Horseclose
Townland in the civil parish of Doneraile, barony of Fermoy, Co. Cork; in Irish Clós na gCapall
- Area
- 31.6 ha
- 78 acres
- Land parcels
- 8
- registered freehold, median 1,741 m²
- Zoning
- G4
- Green Infrastructure
- Planning
- 13
- applications since 2010
Land parcels
Registered freehold land, Tailte Éireann
8 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Horseclose, from 227 m² to 142,534 m² (14.25 ha, 35.22 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary; 12 neighbouring parcels touch it.
Download the townland: DXF, in Irish Transverse Mercator metres, with its boundary, parcels and buildings; GeoJSON or KML.
Zoning
Development plans, national zoning
- G4Green Infrastructure (Active open space)
Cork County Development Plan 2022, Cork · 5 parcels The zoning objective in the plan - G3Greenbelt1 (Conservation, amenity or buffer space, corridor/belt, landscape)
Cork County Development Plan 2022, Cork · 3 parcels The zoning objective in the plan - S5Community (Mixed/general community services/facilities uses)
Cork County Development Plan 2022, Cork · 0 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
Source: Tailte Éireann and the Department of Housing (MyPlan), national zoning, CC BY 4.0.
Planning applications
Sites that touch the townland, newest first
28 Aug 2025Grant with conditions
Permission to construct an extension to the side of the existing landscape equipment storage shed with alterations and all associated site and ancillary works.
Permission · Cork County Council, 25/5725
11 Jul 2025Conditional permission
Permission for the putting in place a sculpture and associated signage to commemorate the first steeplechase from Buttevant to Doneraile in 1752
Permission · Cork County Council, 25/5385
30 Oct 2024Conditional
Permission for the removal of 2 no. existing basketball courts and the construction of an all weather pitch with perimeter fencing, 5m high ball netting, 4 no. LED floodlights to all weather pitch , a hurling wall and all ancillary site works.
Permission · Cork County Council, 24/6057
22 Sept 2023Conditional
Permission for a) demolition of existing water tower, storage & bicycle sheds and partial demolition of existing school building, b) Construction of new single storey classroom extension to the north of the existing school, c) construction of new single storey special education needs base, to the south of the existing school, d) provision of PV panels and signage to exterior, e) site development works including landscaping, new play area, sensory garden and improved vehicular access with car parking and footpath, f) site drainage works including surface water infiltration and foul drainage connection, g) works to existing eastern site boundary.
Permission · Cork County Council, 23/5916
16 Apr 2019Refused
To install a 24m multi-user telecommunications support structure, carrying antenna and dishes enclosed within a 2.4 metre high palisade fenced compound together with associated ground equipment cabinets and associated site works.
Permission · Cork County Council, 19/4945
12 Sept 2018Conditional
To construct a golf buggy shed
Permission · Cork County Council, 18/6421
19 Apr 2018Conditional
Construction of 2 no. temporary classrooms/portacabins and temporary wheelchair access with all associated and ancillary works
Permission · Cork County Council, 18/4971
14 Mar 2017Conditional
Construction of a resource room and toilet block extension to the rear of existing school and all associated site works
Permission · Cork County Council, 17/4598
29 Apr 2011Conditional
Construction of machinery shed
Permission · Cork County Council, 11/4935
25 Apr 2008Conditional
Residential development 81 no. dwellinghouses, creche, gas storage tanks and ancillary site works and services
Permission · Cork County Council, 08/6333
3 Sept 2007Conditional
Demolition of existing shelter and construction of new shelter and storage area, construction of boundary perimeter walls, widening of entrance to provide temporary construction access and associated site works
Permission · Cork County Council, 07/10689
7 Jun 2007Conditional
Domestic garage
Permission · Cork County Council, 07/8472
10 Jul 2006Conditional
46 no. detached units, creche, gas storage tanks and associated site works
Permission · Cork County Council, 06/8744
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
- Special Area of Conservation: Blackwater River (Cork/Waterford) SAC 002170
- Proposed Natural Heritage Area: Awbeg Valley (Above Doneraile) 000075
Recorded monuments
- CO017-100 Ritual site - holy well
Description
