Mooreabbey Demesne

35 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Mooreabbey Demesne, from 51 m² to 56,230 m² (5.62 ha, 13.89 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary; 82 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 Mooreabbey 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.

• 16 Jul 2026Conditional

  for conversion of single storey garage/outbuilding to independent living unit; and all associated site works

  Retention, 1 home · Kildare County Council, 2660809

• 6 Jul 2026N/a

  for conversion of, and extension to, single storey garage / outbuilding to independent living unit with additional laundry area; and all associated site works

  Retention · Kildare County Council, 2660754

• 3 Jun 2026N/a

  1. conversion of a derelict agricultural building into commercial Dog Kennels and roofed yard and 2. Conversion of existing agricultural building into a commercial Catio and all associated siteworks

  Permission · Kildare County Council, 2660588

• 19 May 2025N/a

  for the construction of a new all-weather sports pitch for school and community use, with perimeter fencing, ball netting and 6no. lighting columns and all associated site works

  Permission · Kildare County Council, 2560521

• 24 Jan 2025Conditional

  for new commercial vehicle testing centre with associated signage, new site boundary wall, new entrance, and all associated site works. Revised by Significant Further Information which consists of: The proposal includes additional change of use of existing buildings to (1) workshop ancillary to test center (2) cafe and (3) 3 no. shop units

  Permission · Kildare County Council, 2560049

• 31 Jul 2024N/a

  for permission to demolish existing derelict commercial building and all associated site works

  Permission · Kildare County Council, 2460734

• 3 Jul 2023Conditional

  Will consist of the erection of 2 agricultural stores with all associated facilities and site works.

  Permission · Kildare County Council, 23737

• 7 Feb 2022N/a

  to demolish existing derelict commercial building and construction of new site boundaries and all associated site works

  Permission · Kildare County Council, 22124

• 6 Dec 2021N/a

  to demolish existing derelict commercial building and construction of new community care dwelling house, garage, entrance, new site boundaries and all associated works

  Permission, 1 home · Kildare County Council, 211708

• 12 Nov 2021N/a

  to demolish existing derelict commercial building and construction of new community care dwelling house, garage, entrance, new site boundaries and all associated site works

  Permission, 1 home · Kildare County Council, 211598

• 8 Dec 2020Conditional

  a proposed 1.5 storey house, a proposed detached garage, a new wastewater treatment system and percolation area, a new entrance, and all ancillary site works. The application includes the submission of a Natura Impact Statement

  Permission, 1 home · Kildare County Council, 201501

• 2 Oct 2020N/a

  a proposed 1.5 storey house, a proposed detached garage, a new wastewater treatment system & percolation area, a new entrance, and all ancillary site works,

  Permission, 1 home · Kildare County Council, 201145

• 31 Aug 2020N/a

  To construct new roadside boundary wall and all associated site works

  Permission · Kildare County Council, 20984

• 20 Apr 2017Conditional

  domestic garage and all associated site works

  Permission, 1 home · Kildare County Council, 17437

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: River Barrow and River Nore SAC 002162

Recorded monuments

• KD026-001 Religious house - Cistercian monks
  Description

  In wooded, landscaped, former demesne grounds on the E bank of the S-flowing River Barrow. According to Gwynn and Hadcock (1970, 398), St. Emin (Evin) built a monastery at ‘Rosglas na Muimneach’. Regarding this monastery, the Countess of Drogheda records (1902-3, 235), '… the old Yew Tree Cemetery (KD021-001004-, in Clogheen townland, N of Monasterevin town) [was] where there was once a branch of St. Evin's Monastery, and here was kept for long afterwards St. Evin's bell as a swearing relic.’ While no visible surface trace of the early monastery survives, sometime between 1177 and 1181, Dermot O'Dempsey, King of Offaly, founded an abbey, probably on its site, which shortly afterwards became the Cistercian Abbey of Rosglas or ‘de Rosea Vallis’, dedicated to SS Mary and Benedict (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 142). No visible surface trace of that abbey survives either, but some of its foundations and/or fabric may be incorporated into the present Moore Abbey house (KD026-002----). A church is shown to the N of the house on a 1759 survey map of Monasterevin Demesne by Scale (NLI Ms. 21. F. 37 (131-71) Map 147), but no visible surface trace survives. A medieval font (KD026-001001-) in a modern chapel there may have come from the abbey. Burials (KD026-003----) uncovered in the mid and late-19th century just E of the house were probably associated with the former monastery. In 1996, archaeological monitoring of service trenches (Mullins, Clare. Excavation Licence no. 96E0024ext., Online www.excavations.ie Last accessed 10 July 2012) revealed further burials to the N of the house, an area of ironworking debris and stray medieval pottery fragments. Also found was a timber-lined pit (sluice/drain/dock?) of possible medieval date, located on the original bank of the River Barrow. (Killanin and Duignan 1967, 379) Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy Date of upload: 30 July 2012

