Bremore

More than 2,000 parcels touch this townland: too many to draw here.

• P1RU - Rural (Agriculture)
  The Fingal Development Plan 2023 – 2029, Fingal The zoning objective in the plan
• G4OS - Open Space (Active open space)
  The Fingal Development Plan 2023 – 2029, Fingal The zoning objective in the plan
• R2RS - Residential (Existing residential)
  The Fingal Development Plan 2023 – 2029, Fingal The zoning objective in the plan
• S3CI - Community Infrastructure (Community facilities)
  The Fingal Development Plan 2023 – 2029, Fingal The zoning objective in the plan
• G3HA - High Amenity (Conservation, amenity or buffer space, corridor/belt, landscape)
  The Fingal Development Plan 2023 – 2029, Fingal The zoning objective in the plan
• R1RA - Residential Area (New/proposed residential)
  The Fingal Development Plan 2023 – 2029, Fingal The zoning objective in the plan
• M3LC - Local Centre (District, neighbourhood centre)
  The Fingal Development Plan 2023 – 2029, Fingal The zoning objective in the plan
• G3GB - Green Belt (Conservation, amenity or buffer space, corridor/belt, landscape)
  The Fingal Development Plan 2023 – 2029, Fingal The zoning objective in the plan

Source: Tailte Éireann and the Department of Housing (MyPlan), national zoning, CC BY 4.0.

• 2 Sept 2026Referral

  Change of use of an existing residential property to a Day Centre for

  Permission · Fingal County Council, F26A/0796E

• 1 Sept 2026Registration

  Lagan Homes Balbriggan Ltd intend to make a planning application for p

  Lrd application · Fingal County Council, LRD0081/S3E

• 27 Aug 2026Referral

  Permission is sought for the relocation of the approved bin store (F23

  Permission · Fingal County Council, F26A/0782E

• 17 Aug 2026Invalid application due to site notice

  Planning Permission for A. Single storey extension to side and rear, B

  Permission · Fingal County Council, F26A/0743

• 13 Aug 2026Referral

  Permission to alter, extend and change the use of domestic garage to l

  Permission and retention · Fingal County Council, F26A/0733E

• 12 Aug 2026Referral

  The principal activities associated with the proposed development wil

  Permission · Fingal County Council, F26A/0728E

• 6 Aug 2026Invalid application

  Permission to alter, extend and change the use of domestic garage to l

  Permission and retention · Fingal County Council, F26A/0706E

• 10 Jun 2026Request additional information

  Planning permission for attic conversion with hip roof to gable and do

  Permission · Fingal County Council, F26A/0488E

• 29 May 2026Refuse permission

  A total of 9no. new two-storey dwellinghouses consisting of a) 4no. de

  Permission · Fingal County Council, F26A/0455E

• 28 May 2026Invalid application

  The principal activities associated with the proposed development will

  Permission · Fingal County Council, F26A/0447E

• 12 May 2026Invalid application due to site notice

  A total of 9no. new two-storey dwellinghouses consisting of a) 4no. de

  Permission · Fingal County Council, F26A/0373E

• 7 May 2026Grant permission for retention

  The retention of the extension as constructed to the rear to include r

  Retention · Fingal County Council, F26A/0358E

• 1 May 2026Invalid application

  Permission is sought to retain extension as constructed to the rear to

  Retention · Fingal County Council, F26A/0348E

• 21 Apr 2026Invalid application

  A total of 9no. new two-storey dwellinghouses consisting of a) 4no. de

  Permission · Fingal County Council, F26A/0318E

• 10 Apr 2026Grant permission

  An outbuilding containing a garden shed and a home gym to the rear gar

  Permission · Fingal County Council, F26A/0286E

• 3 Apr 2026Invalid application due to site notice

  Planning permission for attic conversion with hip roof to gable and do

  Permission · Fingal County Council, F26A/0273E

• 31 Mar 2026Grant permission

  Construction of a single storey detached home office/garden room (inte

  Permission · Fingal County Council, F26A/0259E

• 24 Mar 2026Invalid application

  An outbuilding containing a garden shed and a home gym to the rear gar

  Permission · Fingal County Council, F26A/0232E

• 19 Mar 2026Seek clarification of additional info.

  Detached ESB substation

  Retention · Fingal County Council, F26A/0204E

• 13 Mar 2026Refuse permission

  Permission for the construction of a 4 storey building with part 3 sto

  Permission · Fingal County Council, F26A/0186E

• 13 Feb 2026Grant permission & grant retention

  Retention Planning Permission for as constructed non habitable attic c

  Permission and retention · Fingal County Council, F26A/0102E

• 11 Feb 2026Invalid application due to site notice

  Retention is sought for detached ESB substation.

  Retention · Fingal County Council, F26A/0090E

• 6 Feb 2026Invalid application due to site notice

  PERMISSION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 4 STOREY BUILDING WITH PART 3 STO

  Permission · Fingal County Council, F26A/0078E

• 4 Feb 2026Grant permission

  The proposed development will consist of the installation of a pedestr

  Permission · Fingal County Council, F26A/0071E

• 22 Jan 2026Withdraw application

  Planning permission for attic conversion hipped dormer to side roof to

  Permission · Fingal County Council, F26A/0039E

The 25 most recent of over 100 applications.