On N side of millrace off N side of Awbeg River. Open oval stone-lined well (1.4m E-W; 1m N-S; D 0.6m) at base of natural rise; stone lining, largely collapsed, reaches max. H of 1m to NE where it is built into rise. Three steps set into rise on NW side lead down into well. Statue of Blessed Virgin set into mature ash tree on NE side; rosary beads hang from tree. Two circular water-filled holes (diam. c. 0.6m), one possibly stone lined, set equidistant (1m) to S and W. According to Jones (1902, 238), well connected with 'Coneela a Colliagh, one of three virgin saints of Doneraile, Drinagh Wood and Wallstown. It would appear that during some of the earlier wars in Ireland these girls were forced to fly from near Waterford, as some of the invaders attracted by their beauty were anxious to take them in marriage.' The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 4: North Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2000). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009 Image provided by and copyright of Amanda Clarke 2016-2022 https://holywellscorkandkerry.com/
- CO017-108001 Graveyard
Description
On W side of road, at N end of Doneraile. Wedge-shaped graveyard (c. 60m N-S; c. 100m E-W at N end and c. 60m E-W at S end), enclosed by stone wall; entrance gateway to E. To N of centre is C of I parish church of Doneraile (14716). Graveyard still used; burial area mainly to S and E of church. Many 18th- and 19th-century headstones and some chest tombs; Grove White lists most of these (1905-25, vol. 3, 37; 1892-4b; 1895-7) and notes families buried in vaults under church. Low uninscribed grave markers throughout, though some recently displaced. Uncertain if this site of church of 'Dunrayl' listed in Papal Taxation of 1291; Shine (1989, 46) suggests this was probably located in nearby Oldcourt graveyard (14613). Present site may date to 1633 when Sir William St Leger built church adjacent to his residence (14304). (Power and Sleeman 1992) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 4: North Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2000). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009
- CO017-108002 Church
Description
In graveyard (14582), on N side of Doneraile. C of I parish church of Doneraile. Rectangular gable-ended slate-roofed church (23.4m E-W; 12.79m N-S) with 3-storey embattled tower at W end. Walls rendered over roughly-coursed limestone construction, bottom course of limestone blocks atop shallow plinth; top of arch visible on plinth in S wall indicates position of burial vault under nave. Slim clasping square column at each corner, crowned by pinnacle. Interior lit by four pointed windows in both N and S wall: sash windows with switch-line glazing, and by central pointed stain-glass window in E wall with Y-tracery. Nave windows framed outside by shallow trefoil-arched rebates; string course along wall links spring point of each arch. East window, and pointed niche on either side, are framed by similar rebates linked by slim engaged Doric column crowned with pinnacle; central trefoil-arch highest, with prominent keystone inscribed with date 'AD 1815'. Tower at W gable is off-centre to S. Each floor marked externally by string course. Round-headed doorway in S wall is cut into frame of higher earlier doorway (now blocked). Tower contains ring of six bells given to church in 1889 (Cole 1903, 199; Dukes 1994, 80). Tower had spire which was blown down c. 1825 (Lewis 1837, vol. 1, 478). At E end of N wall of church is small 1-storey ornate porch, once private entrance of the St Ledger family of Doneraile Court (14887). Internal walls of church are lined with three tiers of open wooden colonnades, rising from solid panel base to roof; late-18th and 19th century memorial plaques and tablets on walls, including St. Ledger's marble monument of 1759 (Grove White 1892-4). Open king-post type timber roof overhead. Also pews, pulpit, altar organ etc., many of these dating from improvements made in 1890-1910 (Cole 1903, 199). Inscribed stone on W wall of tower reads: 'This church was first built by the right Hon. Sir William St. Ledger, the Lord President of Munster, Anno Domini 1633, and afterwards built by his grandson, the Right Honourable Arthur Lord Viscount Doneraile, Anno Domini 1726'. Illustrated in 1728 estate map shows church as small rectangular gabled building, with central east window and three windows in S wall with possible door at W end, and indistinct tower on W gable (Shine 1989, 53; Power and Sleeman 1992, 75). Smith in 1750 (vol. 1, 330) described it having a 'pretty spire, guilded ball, and a weathercock'. Date stone suggests nave rebuilt in 1815 leaving earlier tower at W end. In porch is an old bell with inscription recording its manufacture in 1636 and repair in 1700 (Cole ibid.; Dukes ibid.). Nearby is 17th-century circular stone baptismal font (diam. 0.41m; H 0.15m) with Latin inscription around rim; it was removed here when Rathgoggin C of I church (14723) was closed in 1960. The font now rests on a square stone pedestal (0.43m x 0.43m; H 0.55m) discovered at Cooliney House (14881); each face is carved with human figure standing under a rounded arch; although very weathered one figure clearly hold a shield in one hand and a sword in another, a second figure has its hands raised in prayer and may be wearing a crown. There is an engaged columns at each corner; the upper surface has a central circular straight-sided depression (diam. 0.23m; D 0.007m) with a drain hole. It may be 13th century in date. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 4: North Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2000). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009
