# Rattoo, Co. Kerry: townland, land parcels and planning

Townland in the civil parish of Rattoo, barony of Clanmaurice, Co. Kerry; in Irish Ráth Tuaidh.

- Area (Tailte Éireann): 2,153,513 m² (215.35 ha, 532.14 acres)
- Land parcels (Tailte Éireann): 30 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in it, median 11,683 m² (1.17 ha, 2.89 acres)
- Zoning (national zoning, MyPlan): not in a zoned settlement
- Planning (National Planning Applications): 2 applications since 2010
- Civil parish: Rattoo, https://everytownland.com/kerry/parish/rattoo.md
- Barony: Clanmaurice
- Electoral division: Drommartin, the unit of the census
- Census 2022 (Central Statistics Office): Drommartin electoral division: 539 people in 184 households; 88% of households own their home; 30% of homes were built since 2001; 11% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 4% were holiday homes.
- County: Co. Kerry, https://everytownland.com/kerry.md
- Placenames Database of Ireland: https://www.logainm.ie/en/23919
- Townland number at Tailte Éireann: 72400
- Centre: latitude 52.440958, longitude -9.646366 (WGS 84)

## Land parcels (registered freehold land, Tailte Éireann)

30 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Rattoo, from 18 m² to 200,914 m² (20.09 ha, 49.65 acres); 12 neighbouring parcels touch its boundary. Largest first:

- Parcel 1225108: 200,914 m² (20.09 ha, 49.65 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/1225108.md
- Parcel 4874240: 119,825 m² (11.98 ha, 29.61 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/4874240.md
- Parcel 1198942: 39,050 m² (3.9 ha, 9.65 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/1198942.md
- Parcel 1163193: 26,307 m² (2.63 ha, 6.5 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/1163193.md
- Parcel 1163618: 22,849 m² (2.28 ha, 5.65 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/1163618.md
- Parcel 1202732: 22,504 m² (2.25 ha, 5.56 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/1202732.md
- Parcel 1209413: 20,079 m² (2.01 ha, 4.96 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/1209413.md
- Parcel 5511960: 18,622 m² (1.86 ha, 4.6 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/5511960.md
- Parcel 1200252: 18,404 m² (1.84 ha, 4.55 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/1200252.md
- Parcel 1199953: 18,320 m² (1.83 ha, 4.53 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/1199953.md
- Parcel 1198671: 15,127 m² (1.51 ha, 3.74 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/1198671.md
- Parcel 4886912: 15,095 m² (1.51 ha, 3.73 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/4886912.md
- Parcel 1139501: 14,705 m² (1.47 ha, 3.63 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/1139501.md
- Parcel 6118200: 13,200 m² (1.32 ha, 3.26 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/6118200.md
- Parcel 6118204: 12,156 m² (1.22 ha, 3 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/6118204.md
- Parcel 1199276: 11,210 m² (1.12 ha, 2.77 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/1199276.md
- Parcel 1201944: 8,551 m² (0.86 ha, 2.11 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/1201944.md
- Parcel 4874266: 7,417 m² (0.74 ha, 1.83 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/4874266.md
- Parcel 1139027: 6,925 m² (0.69 ha, 1.71 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/1139027.md
- Parcel 5371598: 2,769 m² (0.28 ha, 0.68 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/5371598.md
- Parcel 1154937: 1,784 m², https://everytownland.com/parcel/1154937.md
- Parcel 1141145: 1,624 m², https://everytownland.com/parcel/1141145.md
- Parcel 1201456: 1,580 m², https://everytownland.com/parcel/1201456.md
- Parcel 1190015: 1,527 m², https://everytownland.com/parcel/1190015.md
- Parcel 4855901: 1,285 m², https://everytownland.com/parcel/4855901.md
- Parcel 1147693: 997 m², https://everytownland.com/parcel/1147693.md
- Parcel 5428376: 423 m², https://everytownland.com/parcel/5428376.md
- Parcel 5371586: 373 m², https://everytownland.com/parcel/5371586.md
- Parcel 2523050: 125 m², https://everytownland.com/parcel/2523050.md
- Parcel 2523052: 18 m², https://everytownland.com/parcel/2523052.md

## Zoning (national zoning of development plans, MyPlan)

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

## Planning applications whose site touches the townland (National Planning Applications, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)

2 applications, newest first.

