Timahoe

133 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Timahoe, from 29 m² to 225,731 m² (22.57 ha, 55.78 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary. 36 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.

• M2Village Centre (City/Town/village Centre, central area)
  Laois County Development Plan 2021–2027 including Ministerial Direction (as varied) by Variation No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3, Laois · 20 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
• R2Residential 1 - Existing Residential (Existing residential)
  Laois County Development Plan 2021–2027 including Ministerial Direction (as varied) by Variation No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3, Laois · 15 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
• G4Open Space/Amenity (Active open space)
  Laois County Development Plan 2021–2027 including Ministerial Direction (as varied) by Variation No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3, Laois · 5 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
• C5Tourism (Tourism and related)
  Laois County Development Plan 2021–2027 including Ministerial Direction (as varied) by Variation No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3, Laois · 4 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
• S5Community-Educational-Institutional (Mixed/general community services/facilities uses)
  Laois County Development Plan 2021–2027 including Ministerial Direction (as varied) by Variation No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3, Laois · 3 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
• R1Residential 2 (New/proposed residential)
  Laois County Development Plan 2021–2027 including Ministerial Direction (as varied) by Variation No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3, Laois · 1 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
• N6Utilities (Other networks and basic infrastructure/utilities uses)
  Laois County Development Plan 2021–2027 including Ministerial Direction (as varied) by Variation No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3, Laois · 1 parcels The zoning objective in the plan

Source: Tailte Éireann and the Department of Housing (MyPlan), national zoning, CC BY 4.0.

• 21 May 2026Conditional

  Construct a window in south facing gable end of existing dwelling house and all associated site works at Timahoe

  Permission, 1 home · Laois County Council, 2634

• 13 Feb 2026N/a

  carry out permission consequent on the grant of outline permission (Ref. No. of outline permission 22/695), for 6 no. detached, single storey dwellings, new septic tanks and percolation areas, new site entrance, boundary treatments, hard and soft landscaping, ancillary site services and all associated site works

  Permission consequent, 6 homes · Laois County Council, 2660079

• 20 Oct 2025Conditional

  retain a single storey extension to an existing dwelling house

  Retention · Laois County Council, 2560679

• 16 Oct 2025N/a

  retain a single storey extension to an existing dwelling house

  Retention · Laois County Council, 2560662

• 19 Aug 2025Conditional

  develop a campervan park consisting of 6 No. campervan Aires along with two short stay accommodation pods, a facilities building, upgrade of existing site entrance, new wastewater treatment system and percolation area and site services

  Permission · Laois County Council, 2560500

• 12 Aug 2025N/a

  develop a campervan park consisting of 6 No. campervan Aires along with two short stay accommodation pods, a facilities building, upgrade of existing site entrance, new wastewater treatment system and percolation area and site services

  Permission · Laois County Council, 2560484

• 11 Aug 2025N/a

  develop a campervan park consisting of 6 No. campervan Aires along with two short stay accommodation pods, a facilities building, upgrade of existing site entrance, new wastewater treatment system and percolation area and site services

  Permission · Laois County Council, 2560480

• 31 Oct 2024Refused

  construct a single storey dwelling house, domestic garage, pump house/ bin store, wastewater treatment system and percolation area along with new site entrance and boundary treatments

  Permission, 2 homes · Laois County Council, 2460659

• 29 Oct 2024N/a

  construct a single storey dwelling house, domestic garage, pump house/ bin store, wastewater treatment system and percolation area along with new site entrance and boundary treatments

  Permission · Laois County Council, 2460650

• 5 Oct 2023Conditional

  construct a two storey dwelling house, domestic garage, proprietary wastewater treatment system and polishing filter, new entrance and all necessary and associated site works

  Permission, 2 homes · Laois County Council, 23258

• 18 Jan 2023Conditional

  vary existing grant of planning permission (ref:22520) to consist of change of house design, changing the position of house, dry storage shed and garage on the site and all associated site works.

