Coole Demesne

166 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Coole Demesne, from 6 m² to 2,157,658 m² (215.77 ha, 533.17 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary; 51 neighbouring parcels touch it.

Download the townland: DXF, in Irish Transverse Mercator metres, with its boundary, parcels and buildings; GeoJSON or KML.

No zone of a development plan covers Coole Demesne 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.

• 22 Jul 2026N/a

  to construct a dwelling house, garage, treatment unit and all associated services

  Permission, 1 home · Galway County Council, 2661244

• 6 Sept 2024Conditional

  for the partial conversion of existing machinery shed to staff facilities building and all associated site works. The proposed development is located within the curtilage of a Protected Structure (RPS 410) Coole Park Visitor’s Centre. Gross floor space of proposed works: 56.30 sqm

  Permission · Galway County Council, 2461180

• 11 Jul 2024Conditional

  to construct an indoor horse training arena, a lunge ring and horse walker within existing farmyard complex. Gross floor space of proposed works: 314.00 sqm (horse walker), 2,058.00 sqm (horse arena) & 109.00 sqm (lunge area)

  Permission · Galway County Council, 2460866

• 24 Jun 2024Conditional

  for restoration & repair of an old applestore within the former vegetable garden at Coole Park. Works to include reinstatement of a slate covered roof, an internal floor, and fit-out for use as a bat roost. The proposed development is located with the curtilage of Coole Park Visitor’s Centre, a Protected Structure (RPS 410). Gross floor space of proposed works: 48 sqm

  Permission, 1 home · Galway County Council, 2460773

• 3 Jan 2024Conditional

  for the construction of a surfaced All Weather Playing Pitch

  Permission, 1 home · Galway County Council, 2460002

• 3 Jun 2023Conditional

  for construction of: (1) a machinery shed, (2) a temporary staff/office building & (3) all associated site works & services. The proposed development is located within the curtilage of a Protected Structure (RPS 410) Coole Park Visitor’s Centre

  Permission · Galway County Council, 2360602

• 14 Jun 2022Conditional

  for the construction of side & rear two storey extensions to an existing dwelling including elevation alterations. Permission is also sought for the incorporation of the existing garage into the rear extension along with elevation alterations to same and for all ancillary services and site works. Gross floor space of proposed works 85.00 sqm

  Permission, 1 home · Galway County Council, 2260605

• 16 May 2022Conditional

  for the construction of a dwellinghouse, domestic garage, proprietary treatment system and percolation area and for all ancillary services and site works. A Natura Impact Statement (NIS) has been prepared and will be submitted to the Planning Authority with this application. Gross floor area of proposed works: 279.75sqm (dwellinghouse) and 60sqm (domestic garage)

  Permission, 1 home · Galway County Council, 2260490

• 2 Feb 2022N/a

  to construct a dwellinghouse, domestic garage and wastewater treatment system and all associated services (gross floor space dwellinghouse 261.2sqm; garage 60sqm)

  Permission, 1 home · Galway County Council, 22108

• 8 Oct 2021Conditional

  for 1) construction of an extension to the existing national school , 2) alterations to existing national school and 3) associated site works. Gross floor space of proposed works: 9 sqm

  Permission · Galway County Council, 211874

• 7 Apr 2021Refused

  for the construction of a dwellinghouse, domestic garage, proprietary treatment system and percolation area and for all ancillary services and site works. Gross floor space of proposed works: House: 279.75 sqm, Garage: 60 sqm

  Permission, 1 home · Galway County Council, 21537

• 10 Dec 2020N/a

  for [1] construction of an extension to the existing national school [2]alterations to existing national school and [3] associated site works. Gross floor space of proposed works: 93 msq

  Permission · Galway County Council, 201895

• 25 Nov 2020Conditional

  of alterations and relocation of dwelling house and garage previously granted under 17/1070. Gross floor space of work to be retained: D: 237 sqm, G: 39.5 sqm

  Retention, 1 home · Galway County Council, 201779

• 29 Oct 2020Conditional

  for an existing farmyard complex consisting of [1] 2 no. storage sheds for machinery and feedstuff [2] concrete yard and associated works [3] underground rainwater harvesting tank and [4] underground wastewater storage tank for run off from the yard [5] Access road and all associated works. Gross floor space of work to be retained: 1510 msq.

