Kells

163 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Kells, from 5 m² to 362,306 m² (36.23 ha, 89.53 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary. 53 neighbouring parcels touch it.

Download the townland as DXF, in Irish Transverse Mercator metres, with its boundary, parcels and buildings, or as GeoJSON or KML.

No zone of a development plan covers Kells 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.

• 27 Mar 2026Conditional

  for: (A)The partial demolition of existing walls to the sides and rear of the property including the enlargement of existing window openings. (B) The subsequent construction of a new single storey extension to the rear of the property, new window opening to the side of the property and new rooflight to the front of the property. (C) Elevation treatments including replacement of all existing windows and doors, new facias and soffits and all associated site works

  Permission · Kilkenny County Council, 2660179

• 26 Nov 2025Unconditional

  of Planning Permission Reference P20/632

  Extension of duration · Kilkenny County Council, 25126

• 16 Sept 2024Conditional

  of 1) Extension to rear as built. 2) conservatory to front of dwelling, 3) Attic conversion for storage and all associated site works

  Retention · Kilkenny County Council, 2460439

• 25 Jan 2023Conditional

  for alterations to my existing dwelling and the construction of a two-storey extension to the side of my existing dwelling to include the provision of a new two storey family flat and all associated site works

  Permission · Kilkenny County Council, 2360031

• 29 Jul 2022Conditional

  for development. The development will consist of (a) the partial demolition of the existing dwelling to the side and rear (b) elevational treatment to replace all existing external windows and doors (c) the construction of a new single storey extension to the rear and side of the existing house including internal alterations to the ground and first floors and all associated site works

  Permission · Kilkenny County Council, 22497

• 15 Jul 2022N/a

  for development. The development will consist of the replacement of all existing external windows and doors, and the construction of a new single storey extension to the rear and side of the existing house, including internal alterations to the ground and first floors and associated drainage works

  Permission · Kilkenny County Council, 22469

• 24 May 2022Conditional

  is hereby sought for domestic garage as constructed and all associated site works

  Retention · Kilkenny County Council, 22335

• 1 Dec 2021Conditional

  for the construction of a cattle underpass, slatted effluent tank and all associated works at

  Permission · Kilkenny County Council, 21979

• 15 Mar 2021Conditional

  for a proposed new storey and a half side extension with a storey and a half link corridor, proposed second storey rear extension. Proposed single storey rear kitchen extension, Proposed single storey vehicular garage, connection to proposed storm water soakaways, connection to existing foul water treatment system and associated site works

  Permission · Kilkenny County Council, 21182

• 25 Sept 2020Conditional

  for the (1) material change of use and subdivision of an existing dwelling into 4 no. 1 bedroom semi-independent living units, (2) modifications to the existing dwelling elevations, (3) relocation of the existing vehicular entrance and internal access driveway, (4) provison of 8 no. car parking spaces, (5) subdivision of the existing garden to provide private open space for each semi-independent living unit, (6) connection to existing services and all ancillary site development works

  Permission, 4 homes · Kilkenny County Council, 20632

• 3 Apr 2020Conditional

  to construct a dwelling house, sewerage treatment system and percolation area, including all necessary site works

  Permission, 1 home · Kilkenny County Council, 20213

• 11 Oct 2019Conditional

  for the (1) material change of use and subdivision of an existing dwelling into 3 no. 1 bedroom semi-independent living units (2) modifications to the existing dwelling elevations (3) material change of use of the existing garage into a 1 bedroom semi-independent living unit complete with a single storey extension (4) modifications to the existing garage elevations (5) alterations to existing internal access driveway (6) provision of 8 no. car parking spaces (7) subdivision of the existing garden to provide private open space to each semi-independent living unit (8) connection to existing services and all ancillary site development works, all

  Permission · Kilkenny County Council, 19752

• 12 Jul 2019Conditional

  permission for retention of garage and alterations to site boundary, including site works at

  Retention · Kilkenny County Council, 19483

• 23 Apr 2019Conditional

  to construct a single storey extension to the rear of dwelling including all associated site works

  Permission · Kilkenny County Council, 19271

• 26 Feb 2019Refused

  to construct a dwelling house, sewerage treatment system and percolation area, including all necessary site works