  Permission, 3 homes · Laois County Council, 2360011

• 18 Jan 2023N/a

  vary existing grant of planning permission (ref:22520) to consist of change of house design, changing the position of house, dry storage shed and garage on the site and all associated site works.

  Permission · Laois County Council, 2360012

• 17 Jan 2023N/a

  vary existing grant of planning permission (ref:22520) to consist of change of house design, changing the position of house, dry storage shed and garage on the site and all associated site works.

  Permission · Laois County Council, 2360009

• 2 Dec 2022Conditional

  retain domestic garage as constructed and permission to complete same

  Permission, 1 home · Laois County Council, 22729

• 14 Nov 2022Conditional

  develop 6 serviced sites including six septic tanks and percolation areas, vehicle & pedestrian entrances, boundary treatments and all associated site works and services

  Outline permission, 1 home · Laois County Council, 22695

• 1 Nov 2022N/a

  develop 6 serviced sites including six septic tanks and percolation areas, vehicle & pedestrian entrances, boundary treatments and all associated site works and services

  Outline permission · Laois County Council, 22676

• 26 Sept 2022Conditional

  open an agricultural entrance to parish lands, also accommodation works for a future path and all necessary site works

  Permission · Laois County Council, 22593

• 24 Aug 2022Conditional

  construct a new dwelling house, dry goods shed & garage, new septic tank and percolation area and all associated site works

  Permission, 1 home · Laois County Council, 22520

• 11 Aug 2022N/a

  construct new dwelling house, dry goods shed & garage and all associated site works

  Permission · Laois County Council, 22497

• 11 Feb 2022Conditional

  construct a dwelling house, domestic garage, waste water treatment system, percolation area, new bored well, new splayed entrance and associated site work

  Permission, 2 homes · Laois County Council, 2261

• 13 Dec 2021Conditional

  extend and carry out renovation works to existing dwelling house to include remodelling the front elevation, link to existing garage on site, conversion of garage to part of dwelling house, amendments to elevations and all associated site works

  Permission, 2 homes · Laois County Council, 21860

• 5 Oct 2021Refused

  construct a new dwelling house, domestic garage, wastewater treatment system and polishing filter, new site entrance and all associated works

  Permission, 2 homes · Laois County Council, 21686

• 24 Mar 2021N/a

  construct a single storey dwelling house; a domestic garage; wastewater treatment unit and associated percolation area; alterations to the existing site entrance; and associated site development works above and below ground

  Outline permission · Laois County Council, 21180

• 2 Nov 2020Conditional

  provide one new dwelling house with detached domestic garage, new vehicular access from public road, new connection to water supply, domestic wastewater treatment system with percolation area and all associated site works

  Permission, 1 home · Laois County Council, 20563

• 8 Aug 2019Conditional

  construct front and side boundary walls with entrance gates and all associated site works.

  Permission · Laois County Council, 19454

The 25 most recent of 35 applications.

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

Designated sites

• Proposed Natural Heritage Area: Timahoe Esker 000421

Recorded monuments

• LA018-031001 Ecclesiastical site
  Description

  St. Mochua, who died c. 657 founded an Early Christian monastery at Timahoe (Teach Mochua). The saint's feastday is commemorated on the 24th of December (Ó Riain 2011, 469). It was plundered and burnt in 919 and 1142 (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 45). In later medieval times, the O'Mores refounded the monastery, and in 1609 it was granted to Richard Cosby. The round tower (LA018-031005-) is the only surviving feature of the early foundation. It probably dates to the twelfth century, though its base may be earlier. Built of sandstone and limestone, it is six storeys high (H 29.6m) and is roofed with a conical cap (Barrow 1979, 135-9). No floors survive. It is renowned for its Romanesque doorway, visible at first floor level, which has four receding orders, in two pairs, and is finely decorated with human heads with intertwined hair. A window decorated in a similar style is visible at second floor level. Slit, square-headed and pointed windows are on the other floors. The fifteenth century church, to SE of tower, was transformed in the sixteenth century into a tower house (LA018-031006-) (Harbison 1970, 141), probably by one of the Cosbys. The only surviving feature of this church is a large arch (Wth 3.95m), possibly the chancel arch, which was blocked up and incorporated into the E wall of the castle. It is composed of punch-dressed chamfered limestone with evidence of diagonal tooling (Petrie 1845, 234-43; Crawford 1924, 31-42). 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

