Gooreen

1 registered freehold parcel lies mostly in Gooreen, from 623,371 m² (62.34 ha, 154.04 acres) to 623,371 m² (62.34 ha, 154.04 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary. 2 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 Gooreen 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 Gooreen 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: Omey Island Machair SAC 001309
• Proposed Natural Heritage Area: Omey Island Machair 001309

Recorded monuments

• GA021-017 Church
  Description

  Close to N shore of Omey Island. A much-ruined medieval church (WNW-ESE; L 13.65m, Wth 7.15m) on or close to site of 7th-C foundation of St Fechin. Totally sand-covered until an illegal excavation uncovered it in 1981. There is a doorway in N wall and lancet window set off-centre in E gable. The W gable contains a blocked trabeate doorway also set off-centre (info. E. Rynne). The church lies within a rectangular, stone-built enclosure (>19.4m by >8.1m) (GA021-017001-) visible to W and S. This contained burials stratigraphically later than the church. No visible traces found of the graveyard (GA021-018----) marked on OS 6-inch maps 50m to S. For list of other remains on island see index. (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 400; Macalister 1896b, 253; O'Flanagan 1927a, Vol. 3, 75, 79) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Galway Vol. I - West Galway'. Compiled by Paul Gosling (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1993). Date of upload: 05 August 2010

• GA021-017001 Enclosure
  Description

  Close to N shore of Omey Island. A much-ruined medieval church (WNW-ESE; L 13.65m, Wth 7.15m) (GA021-017----) on or close to site of 7th-C foundation of St Fechin. Totally sand-covered until an illegal excavation uncovered it in 1981. There is a doorway in N wall and lancet window set off-centre in E gable. The W gable contains a blocked trabeate doorway also set off-centre (info. E. Rynne). The church lies within a rectangular, stone-built enclosure (>19.4m by >8.1m) (GA021-017001-) visible to W and S. This contained burials stratigraphically later than the church. No visible traces found of the graveyard (GA021-018----) marked on OS 6-inch maps 50m to S. For list of other remains on island see index. (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 400; Macalister 1896b, 253; O'Flanagan 1927a, Vol. 3, 75, 79) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Galway Vol. I - West Galway'. Compiled by Paul Gosling (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1993). Date of upload: 09 June 2022

• GA021-017002 Burial
  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.

• GA021-018 Graveyard
  Description

  This graveyard is just referred to in the Inventory description of the church GA021-017---- but it was not cross-referenced. O. Alcock 16 June 2005 The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Galway Vol. I - West Galway'. Compiled by Paul Gosling (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1993). Date of upload: 05 August 2010

• GA021-019 Ritual site - holy well
  Description

  On seashore on SW side of Omey Island. Known locally as Tobar Feichín, it consists of an irregular hole in the rock situated centrally within a small, low, pear-shaped drystone wall (2.7m by 2.5m), with an entrance at SW. There is an alcove in the inner face of the wall at N containing some white pebbles and modern offerings. No trace survives of the 'altar formed by a projection in the masonry' noted by Macalister (1896b, 253) on the outer face of the wall and which was 'covered in large spherical pebbles'. Noted by O'Flaherty in 1684 when it was frequented on 20th January and 'of late proves very miraculous for restoring of health' (Hardiman 1846, 113). (O'Flanagan 1927a, Vol. 3, 75, 79; Killanin 1954, 95) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Galway Vol. I - West Galway'. Compiled by Paul Gosling (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1993). Date of upload: 05 August 2010

• GA021-039001 Burial
  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.

• GA021-039002 Midden
  Description

  On a small headland on the N shoreline of Omey Island, c. 25m to the NE of another midden (GA021-044----). On initial inspection in May 2014, this midden (L 4.4m), aligned NW-SE , was clearly visible as a dark layer in the dune face. It was composed mainly of limpet shells and two pieces of bone were noted (see GA021-039001-). Traces of an unclassified structure (int. Wth 2m), defined by two walls emerging from the dune face, were evident at the SE end of the midden. The walls were constructed of granite rubble boulders and the E wall (exposed H 1.1m; Wth 0.5m) was mortared and traces of plaster were visible on its internal face. The W wall (exposed H 0.4m; Wth 0.4m) was less well preserved and collapsed material from it was visible at the base of the dune. The walls did not appear to be parallel to one another; the W wall was diverging northwards away from the E wall. Another structure was also visible emerging from the dune face c. 7m further to the SE. An L-shaped section of walling, constructed of granite rubble boulders, spalls and mortar, was evident. One section (L 1.7m; exposed H 1.2m) was aligned NW-SE and the other (exposed L 0.8m; H 1.1m), extending off its NW end, was aligned NE-SW. It was not possible to determine the width of the walls as both were backed by the dune. The area to the E of this structure was also strewn with freshly collapsed sod and boulders. Both of these structures may be the remains of houses, possibly of a similar date to those shown c. 90m to the SE on the 1839 edition of the OS 6-inch map. On re-inspection of this area in June 2022, a further section of the midden (L 3.66m) was exposed c. 5m to the W of that noted above. It was similarly composed, mainly of limpets. Some burrowing by rabbits was evident at the base of the horizon. Tumbled walling to its W may have been the remains of another structure. The following images has been uploaded: GA021-039002-_01 View from N - taken 15/06/2022 GA021-039002-_02 View from NE - taken 15/06/2022 Updated by: Olive Alcock Date of revised upload: 16 June 2022