• KD026-001001 Font
  Description

  In a modern chapel just N of Moore Abbey house. A fine circular font (diam. 0.6m; H 0.5m) decorated with eight arcaded panels, each with an angel, and rope moulding, stands on a later pedestal, the base of which may be medieval. It may have come from a now levelled church shown to the N of the house on a 1759 map of Monasterevin Demesne by Scale (NLI Ms. 21. F. 37 (131-71) Map 147), or from the Carmelite abbey (KD026-001----) which once stood here. Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy Date of upload: 30 July 2012

• KD026-002 House - 17th century
  Description

  In wooded, landscaped, former demesne grounds on the E bank of the S-flowing River Barrow. A 1596 lease on the Manor of Evon (Monasterevin) lists, ‘ … a fair hall, a stable, kitchen, and other rooms, an orchard, watermill ...' (Fitzgerald 1904, 256-7). According to Bence-Jones (1978, 210), the present Moore Abbey house is a 1767 rebuilding of a 17th century [16th/17th century?] house, itself built on the site of a Carmelite abbey (KD026-001----). It was the sometime seat of the Moores, earls of Drogheda, and for a time, the residence of the noted singer, John McCormack (Killanin and Duignan 1967, 379). Now much renovated and operated as a health care facility by the Sisters of Charity of Jesus and Mary, the entrance incorporates a fine 17th century surround of the Lofus family, and the later porch shows the coat of arms of the Moore family. A date stone of 1607, and two 16th century jamb stones, reused in a window, are incorporated in the E wall. The latter may have come from an earlier house, or from the abbey. The large hall to the right of the entrance may also date from the 17th century, as may the vaulted basements where, although plastered, red brick is visible in some of the arches. Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy Date of upload: 30 July 2012

• KD026-003 Burial
  Description

  In wooded, landscaped, former demesne grounds on the E bank of the S-flowing River Barrow. A large number of burials were uncovered during landscaping immediately E of Moore Abbey house in both the mid and late-19th century (The Countess of Drogheda (1902-3, 230). They were probably associated with the Cistercian abbey (KD026-001----), upon the site of which the house is believed to be built. In 1996, further burials were uncovered to the N of the house (Mullins, Clare. Excavation Licence no. 96E0024ext., Online www.excavations.ie Last accessed 10 July 2012) Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy Date of upload: 30 July 2012

• KD026-004 Moated site
  Description

  On improved, drained and level pasture c. 120m E of the S-flowing River Barrow. Shown on a 1759 map of Monasterevin Demesne by Scale (NLI Mss 21 F 21 (1-36) Map 1) as a substantial rectangular enclosure defined by a broad and apparently water-filled fosse. Only a low, rectangular earthwork survives (L 31.2m N-S; Wth 23.2m E-W) defined by long, low scarps (H 0.2-0.5m), with no visible surface trace of an enclosing fosse. Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy Date of upload: 08 August 2012

• KD026-012 Moated site
  Description

  Near the top of a S-facing slope, in tillage. Visible on a 1970 aerial photograph (CUCAP BDO 42) as the cropmark of a rectangular enclosure, possibly a moated site, several other examples of which (KD026-004----, KD026-008---- and KD026-009----) are recorded in this general area. No visible surface trace. Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy Date of upload: 24 August 2012