- 3 Apr 2020, Kerry County Council 20319: Conditional. Permission. DEMOLISH PART OF MACHINERY SHED, REBUILD, EXTEND AND RE ROOF THE SHED TO INCLUDE SOLAR PANELS AND ALL ASSOCIATED ANCILLARY SITE WORKS. File: https://www.eplanning.ie/KerryCC/AppFileRefDetails/20319/0
- 5 Sept 2019, Kerry County Council 19928: Conditional. Permission. FOR A CATTLE HOUSE INCLUDING A CALF CREEP AREA, SLATTED HOUSE, UNDERGROUND SLURRY TANK AND FEED PASSAGE. File: https://www.eplanning.ie/KerryCC/AppFileRefDetails/19928/0

Applicants are not shown.

## Designated sites (National Parks and Wildlife Service)

- Special Area of Conservation: Lower River Shannon SAC, site code 002165, https://www.npws.ie/protected-sites/sac/002165

## Recorded monuments (Sites and Monuments Record, National Monuments Service)

- KE009-056: Settlement deserted - medieval, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CKE009-056----. The deserted borough of Rattoo was described in the Urban Survey of Kerry as follows; 'The deserted borough of Rattoo is situated about one mile southeast of Ballyduff, twelve miles north of Tralee and seven miles west of Listowel, on the flat coastal plain of north Kerry. Although it is uninhabited today, Rattoo was the site of an ecclesiastical centre in the Early Historic period and of a borough which was probably founded in the thirteenth century. The placename is a corruption of Rath Tuaidh, or more fully, Rath maigi tuaidh, i. e. the fort of the northern plain. The presence of a round tower indicates that Ratoo was the site of a wealthy early ecclesiastical site, but documentary information on it is very scanty. Gwynn and Hadcock (1970, 43) suggest that it may have been an early sixth century foundation associated with Bishop Lughach. It is likely that the church site continued to function into the thirteenth century because it is otherwise difficult to understand why it was chosen by the Anglo-Normans as a borough site. The earliest definite evidence for the existence of the borough is in sixteenth century sources but its be traced to c. 1210, when Meiler Fitzhenry was granted much of north Kerry by King John (Orpen 1911-20, iii, 123; Otway-Ruthven 1968, 86). A hospital dedicated to St. John the Baptist (Fratres Cruciferi) was founded at Rattoo by Saivinus, son of Cynan. Documentary references are scarce throughout the Middle the Ages. In 1597 a burgage in Ratowe, which had belonged to Arrousians, was granted to Trinity College Dublin (17 RDKPRI, 65 no. 6123). The Civil Survey of 1654 noted various lands and tenements in the town and burgagery of Rattoo, which were mainly held by Morris McDaniell (Simington 1938, 498-9). The impression, however, is that the borough had long ceased to function by this date and the census of 1659 gives a population of only six and twelve for the townlands of Rattoo and Burgessland, respectively (Pender 1939, 250). In 1887 it was described by Sir Richard Cox as "a poor inconsiderable village of small note" (de Brún 1972, 40). SITE OF BOROUGH There are no superficial traces of the borough site and it is reasonable to assume that these were in the vicinity of the church and round tower. This area has been tilled for many years and no trace of earthworks is to be expected. DOMESTIC HOUSES Although references to messuages and tenements in Ratoo occur in late sixteenth century documents, such as the grant of six messuages there to Edmund Barret in 1594 (16 RDKPRI, 263: no. 5912), the only reference of any topographical value is that in the Civil Survey of 1654 to "two house Roomes nere the west end of the Church of Rathowe" (Simington 1938, 498-9)' (Bradley et. al. 1987, 82-4). See attached map showing potential area of deserted borough taken from the Urban Survey of Kerry, fig. 39. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 4 May 2022
- KE009-056001: Round tower, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CKE009-056001-. National Monument No. 55. Rattoo Round tower described in the Urban Survey of Kerry as follows: ‘One of the finest in the country, this round tower is complete, the, top two-thirds of the conical cap having been replaced in 1880-1 by the Commissioners of Public Works (Barrow 1979, 109). It is built of dressed and evenly coursed yellow sandstone and stands to a height of approx. 27m. It is evenly battered from an off-set 20cm wide at the base to a cornice just below the cap. A limestone Plinth is present under the off-set. There were six floors set on projecting rings of corbels but there is no access to the floors now. There is a round headed door in the SE 2. 