• LA018-031002 Church
  Description

  National Monument No. 114. A church was founded at Timahoe (Teach Mochua) by St. Mochua who died in 657 (Crawford 1924, 31). The saint's feastday is commemorated on the 24th of December (Ó Riain 2011, 469). Round tower (LA018-031005-), castle (LA018-031006-) and graveyard (LA018-031003-) are all that remains of the monastery of Timahoe. Reference to the Penitentiary or Oratory of Tech-Mochua here where in 1096. Gilmurry McDuff the Chief of Hy-Crimhthannan, was killed by Magrath O'More. (O'Hanlon and O'Leary, 1907, vol. 1, 375). The fifteenth century church, to SE of tower, was transformed in the sixteenth century into a tower house (LA018-031006-) (Harbison 1970, 141), probably by one of the Cosbys. The only surviving feature of this church is a large arch (Wth 3.95m), possibly the chancel arch, which was blocked up and incorporated into the E wall of the castle. It is composed of punch-dressed chamfered limestone with evidence of diagonal tooling (Petrie 1845, 234-43; Crawford 1924, 31-42). 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

• LA018-031003 Graveyard
  Description

  A church was founded here by St. Mochua who died in 657 (JRSAI Part I Vol. IV, 31). No visible surface remains. Round tower (LA018-031005-), castle (LA018-031006-) and graveyard (LA018-031003-) are all that remains of the monastery of Timahoe. All visible headstones post date 1700 AD. In November 1978 human remains were discovered during building works at Timahoe, Co. Laois (Cahill & Sikora 2011, Vol. 2, 491). According to the report received from the Gardai, thirteen skulls were discovered at a depth of 0.4m below ground level. The remains were reportedly found on the north side of the church in the vicinity of the round tower. The site was visited by Breandán ó Ríordáin, but by that time the remains had been removed from the excavated area. According to the finders' reports, two articulated skeletons had been found in an extended position, one near the northern end of the excavated pit, with the head to the east, and the other at the southern end with the head to the west. A number of skulls and other bones were also noticed between the two articulated skeletons. No grave structures or associated artefacts were found. The remains were all reburied. Rectangular shaped graveyard (int. dims. 107m N-S; 79m E-W) enclosed by a stone wall as indicated on current ed OS 6-inch map. C of I church in N quadrant of 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/revision: 10 August 2012

• LA018-031004 Burial
  Description

  A large quantity of human remains were discovered within the ruins of Timahoe castle (LA018-031006-) and beside the round tower (LA018-031005-). In 1598, 1200 people were killed in the battle between General Harrington and Melaghlen O'Moore (O'Byrne 1856, 39-40). O'Byrne described the circumstances in which the bones were unearthed as he says 'About thirty-four years ago a young man, by name Foran, with whom I was acquainted, dreamed that three pans of gold lay buried in the floor of the Castle of Timahoe: on the day following the night on which he dreamed he came and digged for the three pans of treasure, and in digging actually found beneath the surface three pans of small bones. This really appears strange, as the pans rested not more than a foot under the surface' (JRSAI V, 1858-9, 106). In November 1978 human remains were discovered during building works at Timahoe Co Laois (NGR 253560/190220). According to the report received from the Gardaí, thirteen skulls were discovered at a depth of 0.40m below ground level. The remains were reportedly found found on the north side of the Methodist church in the vicinity of the round tower (LA018-031005-). The site was visited by Breandán Ó Riordáin. By the time of Ó Riordáin's visit, the remains had been removed from the excavated area. According to the finders' reports two articulated skeletons had been found in an extended position, one near the northern end of the excavated pit, with the head to the east, and the other at the southern end with the head to the west. A number of skulls and other bones were also noticed between the two articulated skeletons. No grave structures or associated artefacts were found. The remains were all reburied (Cahill & Sikora 2011, Vol. 2, 491). 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 upload/revision: 5 August 2012