Architectural heritage
- Saint Mary’s Church (Doneraile), church/chapel, 1630–1820 · Regional interest
Description
Freestanding Church of Ireland church, built 1633, repaired or rebuilt 1726 and repaired or rebuilt again 1815-16, having four-bay nave, square-plan three-stage tower to west, lean-to two-bay recent extension to north-west, and single-bay vestry to north-east. Boiler house to north of extension. Pitched slate roof, with castellated pediment to tower, and some cast-iron rainwater goods. Smooth render to tower and above render impost of nave walls, painted roughcast elsewhere, with rendered plinth course. Render string courses between stages of tower and to base of parapet. Limestone ashlar square-plan pilasters to corners with carved pinnacles. Limestone plaque 1726 with chamfered surround to west elevation of tower, and date 1815 to keystone of east window. Pointed arch window openings to shallow niches in nave and east wall, having peck-dressed limestone ogee surrounds above impost level, and having keystones and limestone sills. East window flanked by blind pointed arch niches with limestone sills, all openings being flanked by tapering limestone engaged columns with moulded bases, and capitals with sharp pointed pinnacles. Tracery to east window and stained glass to it and to eastern two bays of nave. One window in north and south walls of nave have chamfered limestone surrounds. Two western bays of south wall of nave and three western bays of north wall, windows in west wall of nave flanking south side of tower, and windows of vestry, all have six-over-six pane timber sliding sash windows with tracered upper lifts. Window flanking north side of tower has fixed traceried timber window. Round-headed openings to top stage of tower with timber louvers. Pointed arch windows to lower stages of tower, one with two-over-two pane timber sliding sash window, having traceried upper lift, and second with chamfered cut limestone surround and latticed glazing. Round-headed door opening to tower, having moulded limestone surround and hood-moulding with enlarged decorative keystone, and having double-leaf timber battened door with decorative hinges. Cast-iron boot scrapes to either side, set into limestone blocks. Vestry has Tudor arch doorway with chamfered tooled limestone surround and threshold, with recent timber door. Interior of church has geometric encaustic and marble tiled floor, flattened king-post trussed roof, and painted rendered walls with ogee-headed timber panelling. Ornate marble monument to St Ledger family to north wall and decorative timber pulpit to south-east. Carved timber surround to inside of east stained-glass window, with date and inscription to base of window. Carved timber altar, chairs and pews, and polished brass altar rail. Timber panelled doors to west end, having ogee-headed panelling and fluted carved timber surround, and polished red granite holy water font, also to west end. Original bell to west lobby having Latin inscription and date. Church is set in graveyard with some elaborate chest tombs and ornate grave markers. Painted rendered boundary walls having commemorative brass plaque, with square-plan inner and outer limestone ashlar piers with plinths and carved caps, and double-leaf decorative wrought-iron vehicular gates.
- Bridge, 1740–1760 · Regional interest
Description
Four-arch road bridge over the River Awbeg, built c. 1750. Coursed limestone rubble walls with tooled limestone parapets to road having peck-dressed copings. Walls curving to terminate in square-plan tooled limestone piers with pointed caps. Semi-circular arches spaced in pairs, having pair of V-cutwaters.
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
- About 1 in 5 homes in this area is likely to have high radon levels. Testing a home
- Landslides
- Susceptibility moderately low, low, on the 1:50,000 map.
- Terrain model
- No LiDAR survey of the Office of Public Works covers the centre of the townland of Horseclose.
- Flooding
- The flood maps of the Office of Public Works: floodinfo.ie.
Radon Risk Map of Ireland, Environmental Protection Agency; Landslide Susceptibility Classification, Geological Survey Ireland; both 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 Horseclose with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Cork.
The townland
- Name
- Horseclose · Clós na gCapall
- Area
- 315,602 m² (31.56 ha, 77.99 acres)
- Civil parish
- Doneraile, and its townlands
- Barony
- Fermoy
- Electoral division
- Doneraile, the unit of the census
- Census 2022
- Doneraile electoral division: 1,555 people in 599 households; 67% of households own their home; 29% of homes were built since 2001; 9% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 1% were holiday homes.
- Placenames
- Horseclose 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.