6m above the off-set, a small pointed window in the fourth floor above the door and four windows in the top of the tower. The door has a low flat moulding carried around the arch and jambs and the sill projects from the face of the tower giving the effect of a continuation of the moulding. There is a rounded moulding with two curved spirals on the top of the arch and two others two around the sides of the flat moulding and terminate in a spiral on either side of the door. When the tower was being repaired in the late nineteenth century a shiela-na-gig and some pellet mouldings were discovered on the inner frame of the north window (Barrow 1979, 112)’ (Bradley et. al. 1987, 85). Described by the North Kerry Archaeological Survey as; 'This complete tower, which stands on a platform of masonry, rises to a maximum height of 29.56m (OPW) and is constructed of hard quartzose sandstone, which is well dressed and coursed internally and externally. The tower is 15m in circumference at the base. The internal diameter is 2.3m at the doorway, where the walls are a little over 1m thick. The external wall would appear to batter from the base to the cornice, and the external diameter at the sills of the top windows measures 3.5m (OPW). This means that over a height of 21.44m, there is a reduction in radius of 55cm, giving a batter of 1.39. Originally there were five storeys above the basement, measuring 6.1m, 4.2m, 3.4m and 4.2m high, with the top storey 3.1m high to the cornice plus 2.8m to the internal vertex. Between the floors of each storey, rough corbel stones project. The top floor windows face a little to the right of the cardinal points and measured 1.45m to the apex, 51cm wide at the base and 43cm wide at the springing. The only other window is on the fourth floor. It measures 76cm to the apex, 43cm wide at the base and 33m wide at the springing. The round-headed doorway is situated 2.83m above ground level and is 1.6m high. It consists of a semi-circular arch of three stones ornamented with a simple curvilinear motif in relief. The carving is about 1cm in thickness and is much weathered. The central portion above the central stone has upturned curving spirals at each end measuring 4.5cm in diameter; the central portion of the relief motif measures 20cm overall. Extending from the underneath of each spiral is a plain bead moulding which rounds the arch for 44cm and then terminates on either side in curving spirals. The two spirals on either side of the arch extend in the same direction, clockwise on the left and anti-clockwise on the right. This design appears to be unique for a round tower. Another feature unique to this round tower is the Sheela-na-gig (KE009-056002-), which is situated on the top left- hand corner of the frame of the N window, facing in to the interior of the tower. This feature was discovered in 1880-81, when the top two-thirds of the cap were being reset. A plaster cast of the Sheela-na-gig now lies in the National Museum. It is carved in relief on two stones, the head and shoulders set on the end of the lintel stone and the rest on the jamb stone below it. It measures 30cm from head to foot and 14cm at the widest point across the knees. In 1832, when William Morrison visited the tower, it stood on a circular earthen terrace with a causeway running below its doorway E for about 38.7m. This, however, is now only discernible from the air. The land around the tower belonged to the Gunn family who lived in Rattoo House, which is situated on the N side of the field. Around 1880, when Mr Wilson Gunn drained and planted the land, the causeway disappeared' (Toal 1995, no. 970). Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 4 May 2022
- KE009-056002: Sheela-na-gig, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CKE009-056002-. Figure located high up on inner face of left hand corner of N facing window of Rattoo round tower (KE009-056001-). Plaster cast of figure in National Museum of Ireland, Dublin. Described by Freitag as a ‘flat figure with big head, pronounced forehead and strangely formed, almost rectangular ears; depression indicating eyes and mouth, but no nose, pointed chin; thin neck. Angular shoulders; no breasts. Arms flexed with left hand on thigh; hands not visible in plaster cast, but extension of arm pointing in direction of pudenda; right arm held at right angle; if original delineates hand it would be on abdomen. Thighs and calves of figure well rounded; both feet pointing outwards’ (Freitag 2004, 139). See attached drawing of sheela-na-gig taken from Toal 1995, Fig. 130. Compiled by Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 06 June 2012
