Ballycahill

13 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Ballycahill, from 43 m² to 1,016,715 m² (101.67 ha, 251.24 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary. 15 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 Ballycahill 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.

• 25 Mar 2024Conditional

  of existing unit on site and PERMISSION to convert same into staff accommodation including all ancillary works

  Retention · Clare County Council, 2496

• 21 Feb 2023Conditional

  for the following development: 1. to demolish existing aviary units, existing rc wall / recycling area, existing shed and existing visitor seating; 2. for new Aviary Units, new RC boundary wall and associated fencing; 3. RETAIN existing Birds of Prey reception building and adjacent toilet block, including ancillary site works

  Permission · Clare County Council, 2395

• 6 Jul 2021N/a

  to a) RETAIN sheds and storage structures as constructed. b) RETAIN use as farm storage, hobby storage, plant & machinery storage along with repair c) RETAIN ground clearance works and construction of external storage yard together with all ancillary site development works and services

  Retention · Clare County Council, 21708

• 23 Jun 2017Conditional

  for the construction of a slatted unit, silage slab and associated site works

  Permission · Clare County Council, 17496

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: Moneen Mountain SAC 000054
• Proposed Natural Heritage Area: Moneen Mountain 000054

Recorded monuments

• CL005-048 Ringfort - cashel
  Description

  Under hazel and white/blackthorn but in an area of otherwise improved pasture on the E side of Ballyvaghan valley. Indicated on the 1842 ed. of the OS 6-inch map and hachured on the 1916 ed. Potentially a site mentioned by Westropp (1901, 282) as a '…(caher) overthrown and crowded with sloe and blackthorn'. A poorly preserved circular cashel (int. diam. 33m) defined by bank of earth and stone (Wth 3.5-4.8m; H 0.5-1.1m) with some evidence for outer facing-stones (H 0.15m) at NE. Several stone walls radiate out from it and field clearance has been dumped against its E side. Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Ros Ó Maoldúin Date of upload: 29 March 2022

• CL005-051 Ringfort - cashel
  Description

  On the NW-facing slope of a low hill and under scrub but surrounded by reclaimed pasture, on the E side of Ballyvaughan valley. Hachured on the 1842 and 1916 eds. of the OS 6-inch map. Westropp (1901, 282) referred to it as one of ‘seven cahers’ in this townland predominantly ‘small and levelled… [and] quite overthrown and crowded with sloe and thorn-bushes’. A circular cashel (int. diam. 20m) defined by a bank/spread of earth and stone (Wth 2.5-4m; H 0.5-0.8m) with no clearly defined entrance. A later fieldwall abuts the cashel at NE and a low bank runs NNE-SE across its interior, E of centre. The base of this bank may be of antiquity. Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Ros Ó Maoldúin Date of upload: 8 June 2022

• CL005-052 Ringfort - cashel
  Description

  On slightly raised ground and under scrub but surrounded by reclaimed pasture, on the E side of Ballyvaughan valley. Indicated on the 1842 ed. of the OS 6-inch map and hachured on the 1916 ed. Westropp (1901, 282) referred to it as one of ‘seven cahers’ in this townland predominantly ‘small and levelled… [and] quite overthrown and crowded with sloe and thorn-bushes’. A roughly circular cashel (int. dims. 21m E-W by 19.5m N-S) defined by a predominantly stone bank (Wth 3.5-5.4m; H 0.5-0.9m) with probable outer facing (H 0.5m) surviving at SE and no clear entrance. A later wall runs on the outer perimeter of the bank adding to its height and concealing facing elsewhere. A small pile of loose stones is located inside the cashel, in the N sector. Cahernahooan cashel (CL005-054----) lies c. 150m to the NNE. Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Ros Ó Maoldúin Date of upload: 8 June 2022

• CL005-053001 Enclosure
  Description

  On a NW-facing slope, under scrub and on the E side of Ballyvaughan valley. Hachured on the 1842 and 1916 eds of the OS 6-inch map. Westropp (1901, 282) referred to it as one of ‘seven cahers’ in this townland predominantly ‘small and levelled… [and] quite overthrown and crowded with sloe and thorn-bushes’. A roughly circular enclosure (est. diam. 20-25m); on the basis of Westropp’s description it was likely a cashel. Inspection in 1998 could not locate any surviving above-ground trace of this monument. The area was very disturbed and midden-like material, including land-snail shells and seashells, were visible in the disturbance. The site of a megalithic structure (CL005-053002-) is located c. 10m to the NE. Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Ros Ó Maoldúin Date of upload: 8 June 2022

• CL005-053002 Megalithic tomb - unclassified
  Description

  On a NW-facing slope, under scrub and on the E side of Ballyvaughan valley. Indicated and named ‘Cromlech’ on the 1842 ed. of the OS 6-inch map and named ‘Cromlech (site of)’ on the 1916 ed. It was destroyed before Westropp’s time (1901, 282) but was recorded in the O.S. Memoranda (1840) as ‘composed of large flags placed on four pedestals resembling a table of stone. The top 3 feet over the ground’ (DeValera and Ó Nualláin 1961, 92). Inspection in 1998 failed to locate any surface trace of the monument. While the OS (1840) description is not sufficient to differentiate the class of this monument, it was almost certainly a megalith and probably either a portal or wedge tomb. The site of an enclosure (CL005-053001-) is located c. 10m to the SW. Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Ros Ó Maoldúin Date of upload: 8 June 2022

