Kildare, Cavan. (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1972).

• CV004-002 Enclosure
  Description

  Not marked on OS 1836 or 1876 eds. Oval enclosure (dims. c. 40m E-W; c. 30m N-S) marked on OS 1911 ed. The entire townland is the site of a dense modern plantation of coniferous trees. Not located. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cavan' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1995). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 22 December 2008

• CV004-003001 Megalithic tomb - wedge tomb
  Description

  Situated in a forest on a hill overlooking Lough Macnean Upper. This ruined gallery, 7.5m long and 1.5m in average width, is aligned roughly SW-NE. Outer-walling, largely collapsed, is visible along both sides. There are vague traces of a mound around the structure. Five orthostats and three fallen sidestones remain on the S side of the gallery and five orthostats and one fallen example on the N side. At the W a tall orthostat to the N and two opposite it at the S may have formed the sides of a portico. Three partly displaced roofstones cover the E end of the gallery. There are two outer wall stones in situ. One is outside the middle of the N side of the gallery and the other beyond its E end at the S. Some 10m to the SW there is a small, round, kerbed cairn (CV004-021----). (de Valera and Ó Nualláin 1972, 105, No. 3) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cavan' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1995). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 22 December 2008 See linked document with details from Ruaidhrí de Valera and Seán Ó Nualláin, Survey of the Megalithic Tombs of Ireland. Volume III. Counties Galway, Roscommon, Leitrim, Longford, Westmeath, Laoighis, Offaly, Kildare, Cavan. (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1972).

• CV004-003002 Cairn - unclassified
  Description

  Situated 10m SW of a wedge tomb (CV004-003----). The cairn has been disturbed by tree-planting. It is round in outline, 5.5m in diameter and up to 1m high. Inward-leaning kerbstones survive along its southern half. These are generally 0.5m x 0.8m high with the exception of two at SE and one at W which are each 1.2m high. (Lowry-Corry and Richardson 1937, 168; de Valera and Ó Nualláin 1972, 105, no. 3; Sherlock 2007, 74, Burren 1) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cavan' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1995), no. 128. Date of upload: 16 November 2012

• CV004-004 Megalithic tomb - portal tomb
  Description

  This monument lies in a forest and is incorporated in a field fence. Greatly ruined, it consists of four large orthostats and a large displaced slab leaning over them. The structure has been converted for use as a shed by the addition of masonry walling. Although difficult to interpret, the remains appear to be those of a portal tomb. Two tall orthostats, both about 2m high, stand roughly in line and 0.55m apart at the W. Running to the NE from the middle of each is another stone. These two are about half as high as the tall orthostats. The leaning slab, a displaced roofstone, rests with one side against the northern of the two tall stones and another side on the ground at the E. (de Valera and Ó Nualláin 1972, 108-9, No. 6) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cavan' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1995). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 22 December 2008 See linked document with details from Ruaidhrí de Valera and Seán Ó Nualláin, Survey of the Megalithic Tombs of Ireland. Volume III. Counties Galway, Roscommon, Leitrim, Longford, Westmeath, Laoighis, Offaly, Kildare, Cavan. (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1972).

• CV004-005 Megalithic tomb - wedge tomb
  Description

  Situated on a hilltop and is surrounded by trees. It is well preserved and consists of a roofed gallery, about 7.5m long, opening to the WSW. A tallseptal-stone divides it into a long portico and main chamber. An outer wall surrounds the gallery. Two slabs 0.6m apart, form the entrance to the portico which is 2.4m long and 1.1m wide. It is covered by two roofstones: the upper surface of the outer-most W stone has a series of cup-marks and at least two cup-and-ring motifs (CV004-005001-). A stone standing in the portico is of uncertain function. The main chamber, 4.5m long, narrows from 1.3m wide at the septal-stone to 1m at the E. A set stone continues the line of the N side of the gallery beyond the backstone. Three horizontally laid slabs roof the main chamber. Five outer wall stones remain in place. Some are now leaning and the westernmost at the N is broken in two. (de Valera and Ó Nualláin 1972, 106-8, No. 5) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cavan' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1995). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Revised by: Paul Walsh Date of revision: 10 May 2012 See linked document with details from Ruaidhrí de Valera and Seán Ó Nualláin, Survey of the Megalithic Tombs of Ireland. Volume III. Counties Galway, Roscommon, Leitrim, Longford, Westmeath, Laoighis, Offaly, Kildare, Cavan. (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1972).