- KE009-056003: Church, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CKE009-056003-. National Monument No. 55. Rattoo Church (in ruins), graveyard (KE009-056005-). This church is situated in a graveyard enclosed by a stone wall built in the last century. Immediately NW of this church lies Rattoo round tower (KE009-056001-). Rattoo parish church described in the Urban Survey of Kerry as follows: ‘This church is probably the successor of the pre-Norman church but nothing is known of its history. It was probably granted, along with the vill of Rattoo, to the hospital/abbey [KE009-056004-], because in 1597, when George Isham was granted the tithes of Rattoo it was noted that: these had belonged to the abbey (17 RDKPRI, 44: no. 6034). Small rectangular building of uncoursed rubble masonry, measuring 10.2 by 5. 5m internally. It was built mostly of yellow and pink sandstone but some limestone and shale were also included. The east end of the interior is built up with modern vaults. The east wall is 5m high externally but lacks its gable. It has a narrow twin-light ogee-headed window with hollow spandrels and flattened rear-arch. The limestone jambs are tooled and chamfered but the central mullion is missing. Externally there is a rectangular hood moulding with plain stops. Several re-used dressed stones are set in the splayed surrounds and inner jambs indicating that the window was inserted. The north wall, between 2.5 and 3m high internally, is featureless except for some very large stones in the external masonry which may indicate the remains of an earlier structure. Part of an external plinth also survives. The west wall stands to a height of 4.5m and has a pointed door with tooled and chamfered limestone jambs, and lintelled rear-arch. The chamfers have pointed stops and the lower part of the outer face of the jamb is battered. Wall footings project from the S corner indicating the former presence of a structure here. The south wall was lit by blocked single-light window with chamfered limestone jambs; it is now blocked and its arch is missing. A small lintelled slit at the east end may be modern. There is an external batter at the east end of the S wall, 56cm wide and rising to a height of 3m’ (Bradley et. al. 1987, 85-7). Described by the North Kerry Archaeological Survey as: 'The church is rectangular in plan, measuring 11.5m x 6.6m externally. The walls measures .6m thick and have a noticeable batter. The doorway is situated on the W gable. On the exterior side it is formed of cut limestone in the pointed style and measures .8m wide and 1.7m high. However, on the interior side, the door is covered by a flat lintel, possibly suggesting an early date. Built into the wall inside the doorway is a stone with an inscription on the upper part, which is turned towards the doorway. The stone measures .4m x .3m and was probably used to repair the doorway. The inscription may read as follows: 'X MARGARET O'DINIGHEN, EJUS 1666, VXOR, HIC JACET' (Lynch, JRSAI 40, 1910, 244-245). The X before the name Margaret may have been intended to connect it to another inscription, possibly her husband's, or it may have served as a mark when this stone was separated from another. The E gable contains a window formed of cut limestone in the pointed style which was originally divided into two lights by a stone mullion which exists no longer. The window measures .6m wide x 2.2m high. The S wall contained two windows, but these have been blocked up. Though this church is generally given as 15th century (O'Donovan 1841, Harbison 1970, Barrington 1976), there are obvious earlier characteristics incorporated into the building, but because it has been so modernised it is difficult to ascertain a definite date'. The above description is derived from C. Toal, ‘North Kerry Archaeological Survey’. Dingle. Brandon in association with FAS Training and Employment Authority (1995), no. 938. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 4 May 2022
