Abbeylands

Area

45,187 m² (4.52 ha, 11.17 acres)

Buildings

No building touches it.

Zoning

No zone of a development plan covers it in the national zoning. Outside zoned towns and villages, the county development plan's rural policies apply.

Townland

Abbeylands

Planning applications on this parcel

No planning application touches this parcel 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

No designated site (Special Area of Conservation, Special Protection Area, Natural Heritage Area or proposed one) touches this parcel.

Recorded monuments around it

This parcel is in the zone of notification of 6 recorded monuments.

• KE047-047001 Religious house - Augustinian canons
  Description

  The church of 'the Abbey of Our Lady of the Beautiful Place' is situated in The Demesne of Kilcoman Abbey/Killaha Abbey ‘properly The Priory De Bello Loco’ (Harbison 1981:99). This was built by the Anglo-Norman Justiciar , Geoffrey de Marisco in 1215, for The Canons Regular of St. Augustine. It stands on the site of the pre-norman church of St. Coleman. It was restored and extended in 1445 when the finely tracered east window was inserted. The Abbey survived until 1576 when The Priory was suppressed and its possessions passed through various hands. In 1588 the Crown granted Thomas Springe 'the site of the abbey of Killaha, alias our Lady Abbey de Bello Loco, co. Kerry, land in Callynyffrry, Killderrey, Ballioughtraghe, Clownemore, Brackill, Kiltnlaghe, Killynyfynxn, Ballynymonye, Kilremyn, Inche, and a piece of land in the Dingill, the rectory of Killaha, a moiety of the rectories of Kiltalaghe and Garrinlondrye, the rectories of Dingill, Killoriglyne, Kilmacollock Ocester, a moiety of the rectories of Keannarey, Templenooe alias Newechurche, Kilcrokane, Dromede, Kilmonane, Kilmore, Cahirbegg, Rincaharraghe, Glanbehie, and Kilvonane, co. Kerry. To hold for 21 years from the determination of the previous lease Rent, £17 1s. 9d. 9d. Maintaining 2 English horsemen. The abbey to be strongly rebuilt castlewise' (Nicholls 1994, 53). The domestic buildings which enclosed the Cloister garth south of the church were destroyed in 1649 (Harbison 1981:99, O.P.W. Fógra in situ). West Wall: This wall is 9.80m long and stands to approximately 10m. A doorway can be seen 4m north of the south wall. The ope is 1.35m wide and 2.40 m high. The doorway is repaired and constructed with mixed stone including punch and fine dressed red sandstone. Directly above this doorway, below the line of the wall walk, a 3 lighted window can be seen. The lights are flat lintelled and appear to be 0.20m wide and 0.60m high. The window is constructed with fine dressed limestone. No batter is present on the west wall. No further features were noted internally or externally on this wall. North Wall: This wall stands to approximately 5.50m and is 38m long. On its external face, approximately 5m above the current ground surface, a row of Corbels, extending a maximum of 0.40m from the face of the wall, can be seen. Internally, 2m east of the west gable an alcove can be seen. It has a semi-circular arch and measures 2.0m wide, 2.05m high and is 0.60m deep.) 0.90m east of this a possible stoup can be seen. It is broken but stands 0.60m above the current ground surface. It is 0.55m high, 0.30m wide and 0.15m deep. 19.55m east of the west gable a window can be seen. It has a single ope headed light 1.60m high and 0.20m wide. It is constructed with dressed limestone. The inwardly splayed embrasure has a semi-circular arch. The embrasure is 2.30m high and 1.40m wide. It is constructed with fine dressed red sandstone. The remains of what appears to be a Rood screen wall, can be seen extending from the north wall immediately east of this window. This wall stands to a maximum of 0.75m. It extends 1.50m from the north wall and is 0.65m wide. 1.25m east of this a window can be seen 1.25m above the ground surface. The limestone ogee headed light is 2.0m high and 0.20m wide. The semi-circular arched, inwardly splayed, embrasure is 2.25m high and 2.0m wide. A fragment of roll moulding can be seen in the eastern ingoings of this embrasure. 3.05m west of the east gable, a window can be seen 1.10m above the ground surface. It has two limestone ogee headed lights which are 2.0m high and 0.20m wide. The inwardly splayed limestone embrasure measures 2.55m wide and 2.50m high. East Wall: This is 9.80m long and stands to approximately 10m. The east window is 1.20m south of the north wall. It consists of a large limestone 5 lighted window with curvilinear tracery of recticulated type. ‘An attempt was made in the Augustinian priory at Killagh (Kerry)….to make the marginal apertures larger except for short curves at the springing. The marginal shapes cannot be regarded as satisfactory even if they are relatively large. Unusual in this window is the section of the mullions and bars square but only slightly chamfered’ . (Leask 1985, VIII, 124). This window stands 1.15m above the internal ground surface. The lights are 3.4m high and 0.45m wide. The embrasure is 4.65m wide and approximately 4.80m high. No other features have been noted on this wall. South Wall: This wall stands to approximately 5.60m and is 38m long. 1.65m west of the east gable a double sedilia can be seen 0.70m above the ground surface. The sedilia is constructed with fine dressed limestone and is ogee headed. Its total dimensions are 1.10m wide, 1.55m high and 0.40m deep. Immediately west of this feature, a window can be seen. It has two ogee headed lights which are 2.0m high and 0.20m wide, The inwardly splayed limestone embrasure measures 2.55m wide and 2.50m high. This window opposes one of similar form on the north wall. 0.75m west of this a doorway can be seen. It has a fine dressed limestone two centred arch with roll moulding. The ope is 1.95m high and 0.85m wide. East of this doorway externally an intra mural staircase can be seen, this is further discussed below. Immediately west of the doorway, internally, a section of The Rood screen wall can be seen. This stands to a maximum of 1.10m and extends 1.60m from the south wall. Immediately west of this wall, an alcove or possible tomb niche can be seen. This has a semicircular arch of punch dressed red sandstone which is 1.40m wide, 2.20m high and 0.75m deep. In the west side of this a miscellaneous recess can be seen. This recess can be accessed from the alcove or the main wall. The recess is 0.70m high, 0.40m wide and 0.38m deep. The access on the main wall to it is 0.25m squared and is wrought from a single block of limestone. No further features have been noted on the face of the south wall. Externally, however, immediately east of the doorway described above, apportion of wall extends 2.80m externally from the south wall. It stands to approximately 4m. 1 window can be seen 0.95m above the ground surface. It is 0.36m wide and 0.79m high. It is flat lintelled and is constructed with fine dressed red sandstone. 1.10m south of the south wall, a doorway can be seen. It is 1.40m high and 0.75m wide. It is constructed with red sandstone. Immediately east of this wall an inter mural staircase can be seen. 3 steps remain extending from ground level, more steps can be seen further up the stairwell. The staircase curves to the right. 0.80m east of this staircase, a keep can be seen. It has a triangular arch made of two blocks of red sandstone. It is 0.98m wide and 1.45m high. 1.40m east of this, 1.55m above the ground surface another recess can be seen. It measures 0.58m high, 0.56m wide and 0.60m deep. See attached plan and photographs courtesy of Laurence Dunne Compiled by: Una Cosgrave Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 25 May 2022

