Shrule

15 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Shrule, from 250 m² to 590,493 m² (59.05 ha, 145.91 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary; 8 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 Shrule 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.

• 24 Jul 2026Conditional

  change of use of an existing adjoining domestic garage to use as a habitable part of dwelling and all associated site works

  Permission, 1 home · Laois County Council, 2660510

• 23 Jul 2026N/a

  change use of an existing adjoining domestic garage to use as a habitable part of my dwelling and all associated site works

  Permission · Laois County Council, 2660506

• 13 Aug 2021Conditional

  construct an extension to dwelling house, necessary renovations to same house, demolish existing extension to facilitate the proposed work, construct a domestic garage and associated site works

  Permission, 2 homes · Laois County Council, 21570

• 12 Aug 2019Conditional

  retain a first floor dormer style conversion to existing dwelling and location of dwelling on site, a sun room to the side, double garage connected to dwelling house and permission for two no. first floor windows and all associated site works

  Permission, 1 home · Laois County Council, 19463

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

• LA032-012001 Castle - tower house
  Description

  Built by Robert Hartpole during the reign of Queen Elizabeth (O'Hanlon and O'Leary 1907, vol. 1, 315, 316). In 1576 Robert Hartpole of Carlow was granted the ‘manor of the Blackeforde (LA014-045----), a castle in Monyferricke (LA014-100----), Rathmadocke alias the Blackeforde, the lands of Moniferick, Rathmadock alias the Blackeforde, Kilteighan, Garrans, Kilgessin, Ballekilkavan, Dromlin alias Killiclery, Inche alias Ballicowley, and Bavon an old castle in Colvanacre (LA008-015----) alias Colbanahore [Coolbanagher], the lands of Colvanacre alias Colbanahore, Ballarighan, Killgenne, Ballenebeg, Shanebeg, Ballemolrone, and Ballenestraghe, the lands of Shrowle [Shrule] (LA032-012001-), Ballyhormer, Ballecollin, Rathduf, Garribriken, Aghatenan, and Cappescribedor, in the lordship of Slemarge, a ruinous castle and lands in Clonrere [Clonreher] (LA013-019----) alias Merickeston, lands in Cultwerin, Killclonhoberd, Ballekillkaraghe, Knockandiere, Rathnemanaghe, and lands of Killehide, Ballehide, Garrenoe, Ballinecard, Farrinduf, Rossemore, and Ballim’Kegane, in the lordship of Slemarge, the lands of Ballirahen, Rossenalgan, Garroughe, Dormoile, and Capoile, or Cappahoile, in the same lordship; the advowson of the rectory of S. Fenton [Fintan], of Clowenenaghe [Clonenagh] (LA017-003001-), diocese of Leighlen, all in Queen’s co.. To hold for ever, by the service of a fouth part of a knight’s fee; rent £26 1s. 2d., Maintaining six English horsemen’ (Nicholls 1994, 376). Tower house situated at E edge of level land as it falls down to the Barrow River. Four storey high tower house (dims. 11.95m E-W; 10.85m N-S) with no base batter with walls surviving up to wall-walk level. The parapet does not survive but there is some modern coping on top of the S and W walls. Constructed with roughly coursed limestone rubble. All the dressed stone is in limestone. The eighteenth century house was attached to the N but has now been removed and there are some farm outbuildings attached to the W wall. The entrance is an inserted doorway off centre to N on the E wall. The surround of a pointed limestone doorway can still be seen, it gives access to a lobby area with overhead murder hole. N of the lobby a lintelled doorway gives access to a guard chamber in the N wall. On the W side of the lobby leads through a pointed doorway to the ground floor. This chamber has an inserted E-W cross-wall dividing it into two barrel-vaulted chambers with wicker centring. The wall is inserted because its W end obscures and partly blocks up an original embrasure in the W wall. An embrasure in the N wall is broken out to provide communication with the eighteenth century house. A pointed doorway at E end of cross-wall leads to the S chamber which has a window embrasure in the S wall. This is round headed light with a wide chamfer externally, its embrasure has a low rear arch caused by the inserted barrel vault. The doorway to the guard room has an iron pintle for a hinge in position on the E jamb. The entrance doorway to the tower house has a drawbar socket in the S jamb and the doorway to the vaults from the lobby also has a drawbar socket in the S jamb. The vaults still have plaster over the wicker centring. The passage in the E wall gives access to a mural stairs to the SE angle where there is a relatively large window in the S wall. This is probably inserted as the window sill is of granite. The stairs then turns into a spiral stairs rising to the roof level. The first floor is accessed off the spiral stairs via a pointed limestone doorway at the same level there is a second doorway which gives access to a mural passage in the E wall. The passage is lit by a tall ogee headed light. The main chamber has a large destroyed fireplace with no dressed stone in the S wall. There is also a large inserted window in the S wall and original squint at the SW angle. There is an inserted window in the W wall. An embrasure in the N wall has an inserted doorway which gave access to the destroyed eighteenth century house. The ceiling was supported on corbels in the E and W walls. Second floor is accessed off spiral stairs in SE angle, garderobe in the S wall also accessed of spiral stairs. There is a blocked inserted window in the S and W walls. A modern doorway leads to a passage in the E wall with a modern inserted window. The ceiling rested on rebates on all walls. Spiral stairs in SE angle leads up to third floor chamber which has inserted modern windows, original flat rear arches survive in S , W and N walls. There is also a fireplace in the N wall. There are corbels on the W and S wall surviving to support the ceiling. The stairs continues on up to wall walk level in SE angle, the parapet and housing for the stairs does not survive. Externally the S and E windows at third floor level have square hood mouldings. The E window is inserted but the S window is original but now blocked. It was a two light window with transoms. At second floor level in the external face of the S wall near the SW angle there is a limestone plaque with an inscription in false relief, including the letters RHK and the date 1640 (Craig 1972, 25). Castle visited in 1782 by Austin Cooper and described as 'About 4 miles from Carlow, on the Queen's County side of the Barrow, is Shrule, and ancient and beautifully situated seat of the hartpoles; it is a small, square modernized castle, with modern wings and additions' (Strickland 1922, 83). Described in the History of the Queen's County as, 'The old castle is yet habitable, although it seems to have undergone various architectural alterations, since the first period of its erection (O'Hanlon and O'Leary 1907, vol. 1, 316). The inscription '1576 ROBART HARPOL GRAIN HARPOL DOLAGH O LALOR' was on the right hand arch stone of the fireplace on the 1st floor of Shrule Castle (LA032-012001-), (FitzGerald 1900, 129). 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

