Donaghmore

21 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Donaghmore, from 372 m² to 307,999 m² (30.8 ha, 76.11 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary; 35 neighbouring parcels touch it.

No zone of a development plan covers Donaghmore 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.

• 10 Apr 2025Conditional

  retain structure as built to date. Permission is sought to complete this same building and all associated site works. The building will be used for display of Heritage Goods as part of Donaghmore Museum. The proposed development works are within a complex of Protected Mill Structures (referenced as RPS 336).

  Permission · Laois County Council, 2560192

• 4 Apr 2025N/a

  retain structure as built to date. Permission is sought to complete this same building and all associated site works. The building will be used for display of Heritage Goods as part of Donaghmore Museum. The proposed development works are within a complex of Protected Mill Structures (referenced as RPS 336).

  Retention · Laois County Council, 2560180

• 9 Apr 2018Conditional

  change window design from planning ref 16/29 from sash to casement windows. The proposed development works are within a complex of Protected Mill Structures ( referenced as RPS 336)

  Permission, 1 home · Laois County Council, 18210

Source: National Planning Applications, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Applicants are not shown.

Designated sites

No designated site (Special Area of Conservation, Special Protection Area, Natural Heritage Area or proposed one) touches the townland of Donaghmore.

Recorded monuments

• LA028-020 Enclosure
  Description

  Marked on the 1841 and 1909 editions of the OS 6-inch maps; a subcircular enclosure (max. diam. c. 35m NE-SW). In gently undulating countryside. No visible surface remains. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Laois' (Dublin Stationery Office, 1995) compiled by P. David Sweetman, Olive Alcock and Bernie Moran. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 17 December 2007

• LA028-023 Ritual site - holy well
  Description

  The well was closed c. 1845 when a rock was placed over it (Carrigan 1905, vol. 2, 352). The well is still visible as a grass covered earth and stone mound (top diam. 2m N-S; base diam. 4.9m N-S; H 1m) that partially covers a natural spring well located on wet flat marshy land with a small stream immediately to the W. Described by Carrigan as 'St. Patrick's holy well is a little to the north-west of the graveyard (LA028-025001-), but it is now closed, a great rock having been rolled into it about 1845. Beside the well is Donnaghmore "Moat" (LA028-024001-) (Carrigan 1905, vol. 2, 352). Donaghmore Motte and castle (LA028-024001/002-) is located 30m to the NE on the high ridge over looking the holy well while the medieval church and graveyard (LA028-025/001-) are located 210m to the SSE. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Laois' (Dublin Stationery Office, 1995) compiled by P. David Sweetman, Olive Alcock and Bernie Moran. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 17 December 2007

• LA028-024001 Castle - motte
  Description

  Situated at the N end of a N-S ridge with stream to the NW. A flat-topped steep sided earthen mound (summit diam. c. 8m; H c. 7.5m). Slight remains of fosse visible (Wth c. 5.5m, D c. 0.97m) visible from SE through S to SW only. No evidence of a bailey. Slight quarrying on the summit of the motte on the NW face has created a small hollow depression on this side. Impressive views of surrounding countryside in all directions. Remains of a possible mill race of unknown date in field immediately to the N of the motte. This linear earthwork appears to be earlier than the mill race in the field to the W of the motte which is associated with the eighteenth century maltings in the village of Donaghmore. Motte was built at N end of esker ridge and is steepest in its N face, likely bailey area if there ever was one to be in the flat elevated fields to the E and SE of the motte. Described by Carrigan as 'St. Patrick's holy well (LA028-023----) is a little to the north-west of the graveyard (LA028-025001-), but it is now closed, a great rock having been rolled into it about 1845. Beside the well is Donnaghmore "Moat" (LA028-024001-) a truncated cone, 11 yds. in diameter at the top and about 22 ft. high. There is neither trace nor tidings of Donnaghmore Castle (LA028-024002-), though it is mentioned in documents of 1571 and 1621 (Carrigan 1905, vol. 2, 352). Donaghmore medieval church and graveyard (LA028-025001-/002-) are located 240m SSE of the motte. St Patricks Well (LA028-023----) is located at the base of the ridge 30m to the SW of the motte. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Laois' (Dublin Stationery Office, 1995) compiled by P. David Sweetman, Olive Alcock and Bernie Moran. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 17 December 2007