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

Designated sites

• Special Protection Area: North-West Irish Sea cSPA 004236

Recorded monuments

• DU002-001001 Megalithic tomb - passage tomb
  Description

  Situated on the coast at the mouth of the river Delvin. This passage tomb is part of Bremore cemetery (Rynne 1960, 79, Mound I). It comprises a circular cairn which is heavily grassed over (max. diam. 29m; H 3.5m). Possible kerbstones on W side. Disturbance at NW may indicate the remains of a collapsed passage and chamber (Herity 1974, 209, 255). Best preserved of the mounds (I-V), it appears the mound had been perfectly conical 'until the 1940s when the Board of Works took stone from it to paint Eire in white along the cliff edge of the headland-as part of the Emergency Defenses'. This is according to the current owners, whose father owned the land at the time, and told them this is how the interior of the mound was collapsed. However cartographic evidence indicates there may have been collapse/quarrying of the mound in the previous century. Geophysical survey (Licence no. 06R0050) of the mound did not return specific structural detail (Gimson 2006, 10). It did however show a drainage pipe had been inserted immediately to the east. The Bremore headland was also subject to a constraint study carried out by Margaret Gowen & Company Ltd. in advance of a proposed port. In addition fieldwalking and lithic analysis was undertaken for an MA study (Collins, 2007). Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Updated by: Christine Baker Date of upload: 16 April 2015 This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 27/1976).

• DU002-001002 Megalithic tomb - passage tomb
  Description

  Located near shoreline in a level field of tillage. This passage tomb is part of Bremore cemetery (Rynne 1960, 80, Mound II). The site comprises a small circular mound (max. diam. 12m; max. H 0.7m). Kerbstones were visible at N and S sides in the 1970s. Disturbed core material consists of water-rolled pebbles (Herity 1974, 209, 255). Geophysical survey (Licence no. 06R0050) of the mound did not return specific structural detail (Gimson 2006, 10). The area was also subject to a constraint study carried out by Margaret Gowen & Company Ltd. in advance of a proposed port. In addition fieldwalking and lithic analysis was undertaken for an MA study (Collins, 2007). Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Updated by: Christine Baker Date of upload: 16 April 2015 This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 27/1976).

• DU002-001003 Megalithic tomb - passage tomb
  Description

  Situated on the coast at the mouth of the river Delvin. This passage tomb is part of the Bremore cemetery (Rynne 1960, 80, MoundIII). Located near shoreline on coastal promontory. A low irregular mound (max. dims. 12m E-W; 9m N-S; H 0.5m). Possible kerbstones visible on its N edge. Disturbed core appears to be water-rolled beach material. Listed as a possible passage tomb (Herity 1974, 255-7). Geophysical survey (Licence no. 06R0050) of the mound did not return specific structural detail (Gimson 2006, 10). The area was also subject to a constraint study carried out by Margaret Gowen & Company Ltd. in advance of a proposed port. In addition fieldwalking and lithic analysis was undertaken for an MA study (Collins, 2007). Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Updated by; Christine Baker Date of upload: 16 April 2015 This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 27/1976).

• DU002-001004 Megalithic tomb - passage tomb
  Description

  Situated on the coast at the mouth of the river Delvin. This passage tomb is part of Bremore cemetery (Rynne 1960, 80, Mound IV). A pear-shaped mound (dims. 15m N-S; 8.5m E-W; H 1m). The site is truncated at the W side by a field boundary and has been damaged by ploughing. There is a core of water-rolled beach material exposed on the W side. Listed as possible passage tomb (Herity 1974, 209). Geophysical survey (Licence no. 06R0050) of the mound did not return specific structural detail (Gimson 2006, 10). The area was also subject to a constraint study carried out by Margaret Gowen & Company Ltd. in advance of a proposed port. In addition fieldwalking and lithic analysis was undertaken for an MA study (Collins, 2007). Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Updated by: Christine Baker Date of upload: 16 April 2015 This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 27/1976).

• DU002-001005 Megalithic tomb - passage tomb
  Description

  Situated on the coast at the mouth of the river Delvin. Part of the Bremore passage tomb cemetery (Rynne 1960, 81, Mound V). It comprises a low sub-circular mound (max. dims. 11.5m N-S; 8.5m E-W; H 0.75m) with two large stones visible on the N side. Listed as a passage tomb (Herity 1974, 209). Geophysical survey (Licence no. 06R0050) of the mound identified a cairn of stones covering a possible central burial or cremation. Seven isolated magnetic responses are arranged around the circumference of the mound. These may be interpreted as small pits or areas of burning (Gimson 2006, 10). The area was also subject to a constraint study carried out by Margaret Gowen & Company Ltd. in advance of a proposed port. In addition fieldwalking and lithic analysis was undertaken for an MA study (Collins, 2007). Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Updated by: Christine Baker Date of upload: 16 April 2015 This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 27/1976).