• CV004-005001 Rock art
  Description

  Situated on a hilltop and surrounded by trees are the impressive remains of a substantial wedge tomb (CV004-005----). The rock art occurs on the upper surface of the western-most roofstone covering the portico. It comprise a series of cup-marks and at least two cup-and-ring motifs. (de Valera and Ó Nualláin 1972, 106-8, No. 5; Burns and Nolan 2007) Compiled by: Paul Walsh Date of upload: 16 November 2012

• CV004-024 Hut site
  Description

  The Archaeological Survey of Ireland (ASI) is in the process of providing information on all monuments on The Historic Environment Viewer (HEV). Currently the information for this record has not been uploaded. To access available information for research purposes please make an appointment in advance with the Archive Unit (open Fridays 10.00 am – 5.00 pm), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, The Custom House, Dublin 1 D01W6XO or email NMarchive@housing.gov.ie.

• CV004-025 Hut site
  Description

  The Archaeological Survey of Ireland (ASI) is in the process of providing information on all monuments on The Historic Environment Viewer (HEV). Currently the information for this record has not been uploaded. To access available information for research purposes please make an appointment in advance with the Archive Unit (open Fridays 10.00 am – 5.00 pm), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, The Custom House, Dublin 1 D01W6XO or email NMarchive@housing.gov.ie.

• CV004-026 Hut site
  Description

  The Archaeological Survey of Ireland (ASI) is in the process of providing information on all monuments on The Historic Environment Viewer (HEV). Currently the information for this record has not been uploaded. To access available information for research purposes please make an appointment in advance with the Archive Unit (open Fridays 10.00 am – 5.00 pm), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, The Custom House, Dublin 1 D01W6XO or email NMarchive@housing.gov.ie.

• CV004-027 Megalithic tomb - unclassified
  Description

  The following description was derived from R. Sherlock, Northwest Co. Cavan Survey. An archaeological survey of northwest Cavan: the other Burren (2007, 39): 'The remains of this site consist of three probable orthostats, one of which has apparently fallen, a large slab which was probably a capstone, and a number of other stones which may have been part of the tomb structure or may have been cairn material. The northwestern orthostat is 0.6m high, 1.2m long and 0.3m thick and is orientated SW-NE. The fallen orthostat to the northeast of this appears to have had a similar alignment and probably touched the northeastern end of the northwestern orthostat. The fallen orthostat measures 1.2m by 0.8m and is c. 0.3m thick. The southwestern orthostat, which leans heavily outwards, measures 1.2m by 0.85m and is 0.3m thick. The capstone which has apparently fallen from the northern orthostats, lies between the northern and southern orthostats and now rests on the edge of the southern orthostat and on the ground. It measures 2.6m long (SW-NE) by 1.65m wide and is c. 0.2m thick. One of the interesting points about this site is the strong similarity in size and form of the three probable orthostats, each being a very regular block of sandstone. The light covering of peat and vegetation which concealed this site originally was removed on the discovery of the tomb before this survey project commenced.' Fragments of cremated human bone recovered as a result of animal activity at the tomb in 2014 yielded a radiocarbon determination of 14C 3837+/-36 BP (UBA-32478) which at 95.4% confidence (2 sigma) provided a date range of 2438-2200 cal BC. Caution should be excercised in assuming that this date may be linked with the construction of the monument as skeletal material may have been deposited here over a considerable period of time or introduced from elsewhere (Moore 2017). Revised by: Paul Walsh Date of upload: 29 August 2016

• CV004-036 Promontory fort - inland
  Description

  'The site is identified as a large sub-rectangular enclosure which is bounded from the east through to the west by a substantial curving drystone wall, from the west to the north by steep limestone crag and from the north to the east by a sheer limestone cliff. The interior of the site slopes gently to the west and displays no notable features, though it it now planted with mature forest. The internal area of the site measures 27m NW-SE and 23m SW-NE. The enclosing wall has partly collapsed and has some mature conifers growing on it, but is still stands up to 1.5m high and the outer façade is visible in a number of sections. The wall is built with both sandstone blocks and flags of limestone karst and would appear to have been 3m to 4.5m wide originally. A shallow S-W depression immediately outside the wall may represent a fosse and a small number of peat-covered stones outside this would appear to be the remains of an outer wall. A number of large stones, probably the remains of a wall were noted at the western end of the top of the nortfhwestern crag and there was limited evidence for a small wall on the top of the northeastern cliff also. The western part of the site has, however been affected by tree-fall in recent times and this may have significantly affected the evidence for a wall along the northwestern crag. The stepped northwestern crag and the sheer northeastern cliff are between 4m and 15m high. (Sherlock 2007, 95) Date of upload: 20 January 2020

• CV004-037 Enclosure
  Description

  The Archaeological Survey of Ireland (ASI) is in the process of providing information on all monuments on The Historic Environment Viewer (HEV). Currently the information for this record has not been uploaded. To access available information for research purposes please make an appointment in advance with the Archive Unit (open Fridays 10.00 am – 5.00 pm), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, The Custom House, Dublin 1 D01W6XO or email NMarchive@housing.gov.ie.