• CL005-054 Ringfort - cashel
  Description

  On the SE-facing slope of a slightly raised ridge on the E side of Ballyvaughan valley, with restricted views from SW-NW, to the E and SE because of higher ground. The site is under scrub but surrounded by reclaimed pasture. Indicated and named ‘Cahernahooan’ on the 1842 ed. of the OS 6-inch map and hachured and similarly named on the 1916 ed. O’Donovan (Comber 1997, 28) gave the Irish form of the name as Cathair na h-Uamhann which he translated as ‘the caher of the cave’. Westropp (1901, 282) recorded it as ‘a small ring wall, about 100 feet across…’ and noted that its facing was unusually comprised of ‘rounded field blocks with a filling of small, rounded stones’. A moderately well-preserved circular cashel (int. diam. 26m) defined by bank/spread (Wth 3.4-4.5m; H 0.6-0.8m) of earth and stone. Clearance stones are piled against and obscure much of the outer face; however, inner wall-facing survives at E (H 0.3m) and SSW (H 0.5m) and an original wall thickness of c. 1.7m is apparent. In Westropp’s time (ibid.), a ‘short stretch to the east… [was] about 5 feet high (1.52m), and … [was] from 5 feet to 6 feet thick (1.52-1.82m)’. A rectangular house of indeterminate date (CL005-054003-) is located W of centre and an entrance to a souterrain (CL005-054002-) is located to the north of the house just inside the garth of the cashel. A later field wall has been built on the line of the cashel wall and E-W walls run across its centre and across its NW sector. Westropp (ibid.) also recorded what is likely to be a saddle quern - ‘a hollowed block of limestone resembling an ancient corn-crusher’- in ‘a wall not far to the west’. Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Ros Ó Maoldúin Date of upload: 8 June 2022

• CL005-054002 Souterrain
  Description

  In the NW sector of Cahernahooan cashel (CL005-054----). A souterrain, visible as a lintelled entrance (Wth 0.45m; H 0.25m) to a space that extends to WNW (min. L 2m). Hollows to the S and E probably indicate another extension in that direction. The following image has been uploaded: CL005-054002-_01.jpg View of souterrain entrance. Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Ros Ó Maoldúin Date of upload: 8 June 2022

• CL005-054003 House - indeterminate date
  Description

  In the W sector of Cahernahooan cashel (CL005-054----). A NW-SE orientated rectangular house site (L 13.55m; Wth 6.9m) defined by a bank of stone and earth (Wth 0.6-0.77m; H 0.32-0.45m) faced with stones set on edge. The house is not dissimilar in form to that in Caherconnell cashel (CL009-030010-) dated to between the 15th and 17th century (Comber and Hull 2010, 158). Hollows in the interior likely mark an extension to a souterrain (CL005-054002-) which is entered just of the N house. A later E-W field wall cuts across the centre of the structure. Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Ros Ó Maoldúin Date of upload: 8 June 2022

• CL005-055 Enclosure
  Description

  Situated in a slight natural hollow in a very rocky area with restricted visibility. Listed as ‘Enclosure’ in the SMR (1992) and the RMP (1996). On inspection this was found to be an irregular enclosure (diam. c. 55m) defined by a loosely built drystone wall of apparently modern construction. The wall has been removed along the W sector. A smaller enclosure overlapping this one at S also appears to be of modern construction. Compiled by: Mary Tunney Date of upload: 19 January 2016

• CL005-099 Ringfort - cashel
  Description

  Prominently sited (OD 824’) on the W summit of Ailwee Hill within an extensive, multiperiod field system (CL005-104001-). Described by Westropp (1901, 282) as the, ‘[caher] at the summit of the boldly-terraced bluff is shown on the map as partly levelled …’, and hachured on the Cassini edition (1916) of the OS 6-inch map. An oval-shaped cashel (int. diams 20m ENE-WSW; 15m NNW-SSE) is defined by a bank of stone and earth (Wth 1.1-4m; H 0.5-1.15m) with outer facing stones surviving along NE and E, with the best preserved section of original enclosing wall from E-ESE (wall T 1.1m). A vertical masonry joint line is visible in the thickness of the wall at E. Two possible hut sites (CL005-099001- and CL005-099002-) abut the inner face of the enclosing wall at NE, a livestock pen abuts the outer face at NW and a rectangular pen crosses the wall at ESE. A later field boundary wall runs (NNW-ESE) across the W-sector of the monument. A second enclosure (CL005-263----) lies c. 40m to the NE and a third (CL005-229----) c. 90m to the SE. See attached image: CL005-099----_01.jpg Aerial view of monument from N in 2007. A second, larger enclosure (CL005-249----) is also visible in background left. (Photo. Markus Casey) Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy and Ros Ó Maoldúin Date of upload: 17 January 2023