• DU002-001006 Fulacht fia
  Description

  Situated close to the shoreline in a level field under pasture. In 1988 it was evident as a spread of burnt stone with charcoal and black soil (max. dims. 13m N-S; 12m E-W). Geophysical survey (Licence no. 06R050) of Bremore headland did not identify this site. Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Updated by: Christine Baker Date of upload: 16 April 2015

• DU002-002001 House - fortified house
  Description

  The rebuilt Manor Castle of Bremore (Brí Mhór/Big Hill) aka Pierstown, the ancestral home of the Barnewall (De Berneval) family stands 985m to the N of the town of Balbriggan, 280m W of the coastline, with Balbriggan Martello Tower No. 12 (DU002-004----) 480m to the SSE. The present castle has been rebuilt by the Parks Department of Fingal County Council, all of the upper floors from c. 4m upwards have been built in these 20th-century works.  In 1783, the artist and antiquarian, Austin Cooper described the setting of Bremore Castle as; ‘situated on a rising ground very near the sea & commanding a delightful prospect thereof’ (Price 1942).  The manorial chapel or the chapel of Lambecher (Bee Keeper) (D’Alton 1838, 479) also known as St Molaga’s Church (DU002-002002-) and graveyard (DU002-002003-) stands 55m to the S.    Architectural Description: In 1783, the artist and antiquarian, Austin Cooper described Bremore Castle as; ‘a modern building with good limestone quoins, window frames, muinnions [mullions] &c.. ......The lower part of this Cas[tl]e is very strong & arched in a very irregular manner, & appears to me to have been not many years ago inhabited. Besides a number of Garden walls & such like inclosures still to be traced are the walls of a Chapel in wch. nothing is remarkable’.  The front doorway in the centre of the west wall was drawn and described by Cooper as a; ‘particularly neat, ornamented on each side with a pilaster w[hi]ch support a suitable pediment in the space of w[hi]ch are two coats of arms parted pale Vist.–Ermine, a border engrailed on the sinister side–(Barnewall) & a fess between 5 martins 3 & 2 on the dexter side’.  The ruins of Bremore Castle were described in the 1880s by Ernest Reginald McClintock Dix (1857-1936) which was then in the possession of the King family; ‘Mr King who takes a great interest in this relic of antiquity, and showed me every part of it.  He stated that his late father was of the opinion that their residence, which adjoins the Castle, and the walls of which are fully 8ft. [2.4m] thick, formed originally the malt-house belonging to the Castle.  The existing remains are of an oblong shape stretching from north to south, the walls of which are of great thickness, being in some places 5ft. [1.5m] and 6ft. [1.8m] thick. The walls do not extend up many feet now, but no doubt there was a very strong Castle here of two or three storeys high.  The faces of the north, east, and south walls, for the height to which they extend, and so far as they are not hidden by ivy, are strong and good, and the angles as sharp as when they were made.  The south wall [L 12m] looks into the corner of Mr. King’s garden.  In this wall about 8ft. [2.4m] from the ground is a well formed loop window, with an arched top and stone jambs and sill.  The arch is formed by one stone.  There are some slight cuttings or bevelling on the sill.  In the eastern wall [L 24m], proceeding up from the south corner, are two windows, forming little more than loopholes on the outside, but very widely splayed within.  Then comes a rectangular projection from the wall, containing a small chamber [garderobe tower], for what purpose I am unable to conjecture.    Then the wall continues until it reaches the angle formed with the north wall.  In the latter [north] wall are three windows, two small, mere loopholes, and a third to the west, now built up, which was the largest.  There are also traces of a modern doorway.  To reach the interior of the castle one has to go round into the yard and enter on the west side where the original doorway or main entrance to the castle was.  The west wall to the right is of great thickness, at least 6 ft. [1.8m], though much broken down so that one can clamber on to it; it seems to have suffered the most.  There are no windows in it.  In the south wall is seen the inner wide splay of the small stone-framed window which I referred to before.  Facing then the east wall, we see its great thickness through the widely-splayed and deeply-recessed windows also mentioned before.  North of them is the little chamber in the rectangular projection; it is roofed.  Coming then to the north side we find still the remains of a roofed-in chamber, having a stone barrel-vaulted ceiling, built originally upon wattles.  A small window looks out from it through the north wall.  This chamber is about fifteen yards [13.7m] wide, and is greater in length than in width. From the outer or southern face of this chamber to the opposite wall is about forty-two yards [38.4m].  This forms the interior length of the main ground floor of the castle; it is at present roofless.  There is, however, clearly apparent the spring of a stone barrel-vaulted ceiling, and probably this ceiling extended over the greater part, if not all, of the main ground floor chamber of the castle.  Proceeding westward along the north side, but still inside the castle, we find a small open space immediately adjoining the small stone chamber, and then comes the place where the stair turret was, at the north-west corner.  A few steps still remain, showing that the stairs were strong and wide. This turret projects beyond the west wall a few feet, as is found so often.  The southern wall of this turret forms the north side of the original main entrance.  At a little distance from this entrance, and right across the present yard, are seen stone pillars in a wall which, Mr. King explained, were the remains of the outer gate through which the castle was approached in old times.  There are immediately adjoining the remains of the stair turret, a long stone building [aligned E-W] with a modern roof, now used by Mr. King for farming purposes.  It is clearly not by any means as old as the rest of the castle, but still may have been added a century or two ago when the fine castle was still inhabited.  It is built up against the corner of the stair turret, but projects a good deal further north.  The chief features which strike one in connection with this castle, are the immense thickness of the walls and its unusual shape. It must have been very strong and very extensive. Outside lying under the protection of the eastern wall, is the curious carved stone with six coats-of-arms on it and some central figures, which have been visited and drawn, I believe by others. It bears the name of Buriforde, Howth, and Barnewall amongst others.  Whether the stone was portion of a tomb, or as some say, decorated the fireplace, would be hard now to say, but the former seems to me more likely.  It was made, according to the inscription on it by Margaret St. Lawrence’ (Dix 1897, 68).  The ruins of Bremore Castle ruins were inspected in 1974 by the Archaeological Survey of Ireland, when the walls of the building at that time were described as standing circa 12ft. [4m] high. In the 1980’s Bremore Castle consisted of a single storey building in a ruinous condition standing inside a farmyard, the present castle structure is mainly a 20th-century building which was built from the first floor upwards from 1994 onwards by a FÁS training scheme under the support of Fingal County Council and the Balbriggan and District Historical Society.    The 1783 drawing of the western wall (L. 24m) of the castle by Austin Cooper clearly shows the ruins of a rectangular building one room deep, roughly aligned on a N-S long axis, standing three storeys high with an attic level lit by a series of small lights just below the eaves of the castle roof. The castle doorway was located off centre to N in the W wall and consisted of a round arched cut-stone pedimented doorway with decorated keystone and armorial plaque above the arch framed by the pediment.  