• CV004-050 Field system
  Description

  An extensive ancient field system covers much of the townland of the Burren and has been surveyed as extending beyond it into the adjoining townlands of Legalough, Manragh Upper and Tawnymakelly. The system includes within it a wide range of monument types including megalithic tombs, rock-art, cup-marked stones, hut-sites and enclosures (pers. comm. G. Burns and J. Nolan). (Burns and Nolan 2007) Compiled by: Paul Walsh Date of upload: 15 November 2012

• CV004-051 Rock art
  Description

  A large rectangular boulder on the upper surface of which are a series of rock-art motifs (pers. comm. G. Burns and J. Nolan). (Burns and Nolan 2007) Compiled by: Paul Walsh Date of upload: 15 November 2012

• CV004-052 Rock art
  Description

  A large boulder on the upper surface of which are a pair of conjoined cup-and-ring motifs (pers. comm. G. Burns and J. Nolan). (Burns and Nolan 2007) Compiled by: Paul Walsh Date of upload: 15 November 2012

• CV004-053 Rock art
  Description

  A large boulder on the upper surface of which is a circle of seven cup-marks with one at the centre forming a rosette motif (pers. comm. G. Burns and J. Nolan). (Burns and Nolan 2007) Compiled by: Paul Walsh Date of upload: 15 November 2012

• CV004-054 Rock art
  Description

  A large boulder covered in cup-marks (pers. comm. G. Burns and J. Nolan). (Burns and Nolan 2007) Compiled by: Paul Walsh Date of upload: 15 November 2012

• CV004-055 Rock art
  Description

  Discovered in 2010. A pennanular cup-and-ring is carved on the vertical face of a large boulder to the E of CV004-051---- (pers. comm. G. Burns and J. Nolan). Compiled by: Paul Walsh Date of upload: 15 November 2012

• CV004-056 Rock art
  Description

  At least three boulders are carved with cup-marks and the upper sloping surface of one of these also includes rosette and cup-and-ring motifs (pers. comm. G. Burns and J. Nolan). (Burns and Nolan 2007) Compiled by: Paul Walsh Date of upload: 16 November 2012

• CV004-057 Rock art
  Description

  A flat-topped boulder rests on five support stones. The upper surface is level and has a number of shallow cup-marks and there are 11 cup-marks visible on its undersurface (pers. comm. G. Burns and J. Nolan). Compiled by: Paul Walsh Date of upload: 16 November 2012

• CV004-058 Rock art
  Description

  A series of c. 80 cup-marks, several cup-and-ring marks and rosette motifs are carved on the upper surface of this (pers. comm. G. Burns and J. Nolan). Compiled by: Paul Walsh Date of upload: 16 November 2012

• CV004-059 Rock art
  Description

  A large boulder which was being quarried (CV004-059001-) split into three portions. The S piece has two cup-marks on its upper surface at its higher S end. The piece just to the N has five cup-marks on its upper surface. (Burns and Nolan 2007) Compiled by: Paul Walsh Date of upload: 16 November 2012

• CV004-059001 Quarry
  Description

  A large boulder is split into three sections. On the upper surface of two are a series of cup-marks (CV004-059----) (Burns and Nolan 2007). The southern, D-shaped piece (dims 3m E-W; 2m N-S; T c. 1-1.2m) is supported on smaller stones at the S end and has two cup-marks on its upper surface at the higher, S end. This is separated (Wth 0.6-1m) from a fragment of the stone (dims 3m E-W; 1.3-1.6m N-S; T c. 1m) to the N that has five cup-marks on its upper surface. The northern part of this stone (dims 2m x 0.5m) has broken off. Excavation (15E0279) uncovered a pit (dims c. 3.4m E-W; c. 1.8-2m N-S; max. D 0.7m at W) with clearly-cut edges that was largely under the S portion. It was filled with loose stone rubble over silty loams, but no artefacts were recovered. The pit would provide leverage for a large block that may have been intended for a megalithic tomb before the stone broke and the project was abandoned. (Cummings et al. 2015) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 12 January, 2017