• CL005-099001 Hut site
  Description

  Abutting the inner face of the enclosing wall of a cashel in the NE sector. The northernmost of two (along with CL006-099002-) almost contiguous, small, poorly preserved, shallow (D 0.3m) hollows. Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy Date of upload: 17 January 2023

• CL005-099002 Hut site
  Description

  Abutting the inner face of the enclosing wall of a cashel in the NE sector. The southernmost of two (along with CL006-099001-) almost contiguous, small, poorly preserved, shallow (D 0.3m) hollows. Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy Date of upload: 17 January 2023

• CL005-194 Enclosure
  Description

  On a slight rise in reclaimed pasture on the SE side of the Ballyvaughan valley, overlooked by Ailwee to the SE. A circular enclosure (diam. 20m) defined by a heavily overgrown earth and stone scarp (H 1.7m) surviving best from N to SE was noted on inspection in 1998. The presence and/or position of an entrance was unclear. The interior was covered in scrub. Visible on Digital Globe (2011-2013) but levelled apart from a gentle mound on OSi MapGenie orthophotography (2013-2018). A cashel (CL005-052----) lies c. 128m to the NE.     Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Eve Campbell   Date of upload: 7 October 2025

• CL005-246 Enclosure
  Description

  High on the NW slopes of Ailwee Hill and within a multiperiod field system (CL005-104001-). A suboval enclosure (c. 70m NE-SW; c. 40 m NW-SE) defined by a bank and visible on Ordnance Survey ortho photography (2013-2018) and on Digital Globe. A modern trackway cuts through the site from N to SW. Compiled by: Mary Tunney Date of upload: 25 May 2021

• CL005-249 Enclosure
  Description

  High on the W summit of Ailwee Hill and within a multiperiod field system (CL005-104001-). An irregular enclosure (c. 38m N-S; c. 32m E-W) defined by a grassed-over stone wall visible W-SW on Ordnance Survey ortho photography (2013-2018) and on Digital Globe. Compiled by: Mary Tunney Date of upload: 25 May 2021

• CL005-250 Enclosure
  Description

  On the upper SW slopes of Ailwee Hill and within a multiperiod field system (CL005-104001-). A subcircular enclosure (c. 50m N-S; c. 35m E-W) defined by a grassed-over stone wall and visible on Ordnance Survey ortho photography (2013-2018) and on Digital Globe. A number of large fields with later stone walls are immediately W, S and E. Compiled by: Mary Tunney Date of upload: 25 May 2021

• CL005-263 Enclosure
  Description

  On the W summit of Ailwee Hill and within an extensive multiperiod field system (CL005-104001-). A circular enclosure (diam. c. 11m) visible on OSi Aerial Premium orthophoto (2012-2018). (A cashel (CL005-099----) lies c. 45m to the SW. Compiled by: Mary Tunney Date of upload: 13 December 2021

• CL005-299 Enclosure
  Description

  On a high (between 700’ and 800’ contours) level terrace in pasture near the S-end of Ailwee Hill, and within an extensive, multiperiod field system (CL005-104001-). Visible on GeoHive MapGenie aerial imagery (2013-18; accessed 18-1-2023) as a curving, grass-covered bank, traceable E-S-W (est. diam. c 50m), crossed by a later field wall running W-SE. Also visible, to E of centre of the area enclosed, is a smaller, rectilinear enclosure (est. L c. 19m N-S; est. Wth c. 15m E-W). See attached image: CL005-299----_01 Snip from GeoHive MapGenie aerial imagery (2013-18; accessed 18-1-2023) Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy Date of upload: 18 January 2023

Architectural heritage

• Aillwee Cave Visitor Centre, heritage centre/interpretative centre, 1975–1980 · National interest
  Description

  Freeform plan two-storey rubble stone-clad visitor centre, completed 1979, with recessed upper floor. Designed by A. and D. Wejchert as entrance to natural cave system. Flat concrete roofs with rubble stone parapets. Roof to ground floor rises to form ramp to first floor. Coursed rubble stone clad walls. Square-headed openings with timber fixed windows, stone sills and lintels. Concrete lintel over door opening with glazed timber panelled double leaf doors and sidelights. Set into natural caves with artificial terrace to front forming car park. Detached single-bay single-storey ticket office. Detached seven-bay single-storey rubble stone-built outbuilding, built c. 1980, with two-bay recessed end bay to left, now in use as restaurant. Detached circular-plan single-bay single-storey rubble stone-built dovecote, built c. 1990, with conical roof.

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 Ballycahill, 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.

Terrain model

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

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 Ballycahill with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Clare.

Name

Ballycahill

Area

2,101,424 m² (210.14 ha, 519.27 acres)

Civil parish

Drumcreehy, and its townlands

Barony

Burren

Electoral division

Drumcreehy, the unit of the census

Census 2022

667 people lived in 183 households in the Drumcreehy electoral division. 69% of households owned their home. 24% of homes were built since 2001. 10% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 30% were holiday homes.

Neighbouring townlands

Ballyallaban, Berneens, Dangan, Gleninsheen, Knocknagroagh, Tonarussa

Placenames

Ballycahill 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.