  Retention · Galway County Council, 201602

• 17 Sept 2020N/a

  for the retention of alterations and relocation of dwelling house and garage previously granted under 17/1070. Gross floor space of works to be retained: 237 msq & 39.5 msq

  Retention · Galway County Council, 201332

• 19 May 2020Conditional

  to construct a dwelling house, domestic garage and waste water treatment system. Gross floor space of proposed works, 273sqm (h), 60sqm (g)

  Permission, 1 home · Galway County Council, 20608

• 8 Apr 2020Conditional

  Construction of a domestic storage shed. Gross floor space of proposed works 60sqm

  Permission, 1 home · Galway County Council, 20449

• 20 Sept 2019N/a

  to construct a dwelling house, domestic garage and wastewater treatment system. Gross floor space of proposed works: Dwelling 257.4 sqm, Garage 60sqm.

  Permission, 1 home · Galway County Council, 191464

• 25 Jul 2019Conditional

  for the construction of a dwelling house, garage, treatment unit and all associated services. Gross floor space of proposed works: House - 289.6 sqm, Garage - 55.8 sqm

  Permission, 1 home · Galway County Council, 191146

• 11 Jul 2019N/a

  for an existing farmyard consisting of (1) 2 no. storage sheds for machinery and feedstuffs, (2) concrete yard and associated works, (3) underground rainwater harvesting tank and (4) underground wastewater storage tank for run-off from the yard and all associated works. Gross floor space of work to be retained: 1510.00 sqm

  Retention · Galway County Council, 191058

• 21 Sept 2017Conditional

  for the (1) Retention and completion of a dwelling house, treatment unit and associated services on revised site boundaries to previous planning No. 05/4208 and 11/1065 and (2) permission to construct a domestic garage. Gross floor area retention 219.48sqm, proposed 41.9sqm

  Permission, 1 home · Galway County Council, 171402

• 19 Jul 2017Conditional

  for the construction of a dwelling house, garage, treatment unit and all associated services. Gross floor space of proposed works: 250sqm

  Permission, 1 home · Galway County Council, 171070

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: Coole-Garryland Complex SAC 000252
• Special Area of Conservation: Kiltartan Cave (Coole) SAC 000286
• Special Protection Area: Coole-Garryland SPA 004107
• Proposed Natural Heritage Area: Coole-Garryland Complex 000252
• Proposed Natural Heritage Area: Kiltartan Cave (Coole) 000286

Recorded monuments

• GA122-052 House - 18th/19th century
  Description

  ‘Coole House’ was built c. 1770 by Robert Gregory. It was a three-storey six-bay house with an entrance front that had a feature Venetian window above it on the 1st floor and a Dolcletian window on the 2nd floor. The doorway was subsequently obscured by a plain square enclosed porch. Early Victorian bows were added to the garden front (Bence Jones 1978, 90 and frontispiece). The house was demolished in 1941. All that survives is the plinth which indicates that it was constructed of squared coursed rubble limestone with tooled quoinstones. Blocked-up openings give an indication of its layout (www.buildingsofireland.ie last accessed 11 October 2017). The house and demesne are famous ‘for having been an important centre for literary events in the early 1900s. As the home of Lady Augusta Gregory - poet, author, playwright and founder of the Abbey Theatre - the house welcomed visitors such as George Bernard Shaw, Synge, O'Casey, and of course W.B. Yeats, who memorialised the demesne in his poem 'The Wild Swans at Coole'. Now with only vestiges of the house remaining, the site's importance is due to its associations with the Irish Literary Revival’ (ibid.). Compiled by: Olive Alcock Date of upload: 11 October 2017

• GA122-056001 Burial
  Description

  This is a modern burial vault. Compiled by: Olive Alcock Date of upload: 11 October 2017

• GA122-056002 Designed landscape feature
  Description

  On a gentle ridge in pastureland overlooking lower land to the N and NE. Indicated on the 1922 edition of the OS 6-inch map as a roughly circular enclosed tree copse (diam. c. 38m). No visible surface trace survives. It was probably an ornamental feature associated with Coole House (GA112-052----). Compiled by: Olive Alcock Date of upload: 11 October 2017

• GA122-057 Designed landscape - tree-ring
  Description

  In pastureland. Marked on the OS 1:2500 plan (surveyed 1912-16) as a circular enclosure (diam. c. 38m) planted internally with evergreen trees and with deciduous trees around its perimeter. On inspection in September 1982 only a few trees remained and, apart from some stones and rocks, no visible surface trace of the enclosing element survived. It was probably an ornamental feature associated with Coole House (GA112-052----). Compiled by: Olive Alcock Date of upload: 11 October 2017