• CV004-060 Rock art
  Description

  Immediately SE of the forest road, the remains comprise a split boulder on the upper surface of the larger section are a series of cup-marks (pers. comm. G. Burns and J. Nolan). (Burns and Nolan 2007) Compiled by: Paul Walsh Date of upload: 16 November 2012

• CV004-061 Rock art
  Description

  A single cup-and-ring is carved on the upper surface of a boulder (pers. comm. G. Burns and J. Nolan). (Burns and Nolan 2007) Compiled by: Paul Walsh Date of upload: 16 November 2012

• CV004-062 Rock art
  Description

  A large boulder that has a section of its underside broken off. The upper surface of the boulder contains a number of cup-mark depressions (pers. comm. G. Burns and J. Nolan). Compiled by: Paul Walsh Date of upload: 16 November 2012

• CV004-063 Rock art
  Description

  A boulder on a pedestal has a series of cup-marks carved on one side (pers. comm. G. Burns and J. Nolan). (Burns and Nolan 2007) Compiled by: Paul Walsh Date of upload: 16 November 2012

• CV004-064 Rock art
  Description

  A large boulder on the side of which are carved two closely-set rows of cup-marks (pers. comm. G. Burns and J. Nolan). (Burns and Nolan 2007) Compiled by: Paul Walsh Date of upload: 16 November 2012

• CV004-065 Burnt mound
  Description

  Situated on the S bank of a small W-E stream that led into a nearby sinkhole. Archaeological monitoring (13E0154) of works connected with the development of paths in a geological park identified a burnt mound (exposed L 3m; Wth 1m; T 0.3m) consisting of an upper layer of black silt with frequent inclusions of carbonised woods and burnt and broken sandstone, and a lower layer of grey slit with burnt sandstone. A sample of wood from the upper layer produced a C14 date of cal AD 777-994. (Flynn 2014, 9-10) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 13 October, 2014

• CV004-066 Hut site
  Description

  Archaeological monitoring (13E0154) of works connected with the development of paths in a geological park identified a post-hole (dims 0.33m x 0.27m; D 0.22m) that was the terminus of a slot-trench (exposed L 3.5m; Wth 0.3m; D 0.3m) curving S and W from the post-hole. Two occupation layers were associated with the trench on its N side with lithics in the upper layer. A sample of willow charcoal from the post-hole produced a C14 date of cal BC 20 – AD 137. (Flynn 2014, 8) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 13 October, 2014

• CV004-067 Mine
  Description

  Located within forestry at the base of a NE-facing limestone outcrop (H c. 6m) in the gorge (L c. 100m; Wth c. 25m) known as the Giant’s Leap. The mine was located by Séanus Ó hUltacháin c. 2010 and confirmed by the geologist Dr. Kristen Lemon and the archaeologist Killian Driscoll, who also provided details of the monument. The mine is a subrectangular man-made recess (Wth c. 4.3m; D c. 1-6-4m; H 0.8-1.1m) which has a central supporting pillar (Wth at base c. 0.5m; D c. 1m) at its outer edge. Layers of chert are contained in the Dartry Limestone Formation exposed in the mine at the base of the cliff and at a higher level. A second mine (Wth c. 2.4m; D c. 2.8m; H c. 1.3m) is at the base of the same outcrop c. 10m to the WNW. (Driscoll 2017) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 18 February 2020 Driscoll, K. 2017. LIR Lithotheque Ireland. https://lithicsireland.ie/archaeology_projects_returning_source_flint_provenancing.html#giants-leap-chert-q uarry

Architectural heritage

No building of the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage stands in the townland of Burren.

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).

Radon

At the centre of the townland of Burren, about 1 in 5 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 high, moderately high, moderately low, low, partly inferred. Parts of the land are water.

Terrain model

No LiDAR survey of the Office of Public Works covers the centre of the townland of Burren.

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.

No address of the register names Burren with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Cavan.

Name

Burren

Area

1,100,431 m² (110.04 ha, 271.92 acres)

Civil parish

Killinagh, and its townlands

Barony

Tullyhaw

Electoral division

Tuam, the unit of the census

Census 2022

346 people lived in 143 households in the Tuam electoral division. 69% of households owned their home. 34% of homes were built since 2001. 23% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 21% were holiday homes.

Neighbouring townlands

Corratirrim, Gortnaleg, Lanliss, Legalough, Legeelan, Manragh Upper, Tawnymakelly

Placenames

Burren 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.