• LA018-031005 Round tower
  Description

  National Monument No. 114. Built with sandstone and limestone blocks standing 96 feet [29m] high (Crawford 1924, 31-45). Circumference at base of main body c. 17.5m, circumference of foundation level c. 20.75m. It contains a Romanesque doorway with four orders of sandstone blocks at first floor level in the E face. At the W is a single stone round-arch window, at the S is a pointed arched window of four stones and at the top of the tower is a two stone pointed arch window at each point of the compass. The tower is six storeys high each wooden floor being carried on an offset. The two first floors were not lighted by any windows, the third storey was lit by a doorway on the E face which was approx. 15 ft. above the level of the ground. The fourth floor was lit by a pointed window in the S face, small square window in the N face at fifth floor level, and the sixth floor was lit by a square window on the W face. Four triangular headed windows facing the four cardinal points are situated on the top floor immediately beneath the conical cap. The internal arch of the doorway is decorated with lozenge patterns or chevrons while the doorway is decorated with typical Romanesque features such as human faces on the angles of the capitals. The round tower (LA018-031005-) is the only surviving feature of the early foundation. It probably dates to the twelfth century, though its base may be earlier. Built of sandstone and limestone, it is six storeys high (H 29.6m) and is roofed with a conical cap (Barrow 1979, 135-9). No floors survive. It is renowned for its Romanesque doorway, visible at first floor level, which has four receding orders, in two pairs, and is finely decorated with human heads with intertwined hair. A window decorated in a similar style is visible at second floor level. Slit, square-headed and pointed windows are on the other floors. 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

• LA018-031006 Castle - tower house
  Description

  An Abbey was established here by the O'Mores. The lands were granted to Sir Thomas Loftus after the suppression and to Richard Cosby in 1609. The Abbey was fortified by the Cosbys in the late sixteenth century (JRSAI,Vol. LIV, 34; O'Hanlon and O'Leary 1907, 243) and they may have built a castle there during the reign of Queen Elizabeth (O'Hanlon and O'Leary 1907, vol. 1, 243). The fifteenth century church, to SE of tower, was transformed in the sixteenth century into a tower house (LA018-031006-) (Harbison 1970, 141), probably by one of the Cosbys. The only surviving feature of this church is a large arch (Wth 3.95m), possibly the chancel arch, which was blocked up and incorporated into the E wall of the castle. It is composed of punch-dressed chamfered limestone with evidence of diagonal tooling (Petrie 1845, 234-43; Crawford 1924, 31-42). Reference to a sheela-na-gig (LA018-031007-) at the doorway (Guest 1936, 114), not now visible. Remains consist of E wall (L c. 12.45m) and short returns of N and S walls. The E wall incorporates the blocked-up chancel arch. Large beam holes visible on the inner face of the E wall at first-floor level and also a doorway leading to a chamber in SE angle. Evidence of slit opes in remains of N and s walls, now much destroyed and otherwise featureless. 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