  Permission, 1 home · Kilkenny County Council, 19105

• 3 Aug 2018Conditional

  for construction of two storey dwelling, domestic garage, entrance, foul effluent treatment system and percolation area and all associated site works at

  Permission, 1 home · Kilkenny County Council, 18520

• 3 Aug 2018Conditional

  to construct a detached garage for a motorhome at

  Permission · Kilkenny County Council, 18523

• 25 Jul 2018Conditional

  for the demolition of an existing single storey sunroom at rear of existing dwelling, for construction of single storey extension to the rear of existing dwelling, internal and external modifications and all associated site development works at

  Permission · Kilkenny County Council, 18499

• 14 May 2018Conditional

  to construct a (i) cubicle shed incorporating slatted tanks (ii) over ground slurry tower and all associated site works. Permission for retention of (i) Walled Drafting Yard (ii) Walled collecting yard is also required

  Permission · Kilkenny County Council, 18306

• 22 Dec 2017N/a

  to build a two storey four bedroom residential dwelling, with detached outhouses for domestic use, wastewater treatment system with percolation area and all associated site works

  Permission, 3 homes · Kilkenny County Council, 17872

• 20 Dec 2017Conditional

  to demolish an existing single storey dwelling, attached garage and shed and permission to construct a new single storey dwelling in its place and all associated site works on our lands

  Permission, 1 home · Kilkenny County Council, 17849

• 10 Mar 2017Conditional

  for development of a 30,000 sq ft shed to be erected at premises

  Permission · Kilkenny County Council, 17147

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
• Special Protection Area: River Nore SPA 004233

Recorded monuments

• KK027-029012 Cross - Market cross
  Description

  According to Carrigan (1905, vol. 4, 55-6), the market cross at Kells, ‘stood originally on the roadside, opposite the gateway leading to Bosheen na gcorp, that is, the bosheen [local word for boreen] that formerly led from the public road down to the Priory [KK027-029004-] and Priory graveyard. It was removed thence to the south corner of the field in which its pedestal now lies. Later on it was again removed to its present position, which is only a few yards distant from the spot on which it was first set up many centuries ago. The cross itself is missing, and the time and manner of its disappearance are unknown. What is now called “the Cross,” merely consists of a great circular stone, wide and thick, in the centre of which is fixed an ornamental cut-stone pedestal, with a socket cut into the top surface for the reception of the cross’. The circular base (diam. c. 1.5m; H 0.22m), which may be a reused millstone, has a circular socket in the centre into which a circular limestone pedestal (diam. c. 0.66m; H above base 0.31m) has been fitted. The lower portion of this pedestal (H 0.12m) is slightly wider than the upper portion by c. 0.06m. Heather King noted faint traces of arcading on the upper portion, which would be suggestive of a 13th-century date (pers. comm. 1993) (Farrelly et al. 1993, 174). See attached photograph: KK027-029012-_01 Urban Archaeological Survey, 25 September 1992 KK027-029012-_02 Google Street View, imagery date September 2019 Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 10 May 2023

• KK027-029013 Bridge
  Description

  Crossing the Kings River N of the village of Kells and c. 60m N of the motte and bailey (KK027-029001-). A bridge is depicted at this location on the Down Survey (1655-6) barony map of Kells, Co. Kilkenny (Hibernia Regnum, courtesy of Trinity College Dublin). The roughly coursed limestone bridge (L c. 60m) runs NNE-SSW, with the upstream side to the W. The present bridge is clearly a two-phase construction. This earlier phase is to the W and consists of 8 round-headed arches with a further flood arch to the S. The bridge was widened in the 18th century, with three large elliptical-headed arches overlapping the central arches of the earlier bridge, while the two outer arches are flush with the original arches. The voussoirs of the earlier bridge are roughly cut but are all similar in size while those on the later upstream side are well cut and have a projecting keystone. There are cut waters between each of the upstream arches, up to springing level of the arches. The S end of this side of the bridge, within the field, is supported by three large buttresses. There are less substantial pyramidal buttresses on the downstream piers. The early phase has been dated to c. 1725 and the rebuild to c. 1775 (National Inventory of Architectural Heritage; http://www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&county=KK&regno=12315002; viewed 16 November 2017). The present earlier phase of the bridge may incorporate masonry from the bridge depicted here in the 17th century. See attached: KK027-029013-_01 extract from Down Survey (1655-6) barony map of Kells, Co. Kilkenny (Hibernia Regnum, courtesy of Trinity College Dublin) Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 16 November 2017