• LA028-024002 Castle - unclassified
  Description

  Donaghmore Castle was mentioned in documents dating to 1571 and 1621 (Carrigan 1905, vol. 2, 352). No visible surface remains. Castle may have been located on top of the motte (LA028-024001-). Described by Carrigan as 'St. Patrick's holy well (LA028-023----) is a little to the north-west of the graveyard (LA028-025001-), but it is now closed, a great rock having been rolled into it about 1845. Beside the well is Donnaghmore "Moat" (LA028-024001-) a truncated cone, 11 yds. in diameter at the top and about 22 ft. high. There is neither trace nor tidings of Donnaghmore Castle, though it is mentioned in documents of 1571 and 1621 (Carrigan 1905, vol. 2, 352). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Laois' (Dublin Stationery Office, 1995) compiled by P. David Sweetman, Olive Alcock and Bernie Moran. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 17 December 2007

• LA028-025 Church
  Description

  According to Carrigan (1905, vol. 2, 352), the medieval church was destroyed in 1821. References to it date from the fifteenth century. The present church was built on its site. Situated in the village of Donaghmore. References date from fifteenth century when Patrick Obnagi or Obnoeci was the Rector of Donaghmore (Carrigan 1905, vol. 2, 352). The C of I church was built in 1824. The medieval church was dedicated to St Patrick. Donaghmore motte (LA028-024001-) and St Patricks Well (LA028-023) are located 240m and 210m NNW of the church and graveyard. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Laois' (Dublin Stationery Office, 1995) compiled by P. David Sweetman, Olive Alcock and Bernie Moran. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 17 December 2007

• LA028-025001 Graveyard
  Description

  Situated in the village of Donaghmore. Church of Ireland church and graveyard built on site of earlier church with its associated graveyard. No headtsones pre-1700 AD visible. Rectangular shaped graveyard (int. dims. 45m N-S; 59m E-W) enclosed by a stone wall containing post 1700 AD memorials. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 17 December 2007

• LA028-038 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  A circular area (diam. c. 32.3m) defined by an inner bank (Wth c. 3.1m; int. H c. 0.7m, ext. H c. 1.3m), intervening fosse (Wth c. 4.2m) and outer bank (Wth c. 2.7m; int. H c. 1.1m, ext. H c. 0.5m) at N. Possible original entrance with causeway at E. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Laois' (Dublin Stationery Office, 1995) compiled by P. David Sweetman, Olive Alcock and Bernie Moran. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 17 December 2007

Architectural heritage

• Saint Patrick's Church (Donaghmore), church/chapel, 1815–1825 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached three-bay Georgian Gothic Church of Ireland church, dated 1821, with tower and vestry projection. Plaque above entrance reads : "This church built in the year 1821/during the episcopacy of the Right Rev Robert/Fowler Lord Biship of Ossory/The Revd John Lowry Rector/Revd Richard Kennedy and Mr Luke Kingsmill/church wardens/Mr Patrick Bergin Architect/total expence 520 pounds sterl".

• Public house, 1885–1910 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached four-bay two-storey house, c. 1900, with full-height return to rear. Renovated and extended to rear, c. 1990, comprising single-storey return with replacement pubfront inserted to ground floor.

• House, 1820–1860 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached five-bay two-storey house, c. 1850. Group of detached outbuildings to side and to rear.

• Mill (water), 1800–1850 · Regional interest
  Description

  Corn mill and malting complex, c. 1930, comprising group of detached buildings (located on either side of river) including three-storey store. Now derelict. Remainder of outbuildings renovated, c. 1990.

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).

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

Name

Donaghmore · Domhnach Mór

Area

1,484,955 m² (148.5 ha, 366.94 acres)

Civil parish

Donaghmore, and its townlands

Barony

Clandonagh

Electoral division

Donaghmore, the unit of the census

Neighbouring townlands

Ballyhegadon Glebe, Barny And Bealady, Castletown, Dunacleggan, Johnstown Glebe, Knockheel, Raheen Upper, Raheenphelan Glebe, Rathdowney

Placenames

Donaghmore on logainm.ie, the Placenames Database of Ireland

Townlands, civil parishes, baronies and electoral divisions, National Statutory Boundaries, Tailte Éireann, 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.