The first floor and second floor were lit by a tall wide mullion and transomed multi-light windows.  A tall gable-ended chimney stack is visible on the S gable rising high above the roofline of the castle, with remains of a lateral chimneystack located off centre to S on the E wall.  Possible remains of a damaged gable ended chimney stack on the N gable of the building. A later single storey thatched farm-building is visible running W off the NW angle of the castle.  This building has a small chimney rising from the centre of the roof.  The crease line of an earlier and steeper roof is visible in the external face of the W wall above the roofline of the farm building.  The alignment of this higher roofline matches the alignment of the farmbuilding running W off the NW angle which suggests that it was originally built as two storey high building and was later reduced in height to a single storey thatched building. A pointed-doorway at first floor level is present in the E gable of the farm building which gave access to a stairs in the NW angle of the main building.  An opening for this stairs is partial visible in the 1783 drawing.  The 2013 Conservation Plan for Bremore Castle suggested that this first floor doorway located close to the NW angle was the original doorway of the castle and that in the late 16th-century a new ground-floor doorway was inserted into the centre of the W wall.  The chimney stacks appear to be triple diamond-shaped stacks of typical 17th-century date which match the dating of the multi-light flat headed transomed and mullioned windows visible at first floor level in the drawing. The architectural features of the doorway, windows, and chimneystacks all suggest a late 16th or early 17th-century date for this building, although it is possible that they may have been inserted or added to an earlier building. The coat of arms above the doorway described by Cooper in 1783 are the coat of arms belonging to John Barnewall (d. 1606) and Eleanor Dowdall (d. 1607) who married in the second half of the 16th-century.    The S wall (L 12m) of the main building stood to first floor level only, standing c. 4m high.  A photograph taken by Patrick Healy in 1985 shows the presence of a single light round-headed window with chamfered punch-dressed jambs in the centre of the S wall.  A putlog hole is visible to the E of the window.     The 2013 Conservation Plan of Bremore Castle commissioned by Fingal County Council stated that ‘a mantel piece which celebrates the marriage of James Barnewall to Margaret St Lawrence which is now housed in Lusk Church. It comprises a sub-rectangular limestone plaque that is decorated with six-shields bearing arms, at the centre of which is an annunciation scene which commemorates the union. According to David Newman Johnson this bridal mantel provides a mid-sixteenth century date (c. 1546) for the vaulted hall-house which is thought to be the earliest standing phase of the castle. While the mantel provides a relative date it could be argued it was inserted into an already existing castle’.    Historical Background: In the 1654-56 Civil Survey of Dublin, Bremore Castle was described as standing on the lands of ‘Breemore & Newhaven a fishing towne’ which in 1641 belonged to the ‘Irish Papist’ Matthew Barnewall of Bremore (Simington 1945, 6).  The 16th-century fishing town of Newhaven (DU002-005----) stood in the fields 1.2km to the N of Bremore Castle.  The castle building and associated structures was described in the 1654-56 Civil Survey as; ‘one Burnt Castle with a great Barne & eight tenements one orchard & parke with some small young Ashtrees’ (ibid.).   In 1669 James Barnewall of Bremore, was granted by Charles II the right to convert 500 acres of land into the Manor of Bremore and he was granted the ‘liberties, courts and priviledges’ of a manor, he was to hold a manor court at Bremore every 3 weeks and was granted the right to hold a court leete or view of frankpledge within this manor every 3 weeks, he was to keep at Bremore one or  more Seneschalls and or Bailiffs for the executing of the writs of the manorial court.  He was also granted the right to hold one annual fair to last for two days on the 24th and 25th of June and was granted the power to hold a court or courts of piepowder during the annual fair’ (TNA SO 1/7/98). In a land grant of 1678 to James Barnewall, his estate in Bremore was described as; ‘The Manor, Castle, Town & Lands of Bremore, with a ruinous Water-Mill & several Tenements’ (NAI Lodge/8/89).   The Barnewalls were descended from Alanus, son of Hoel, Earl of Brittany and Warwick, and their coat of arms dating from the 15th-century is based on that of the Duke of Brittany with red engrailing indicating a cadet branch of the family (Barnwell 1959, 124). In 1215, Hugh de Berneval was in possession of the lands of Drimnagh and Terenure, in the ‘Vale of Dublin’ and the manor of Drimnagh (DU018-036---) became the seat of the senior branch of the Barnewall family from the 13th-century onwards (ibid.).  Bremore was part of the medieval Manor of Balrothery and was in the possession of the Barnewalls of the Manor of Drimnagh (DU018-036---) from the 14th century (Barnwell 1963, 445; D’Alton 1838, 479).   Sir Thomas Barnewall of Robertstown, Co. Meath was knighted before 1554 and he was the brother of James Barnewall of Bremore and Patrick Barnewall of Crickston (Barnwell 1963, 384).  In the early 16th century, Bremore estate was leased by Robert St. Lawrence, son of Sir Nicholas St. Lawrence, 16th Lord of Howth, who married Eleanor Aylmer.  Their only child Margaret St. Lawrence married James Barnewall, 5th and youngest son of Sir John Barnewall, 3rd Baron of Trimelstown and Lord Chancellor of Ireland who died in 1538 (Barnwell 1966, 445-6).  Through this marriage James Barnewall of Bremore became a tenant of his distant cousin, Edward Barnewall of Drimnagh Castle (ibid.).  In 1559 James Barnewall of Bremore was appointed by Queen Elizabeth to the hold the office of Attorney General (ibid.). James and Margaret had eight children, including their heir and eldest son John Barnewall born c. 1548, Robert of Rathesker, Co. Louth, Bartholomew of Bremore and Rathesker, Thomas, Catherine who marrried Patrick Bellew of Weston, The Naul, Ellen, Elizabeth and Mary who married Alexander Barnewall of Luston, Co. Meath (ibid., 447-8).  Their eldest son John married Eleanor Dowdall, daughter of Sir James Dowdall. John died in 1606 and Eleanor died a year later in 1607. An Inquisition into the estate of the deceased recorded that the Manor of Bremore consisted of lands including; ‘Clonluske, Orde, Flemingston, Moylaragh next to Flemingstown, and Plunkett’s land next to Moylaragh, all containing 600 acres, from Barnewall of Drimnagh for an annual payment of one red rose (ibid.).  John and Eleanor Barnewal had sixteen children, their eldest son and heir was James Barnewall who was born around the year 1574.   Some time before the year 1607, James married Elizabeth Barnewall, daughter and heir of Mark Barnewall of Drimnagh Manor who died in 1606.  Their eldest son and heir was Matthew Barnewall who was born some time around 1608.  In 1636 he married Anne Bellew, daughter of Sir Christopher Bellew of Castletown, Co. Louth.  In 1641 Matthew became a Captain in the Irish Army and was outlawed as a result, he died a year later in 1642.  His eldest son and heir was James, who was the last lord of Bremore and in 1663 was declared to be an Innocent papist and was allowed to keep 2,414 acres of his father’s estate.    In 1727 Walter Bagenal of Dunleckney, Co. Carlow who was married to Eleanor Barnewall, daughter of James, sold the lands of Bremore and Drimnagh to Henry, Earl of Shelburne (Barnewell 1965, 452).  Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of Compilation: 07 November 2025

