Berneens

2 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Berneens, from 12,674 m² (1.27 ha, 3.13 acres) to 2,536,334 m² (253.63 ha, 626.74 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary. 13 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 Berneens 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 Berneens 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: Moneen Mountain SAC 000054
• Proposed Natural Heritage Area: Moneen Mountain 000054

Recorded monuments

• CL005-118 Megalithic tomb - wedge tomb
  Description

  On a level stretch of good grazing in an area with outcropping karst, within a multiperiod field system (CL005-227004-). The immediate views are restricted from N to S by a natural scarp c. 60m to the E. Indicated and named ‘Cromlech’ on the 1916 ed. of the OS 6-inch map and described as a ‘wedge-shaped gallery grave’ by Westropp (1907, 459). The following details are from de Valera and Ó Nualláin (1961, 8, attached). A poorly preserved wedge tomb with a just S of W aligned chamber (L 3.25m; Wth at rear 1.25m) set in an oval mound (9m E-W; 7m N-S). The only element of the chamber that remain in situ are the N sidestone (L 3.9m; H at front 1.15m; H at rear 0.7m; T 0.1-0.2m), the E end of the S sidestone’s base (L 0.8m; H 0.2m) and a damaged backstone (L 1.25m; H 0.5m). Well-set stones, c. 0.35m to the N (L 0.75; H 0.12m) and S (L 0.5m; H 0.15m) of the E end of the chamber and to its SW (L 0.35m; H 0.13m) may be remnants of an outer wall. The following items have been uploaded: CL005-118----_01.pdf Details from Ruaidhrí de Valera and Seán Ó Nualláin, Survey of the Megalithic Tombs of Ireland. Volume I. County Clare. (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1961). CL005-118----_01.jpg View of tomb from E CL005-118----_02.jpg View from N CL005-118----_03.jpg View from S Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Ros Ó Maoldúin Date of upload: 4 April 2023

• CL005-119001 Enclosure
  Description

  Situated in a slight natural hollow on high ground. Listed as 'Enclosure' in the SMR (1992) and the RMP (1996). On inspection in 1998 this was found to be an oval enclosure (diam. c. 14m) defined by a drystone wall of apparently modern construction with a small gap at NNE. There is a conjoined enclosure (diam. c. 7m) at N. Compiled by: Mary Tunney Date of upload: 20 January 2016

• CL005-119002 Enclosure
  Description

  Situated on a NW slope in an area of high rocky ground. Listed as 'Enclosure' in the SMR (1992) and the RMP (1996). On inspection in 1998 this was found to be an enclosure (diam. c. 13m) defined by a drystone wall of apparently modern date within a larger field. Compiled by: Mary Tunney Date of upload: 20 January 2016

• CL005-120 Ringfort - cashel
  Description

  On a slightly raised area of rough pasture surrounded by hazel and rocky scrub, with good views in all directions. On the boundary between Berneens and Poulnabrucky townlands and within a multiperiod field system (CL005-227004-). Hachured and named ‘Caherberneen’ on the 1842 and 1916 OS 6-inch maps, and described by Westropp (1900-02, 423) as ‘a nearly levelled fort’. A circular cashel (diam. 16m) defined from SW to ESE by a wall (Wth 1.2m) with external facing (H 0.8-1.4m) of rough flat slabs, a short stretch of inner facing (H 0.05m) at NNW and a rubble core. From SE to SW it is defined by a scarp (H 1.6m) on which the townland boundary curves. Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Ros Ó Maoldúin Date of upload: 4 April 2023

• CL005-124 Cairn - unclassified
  Description

  In a slight hollow on a NW-facing slope under hazel overgrowth, within a multiperiod field system (CL005-227004-). A moss-covered stone cairn (diam. 5m; H 0.8m) of uncertain antiquity. Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Ros Ó Maoldúin Date of upload: 5 April 2023