• GA122-058 Designed landscape feature
  Description

  In pastureland. Marked on the OS 6-inch maps as a roughly subrectangular enclosure (c. 60m WNW-ESE; c. 59m NNE-SSW) planted with mixed trees with a fosse outside the enclosing element from NW to SE. On inspection in September 1982 it was found that the trees had been cleared and no visible surface trace of the enclosing element survived. However, the outline of the fosse is visible on the OSI digitalglobe AP. This was probably an ornamental feature associated with Coole House (GA112-052----). Compiled by: Olive Alcock Date of upload: 11 October 2017

• GA122-059 Designed landscape feature
  Description

  In pastureland. Marked on the 1838 edition of the OS 6-inch map as a circular unenclosed tree copse (diam. c. 40m). On the 1922 edition of the map the W side was clipped by a NNE-SSW running field wall. No visible surface trace survives. It was probably an ornamental feature associated with Coole House (GA112-052----). Compiled by: Olive Alcock Date of upload: 11 October 2017

• GA122-060 Designed landscape feature
  Description

  In pastureland. About twelve small circular enclosures (ranging from 10-15m in size) are shown on the 1922 edition of the OS 6-inch map to the N and S of the avenue leading to Coole House (GA122-052----). A conifer tree was depicted in each enclosure. On inspection in April 1992 almost all of them had been cleared away. They were all probably ornamental features associated with Coole House. Compiled by: Olive Alcock Date of upload: 11 October 2017

• GA122-061 Designed landscape feature
  Description

  In pastureland. Marked on the OS 6-inch maps as an irregular tree-planted enclosure (c. 43m N-S; c. 27m E-W). No visible surface trace survives. It was probably an ornamental feature associated with Coole House (GA112-052----). Compiled by: Olive Alcock Date of upload: 11 October 2017

• GA122-136 Fulacht fia
  Description

  In Nut Wood in Coole Demesne, c. 5m to the E of the Coole River, and on the route of a nature trail. This kidney-shaped mound (11.5m N-S; 5.5m E-W; max. H 0.4m) has a central hollow opening to the W. Possible revetment is visible around the E half of the hollow but this may be slippage from an estate wall that cuts across the E extremity of the site. The nature trail crosses its W half. Compiled by: Olive Alcock Date of upload: 11 October 2017

• GA122-141 Enclosure
  Description

  On a natural rise in woodland in Coole Demesne. This oval enclosure (33m N-S; 28m E-W) is defined by a well-preserved and very well-built moss-covered stone wall (int. H 1.85m; ext. H 1.25; Wth 2.0m). It is breached by gaps at S (Wth 4m) and SSW (Wth 2m) as well as a V-shaped gap (basal Wth 0.5m; overall Wth 2.5m) at NNE. Other small intermittent breaches are due to fallen trees. The interior, which is covered with trees, slopes down very distinctively in the N sector, toward the NNE. There is also a very gradual slope from the centre, towards the SW. Collapsed field walls radiate from the external wall-face at E and W. There is a woodland trackway 10m to the W. Possibly of post-medieval date. Known as the 'Bull Ring' (pers. comm. Dr E. Mooney). Compiled by: Olive Alcock Updated by: Olive Alcock Date of revised upload: 28 June 2022

• GA122-144001 Ringfort - cashel
  Description

  In a mature section of evergreen forest at the NE end of Incha Wood. This monument was initially inspected in November 2014 when it came to light during tree-felling operations. It consists of a subcircular cashel (30m N-S; 27m E-W) that is defined by a much-collapsed stone and rubble wall that is heavily overgrown with moss, ivy, and trees. Intermittent inner and outer wall-facing is evident and the wall (Wth 1m; int. H 0.6m; ext. H 0.8m) is best preserved at S. A gap (Wth 1.3m) at SE is partially filled with tumbled rubble and it may be a later feature. The interior is very rough and uneven and planted with trees but traces of buildings are evident in the SE quadrant. There is a possible internal division in the SW quadrant and a possible well or robbed-out souterrain in the NE quadrant. In the SE quadrant a building (GA122-144002-) and a possible associated outhouse and haggard wall abut the cashel wall. The building (4m N-S; 3.8m E-W) is constructed of double-walling and its S wall (Wth 0.85m; int. H 0.4m; ext. H 0.5m) is the best preserved wall. A gap (Wth 0.6m) in the N wall leads to the outbuilding (2.8m N-S). The N wall of this building appears to extend to the W of the main building but is in a much-collapsed state. A possible haggard constructed of a single line of boulders (Wth 0.35m; H 0.6m) extends off the SW corner of the main building and curves towards the SE to the cashel wall. A possible internal dividing wall is evident in the SW quadrant. It is defined by a curving section (L 3m) of double-walling which then straightens out (L 5.4m). It is best preserved at its N end (Wth 1m; H 0.5-0.6m). A hollow (D 1m) in the NE quadrant may mark the site of a well – or possibly the site of a robbed-out souterrain. Two lines of walling (L 8.8m; T 0.45m), 3.8m apart, delimit it on the E and W sides. Following the completion of the tree-felling operations the cashel was re-inspected in April 2015 to see if any further features were revealed. Traces of field walls, possibly a field system (see GA122-144003-), were noted to the S and W of it. Due to the collapsed nature of the walls it was unclear whether they were associated with the cashel or were later in date. Compiled by: Olive Alcock Updated by: Olive Alcock Date of revised upload: 9 April 2015 The following images have been uploaded: GA122-144001-_01 Looking across interior from W.jpg GA122-144001-_04 View from W with cashel wall in foreground.jpg GA122-144001-_06 External wall-face of cashel from E.jpg