- KE009-056004: Religious house - Augustinian canons, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CKE009-056004-. National Monument No. 55. This site is situated on low-lying pastureland NE of Rattoo round tower (KE009-056001-) and church (KE009-056003-). To the E lies the River Brick, which flows into the River Cashen. The Hospital of St. John the Baptist (Fratres Cruciferi) & Arroasian Abbey of SS. Peter & Paul was described in the Urban Survey of Kerry as follows: ‘The hospital of St. John the Baptist was founded by Brother William c. 1200, during the initial Anglo-Norman settlement of north Kerry (Brooks 1936, xvi; Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 191, 216). In two charters c. 1200, the hospital was granted the vill of 'Rahtuahe' by Saivinus Son of Canann (Cynan), and confirmed in its endowments by Meiler, son of Meiler FitzHenry (Brooks 1936, 357-9, nos. 563-4). Ware was the first to State that this hospital subsequently became an Arroasian abbey dedicated to SS Peter and Paul and although this statement is unsubstantiated, the absence of any later references the hospital strongly suggests that it is correct. Gwynn and Hadcock (1970, 191) follow Walsh and O'Sullivan (1949, 56) in dating this transition before 1207, but in fact this statement is without foundation. The transition took place before 1276, however, when the first reference to the arroasians at Rattoo occcurs (Sweetman 1875-86, ii, no. 1227). Little is known of the abbey's history. In 1318 an escheator'S account for its temporalities noted that they were "not sufficient for the maintainance of the monks there, as the temporalities were destroyed and burnt by the Irish of the locality'" (42 RDKPRI, 18). The date of the effective dissolution of the abbey is not clear. The earl of Desmond held a lease of the abbey by 1573 (Brewer and Bullen 1867, 437) and this was renewed in 1576 (12 RDKPRI, 177: no. 2820), but it has been suggested that the monks remained until the Desmond rebellion and the granting of the lease to the English commander, John Zouche (Gwynn and Hadoock 1970, 191; 13 RDKPRI, 145: no. 3758). In 1600 the abbey was held by the Irish against Sir Charles Wilmot (O'Grady 1896, i, 149) and Smith (1756, 214) states that it was burned by the Irish On this occasion but he quotes no reliable source. No detailed description of the abbey is known but documents of 1610 and 1693 respectively, describe it as containing "one church or dormitory, and divers buildings within ye said scite", and one Church, one Churchyard and divers edifices within ye cite" (Byrne 1910-11, 19). Situated on lower ground NE of the round tower in the grounds of Rattoo House. It is a long rectangular building with an undifferentiated nave and chancel, measuring 22.5 by 7m internally. It is built of uncoursed red and yellow sandstone, and limestone rubble. The quoins are largely missing but seem to have been pick dressed limestone. The church was built on a plinth which can be seen projecting under all walls. The S, E and E end of the N wall have batter of 20-30cm rising up the wall to a height of 1m. The church is essentially 15th century but a large part of the north wall and almost all the west wall was added in the 16th century. During this rebuilding the upper 2m of wall, with the parapet, was added to the N and S walls, new windows were inserted and the original sandstone mouldings were occasionally copied in limestone. Stepped buttresses Were added to the west end of the north and south walls. The walls and gables are almost complete although parts of the parapet which is 1m high above a narrow string course with drainage holes is damaged. The east gable stands to a height of 7m but lacks its apex and coping stones. It has a pointed triple light window, inserted in the 16th century, with three round headed lights in the lower register and switch line tracery above. The chamfered jambs and mullions are of limestone with glazing bar recesses and holes. The rear-arch is pointed and the internal jambs are a mixture of red, grey and yellow sandstone. Externally there is a pointed hood moulding with concave chamfers and terminals which end in leafy sprays. On the N side of the window there is a wide pointed recess and a small rectangular wall cupboard on the south side. The N wall stands to an average height of 6m. The drip stones under the parapet, which are largely missing on this wall, are supported internally at regular intervals by tapering dressed limestone corbels. Close to the east end in the original wall is a shallow pointed niche which has one chamfered sandstone jamb on the E side. West of this there may have been a rectangular opening between the original wall and the later wall. Five meters of the new section of wall are missing and only the lower course survives. There a jagged opening with a modern round arch of upright voussoirs almost opposite the door in the south wall. East of and above the opening externally the wall thickens and there