• DU002-002002 Church
  Description

  In disused graveyard S of Bremore fortified house (DU002-002001-). This is reputed to be the early monastic site of 'Lann Beachaire' possibly founded by St. Molaga in the 7th-century (Walsh 1888, 252; Gwynn & Hadcock 1970, 396). Traditionally associated with the transportation of bees from Wales to Ireland by St Modomnócc (Newman Johnson 2007, 250). The 1992 describes the remains are of a late medieval church, which was the manorial chapel for Bremore, and comprised a rectangular featureless structure with undivided nave and chancel (13.1m E-W, 7m N-S, max. wall H 3m) and a small extension to the W (orientated NE-SW). Built throughout of coursed limestone masonry. Remains of doorway traceable in the N wall of the nave, which is incorporated into a garden wall. Lit by plain loop in S wall. Buttress near E end of S wall. Now extensively overgrown with only southern church wall discernable. Fragments of decorated seventeenth-century stonework were cemented into place along interior of southern church wall, including a lintel (DU002-002006-) dated to 1689 and decorated with emblems of the Passion; two double-light decorated window heads (DU002-002005-). A carved crucifixion (DU002-002004-) has since been removed to Ardgillan Castle. A plain lintel also lies on the ground adjacent to the gate piers at the entrance to the graveyard. A mass dial thought to have come from the manorial chapel was recovered during excavations to the north of the site (DU002-014----).  Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Updated by: Christine Baker Date of upload: 24 October 2014

• DU002-002003 Graveyard
  Description

  This is a disused graveyard (L 40m, Wth28m) SW of Bremore fortified house (DU002-002001-) which is reputed to be the early monastic site of 'Lann Beachaire' possibly founded by St. Molaga in the 7th-century (Walsh 1888, 252; Gwynn & Hadcock 1970, 396). It is completely overgrown with elders and briars but a masonry wall is visible along the N side of the site. In the graveyard are remains of a church (DU002-002002-) and a finely carved and sculptured door lintel with instruments of the passion, dated 1689 (Wth 0.45m, D. 0.53m) (DU002-002006-) (Newman Johnson 2007, 252). A survey of the headstones was undertaken in 1993 (Egan). As part of the Conservation Plan undertaken in 2011/12, an electrical resistivity survey (Detection Licence No. 11R0038) was carried out by Target Ltd. within the walled garden immediately north of the graveyard. No indication of an ecclesiastical enclosure associated with the early medieval foundation associated with St Molaga’s graveyard was identified. Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Updated by: Christine Baker Date of upload: 24 October 2014 Egan, M.J. 1993 ‘Bremore graveyard’. In Memorials of the Dead, Dublin City & County No.6