• KD026-013 Ritual site - holy well
  Description

  At the W-foot of a moderately steep pasture slope, some 35m E of a small SW-flowing stream which feeds the River Barrow to the W. According to O’Donovan writing in the OSL in 1837 (Herity 2002, 127 [114]), ‘The well near the site of the Monastery [KD026-001----], and which, in all probability anciently bore the name of St. Evin, is now called Lord Henry Moore’s Well, because it was enclosed by him. The location indicated on the OS 6-inch mapping is a large rectangular sunken area (30m NE-SW; 20m NW-SE; D 1-1.8m), the perimeter of which is overgrown with ash and briar, and partly enclosed on the E and W sides by a low denuded, earthen bank (ext. H 0.2-0.4m; Wth 2-2.5m). The interior is waterlogged and heavily poached by livestock, and there is no obvious trace of a spring/well. Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy Date of upload: 24 August 2012

• KD026-027 Hearth
  Description

  As part of the M7 Heath–Mayfield Motorway Scheme, a road bridge was to be constructed crossing the River Barrow 3km SSW of Monasterevin. During archaeological testing (Licence No. 03E0691 www.excavations.ie Accessed 28 August 2012) a spread of burning, was identified under spoil heaps of material dredged from the river. During later monitoring work (Excavation licence no. 03E0623) a hearth (0.9m E-W; 0.52m N-S; D 0.80m) was identified, consisting of a spread of ash and patches of oxidised clay. A sub-oval post-hole (0.28m E-W; 0.2m N-S; D 0.14m) was cut into the hearth and was filled by a mid-brown clayey silt with lenses of oxidised clay. The N end of the hearth had been cut by a modern drain. A spread of heavily oxidised clay and charcoal (1.7m N-S; 0.6m E-W; D 0.12m) was found 69m E of the hearth and contained fragments of a slag-like material. Metal detecting and monitoring of the remainder of the dredged spoil within the road-line was undertaken, but no additional sites or artefacts of archaeological significance were identified. Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy Date of upload: 29 August 2012

Architectural heritage

• Moore Abbey, demesne walls/gates/railings, 1840–1850 · Regional interest
  Description

  Gateway, c.1845, comprising pair of granite ashlar octagonal piers with stringcourses, inscribed friezes and moulded capping having profiled finials, cast-iron double gates with ‘Fleur-de-Lys’ finials, sections of curved flanking cast-iron railings on cut-granite plinth walls with ‘Fleur-de-Lys’ finials, and granite ashlar octagonal outer piers with stringcourses, inscribed friezes and moulded capping having profiled finials.

• Moore Abbey, gasworks, 1840–1850 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached single-bay single-storey rubble stone former gas works with half-attic, c.1845, with segmental-headed integral carriageway to ground floor and two-bay single-storey side elevation to north-east having yellow brick chimney stack on a square plan. Extensively renovated and extended, c.1990, comprising two-bay single-storey wing to south-east with single-bay single-storey lean-to conservatory added to north-east to accommodate commercial use. Gable-ended roofs. Replacement artificial slate, c.1990. Concrete ridge tiles. Replacement uPVC rainwater goods, c.1990, on eaves course. Lean-to roof to conservatory. Glazed in timber frame. Random rubble stone walls. Yellow brick dressings including quoins to corners. Slit-style apertures in tripartite arrangement to gables. Yellow brick panelled tapered chimney stack to north-east with cut-stone coping. Roughcast walls to additional range. Painted. Round-headed window opening to half-attic. Stone sill. Yellow brick surround. Replacement fixed-pane timber window, c.1990. Segmental-headed integral carriageway. Yellow brick dressings. Replacement tongue-and-groove timber panelled doors, c.1990. Square-headed window openings to additional range. Yellow brick sills and surrounds. Timber casement windows. Fixed-pane timber windows to conservatory. Set back from road in grounds shared with Mooreabbey House.