• KE047-047002 Cross
  Description

  In 1940 the minute book of the County Kerry Field Club recorded during their visit to St. Colman's Abbey that 'the party also found a few stones of cloister arches as well as a tenth century stone cross' (SMR File). The location of this cross within the graveyard has not been identified. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 23 May 2022

• KE047-047003 Architectural fragment
  Description

  13th century architectural fragment from Killagha Abbey (KE047-047001-) graveyard surveyed in 2012 and described by Laurence Dunne as follows; 'The extant, rectangular abbey [KE047-047001-] occupies the northernmost limits of the graveyard with its N elevation forming most of the N boundary. The graveyard is little used and much neglected, overgrown and very difficult to negotiate the interior as there is only a single overgrown perimeter path. Dispersed around the old medieval abbey and graveyard are many loose medieval architectural fragments [KE047-047003/005-] some of which were reused as gravemarkers while others lie loose on the ground. Twenty-nine (29) architectural fragments (AFs) were recorded in Killagha graveyard in the course of this survey. The majority (16) are re-used within the fabric of the medieval abbey while another is re-used as a gravemarker beneath the piscina. The remainder are disposed around the exterior S and SE limits of the abbey in the graveyard. A further 6 AFs as well as twelve masons marks were noted by the writer in September 2006 and June 2010. However the full number of the AFs were not located in the course of this study due to the extent of the vegetation cover. One of the missing fragments is a 13th century bowtell-moulded jamb of sandstone from a door or window lying loose outside the S elevation of the abbey'. See attached plan and photograph courtesy of Laurence Dunne Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by Laurence Dunne Date of upload: 23 May 2022

• KE047-047004 Architectural fragment
  Description

  15th/16th century century architectural fragment (AF 3) from Killagha Abbey (KE047-047001-) graveyard surveyed in 2012 and described by Laurence Dunne as follows; 'The extant, rectangular abbey [KE047-047001-] occupies the northernmost limits of the graveyard with its N elevation forming most of the N boundary. The graveyard is little used and much neglected, overgrown and very difficult to negotiate the interior as there is only a single overgrown perimeter path. Dispersed around the old medieval abbey and graveyard are many loose medieval architectural fragments [KE047-047003/005-] some of which were reused as gravemarkers while others lie loose on the ground. Twenty-nine (29) architectural fragments (AFs) were recorded in Killagha graveyard in the course of this survey. The majority (16) are re-used within the fabric of the medieval abbey while another is re-used as a gravemarker beneath the piscina. The remainder are disposed around the exterior S and SE limits of the abbey in the graveyard. A further 6 AFs as well as twelve masons marks were noted by the writer in September 2006 and June 2010. However the full number of the AFs were not located in the course of this study due to the extent of the vegetation cover'. See attached plan showing location of AF 3 and photograph courtesy of Laurence Dunne Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by Laurence Dunne Date of upload: 23 May 2022