• GA122-144002 Building
  Description

  In the SE quadrant of a cashel (GA122-144001-). A ruined building with a possible associated out-house and haggard wall abut the cashel wall. The building (4m N-S; 3.8m E-W) is constructed of double-walling and its S wall (Wth 0.85m; int. H 0.4m; ext. H 0.5m) is the best preserved wall. A gap (Wth 0.6m) in the N wall leads to the out-building (2.8m N-S). The N wall of this building appears to extend to the W of the main building but is in a much-collapsed state. A possible haggard wall constructed of a single line of boulders (Wth 0.35m; H 0.6m) extends off the SW corner of the main building and curves towards the SE to the cashel wall. Compiled by: Olive Alcock Date of upload 19 November 2014 The following image has been uploaded: GA122-144002-_01.jpg Ranging rod on S wall of building

• GA122-144003 Field system
  Description

  During the course of tree-felling operations in Incha Wood in Coole Park in November 2014 a cashel (GA122-144001-) came to light. Following a preliminary inspection of the site on 17 November 2014 it was decided a revisit should be carried out following the completion of the tree-felling to see if any further features would be revealed. The re-inspection was carried out on 8 April 2015 when a series of field walls (GA122-144003-) were noted to the S (from roughly SE to SW) and to the W of the cashel. Like the cashel wall, they are all in a very dilapidated state and are overgrown with moss. In some places they are obscured with tree-felling waste. It is unclear whether they are associated with the cashel or are part of a later field system. The walls are mainly composed of single boulders but in some places double walling is evident. In all traces of six walls were noted. Wall 1 (L 12m; Wth 0.9m; H 0.35m) is visible to the S of the gap in the SE quadrant of the cashel wall. Due to its collapsed nature it was not possible to determine whether it abutted or was bonded into the cashel wall. It consists of a single line of boulders and is aligned N-S. At its S end it runs into Wall 2 (L c. 32m; Wth 1m; H 0.4m), which is aligned east-west. This wall is much obscured and tumbled, and is only visible intermittently towards its W end. A gap (Wth 3m) towards the middle of the wall is related to tree-felling operations. At its E end this wall meets Wall 3 (L c. 31m; Wth 1-1.2m; H 0.3-4m), which curves roughly from SW to NW. It is composed mainly of single boulders but double walling is also evident. At its SW end the wall meets Wall 4 (L 19m), which kinks south-eastwards (L 7m) and then curves towards the south-west (L 12m) where both very collapsed and moss-covered single and double walling is evident. Approximately 2m to the west of the cashel wall traces of Wall 5 (L 6m) are evident running roughly from north-east to south-west. At its north-east end it runs into Wall 6 (L c. 30m; Wth 1.4-5m; max. int. H 0.5m,) which runs at a right angle from it and curves towards the north-west. A gap (Wth 3m) towards the south-eastern end of this wall is also related to tree-felling operations. Compiled by: Olive Alcock Date of upload: 9 April 2015