• LA032-012002 Linear earthwork
  Description

  Situated N of Shrule burial ground (LA032-012005-). Cropmark of linear features visible on aerial photographs (CUCAP, BDH 51-3). 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

• LA032-012004 Church
  Description

  Possible remains of a levelled church standing in S quadrant of graveyard (LA032-012005-) associated with the Hartpole family of Shrule Castle (LA032-012001-). Burial ground standing on top of ridge overlooking the River Barrow 40m to the E with Shrule Castle (LA032-012001-) 35m to the SSW. In the late 18th century the site was described as ‘the ancient burial-place of the Hartpole family and its followers for ages. Scattered graves, some green, some russet, denoted the recentness or remoteness of the different interments; and a few broad flag-stones indented with defaced or illegible inscriptions, and covering the remains of the early masters of the domain, just uplifted their mouldering sides from amongst weeds and briars, and thus half disclosed the only objects which could render that cemetery interesting. One melancholy yew tree, spreading wide its straggling branches over the tombs of its former lords and the nave of an ancient chapel (LA032-012004-), (its own hollow trunk proclaiming that it could not long survive) seemed to await, in awful augury, the honor of expiring with the last scion of its hereditary chieftains’ (Barrington 1827, 63). Church was destroyed after 1657 (O'Hanlon and O'Leary 1907, 81, 315-16). Described in the History of the Queen's County as 'There are few ecclesiastical remains at Shrule, but there is a graveyard (LA032-012005-) near Shrule Castle (LA032-012001-). In it are the ruins of an old chapel, and within its nave are the tombs of the Hartpole's and their connexions. Many of the inscriptions there are defaced and illegible (O'Hanlon and O'Leary 1907, 315-16). In the S quadrant of a graveyard are the low grass covered wall footings of the S wall of a building which may be the S wall of a possible church. This wall runs parallel to the S wall of the graveyard and is located 1m N of the graveyard wall. The overgrown condition of the graveyard and the dense cover of vegetation makes it impossible to be certain about the dating and function of this wall. At the W end of the S wall of this structure there is a low curving wall (H 0.5m; wall T 0.45m) of post medieval date. 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. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revision: 11 December 2014