• Moore Abbey, house, 1900–1910 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached three-bay single-storey estate worker’s house with half-dormer attic, dated 1905, retaining original fenestration with single-bay single-storey lean-to projecting porch to centre. Gable-ended roof with slate (gabled to half-dormer attic window; lean-to to porch). Clay ridge tiles with finials to apexes. Red brick chimney stacks. Timber eaves and bargeboards. Cast-iron rainwater goods. Roughcast walls. Unpainted. Red brick dressings including quoins to corners. Red brick walls to porch. Rendered detailing to gable to half-dormer attic window with inscribed date stone. Square-headed openings. Stone sills. Red brick block-and-start surrounds. 1/1 timber sash windows (paired to front (south-west) elevation). Timber casement windows to half-dormer attic window. Replacement glazed timber panelled door, c.1980, with sidelights. Set back from road in grounds shared with Mooreabbey House.

• Moore Abbey, garden, 1840–1850 · Regional interest
  Description

  Formal garden, c.1845, with series of terraces having cut-limestone steps, decorative terracotta planting urns and flower bed to centre on a circular plan with cut-stone fountain.

• Moore Abbey, country house, 1765–1775 · National interest
  Description

  Detached fifteen-bay two- and three-storey over part-raised basement Georgian Gothic-style mansion, built 1767-71, incorporating fabric of medieval abbey (1177) and later house (1549) comprising seven-bay three-storey central block with three-bay single-storey flat-roofed projecting porch to centre approached by flight of steps, four-bay two-storey flanking projecting end bays having four-bay two-storey side elevation to west, nine-bay two-storey garden front to side elevation to east and single-bay four-storey tower to rear to north on a square plan. Extensively remodelled, 1846, to produce present form and appearance. Extended, c.1975, comprising three-bay single-storey block to north-east and single-bay four-stage water tower to north-west on a square plan. Now in use as convent, hospital and asylum. Roofs not visible behind battlemented parapet walls. Limestone ashlar chimney stacks. Cast-iron rainwater goods. Flat-roofed to porch behind parapet wall. Materials not visible. Rendered walls. Ruled and lined. Unpainted. Rendered dressings including consoled stringcourse to top floors having battlemented parapet walls over with cut-stone coping. Limestone ashlar walls to porch approached by flight of twelve cut-stone steps. Cut-limestone dressings including pilasters on plinths supporting pointed-arch recesses having moulded cornice over with blocking course to parapet wall having gabled section to centre. Cut-stone coat of arms over door opening. Pointed-arch openings. Stone sills. Cut-stone surrounds with hood mouldings over. 6/6 and 3/3 timber sash windows with Gothic-style lights over. Traceried timber windows to porch with paired cinquefoil-headed openings. Pointed-arch door opening with moulded surround. Tongue-and-groove timber panelled double doors. Pointed-arch opening to side elevation to east (opening on to terrace) with glazed timber panelled double doors having overlight. Set back from road in own landscaped grounds. Tarmacadam forecourt/carpark to front.

• Moore Abbey, outbuilding, 1840–1850 · Regional interest
  Description

  Attached eight-bay two-storey outbuilding, c.1845, retaining some original fenestration. Mostly refenestrated and extended, c.1975, comprising two-bay single-storey flat-roofed projecting bay to north-west. Hipped roof with slate. Clay ridge tiles. Cast-iron rainwater goods. Flat-roofed to projecting bay. Bitumen felt. Roughcast walls. Unpainted. Square-headed openings. Stone sills. Rendered surrounds. Original 3/3 timber sash windows to first floor front (west) elevation with one early timber casement window having leaded glazing. Replacement timber casement windows, c.1975, to remainder. Tongue-and-groove timber panelled door. Set back from road in grounds shared with Mooreabbey House, attached to house to south in courtyard.Boundary wall to courtyard, c.1845, comprising roughcast wall on an L-shaped plan with pointed-arch integral carriageway having cut-stone surround. Replacement iron sheeted gates, c.1975.