are dressed sandstone quoins. Further to the west there is another jagged opening about 2m above ground level. It also has a modern rounded arch of upright voussoirs, lacking jambs. The south wall stands to a height of 6m. Most of the parapet and sloping wall-walk with drainage channel is intact. Only two of the supporting dressed corbels survive on this side. Close to the east end there is a widely splaying opening with flattened rear arch, possibly for a single-light window. The outer jambs are gone but some of the dressed inner sandstone jambs remain. To the West is a splayed ogee-headed slit with a single block of limestone in the arch which is chamfered and tooled. The outer jambs are of modern cement but the inner jambs are dressed sandstone. The rear arch is flat lintelled close to the external wall while the inner arch consists of a flat-rounded arch of upright voussoirs and is probably a replacement. There is a similar window about 2.5m to the west but only the limestone sill and rear lintel remain. Above it is a splayed opening directly under the wall walk. The jambs and rear-arch are missing. Four meters west is a widely splayed opening similar to that at the E end. The rear-arch consists of a flattened arch apparently rebuilt. The outer jambs are missing but the inner jambs of sandstone are present. About 4m from the west end is a rectangular door with flattened rear-arch. No jambs remains. Between the door and the west wall is a single light ogee-headed slit similar to the second and third windows from the east. The west wall, the centre of which is rebuilt, stands to a height of 7m and is featureless’ (Bradley et. al. 1987, 87-91). Described by the North Kerry Archaeological Survey as; 'This Augustinian friary consists of one house only, which is orientated in a NW-SE direction. It measures 27.7m x 6.4m internally, with walls c 1m thick. The E window is pointed and formed of cut limestone. It is 1.5m wide on the exterior side, splaying to 2.2m internally. It is divided into three bays by stone mullions and is surmounted by six compartments of various sizes. The S wall contains five pointed windows, all but one now disfigured. A doorway exists in the S wall at a distance of 6.5m from the W gable; it too is disfigured. A second doorway existed in the N wall at a distance of 9.7m from the W gable. This is now completely destroyed. Rattoo was originally a preceptory of the Knights Hospitallers of St John of Jerusalem, founded by Friar William and confirmed by Meyler Fitz Meyler (son of Meyler Fitz Henry, Lord Justice in Ireland) in the reign of King John (1199-1216). The words of Meyler's charter – 'built by Friar William in my lands of Kerry' – were witnessed by David, Bishop of Iarmuan or Ardfert (Bishop of Kerry 1193-1207). Rattoo was later converted into a monastery of the regular canons of the Aroacia and dedicated to St Peter and St Paul (Hickson, JRSAI 1883-84, Vol VI 295-305). The abbot was a Lord of Parliament. On the suppression of the monasteries, the formal grant of Rattoo was given to the Earl of Desmond, on a 20-year lease from
- KE009-056005: Graveyard, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CKE009-056005-. Rattoo Church (in ruins), graveyard (KE009-056005-). The graveyard is enclosed by a stone wall built in the last century. Rattoo graveyard surveyed in 2012 and described as follows; 'The site of Rattoo church and graveyard is situated in Rattoo townland approximately 3.5km south-east of the village Ballyduff and circa 21 km north of Tralee. The site is located on flat ground with expansive views in all directions and circa 0.77km west of the River Brick that issues into the Cashen River at Dysert Marshes abutting Rattoo. The early medieval ecclesiastical complex of Rattoo, (An Ráth Thuaidh- the northern fort), is National Monument No. 55. Rattoo parish church and graveyard are an integral part of a wider monastic and developed ecclesiastical complex that dates from the early medieval period that is best exemplified monumentally by the presence of one of the finest Round Towers in Ireland. The graveyard is enclosed by a high stone wall in good order. It contains a twenty nine tombs and sixteen named headstones the earliest of which dates to 1770. Dispersed around the S, SE & E limits of the graveyard are forty five unhewn gravemarkers. Entrance into graveyard is through an iron gate in poor neglected state. The gate is set beneath a fine stone arch. Beside the gate is a modern galvanised swing-stile in good order. A new entrance to access the Round