Cool West

40 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Cool West, from 78 m² to 477,761 m² (47.78 ha, 118.06 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary; 15 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 Cool West 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 Cool West 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 Protection Area: Iveragh Peninsula SPA 004154
• Proposed Natural Heritage Area: Valencia Island Cliffs 001382

Recorded monuments

• KE078-006001 Promontory fort - coastal
  Description

  Dundagallan/Dún Dá Ghallán is the name locally given to the long, narrow promontory located on the sheer cliffs on the N side of Valencia Island, a short distance WSW of KE078-014----. It projects 60m ENE, and is 12m in maximum width. It is isolated from the mainland by a much collapsed stony bank and by an external, rock-cut fosse, occurring at the narrowest point of the promontory. The entrance in the stone bank, marked by two conspicuous portals, is approached across a 2m wide causeway. The section of the fosse that extends from the SE cliff-edge measures 3.7m long, 3.1m wide and reaches a maximum depth of 1m. There is no trace of the holed stone that Westropp (1912, 305) recorded as lying in its base; it measured 5 feet (1.52m) long, 27 inches (.68m) wide and 6 inches (.15m) thick, and featured a perforation, 4 inches (.1m) in diameter, at one end. Extending inwards from the NW cliff-edge, the second, less clearly defined, section of fosse measures 2.5m long, 2.4m wide and .6m deep. The upright portals located on the outer side of the bank are probably the remnants of an elaborate entrance feature. They occur .9m apart, with their long axes set at right angles to the line of the defences. The slab at S measures 1.97m high, .55m wide and .16m thick; the second stands 1.68m high and measures .58m x .19m at base. The grass-grown, stony bank survives to a maximum height of 1m and has an average basal width of 5m. The level interior of the fort is featureless. The above description is derived from A. O'Sullivan and J. Sheehan (compilers), 'The Iveragh peninsula: an archaeological survey of South Kerry'. Cork University Press (1996), no. 446. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 30 July 2013

• KE078-018 Hut site
  Description

  Though described by Westropp as a 'fort' (1912, 298), the present remains are those of a ruined hut and a stone-built souterrain. Located in pasture on the N edge of an escarpment, overlooking the peat-covered, N cliff-edge of Valencia Island, this hut, of roughly circular plan, has an internal diameter of 2.45m. The tops of some slabs are visible through the sod-cover, and one large upright dominates the wall at S. The entrance may have been at NNE and immediately outside it is a box-like structure, .9m x .6m, the function of which is uncertain. An opening to the souterrain is located in the N face of the revetted scarp, and gives access to a drystone passage which extends SW for a distance of 4.5m to a point beneath the hut. The passage measures .95m high and .95m wide and its walls corbel slightly towards the lintelled roof. Limpet shells and other debris, which apparently fell through from the floor of the hut into the passage below, yielded a radiocarbon date of 930±80 BP (Mitchell 1989, 41). The above description is derived from A. O'Sullivan and J. Sheehan (compilers), 'The Iveragh peninsula: an archaeological survey of South Kerry'. Cork University Press (1996), no. 1208. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 31 July 2013

• KE078-018001 Souterrain
  Description

  Though described by Westropp as a 'fort' (1912, 298), the present remains are those of a ruined hut and a stone-built souterrain. An opening to the souterrain is located in the N face of the revetted scarp, and gives access to a drystone passage which extends SW for a distance of 4.5m to a point beneath the hut KE078-018----. The passage measures .95m high and .95m wide and its walls corbel slightly towards the lintelled roof. Limpet shells and other debris, which apparently fell through from the floor of the hut into the passage below, yielded a radiocarbon date of 930±80 BP (Mitchell 1989, 41). The above description is derived from A. O'Sullivan and J. Sheehan (compilers), 'The Iveragh peninsula: an archaeological survey of South Kerry'. Cork University Press (1996), no. 1208. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 31 July 2013

• KE087-004001 Cross (present location)
  Description

  A stone cross and two uninscribed pillar stones are located on a slight rise close to the E edge of the bog-covered Emlagh Basin, at the NW end of Valencia Island. The site, not marked on the OS maps, affords extensive views of the Atlantic and of the Blasket Islands to NW. Delap recorded that they were only recently 'raised to their present position' (1911, 410), and they stood in a roughly N-S line when seen by Westropp (1912, 301). The pillar stones now lie prostrate, adjacent to the upright stone cross. The stone cross (KE087-004001-) measures 1.64m long. Its lower shaft is .35m wide, while its upper end tapers gently to a straight-edged top. The angles, where the shaft and arms meet, are slightly hollowed. The short rectangular arms extend to a maximum width of .53m. Each face is ornamented by a diagonally disposed linear cross, the upper and lower angles of which are closed. At a distance of 1.4m to the S of the cross, the smaller (KE087-004002-) of the two pillar stones stood three feet (.91m) high; three feet (.91m) further S stood the taller pillar (KE087-004003-), six feet ten inches (2.1m) high (Westropp, ibid.). At present this pillar lies prostrate, 2.5m W of the cross, in a heap of loose stone. It measures 2.9m x .56m x .16m thick. The smaller stone is not identifiable. A row of low upright stones, 2m in overall length, occurs just E of the cross. Legend associates the site with St Brendan, the two pillar stones reputedly marking the graves of two men whom he baptised here (Delap 1911, 406-7). A bronze sword was found near this location in the last century (NMI 1893:40). The above description is derived from A. O'Sullivan and J. Sheehan (compilers), 'The Iveragh peninsula: an archaeological survey of South Kerry'. Cork University Press (1996), no. 941. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 30 July 2013