• DU002-002004 Cross
  Description

  A late medieval carving of the Crucifixion on a cross was affixed to the top of the decorated lintel (DU002-002006-) near the remains of the late-medieval manor church (DU002-002002-) at Bremore. In 2009, this cross was taken into storage at Ardgillan Castle (DU005-078----). A photograph of the monument taken by Patrick Healy in 1985 (https://source.southdublinlibraries.ie/handle/10599/3599) shows the carving of a small Latin Cross with Crucified Jesus carved in relief, long outstretched arms with hands nailed to the cross, wearing a loincloth or perizoma around his waist with overlapping feet resting on the top of the skull of Adam. I N R I acronym incised into the top of the cross above the head of Jesus.  The face of Jesus appears to be damaged.  INRI is a Latin acronym for Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum, which translates to "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews". According to Jewish traditions, Golgotha or Calvary was the place where the skull of Adam was buried. The Crucified Jesus was sometimes referred to as ‘The Second Adam’ who died to live, in contrast to the First Adam who lived to die.  According to the Oxford Dictionary of Christian Art and Architecture, the term 'Calvary was a Latinized form of the Hebrew Golgotha meaning ‘[place of] a skull’.  It is recorded as the site of the Crucifixion as Calvary by Luke and as Golgotha by the other evangelists. The original of the name is not clear, but from early times it was regarded as the burial place of Adam's skull, so that Christ's blood shed on it would bring redemption to the human race' (Jones et. al. 2013, 92). Cross-referenced with DU005-078----. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

• DU002-002005 Architectural fragment
  Description

  Fragments of two twin-light ogee-headed windows with curly-headed angels depicted at arch. East has tulips, west rosettes. Decoration similar to that on 1689 architectural fragment (DU002-002006-). Both set on a concrete plinth adjacent to church wall (DU002-002002-).  Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Updated by: Christine Baker Date of upload: 24 October 2014

• DU002-002006 Architectural fragment
  Description

  A chimney-piece stone dated to 1689 with emblems of the passion has been set against the extant wall of the remains of the late medieval church (DU002-002002-) on a concrete plinth. Slabs were cemented on top. Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Updated by: Christine Baker Date of upload: 24 October 2014

• DU002-002007 Bawn
  Description

  Bawn area to the W of the rebuilt Castle of Bremore (Brí Mhór/Big Hill), the ancestral home of the Barnewall (De Berneval) family stands 985m to the N of the town of Balbriggan, 280m W of the coastline, with Balbriggan martello tower No. 12 (DU002-004----) 480m to the SSE. The ruins of a manor chapel (DU002-002002-) and graveyard (DU002-002003-) lie immediately S of Bremore castle and bawn.  The chapel is reputed to be the early monastic site of 'Lann Beachaire' possibly founded by St. Molaga in the 7th-century (Walsh 1888, 252; Gwynn & Hadcock 1970, 396).  The present castle has been rebuilt by the Parks Department of Fingal County Council, all of the upper floors from c. 4m upwards have been built in these 20th-century works. In the 1654-56 Civil Survey of Dublin, the castle was described as standing on the lands of ‘Breemore & Newhaven a fishing towne’ which in 1641 belonged to the ‘Irish Papist’ Matthew Barnewall of Bremore (Simington 1945, 4).  The 16th-century fishing town of Newhaven (DU002-005----) stood in the fields 1.2km to the N of Bremore Castle.  The castle building and associated structures was described in the 1654-56 Civil Survey as; ‘one Burnt Castle with a great Barne & eight tenements one orchard & parke with some small young Ashtrees’ (ibid.).   In 1783, the artist and antiquarian, Austin Cooper described Bremore Castle and possible adjoining bawn area as; ‘a modern building with good limestone quoins, window frames, muinnions [mullions] &c.. ......The lower part of this Cas[tl]e is very strong & arched in a very irregular manner, & appears to me to have been not many years ago inhabited. Besides a number of Garden walls & such like inclosures still to be traced are the walls of a Chapel in wch. nothing is remarkable’ (Price 1942).   The ruins of Bremore Castle and the adjoining bawn enclosing an area to the W of the castle was described in the 1880s which was then in the possession of the King family; ‘Mr King who takes a great interest in this relic of antiquity, and showed me every part of it.  Proceeding westward along the north side, but still inside the castle, we find a small open space immediately adjoining the small stone chamber, and then comes the place where the stair turret was, at the north-west corner.  A few steps still remain, showing that the stairs were strong and wide. This turret projects beyond the west wall a few feet, as is found so often.  The southern wall of this turret forms the north side of the original main entrance.  At a little distance from this entrance, and right across the present yard, are seen stone pillars in a wall which, Mr. King explained, were the remains of the outer gate through which the castle was approached in old times' (Dix 1898, 68).   Monitoring in 1995, revealed stone-built channels associated with a garderobe and drainage (Swan 1996, 11). As part of the Conservation Plan undertaken in 2011/12, a resistivity survey (Licence No. 11R0038) was carried out by Target Ltd. within the walled garden at the eastern side of the castle and extended to the adjacent playing pitch. A concentration of anomalies, suggesting buried remains, was identified within the walled garden. These may represent remains including a possible well/water feature, pathways, and internal divisions. A portion of the possible foundation of the medieval walled enclosure was recorded in this area Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