Tower has also been recently constructed by the OPW. The graveyard and church are enclosed by a high uncoursed rubble stone wall along its W, N and E as well as circa 50% of its S boundary where the height of the wall achieves a maximum height of 1.4m. Apart from some ivy on the high section of the S boundary, the walls have, little or no growth or breaches and are in good order. There are twenty nine, (29), tombs within the graveyard including the two in the church. Most of the tombs are the haunched ‘strong-box’ or gabled type. The tombs have all been generally repaired, repointed and in one case completely re-rendered. Another tomb at the NE area of the graveyard is currently under repair. There were forty-five, (45), unnamed headstones (HWN) in total recorded in the course of this survey' (Dunne 2012, 1-9). See attached plan of graveyard courtesy of Laurence Dunne. The above description is derived from C. Toal, ‘North Kerry Archaeological Survey’. Dingle. Brandon in association with FAS Training and Employment Authority (1995), no. 938. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Revised by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by Laurence Dunne Date of revised upload: 4 May 2022
- KE009-056006: Memorial stone, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CKE009-056006-. A stone, which was probably used to repair the wall, has been inserted inside the doorway of Rattoo Church (see KE009-056003-). The stone, measuring .4m by .3m, bears an inscription on its upper part. The inscription may read as follows: 'X MARGARET O'DINIGHEN, EJUS 1666, VXOR, HIC JACET' (Lynch, JRSAI 40, 1910, 244-245). For a full description see Toal (1995, 244, no. 938). Compiled by: Matt Kelleher Date of upload: 13 December 2011
- KE009-056007: Font, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CKE009-056007-. Octagonal shaped font basin the underside of which is chamfered now rests on the sill of the south window of the medieval church (KE009-056003-), no remains visible of the column or base on which this basin rested. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 9 May 2022
- KE009-089: Ecclesiastical enclosure, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CKE009-089----. The ecclesiastical enclosure at Rattoo was probably connected to the one at Dysert (KE010-062002-) by an ancient roadway or togher (KE009-088----); according to the OSNB (1841) 'An ancient road now called White Horse ridge extends from the old church of Dysert, through the bog, as far as Rattoo'. Hurley (1982, 321) states that the enclosure can be recognised by crop marks from aerial photographs. However, no surface remains of the enclosure survive today, though the church (KE009-056003-) and round tower (KE009-056001-) are in a good state of preservation. The ecclesiastical site of Rattoo was described in the Urban Survey of Kerry as follows; 'Although it is uninhabited today, Rattoo was the site of an ecclesiastical centre in the Early Historic period and of a borough which was probably founded in the thirteenth century. The placename is a corruption of Rath Tuaidh, or more fully, Rath maigi tuaidh, i. e. the fort of the northern plain. The presence of a round tower [KE009-056001-] indicates that Ratoo was the site of a wealthy early ecclesiastical site, but documentary information on it is very scanty. Gwynn and Hadcock (1970, 43) suggest that it may have been an early sixth century foundation associated with Bishop Lughach. It is likely that the church site continued to function into the thirteenth century because it is otherwise difficult to understand why it was chosen by the Anglo-Normans as a borough site [KE009-056----]. No trace of an enclosure is visible on the ground and the ruined church [KE009-056003-] is medieval in date' (Bradley et. al. 1987, 82). According to Toal (1995, no. 970) In 1832, when William Morrison visited the tower [KE009-056001-], it stood on a circular earthen terrace with a causeway [KE009-088----] running below its doorway E for about 38.7m. This, however, is now only discernible from the air. The land around the tower belonged to the Gunn family who lived in Rattoo House, which is situated on the N side of the field. Around 1880, when Mr Wilson Gunn drained and planted the land, the causeway disappeared' (Toal 1995, no. 970). A slide in the Department of Archaeology taken by D.D.C Pochin Mould shows outline of most of the large ecclesiastical enclosure. See attached Google Earth orthoimages Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 9 May 2022