• KK027-042 Ritual site - holy well
  Description

  A holy well located c. 365m NNE of St Bridget's Church, Kilree (KK027-044001-). According to the OS Letters (1839), 'It springs from under a remarkable rock situated to the right of the road as you go from Kells to Kilree. Stations were performed and a Pattern was held at this well not many years since on St. Bridget's Day, the 1st of February' (O'Flanagan 1930, vol. 2, 62 (20)). Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 4 April 2023

Architectural heritage

• School master's house, 1865–1870 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached three-bay single-storey school master's house with half-dormer attic, built 1868, on a rectangular plan. Renovated, 1972. Pitched slate roof with clay ridge tiles, red brick Running bond chimney stacks having stepped capping supporting terracotta pots, and cast-iron rainwater goods retaining cast-iron downpipe. Part creeper- or ivy-covered repointed rubble stone walls originally rendered with hammered limestone flush quoins to corners. Square-headed central door opening with threshold, and repointed red brick voussoirs framing timber boarded door having overlight. Square-headed window openings in camber- or segmental-headed recesses with cut-limestone sills, and repointed red brick voussoirs framing pivot fittings having cast-iron lattice glazing bars. Street fronted.

• Kells House, farm house, 1700–1839 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached five-bay two-storey farmhouse, extant 1839, on a T-shaped plan with single-bay (single- or two-bay deep) two-storey double-pile central return (west). Hipped slate roof on a T-shaped plan centred on pitched double-pile (M-profile) slate roof (west), clay ridge tiles, rendered chimney stacks having stepped capping supporting terracotta or yellow terracotta octagonal pots, and cast-iron rainwater goods on rendered red brick header bond eaves retaining cast-iron downpipes. Part creeper- or ivy-covered rendered walls; rendered slate hung surface finish to side (south) elevation. Square-headed central door opening with cut-limestone threshold, and concealed dressings framing timber panelled double doors having overlight. Square-headed window openings with drag edged dragged cut-limestone sills, and concealed dressings framing one-over-one timber sash windows having exposed sash boxes. Set in landscaped grounds with piers to perimeter having shallow pyramidal capping supporting wrought iron "farm gate".

• Bridge, 1765–1785 · Regional interest
  Description

  Five-arch rubble stone road bridge over flood plain, c.1775. Random rubble stone walls with squared rubble stone rounded coping to parapets. Series of five round arches (arranged in groups of three (north) and two (south)) with cut-limestone voussoirs, and squared rubble stone soffits having remains of render over. Sited spanning flood plain.

• Water pump, 1865–1885 · Regional interest
  Description

  Freestanding cast-iron waterpump, c.1875, on a corner site comprising banded cylindrical shaft with raised detailing to necking, polygonal head over having foliate detailing to spout, 'cow tail' curvilinear handle with open finial, and fluted ogee-dome capping having finial. Road fronted on a corner site.

• House, 1790–1810 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached three-bay single-storey thatched cottage with dormer attic, c.1800, with entrance windbreak to left, and single-bay single-storey lower outbuilding end bay to right. Extended, c.1900, comprising two-bay two-storey end bay to left. Part reroofed, c.1950. Pitched roof with water reed thatch having rope work to ridge, rendered chimney stack having red brick saw tooth-detailed course, rendered coping, and cast-iron rainwater goods. Pitched roof to outbuilding end bay with replacement corrugated-iron, c.1950, iron ridge, and no rainwater goods. Hipped and pitched slate roof to end bay with clay ridge tiles, and no rainwater goods on rendered eaves. Painted roughcast walls over random rubble stone construction with sections of mud wall construction, and painted rendered, ruled and lined walls to windbreak. Square-headed window openings with cut-stone sills, and two-over-two timber sash windows (some having wrought iron bars) having some three-over-three timber sash windows. Square-headed door opening with glazed timber panelled door. Interior with timber panelled shutters to window openings. Set back from line of road in own grounds on a wedge-shaped site with painted fine roughcast boundary wall to perimeter of site having rendered rounded coping.