• DU002-002008 Barn
  Description

  The rebuilt Manor Castle (DU002-002001-) of Bremore (Brí Mhór/Big Hill), the ancestral home of the Barnewall (De Berneval) family stands 985m to the N of the town of Balbriggan, 280m W of the coastline, with Balbriggan martello tower No. 12 (DU002-004----) 480m to the SSE. The present castle has been rebuilt by the Parks Department of Fingal County Council, all of the upper floors from c. 4m upwards have been built in these 20th-century works.  The precise location of a ‘great Barne’ associated with the manor castle of Bremore has not been identified.  The castle building with a barn, an orchard and a park with a settlement cluster was described in the 1654-56 Civil Survey as; ‘one Burnt Castle with a great Barne & eight tenements one orchard & parke with some small young Ashtrees’ (Simington 1945, 4).  One of three long buildings indicated on OSi historic maps located to the W, and NE of the castle may have been the site of the ‘Great Barne’.  The ruins of Bremore Castle and the adjoining bawn enclosing an area to the W of the castle was described in the 1880s which was then in the possession of the King family; ‘Mr King who takes a great interest in this relic of antiquity, and showed me every part of it.  He stated that his late father was of the opinion that their residence, which adjoins the Castle, and the walls of which are fully 8ft. [2.4m] thick, formed originally the malt-house belonging to the Castle' (Dix 1868, 68).  This malt-house may have been the ‘great Barne’ referred to in the 1654-56 Civil Survey.  The long narrow building forming the N boundary of the castle bawn depicted on the 1837 ed. OSi six-inch map may have been the site of the 'great Barne', it is unclear of this building was the ‘Malt House’ lived in by the King family in the 19th-century. Alternatively the two long buildings depicted to the NE of the castle on the 1837 six-inch map may have been the site of the barn.  On the 1837 ed. OSi six-inch map the building furthest to the NE of the castle has a Thrashing Machine immediately to the E of the building which may indicate that this building had an agricultural function.   Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

• DU002-003 Mound
  Description

  Situated on a slight slope at the N bank of the river near cliff edge. Pedestrian access to beach runs by it to north, drainage ditch to south. Comprises an overgrown oval, flat-topped mound (basal diam.9m, top 3m E-W, 2.2m N-S, H 2.5m). Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Update by: Christine Baker Date of upload: 27 October 2014

• DU002-005 Settlement cluster
  Description

  It appears to have been established sometime after 1562 when 'James Barnwell of Brymore and Margaret his wife' were granted the right to build a 'fisher town and pier or harbour' at Bremore. It is mentioned in historical documents in 1592 and again in 1607 is referred to as' le Horde alias le Newhaven of Brymore' and ' Hord alias Newhaven of Brymore' respectively. Newhaven is documented on the Down Survey (1655-6) parish and barony maps as 'On the North of the barony stands a point or North of Land (extending itself into the sea) called New Haven it being by the industrie of the inhabitants of the towne which stands; near this point made a secure harbour for boates and is a considerable place for fishing'. The village (comprising of 6 houses) appears as a crude drawing on the barony map of Balrudery by Thom West Edward Wilson and William ? (T or J)arrand. The village and pier is nicely illustrated (comprising of 5 houses) on the Down Survey (1655-6) barony maps held by the RSAI. Mentioned in Civil survey (1654-6) as 'on Newhaven ten small cottages' (Simington 1945, 4). 'Newhaven Towne' (village). The Civil Survey of Dublin refers to the proprietor of 'Breemore & Newhaven a fishing towne' as 'Matthew Barnewall of Breemor, Irish Papist'. It states that there were ten small cottages at Newhaven at this time. The census of Ireland for 1659 states there were 34 people living at Newhaven. A customs station was located at Newhaven from at least 1684 onwards to monitor the coastline and to try and control the illegal importation and exportation of goods. It is not clear if a customs boat or revenue cruiser was stationed at Newhaven harbour. The Hearth Money Rolls indicate that there were nine houses in Newhaven all with one hearth each. Newhaven is also listed on Herman Molls 1714 map of Dublin several other eighteenth century maps. It is also on Duncan's 1821 of Dublin and therefore may still have continued in use as a harbour throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Newhaven is not recorded on the 1st OS 6' map and therefore appears to have gone out of use by this time. There is no indication of a settlement on Bremore headland by 1841. Geophysical survey (Licence no. 06R0050) delimited the archaeological activity to an area 180m NE/SW and comprises a series of dividing ditches, possible buildings or animal pens visible. These possible bugage plots appear to open onto a metalled trackway (68m l. x 8.5m w.) to the south (Gimson 2006, 8). Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Updated by: Christine Baker Date of upload: 16 April 2015