• GA122-147 Milestone
  Description

  At the entrance to Coole Park, in a grassy verge on the W side of the R458. This milestone, named ‘M.S.’ on the 1922 edition of the OS 6-inch map and shown on the E side of the road (ITM 545057, 704269) has been moved c. 65m to the NW and is now on the opposite side of the road. It consists of a dressed flat-topped trapezoidal-shaped limestone pillar (H 0.82m; Wth 0.3m at front, 0.36m at rear; D 0.36m) with a narrow chamfer to the front angles. The OS bird’s foot benchmark is deeply inscribed on the top of it. The inscription on the front face reads ‘16 from Galway’. In recent years it was picked out in white paint, traces of which still remain. Slight spalling is evident on the upper right and left angles and very heavy spalling has occurred at the rear (O’Sullivan 2021, No. 2). The heavy spalling is the result of a celebratory bonfire being set against the stone some years ago (Cunniffe 2016). The milestone is one of nine in the area, see also GA122-098----, GA122-148----, GA113-189----, GA113-217----, GA113-218----, GA103-217----, GA103-218---- and GA103-219----). (McManus 2022, 11-12, No. 2) Compiled by: Olive Alcock Updated by: Olive Alcock Date of revised upload: 18 April 2023 Cunniffe, C. 2016 Coole Park milestone. Available at: https://field-monuments.galwaycommunityheritage.org/content/archaeology/mile-stone/coole-park-milestone last accessed 17 April 2023. McManus, G. 2022 Nine 18th-century milestones on the 'Old Galway Road' from Gort to Galway. Unpublished specialist report, Ardrahan Heritage Group. O'Sullivan, J. 2021 Nine 18th-century milestones on the 'Old Galway Road'. Unpublished specialist report, Ardrahan Heritage Group.

Architectural heritage

• Coole, country house, 1780–1790 · Regional interest
  Description

  Surviving plinth of Coole, country house built c.1785, comprising squared coursed rubble limestone walling having tooled quoins, remains of cut-stone plinth, and evidence for blocked-up openings. Interior backfilled with topsoil and lawned. House was regrettably demolished in 1941: plinth is only surviving remains of house that was key to Literary Revival.

• Coole, walled garden, 1775–1795 · Regional interest
  Description

  Rectangular-plan walled garden, built c.1785. Random rubble limestone walls. Entrances to north and south sides, south side having square-plan tooled limestone gate piers with limestone bands, flanking double-leaf timber gates and similar pedestrian gate. Pet graveyard to interior, close to north side. Some remains of walls to interior. Round-plan limestone pier with marble bust, and 'Autograph Tree', a beech tree having inscribed signatures of historical and literary figures to site.

• Coole, outbuilding, 1780–1790 · Regional interest
  Description

  Courtyard of outbuildings, built c.1785, comprising seven-bay two-storey middle block forming west side of cobbled yard, multiple-bay west block running east-west from north end of rear of middle block, and partly demolished seven-bay two-storey range forming east side of cobbled yard. Middle block has three-storey middle bay. Standing blocks now in use as tea rooms and visitor centre. Pitched slate roofs with cut limestone eaves course, render copings, and cast-iron rainwater goods. Coursed tooled limestone walls to front elevation of middle block, rubble limestone walls to other elevations. Segmental arcade to ground floor of middle block, having tooled voussoirs and replacement glazed timber doors and windows. Segmental-headed openings to south elevation of west range, one being full-height former vehicular throughway, with tooled limestone voussoirs, block-and-start surrounds and glazed panels incorporating double-leaf timber doors. Square-headed pitching door opening to first floor of middle bay of middle block, having timber battened door and limestone sill. Square-headed openings elsewhere to first floor and to top floor of middle bay, with tooled sills, and timber louvres. Loop openings to south elevation of west range. Square-headed openings to south gable of middle range, having tooled voussoirs and remaining sill. Cast-iron water pump to centre of courtyard. Rubble limestone boundary walls to yard, with cast-iron railings on recent cut-stone plinth to east side of courtyard, accessed via pairs of square-plan tooled piers, some having double-leaf cast-iron gates.

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 5 homes in this area is likely to have high radon levels. Testing a home

Landslides

Susceptibility moderately low, low, low (inferred), on the 1:50,000 map; parts are water.

Terrain model

LiDAR of the Office of Public Works, flown in 2011, at 2 m: tile OPW_726 (ZIP).

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 Coole Demesne with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Galway.

Name

Coole Demesne · An Chúil

Area

5,474,991 m² (547.5 ha, 1,352.9 acres)

Civil parish

Kiltartan, and its townlands

Barony

Kiltartan

Electoral division

Kiltartan, the unit of the census

Census 2022

Kiltartan electoral division: 859 people in 290 households; 89% of households own their home; 39% of homes were built since 2001; 10% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 2% were holiday homes.

Neighbouring townlands

Ballynamantan, Castlequarter, Castletown, Corker, Crannagh, Crannagh, Doonowen, Garryland, Glenbrack, Kiltartan, Knockaunatouk, Lisheenacrannagh, Newtown, Raheen Demesne

Placenames

Coole Demesne 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.