• LA032-012005 Graveyard
  Description

  Graveyard associated with the Hartpole family of Shrule Castle (LA032-012001-). Burial ground standing on top of ridge overlooking the River Barrow 40m to the E with Shrule Castle (LA032-012001-) 35m to the SSW. Depicted as a small square-shaped graveyard on the 1838 ed. OS 6-inch map. The graveyard depicted on the 1st ed. OS 6-inch map is smaller than the area depicted as the 'Burial Ground (Disused)' on the revised 25-inch OS map. In the late 18th century the site was described as ‘the ancient burial-place of the Hartpole family and its followers for ages. Scattered graves, some green, some russet, denoted the recentness or remoteness of the different interments; and a few broad flag-stones indented with defaced or illegible inscriptions, and covering the remains of the early masters of the domain, just uplifted their mouldering sides from amongst weeds and briars, and thus half disclosed the only objects which could render that cemetery interesting. One melancholy yew tree, spreading wide its straggling branches over the tombs of its former lords and the nave of an ancient chapel (LA032-012004-), (its own hollow trunk proclaiming that it could not long survive) seemed to await, in awful augury, the honor of expiring with the last scion of its hereditary chieftains’ (Barrington 1827, 63). According to Comerford (1886, 72) the burial ground at Shrule was ‘an ancient cemetery and, most probably also, the site of a church (LA032-012004-). It immediately adjoins Shrule Castle (LA032-012001-), and is still occasionally used for interments; the remaining tomb-stones, the dates of which range from 1737, show no inscription calling for notice’. Present remains consist of a sub-rectangular shaped graveyard (int. dims. 44m N-S; 37m E-W) enclosed by a post-medieval wall (int. H 1m; Wall T 0.45m) with entrance gate (Wth. 1.5m) in centre of N wall with stone stile to W of entrance gate. In the centre of the graveyard there are a row of low upright stones aligned N-S which are the remains of un-inscribed grave markers. Located in the S quadrant of the graveyard are the remains of a post-medieval grave covered in ivy and enclosed by iron railings. Several yew trees have been planted around the perimeter of the grave. To the S of this grave are the poorly preserved ivy-covered remains of low wall which appears to be the S wall of some sort of tomb or possibly the remains of a church (LA032-012004-). This wall is covered in ivy and is impossible to examine and appears to represent the S wall of a building aligned E-W. The S wall of the structure runs parallel to the S wall of the graveyard and is only 1m to the N of this wall. The SE quadrant of the graveyard was covered in trees and other vegetation making examination of this area impossible. A second stone stile can be seen in the SE angle of the graveyard wall. 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. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revision: 11 December 2014

• LA032-012007 Tomb - unclassified
  Description

  Described in the History of the Queen's County as 'There are few ecclesiastical remains at Shrule, but there is a graveyard (LA032-012005-) near Shrule Castle (LA032-012001-). In it are the ruins of an old chapel (LA032-012004-), and within its nave are the tombs of the Hartpole's and their connexions. Many of the inscriptions there are defaced and illegible (O'Hanlon and O'Leary 1907, vol. 1, 315-16). In the s quadrant of the graveyard are the poorly preserved ivy-covered remains of low wall which appears to be the S wall of some sort of tomb or possibly the remains of a church (LA032-012004-). This wall is covered in ivy and is impossible to examine and appears to represent the S wall of a building aligned E-W. The S wall of the structure runs parallel to the S wall of the graveyard and is only 1m to the N of this wall. The SE quadrant of the graveyard was covered in trees and other vegetation making examination of this area impossible. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revision: 11 December 2014

Architectural heritage

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

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

Radon

About 1 in 10 homes in this area is likely to have high radon levels. Testing a home

Landslides

Susceptibility 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_2457 (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 Shrule with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Laois.

Name

Shrule · Sruthail

Area

709,171 m² (70.92 ha, 175.24 acres)

Civil parish

Shrule, and its townlands

Barony

Slievemargy

Electoral division

Shrule, the unit of the census

Census 2022

Shrule electoral division: 316 people in 104 households; 91% of households own their home; 26% of homes were built since 2001; 9% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 0% were holiday homes.

Neighbouring townlands

Anneville, Hollymount, Jerusalem (Co. Kildare), Knockbeg, Newacre (Co. Carlow), Newgarden (Co. Carlow)

Placenames

Shrule 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.