• DU002-013 Barrow - unclassified
  Description

  Three circular areas defined by banks (diams. av. 6.25m) were identified near the shoreline immediately S of Bremore passage tomb cemetery in the 1950s (Hartnett 1957, 264). Geophysical survey (Licence no. 06R0050) identified an enclosure located approximately 110m SW of Mound I (DU002-007001-) that may correspond with one of Harnett's sites. The geophysical anomaly comprises as a circular ditch (25m diam.). No internal features were identified. The remaining two sites were not identified by the geophysical survey (Gimson 2006, 10). The field is under tillage. Not visible at ground level. The Bremore headland was also subject to a constraint study carried out by Margaret Gowen & Company Ltd. in advance of a proposed port. In addition fieldwalking and lithic analysis was undertaken for an MA study (Collins, 2007). Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Updated by: Christine Baker Date of upload: 16 April 2015

• DU002-014 Field system
  Description

  Pre-development investigations in 2001 identified part of a field system adjacent to Bremore castle (DU002-002002-). Two parallel ditches extending E-W (L 150m) and 50m apart formed the borders. Cultivation seems to have taken place in the enclosed plot and the field system may have extended across the present N1 road, joining to a lane known locally as Hamlet Lane which runs along the same E-W axis as the southern ditch (O'Carroll 2003, 79-80). Analysis of charred remains from the furrows yielded evidence for cereal grains, principally wheat, barley , oats and legumes. This suggests a pattern of intensive cultivation and crop rotation. Prior to the setting out of the field, the area was already used for cultivation. A shallow, flat-bottomed broad feature which produced Leinster Cooking Ware and 13th to 14th century local wares was interpreted as the remains of a manure heap. At a later stage in the 16th to early 17th century these fields may have been transformed into a parkland or orchard (O'Carroll 2009, 75-87). Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Date of upload: 26 August 2011

• DU002-018 Enclosure
  Description

  A rectangular enclosure visible as a crop mark on an aerial photograph (SMR file; pers. comm. T. Condit). At relatively high point in landscape with Bremore passage tombs to the north east. No visible remains. Compiled by: David O’Connor Updated by: Christine Baker Date of upload: 27 October 2014

• DU002-019 Field system
  Description

  A field system visible as a crop mark on Digital Globe orthoimage taken between 2011-13 (SMR file; pers. comm. T. Condit). At relatively high point in landscape with Bremore passage tombs to the north east. No visible remains. See attached Digital Globe orthoimage taken between 2011-13 Compiled by: David O’Connor Updated by: Christine Baker Date of upload: 27 October 2014

• DU002-022 Sundial
  Description

  Pre-development investigations in 2001 by Finola O'Carroll under licence No. 01E0370 identified part of a field system adjacent to Bremore castle (DU002-002002-) along with a slate sundial. The results of this excavation was summarised as follows; 'Excavation of an area adjacent to the site of Bremore Castle commenced in April 2001 in advance of a large-scale housing development to the north of a medieval complex. The site consists of a large open field covering approximately 4.5ha, the eastern quarter of which is to remain as parkland. The castle lies immediately to the south, surrounded by a number of modern farm buildings, and is currently being restored. The modern N1 road borders the field to the west, and a lane running from this road to the castle yard forms the field’s southern boundary. The sea lies 300m to the east. Closer to the castle a pit was excavated, contemporary with the cobbling and containing a large amount of late medieval pottery. A second pit excavated adjacent to the southern ditch also contained a large quantity of medieval pottery and a handsome slate sundial, possibly unfinished, of late medieval date. The possible footprint of a small structure, of either medieval or early post-medieval date, was also exposed in the vicinity, between these two pits' (www.excavations.ie 2001:324). See attached photograph of sundial courtesy of M.J. Harley (https://www.sundials-ireland.com/amedieval/medbremore.htm) Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 27 May 2022

Architectural heritage

• Bridge, 1840–1860 · Regional interest
  Description

  Single-arch railway bridge, c.1850 Rock faced granite voussoirs and pillars & parapet walls with plain metal railings. Depressed arch opening, with rock faced granite soffit.

• Bremore Cottage, house, 1835–1855 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached eight-bay single-storey thatched house, c.1845, with projecting entrance porch. Now in ruined condition. Reputed to be one of the longest thatched houses in Ireland. ROOF:Non existant as it burned down during a fire in 1996. Castiron comb ridge tiles exist on site. WALLS:Mud walls with lime render partially covered to present water ingress, with plastic sheeting partially ruined due to fire.OPENINGS:Square headed window openings obscured by over growth and vegitation; roundheaded door opening on porch with simple timber doorcase, doorleaf & fanlight.INTERIOR:Access not gained. From street interior gabled, red brick wall with chimney breast visible. Outbuilding to rear.

• Water pump, 1890–1900 · Regional interest
  Description

  Cast-iron water pump, c.1895, now missing parts. Insignia 'John Collins / Shop Street / Drogheda

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

About 1 in 20 homes in this area is likely to have high radon levels. Testing a home

Landslides

Susceptibility moderately high, moderately low, low, low (inferred), on the 1:50,000 map.

Terrain model

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

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.

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

Name

Bremore · Brí Mhór

Area

3,007,179 m² (300.72 ha, 743.09 acres)

Civil parish

Balrothery, and its townlands

Barony

Balrothery East

Electoral division

Balbriggan Rural, the unit of the census

Census 2022

Balbriggan Rural electoral division: 19,347 people in 6,127 households; 60% of households own their home; 74% of homes were built since 2001; 4% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 0% were holiday homes.

Neighbouring townlands

Clogheder, Clonard or Folkstown Great, Flemingtown, Knocknagin, Tankardstown

Placenames

Bremore 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.