• Moore Abbey, stables, 1845–1850 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached twenty-one-bay single-, two- and three-storey Gothic Revival-style former stable complex, dated 1846, on a symmetrical U-shaped plan comprising eleven-bay two-storey main block, originally having pointed-arch open arcade, with three-bay two-storey breakfront having single-bay triple-height central tower on a square plan and chamfered/cranked end bays to north-west and to south-east leading to five-bay single-storey perpendicular wings enclosing courtyard. Extensively renovated and extended, c.1990, comprising four-bay single-storey lean-to lower parallel range along rear elevation to north-east to accommodate use as community centre. Hipped and gable-ended roofs with slate (behind parapet walls to breakfront; cranked to hipped roofs to north-west and to south-east). Clay ridge tiles. Cast-iron rainwater goods on cut-stone eaves course. Roof to tower not visible behind battlemented parapet wall. Lean-to roof to additional parallel range. Materials not visible. Limestone ashlar walls to courtyard elevations and to tower. Cut-stone dressings including date stone over opening to tower, cut-stone stringcourse, advanced corner piers and moulded stringcourse to battlemented parapet walls. Cast-iron clock to tower. Rubble stone walls to remainder. Rubble stone corner ‘turrets’ to rear elevation to north-east. Materials to additional parallel range not discerned. Pointed-arch window openings to first floor central block. Cut-stone sills and surrounds. Replacement timber windows, c.1990. Pointed-arch former integral carriageways to ground floor central block (originally open). Moulded reveals. Replacement glazed timber doors, c.1990, with sidelights and overlights. Pointed-arch integral carriageway to tower. Chamfered reveal. Cut-stone hood moulding over. Replacement glazed timber door, c.1990, with sidelights and overlight. Lancet-arch window openings to upper floors to tower in tripartite arrangement. Cut-stone surrounds. Early fixed-pane iron windows. Pointed-arch door openings to perpendicular wings. Cut-stone surrounds. Replacement glazed timber doors, c.1990, with sidelights and overlight. Square-headed openings to rear (north-west and south-east) elevations of perpendicular wings. Cut-stone flush sills and surrounds. Replacement timber windows, c.1990. Square-headed openings to additional parallel range. Concrete sills. Timber casement windows. Timber door. Set back from road in grounds shared with Mooreabbey House about a tarmacadam courtyard.Gateway, c.1845, to south-west completing quadrangular arrangement to courtyard comprising pair of cast-iron open work piers with cast-iron double gates having limestone ashlar flanking plinth walls with cast-iron railings over having ‘Fleur-de-Lys’ finials.

• Bridge, 1830–1835 · Regional interest
  Description

  Five-arch bridge over river, built 1832. Part ivy-covered walls centred on limestone ashlar rounded cutwater piers on swept battered bases having domed capping with repointed coursed cut-limestone parapets having cut-limestone coping. Series of five elliptical arches with repointed rock faced limestone ashlar radiating voussoirs centred on repointed rock faced cut-limestone keystones. Sited spanning River Barrow with unkempt banks to river.

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 high, moderately low, low, low (inferred), on the 1:50,000 map.

Terrain model

LiDAR of the Office of Public Works, flown in 2011, at 2 m: tile OPW_2287 (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 Mooreabbey Demesne with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Kildare.

Name

Mooreabbey Demesne · Ros Glas

Area

5,518,988 m² (551.9 ha, 1,363.77 acres)

Civil parish

Monasterevin, and its townlands

Barony

Offaly West

Electoral division

Monasterevin, the unit of the census

Census 2022

Monasterevin electoral division: 5,949 people in 2,051 households; 71% of households own their home; 52% of homes were built since 2001; 7% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 0% were holiday homes.

Neighbouring townlands

Ballyfarsoon, Bolnagree (Co. Laois), Clogheen, Fisherstown (Co. Laois), Gorteenoona, Grangecoor, Jamestown or Ballyteigeduff (Co. Laois), Kilbrackan (Co. Laois), Killaglish (Co. Laois), Killinure (Co. Laois), Larch Hill, Lughil, Monasterevin, Skirteen, Stramillian

Placenames

Mooreabbey 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.