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).

## Architectural heritage (National Inventory of Architectural Heritage)

- Rattoo House, house, 1850–1870, Regional interest, registry number 21300909, https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&county=KE&regno=21300909. Detached five-bay two-storey Venetian Gothic Revival style house, built c. 1860, incorporating fabric of earlier house, built 1836. Comprising three-bay two-storey recessed central block having trefoil-headed openings, single-bay single-storey gabled projecting porch, single-bay two-storey hipped gabled advanced flanking end bays and single-bay side elevations having canted bay window to south with gablet over. Pitched artificial slate roofs with half-hipped gables and ashlar chimneystacks. Rubble stone walls with ashlar dressings. Arched niches surround facade openings, with trefoil arches at first floor, timber two-over-two pane sliding sash windows set in square-headed windows, bay window at ground floor south wall. Off-centre gabled ashlar porch. Remains of detached four-bay single-storey rubble stone-built single-cell medieval abbey, built c. 1600, to east, now ruinous. Gateway, built c. 1860, to south-east comprising pair of cut-stone piers with cast-iron inner piers having cast-iron gates and railings.

## Ground and risks (Radon Risk Map of Ireland, EPA; Landslide Susceptibility Classification and LiDAR, Geological Survey Ireland)

- Radon: About 1 in 20 homes in this area is likely to have high radon levels. Testing a home: https://www.epa.ie/environment-and-you/radon/radon-testing/#d.en.82887
- Landslides: Susceptibility 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 Rattoo.
- Flooding: the flood maps of the Office of Public Works, https://www.floodinfo.ie/map/floodmaps/, linked only: their licence does not allow re-use.

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.

## Downloads

- DXF, in Irish Transverse Mercator metres, with its boundary, parcels and buildings, for a drawing program: https://everytownland.com/kerry/rattoo.dxf
- GeoJSON, in WGS 84, for a map: https://everytownland.com/kerry/rattoo.geojson
- KML, for Google Earth: https://everytownland.com/kerry/rattoo.kml

## Homes sold (Residential Property Price Register)

No address of the register names Rattoo with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Kerry: https://everytownland.com/kerry.md

## Neighbouring townlands (National Statutory Boundaries, Tailte Éireann)

- Ballyhorgan: https://everytownland.com/kerry/ballyhorgan.md
- Ballyhorgan-Marshes: https://everytownland.com/kerry/ballyhorgan-marshes.md
- Bishopscourt South: https://everytownland.com/kerry/bishopscourt-south.md
- Clooneagh: https://everytownland.com/kerry/clooneagh.md
- Knockananore: https://everytownland.com/kerry/knockananore.md
- Sleveen: https://everytownland.com/kerry/sleveen.md

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.

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Everytownland reads the registered freehold land and the statutory boundaries of Tailte Éireann, the national zoning, planning file and heritage records of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and the Residential Property Price Register. 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; this site names no owner. A price is the price recorded for a past sale, not a valuation.

Sources: Cadastral Parcels Freehold, Townlands, Civil Parishes, Baronies, Electoral Divisions and Buildings, Tailte Éireann, CC BY 4.0; national zoning of development plans (GZT, MyPlan) and National Planning Applications, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0, applicants not shown; designated sites, National Parks and Wildlife Service, CC BY 4.0; Sites and Monuments Record, National Monuments Service, CC BY 4.0; National Inventory of Architectural Heritage, CC BY 4.0; Residential Property Price Register, Property Services Regulatory Authority, re-used with the source acknowledged.

- Page: https://everytownland.com/kerry/rattoo
- In JSON: https://everytownland.com/api/townland/kerry/rattoo