• Farm house, 1800–1839 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached three-bay two-storey farmhouse, extant 1839, on a rectangular plan; three-bay two-storey rear (east) elevation. Hipped slate roof with pressed or rolled iron ridges, paired rendered central chimney stacks having concrete capping, and cast-iron rainwater goods on rendered eaves retaining cast-iron downpipes. Fine roughcast walls. Segmental-headed central door opening approached by two cut-limestone steps with concealed dressings framing replacement timber panelled double doors having oversailing fanlight. Square-headed window openings with drag edged dragged cut-limestone sills, and concealed dressings framing six-over-six (ground floor) or three-over-six (first floor) timber sash windows without horns. Square-headed window openings to rear (east) elevation centred on segmental-headed window opening (first floor), drag edged dragged cut-limestone sills, and concealed dressings framing six-over-six timber sash windows without horns centred on six-over-six timber sash window without horn having fanlight. Interior including (ground floor): central hall retaining carved timber surrounds to door openings framing timber panelled doors; and carved timber surrounds to door openings to remainder framing timber panelled doors with carved timber surrounds to window openings framing timber panelled shutters. Set in landscaped grounds with fine roughcast piers to perimeter having shallow pyramidal capping supporting flat iron double gates.

• Kells Lodge, farm house, 1740–1760 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached five-bay two-storey farmhouse, c.1750, on an L-shaped plan possibly originally thatched with single-bay single-storey end bay to right, and two-bay single-storey return to south. Renovated, c.1900, with single-bay single-storey gabled projecting porch added. Refenestrated. Now in use as guesthouse. Pitched slate roofs (gabled to porch) with clay ridge tiles, red brick Running bond chimney stack having stringcourse, and cast-iron rainwater goods on rendered eaves. Unpainted roughcast lime rendered walls over random rubble limestone construction. Square-headed window openings with no sills, concealed red brick dressings with some having rubble limestone voussoirs, and replacement uPVC casement windows retaining one two-over-two timber sash window having wrought iron bars. Round-headed door opening with replacement tongue-and-groove timber panelled door having overlight. Set back from road in own grounds. (ii) Detached five-bay single-storey stable outbuilding with half-attic, pre-1840, to south. Reroofed. Pitched roof with replacement corrugated-iron, iron ridge, and iron rainwater goods on rendered eaves. Part painted lime rendered walls over random rubble limestone construction. Square-headed window openings with no sills, timber lintels, and timber fittings. Square-headed door openings with timber lintels, and timber boarded doors having some timber boarded half-doors. (iii) Detached four-bay single-storey stable outbuilding, pre-1840, to south. Pitched slate roof with clay ridge tiles, and iron rainwater goods on rendered eaves. Painted (limewashed) random rubble limestone walls. Square-headed door openings with timber lintels, and timber boarded half-doors.

Designated sites: National Parks and Wildlife Service. Recorded monuments: Sites and Monuments Record, National Monuments Service. Buildings: National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Works at or in relation to a recorded monument need two months' written notice to the National Monuments Service (National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994, section 12).

Radon

At the centre of the townland of Kells, about 1 in 5 homes in this area is likely to have high radon levels. Testing a home

Landslides

The 1:50,000 map rates the landslide susceptibility here as moderately low, low, partly inferred.

Terrain model

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

Flooding

The Office of Public Works publishes its flood maps on floodinfo.ie.

Radon Risk Map of Ireland, Environmental Protection Agency, and Landslide Susceptibility Classification, Geological Survey Ireland, both under CC BY 4.0. LiDAR: contains Irish Public Sector Data (Geological Survey Ireland & the Office of Public Works) licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.

No address of the register names Kells with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Kilkenny.

Name

Kells · Ceanannas

Area

2,555,694 m² (255.57 ha, 631.53 acres)

Civil parish

Kells, and its townlands

Barony

Kells

Electoral division

Kells, the unit of the census

Census 2022

681 people lived in 230 households in the Kells electoral division. 85% of households owned their home. 40% of homes were built since 2001. 9% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 3% were holiday homes.

Neighbouring townlands

Barronsknock, Garrynamann Lower, Glebe, Goodwinsgarden, Haggard, Kellsborough, Kilree, Laghtbrack, Rathduff (Madden), Rathduff Upper

Placenames

Kells 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.