• KE047-047005 Architectural fragment
  Description

  Window sill of twin light opening recorded as architectural fragment (AF 17) from Killagha Abbey (KE047-047001-) graveyard surveyed in 2012 and described by Laurence Dunne as follows; 'The extant, rectangular abbey [KE047-047001-] occupies the northernmost limits of the graveyard with its N elevation forming most of the N boundary. The graveyard is little used and much neglected, overgrown and very difficult to negotiate the interior as there is only a single overgrown perimeter path. Dispersed around the old medieval abbey and graveyard are many loose medieval architectural fragments [KE047-047003/005-] some of which were reused as gravemarkers while others lie loose on the ground. Twenty-nine (29) architectural fragments (AFs) were recorded in Killagha graveyard in the course of this survey. The majority (16) are re-used within the fabric of the medieval abbey while another is re-used as a gravemarker beneath the piscina. The remainder are disposed around the exterior S and SE limits of the abbey in the graveyard. A further 6 AFs as well as twelve masons marks were noted by the writer in September 2006 and June 2010. However the full number of the AFs were not located in the course of this study due to the extent of the vegetation cover'. See attached plan showing location of AF 17 and photograph courtesy of Laurence Dunne Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by Laurence Dunne Date of upload: 23 May 2022

• KE047-047006 Graveyard
  Description

  Killagh graveyard surveyed in 2012 and described by Laurence Dunne as follows; 'The extant, rectangular abbey [KE047-047001-] occupies the northernmost limits of the graveyard with its N elevation forming most of the N boundary. Traces of its wider associated medieval complex of buildings are discernible abutting and protruding from the S elevation in particular the sacristy. The graveyard is little used and much neglected, overgrown and very difficult to negotiate the interior as there is only a single overgrown perimeter path. There are only twelve tombs and sixty modern formal grave settings associated with headstones in the cemetery. Thirty three modern headstones have no formal grave plot. Dispersed around the old medieval abbey and graveyard are many loose medieval architectural fragments [KE047-047003/005-] some of which were reused as gravemarkers while others lie loose on the ground. Killagha Graveyard is partially bounded by a random rubble wall of local sandstone bedded in mortar and capped with ‘soldiers’. The E & S boundary walls are generally in good order however ivy has established itself and needs to be cut away. The roadside or W boundary wall is generally free of vegetation and in good order The abbey structure more or less forms the entire N boundary. There is one gated entrance and a swing-stile into Killagha graveyard. A pair of wrought iron gates are set between two tall square ashlar limestone piers with gabled capping. There were ninety-three (93) named headstones recorded at Killagha graveyard of which thirty-three (33) have no formal grave settings. There were eighty-three (83) unhewn, unnamed gravemarkers in total recorded in the course of this survey. All of the unnamed headstones are simple grave markers of unhewn local sandstone without name, inscription or wider grave plot setting. Many are disposed around the graveyard in coherent strings or rows including one row in the chancel of the abbey. There is just one horizontal named graveslab in Killagha. The Lunny slab is situated near the E limits of the graveyard near HS 79. It is partially covered in vegetation and is shattered into several pieces. Twenty-nine (29) architectural fragments (AFs) were recorded in Killagha graveyard in the course of this survey. The majority (16) are re-used within the fabric of the medieval abbey while another is re-used as a gravemarker beneath the piscina. The remainder are disposed around the exterior S and SE limits of the abbey in the graveyard. A further 6 AFs as well as twelve masons marks were noted by the writer in September 2006 and June 2010. However the full number of the AFs were not located in the course of this study due to the extent of the vegetation cover. One of the missing fragments is a 13th century bowtell-moulded jamb of sandstone from a door or window lying loose outside the S elevation of the abbey while another large section (possibly of two or three fragments) formed a coherent curving section of a window. Another is a short limestone window fragment. The fourth missing fragment is a sandstone corbel with a wall plate beam rebate slot lying loose at the NE limits of the graveyard. The fifth is a flat squarish slab with a deep water groove along one edge'. See attached plan and photographs courtesy of Laurence Dunne Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by Laurence Dunne Date of upload: 23 May 2022

Architectural heritage

No building of the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage stands on this parcel.

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).

Download this parcel: DXF, in Irish Transverse Mercator metres, with its neighbours and buildings, for a drawing program; GeoJSON, in WGS 84, for a map.

Registered freehold land, Tailte Éireann, CC BY 4.0. A parcel is the land of a title, not an address. The owner's name is in the Land Registry of Tailte Éireann: a copy of the folio can be ordered on landdirect.ie, for a fee.