• KE087-004002 Pillar stone (present location)
  Description

  A stone cross and two uninscribed pillar stones are located on a slight rise close to the E edge of the bog-covered Emlagh Basin, at the NW end of Valencia Island. The site (KE087-004001-), not marked on the OS maps, affords extensive views of the Atlantic and of the Blasket Islands to NW. Delap recorded that they were only recently 'raised to their present position' (1911, 410), and they stood in a roughly N-S line when seen by Westropp (1912, 301). The pillar stones now lie prostrate, adjacent to the upright stone cross. At a distance of 1.4m to the S of the cross, the smaller (KE087-004002-) of the two pillar stones stood three feet (.91m) high; The smaller stone is not identifiable. A row of low upright stones, 2m in overall length, occurs just E of the cross. Legend associates the site with St Brendan, the two pillar stones reputedly marking the graves of two men whom he baptised here (Delap 1911, 406-7). A bronze sword was found near this location in the last century (NMI 1893:40). The above description is derived from A. O'Sullivan and J. Sheehan (compilers), 'The Iveragh peninsula: an archaeological survey of South Kerry'. Cork University Press (1996), no. 941. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 30 July 2013

• KE087-004003 Pillar stone (present location)
  Description

  A stone cross and two uninscribed pillar stones are located on a slight rise close to the E edge of the bog-covered Emlagh Basin, at the NW end of Valencia Island. The site (KE087-004001-), not marked on the OS maps, affords extensive views of the Atlantic and of the Blasket Islands to NW. Delap recorded that they were only recently 'raised to their present position' (1911, 410), and they stood in a roughly N-S line when seen by Westropp (1912, 301). The pillar stones now lie prostrate, adjacent to the upright stone cross. further S of the cross stood the taller pillar (KE087-004003-), six feet ten inches (2.1m) high (Westropp, ibid.). At present this pillar lies prostrate, 2.5m W of the cross, in a heap of loose stone. It measures 2.9m x .56m x .16m thick. The smaller stone is not identifiable. A row of low upright stones, 2m in overall length, occurs just E of the cross. Legend associates the site with St Brendan, the two pillar stones reputedly marking the graves of two men whom he baptised here (Delap 1911, 406-7). A bronze sword was found near this location in the last century (NMI 1893:40). The above description is derived from A. O'Sullivan and J. Sheehan (compilers), 'The Iveragh peninsula: an archaeological survey of South Kerry'. Cork University Press (1996), no. 941. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 30 July 2013

• KE087-005 Fulacht fia
  Description

  Two fulachta fiadh are located in cutaway bog close to the E margin of Emlagh Bog, Valencia Island. They lie exposed in section at the base of a 3m high field boundary, formed by an uncut bank of peat, and survive as two small pits, c .5m long. From one pit a sample of ling charcoal yielded a radiocarbon date of 3400±90 BP (Mitchell 1989, 77). Two low piles of upcast gravel and fire-shattered stone occur, in section, alongside the pits. The above description is derived from A. O'Sullivan and J. Sheehan (compilers), 'The Iveragh peninsula: an archaeological survey of South Kerry'. Cork University Press (1996), no. 422. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 28 July 2013

• KE087-006 Field boundary
  Description

  Located towards the N end of the Imlagh Basin, Valencia Island, this poorly preserved stretch of wall emerges from the base of a 1.5m high peat-face and runs ENE-WSW for 6m. It is composed of small stones and intermittent uprights. A radiocarbon date of 4760±100 BP was obtained from willow twigs found at the level of its base (Mitchell 1989, 75). The wall was constructed on Phragmites peat, c. .2m in depth. The above description is derived from A. O'Sullivan and J. Sheehan (compilers), 'The Iveragh peninsula: an archaeological survey of South Kerry'. Cork University Press (1996), no. 27. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 28 July 2013

• KE087-078 Road - gravel/stone trackway - peatland
  Description

  This trackway, located 3.5m SE of KE087-006----, was first exposed in section in 1984. Occurring .8m below the bog surface, it now survives as a single layer of cobble-sized stones lying on .7m of peat. It averages .8m wide and runs 7.4m E-W. A peat sample from its level has been radiocarbon dated to 3930±90 BP (Mitchell 1989,75). Further peat-cutting in 1988 uncovered another feature, 6m to S. This consists of a number of stones, forming a basin-like arrangement, .7m in diameter, which contains a deposit of charcoal. It has been interpreted as a hearth by Mitchell (1989, 76). The above description is derived from A. O'Sullivan and J. Sheehan (compilers), 'The Iveragh peninsula: an archaeological survey of South Kerry'. Cork University Press (1996), no. 28. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 30 July 2013

• KE087-079 Hearth
  Description

  For descriptive account see O'Sullivan and Sheehan (1996, 23, no. 28, 'It has been interpreted as a hearth by Mitchell.'). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Kerry. Volume I: South-West Kerry' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2009). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 30 May 2011

Architectural heritage

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

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

Landslides

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

Terrain model

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

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 Cool West with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Kerry.

Name

Cool West · An Chúil Thiar

Area

1,104,563 m² (110.46 ha, 272.94 acres)

Civil parish

Valencia, and its townlands

Barony

Iveragh

Electoral division

Valencia, the unit of the census

Census 2022

Valencia electoral division: 658 people in 264 households; 76% of households own their home; 31% of homes were built since 2001; 5% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 53% were holiday homes.

Neighbouring townlands

Coarha More, Cool East

Placenames

Cool West 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.