• GA021-044 Midden
  Description

  In sand dunes along the N shoreline of Omey Island, c. 50m to the SW of another midden (GA021-039----). This midden (overall L 13.5m), composed mainly of limpet and periwinkle shells, was exposed as a result of the recent collapse of overhanging sod cover. It is aligned E-W and the densest concentration of shells (L 5.5m) is visible in its E half. Compiled by: Olive Alcock Date of upload: 23 July 2014

• GA021-045 Midden
  Description

  In sand dunes along the N shoreline of Omey Island, c. 25m to the SE of another midden (GA021-039002-). This midden (L c. 53m), aligned E-W, is composed mainly of limpet shells but some razor and oyster shells are also visible. Two bones were noted in situ. The profile is fairly uniform along the exposed section of the dunes but is obscured in places where overhanging sod has collapsed and sand has blown up against the dune system. Further middens (GA021-046---- and GA021-047----) lie c. 80m and c. 170m to the ESE respectively. Compiled by: Olive Alcock Date of upload: 23 July 2014

• GA021-046 Midden
  Description

  In sand dunes along the N shoreline of Omey Island, c. 80m to the ESE of another midden (GA021-045----). A very short section of a midden (L 2.8m), aligned E-W, is exposed the dune face in an area of recently collapsed and overhanging sod and sand. It is composed of limpet shells but some razor shells are also visible on the collapsed sand. A further midden (GA021-047----) lies c. 90m to the E. Compiled by: Olive Alcock Date of upload: 23 July 2014

• GA021-048 Structure
  Description

  In dunes at the N end of a bay on the W side of Omey Island. Following the winter storms in December 2013/January 2014 the badly eroded foundations of a least two structures were exposed in the dune face. One of the structures was probably about 6m in width and both were constructed of drystone boulders. Compiled by: Olive Alcock based on details kindly provided by Dr Deb Rotman, University of Notre Dame Date of upload: 6 February 2015

• GA021-049 Burial
  Description

  Following the exposure of part of a skeleton in a sandy cliff face along the N shoreline of Omey Island a rescue excavation was carried out in July 2015 by Dr Linda G. Lynch, Munster Archaeology (Licence No.: 15E0345). Initially it appeared that just one burial was exposed but careful on-site photography and excavation, together with post-excavation osteoarchaeological analysis revealed that, in total, the remains of three in situ adult skeletons, one of which was male, as well as a small quantity of the disarticulated remains of two adult females were identified. The burials were interred in the traditional Christian manner, orientated west-east with the head to the west. However, no grave goods were found and no evidence of coffins or grave cuts was apparent. A large boulder lying directly over two of the individuals who had been buried together may have been deliberately placed there to mark the spot. Both of these individuals had suffered significant peri-mortem sharp-force trauma injuries suggesting they died as a result of a violent assault (Lynch 2016). Another exposed burial (GA021-039001-) was previously recorded in the sandy cliff face c. 15m to the E. Compiled by: Olive Alcock Date of upload: 17 June 2016

Architectural heritage

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

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 Gooreen, 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. Parts of the land are water.

Terrain model

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

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

Name

Gooreen · Guairín

Area

621,954 m² (62.2 ha, 153.69 acres)

Civil parish

Omey, and its townlands

Barony

Ballynahinch

Electoral division

Sillerna, the unit of the census

Census 2022

466 people lived in 191 households in the Sillerna electoral division. 83% of households owned their home. 23% of homes were built since 2001. 7% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 36% were holiday homes.

Neighbouring townlands

Cloon, Gooreenatinny, Sturrakeen

Placenames

Gooreen 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.