• CL005-143 Megalithic tomb - wedge tomb
  Description

  In elevated pasture on the S-facing slope of Ballyallaban Hill with clear views from SE to SW. Within a multiperiod field system (CL005-104001-). Indicated and named ‘Cromlech’ on the 1839 and 1916 OS 6-inch maps. A well-preserved wedge tomb aligned E-W and centrally placed within a grassed-over cairn. The following details are derived from de Valera and Ó Nualláin (1961, 7). The tomb comprises a N sidestone, the remains of a S sidestone, a W doorstone, and single large roofstone, defining a wedge-shaped chamber (L 4m; H 0.9-2m; Wth 0.9-1.3m) broadest and highest to the W, and narrowing and lowering to the E. The N sidestone (L 3.75m; H 1.95m; T 0.1-0.25m) leans slightly outwards and is vertically cracked c. 1.5m from its E end. Its upper edge is dressed and slopes sharply down to the E. Small packing stones are visible along the base of the stone. The S sidestone survives only as two ex-situ slab fragments propped along the S side of the tomb. Both fragments appear to derive from the broken sidestone, which Westropp noted had ‘collapsed since 1862’ (1899, 381). The W slab (L 1.4m; H 1.35m; T 0.25m) has a straight top edge, but its other edges appear broken. A second slab fragment to the E (L 1.65m; H 1.15m; T 0.15m) also appears to be derived from the broken sidestone. The S side of the tomb has been partially built up with drystone walling from a boundary flanking the S side of the monument. The W end of the chamber is closed by a cracked doorstone (L 2.1m; H 1.85m; T 0.1-0.2m), on which the roofstone now rests. The roofstone (L 4.25m; Wth 0.9-1.95m; T 0.2m) widens from E to W and is cracked c. 0.75m from its E end. A well-set slab (L 0.65m; H 0.6m; T 0.1-0.15m) runs partially across the E end of the chamber.  The tomb is set within a cairn (c. 8m N-S; c. 10m E-W; H 0.7m), which has been partially quarried to the S. Four upright slabs (L 0.4-1.2m; H 0.1-0.5m) are set within the cairn W of the doorstone. They may be the remnants of a stone kerb or be related to a later field wall which abuts the cairn.    Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Eve Campbell   Date of upload: 21 October 2025     See linked document with details from Ruaidhrí de Valera and Seán Ó Nualláin, Survey of the Megalithic Tombs of Ireland. Volume I. County Clare. (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1961). Date of upload: 24 December 2011

• CL005-169 Fulacht fia
  Description

  In dense hazel scrub on the steep W banks of a stream on a NW-facing slope overlooking the Rathbourney valley. OS 6-inch maps. A fulacht fia was noted at ITM 522175, 703358 in 1994 by Tom Coffey (SMR file). On inspection in 1998 no fulacht was found at that location possibly due to dense scrub in the area. The precise location remains unknown.   Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Eve Campbell   Date of upload: 8 October 2025

• CL005-173 Fulacht fia
  Description

  In dense hazel scrub on the E side of a stream on a NW-facing slope overlooking the Rathborney valley. A fulacht fia was noted at ITM 522255, 703285 by Tom Coffey in 1994 (SMR file). On inspection in 1998, no fulacht was found due to dense scrub in the area. The precise location remains unverified.   Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Eve Campbell   Date of upload: 8 October 2025

• CL005-179002 Fulacht fia
  Description

  On the W side of a stream on a NW-facing slope with clear views from NW to NE across the Rathborney valley as far as Galway Bay. Marked on Tom Coffey’s annotated SMR map (1994) (SMR file). A fulacht fia comprising a horseshoe-shaped grass-covered mound (6.8m SE-NW; H 0.8m). The trough area faces S (L 3.2m; Wth 2.5m; D 0.7m).    Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Eve Campbell   Date of upload: 8 October 2025

• CL005-198 Hut site
  Description

  In elevated rocky pasture overlooking the Ballyvaughan valley to the N and within a multiperiod field system (CL005-227004-). A subcircular hut site (ext. dims. 6.2m N-S; 6m E-W) defined by a grassed-over stone bank (H 0.5-0.7m) with possible outer facing (H 0.2m) to the E. The ground falls sharply outside the bank to the N and E, and is fairly level with the bank to the S and W. The entrance (Wth 1.6m) is at W. The interior is dished (3.2m N-S; 3m E-W; D 0.4-0.6m).    Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Eve Campbell   Date of upload: 14 October 2025

• CL005-205 Megalithic tomb - wedge tomb
  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.

• CL005-208001 Ringfort - cashel
  Description

  In elevated rocky pasture with hazel scrub to the S and W and within a multiperiod field system (CL005-115001-). Indicated as an enclosure on the 1916 OS 6-inch map. A subcircular cashel (c. 19m E-W; c. 18.5m N-S) defined by a drystone wall and with a souterrain (CL005-208002-) in the interior. Noted by Sharon Parr, and visible on OSi MapGenie orthophotography (2013-2018). Field boundaries extend N and S from the wall of the cashel.   Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Eve Campbell   Date of upload: 14 October 2025

• CL005-208002 Souterrain
  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.

• CL005-270 Ringfort - cashel
  Description

  On a S-facing slope in an upland area of karst with reasonable grass cover and within an extensive multiperiod field system (CL005-227004-). A subrectangular enclosure (c. 25m N-S; c. 25m E-W) defined by stone walls with a slightly rounded SW corner and disturbed at SE. Visible on Digital Globe (2011-2013) and on OSi Aerial Premium orthophotography (2012-2018). Foundations of a house are visible in the NW quadrant. Compiled by: Mary Tunney Date of upload: 21 December 2021

Architectural heritage

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

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 Berneens, 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 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 Berneens.

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

Name

Berneens

Area

2,535,457 m² (253.55 ha, 626.53 acres)

Civil parish

Rathborney, and its townlands

Barony

Burren

Electoral division

Rathborney, the unit of the census

Census 2022

97 people lived in 27 households in the Rathborney electoral division. 65% of households owned their home. 15% of homes were built since 2001. 18% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 29% were holiday homes.

Neighbouring townlands

Ballyallaban, Ballycahill, Doonyvardan, Gleninsheen, Gragan East, Lisgoogan, Poulnabrucky

Placenames

Berneens 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.