• LA018-031007 Sheela-na-gig
  Description

  Reference to a strange figure in stone at the doorway of Timahoe tower house (LA018-031006-) and a grotesque stone figure (Anon 1894, 80, 393). Not clear whether this is referring to the same or a second figure. According to local information, there was a figure on the part of the N wall which has fallen; it may be buried beneath debris (Guest 1936, 114). No visible surface remains. In 1894 it was recorded that at Timahoe there was ‘a grotesque figure requiring further inquiry’ (Anon 1894, 393). In the same year it was recorded that at Timahoe Castle (LA018-031006-) there was ‘a strange figure in stone, at the doorway of this castle. Its claim to admission in the list is open to doubt; but it is figured in a series of drawings belonging to the late Thomas Cooke, Esq., of Parsonstown, in 1870, and now owned by a gentleman in the south of Ireland, who kindly lent them to the writer’ (Anon 1894, 80). In 1935 Guest wrote that ‘it is not clear whether one figure is referred to, or two; none at all can now be seen. From personal information it appears that there was a figure on the part of the north wall that has now fallen, and it probably lies buried in the debris’ (Guest 1936, 114) 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 upload/revision: 06 June 2012

• LA018-031008 Shrine
  Description

  The shrine was known as the Caimmin and was probably a Crosier. It was taken by O'More in 1069. (JRSAI, 1923, 76). 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

• LA018-031009 Burial
  Description

  Bronze Age burial discovered under or in the vicinity of the round tower (LA018-031005-) of Timahoe (Feehan 1983, 402). An urn found near Timahoe, Co. Laois containing cremated bones was found in a triangular cist, formed by three upright flags with a flag at top and bottom (JRSAI 1849-51, 139: Waddell 1990, 105). 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

• LA018-031010 Exhibitionist figure
  Description

  National Monument in state ownership no. 114. Round tower (LA018-031005-) entered through a Romanesque doorway with four orders of sandstone blocks at first floor level in the E face. The internal arch of the doorway is decorated with lozenge patterns or chevrons while the doorway is decorated with typical Romanesque features such as human faces on the angles of the capitals. At the base of the doorway on the N side on the third order there appears to be a possible male exhibitionist figure in an acrobatic position with legs bent behind the ears and the hands appear to be pulling the cheeks apart to reveal the anus. The figure has a bearded face with hands beneath the chin either pulling at his beard or pulling the cheeks of his backside apart to reveal his anus. 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. Images of possible exhibitionist figure uploaded courtesy of Neil Jackman. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 28 October 2015

• LA018-060 Enclosure
  Description

  An oval-shaped enclosure (dims. 52m SW-NE, 24m SE-NW) defined by a bank (Wth c. 3.5m; int. H c. 0.8m; ext. H c. 1.1m). No evidence of fosse. Not marked on the 1841 or 1909 editions of the OS 6-inch maps. Visible on aerial photograph (GSI, S 167-8). 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

• LA018-062 Urn burial
  Description

  Discovered under a flag near Timahoe Castle (LA017-031006-) was a vessel containing small human bones (JRSAI 1849-51, 139; JRSAI 1958, 106-107). 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 Michael's Catholic Church, church/chapel, 1830–1835 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached Catholic church, built 1831, with tower and sacristy projection. Interior with gallery.

• Timahoe Heritage Centre, church/chapel, 1840–1870 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached Gothic Revival former Church of Ireland church, c. 1840, with projecting porch, chancel, vestry projection and bellcote to gable.

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 Timahoe, 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 high, moderately low, low, partly inferred.

Terrain model

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

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 Timahoe with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Laois.

Name

Timahoe · Tigh Mochua

Area

2,039,399 m² (203.94 ha, 503.95 acres)

Civil parish

Fossy or Timahoe, and its townlands

Barony

Cullenagh

Electoral division

Timahoe, the unit of the census

Census 2022

664 people lived in 210 households in the Timahoe electoral division. 90% of households owned their home. 39% of homes were built since 2001. 8% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 0% were holiday homes.

Neighbouring townlands

Ballinaclogh Lower, Ballintlea Lower, Coolnabacky, Cremorgan, Esker, Fossy Lower, Kyle, Orchard Lower, Raheenduff Little

Placenames

Timahoe 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.