Castlematrix

Area

2,841 m² (0.28 ha, 0.7 acres)

Buildings

No building touches it.

Zoning

R2 Existing Residential (Rathkeale Local Area Plan 2023-2029) The objective

Townland

Castlematrix

Planning applications on this parcel

No planning application touches this parcel in the national file, which goes back to 2010.

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 this parcel.

Recorded monuments around it

This parcel is in the zone of notification of 10 recorded monuments.

• LI029-031001 Historic town
  Description

  The Urban Survey of Limerick recorded the following details about the historic town of Rathkeale; 'Rathkeale is situated on the river Deel fourteen miles south-west of Limerick city on the Tralee road. The placename appears to be derived from Rath Caola or Rath Gaela, Coala's or Gaela's fort. The name indicates that there was a pre-Norman settlement here, probably to be equated with the ringfort immediately south of the town. After the coming of the Normans Rathkeale formed part of the lands granted by John to Hamo de Valognes in 1199 (Empey 1981, 10) but the exact descent of the property is unclear. It appears to have been held by the Waspayl family during the first half of the thirteenth century and subsequently by the Mautravers (Westropp 1906-7, 213). By the middle of the fourteenth century, however, it seems to have come into the hands of the Desmond Geraldines. The settlement is only occasionally mentioned in medieval documents. In 1300 the community of the town paid 40s towards the subsidy for the war in Scotland (Mills 1905, 304; cf Berry 1914, 57). The history of the town in the later middle ages is largely unknown. The town came to prominence again during the Desmond rebellion and it is likely that much of the present linear town plan is actually of post-medieval origin. The street plan is linear and consists of a long street running from north-east to south-west called Main St. on the north side of the river and Church St. on the south side. A number of smaller streets branch off to the east and west. There is little in the way of documentary evidence to indicate what the houses of the town formerly looked like. The Civil Survey notes the existence of a "stone house of Morrish Casey" but it is not clear if it was actually inside the town or not (Simington 1938, 297). It is to be presumed that the weekly market occurred in Main Street but the square in front of the Court House may have been used at a later date. There is a Fair Green to the north of the town and the O.S. map notes a market place immediately east of the abbey. The latter is now gone and is a roadway leading to a new estate of houses. In the early seventeenth century Sir John Dowdall was granted a weekly market on Thursdays at "the high cross of Rathkeale" (Westropp 1906-7, 214). In the absence of a major cross-roads cutting through the town itself it must be assumed that this refers to a freestanding market cross.' (Bradley et. al. 1989, 217-19) Compiled by: Denis Power Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 14 January 2019

• LI029-031002 Bridge
  Description

  The Urban Survey of Limerick recorded the following details about the historic bridge of Rathkeale; 'The bridge is mentioned in 1655 as being in the possession of M. Harbart who also owned the castle (Westropp 1906-7, 214). Lewis (1837, ii, 499) notes that it was 'in a delapidated and dangerous state'. The present two-part remains probably incorporate the medieval bridge. The original width of the bridge was 4.7m which was subsequently widened to 7.8m. It is built of rubble limestone. The central arches were re-faced but traces of the original arches with wicker work centering can be seen in two round arches on either side of the river and in the central arch' (Bradley et. al. 1989, 219). Deel Bridge described by the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage as a; ‘Five-arch humpback road bridge, originally built c. 1747, carrying a road over the River Deel. Bridge incorporates earlier fabric. Rubble stone walls with segmental arches having cut stone voussoirs rubble stone V-cutwaters with rendered plinths’ (www.buildingsofireland.ie; Reg. No. 21831007). Compiled by: Denis Power Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 14 January 2019

• LI029-031004 Church
  Description

  The medieval parish church of Rathkeale, dedicated to the Holy Trinity was described by the Urban Survey as following; 'The present church is 19th century in date but the south wall of the medieval church lies c. 10m south of it although not precisely parallel to it. It is very fragmentary and overgrown but was built of uncoursed rubble limestone with traces of plaster on the internal wall. The wall is exposed to a maximum height of 1.5m on the north side but on the south is barely visible above ground level. It is c. 32.4m in length and c. 90cm wide, 11.8m from the east end is a splayed window embrasure. Architectural fragments: A limestone mullion chamfered with glazing grooves and bar holes (possibly from a switchline window) and a possible jamb with a large hollow moulding and chevron are in the south-west corner of the graveyard (LI029-031005-)' (Bradley et. al. 1989, 220). 19th century Holy Trinity C. of I. church described by the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage as a; ‘Freestanding Board of First Fruits Church of Ireland church, built in 1831, comprising four-bay nave with single-bay single-storey vestry to south elevation, and square-plan three-stage entrance tower to west. Graveyard to site with variety of carved stone grave markers. Site surrounding church to east and south further raised with rubble stone retaining wall having cut stone steps. Rendered boundary wall to west with cut stone copings surmounted by cast-iron railings. Square-profile cut limestone piers to entrance flanking cast-iron double-leaf gate, approached by cut limestone steps (www.buildingsofireland.ie; Reg. No. 21831005). Westropp (1904-5, 389-90) recorded the following details on Rathkeale; 'Rathguala fort is named in the "Book of Rights," ante 900, but not in the "Annals" of 622, that being Rathgale, near Donaghadee. Rathgel was held by Keynsham Abbey, 1223 (B.B.L.,p.75). Its church was granted to Limerick by Roger Waspayl, 1228 (B.B.L., p. 74), who got free warren of Radguel, June, 1252 (C.S.P.I., vol. ii., No- 55). Rathgaul was re-granted to Keynsham by Hen. Waspayl, 1287 (B.B L.,p. 74), but was resigned (p. 75). He granted it to John Maltravers, 1280 (C.S.P.I., 1778). A later J. Mautravers held it, on his death, in 1369, when an Inquisition found Rathgyell to be part of Iniskefty Manor. John Arundell held it as heir of Mautravers in 1380 (Mem. R., m. 28, 155), when it was seized by the Crown. The church was robbed by A. Keating, 1318 (Plea R, 123 of xi Ed. II, m. 34), and was dedicated to the Trinity, ante 1410; Rathgell, 1418 ; Rathgele, 1452 (Rental) Rachgaela 1487 (A.F.M.). The place was burned by Malbie, 1579. Temple Treenode parish, infra, Vill de Rathkealy, in Toghe Olybane, 1586 (Peyton, p. 253); Rachell, or Rochell, 1615. Site - The I. C. church is on the old site. It has a monument of Sir Thomas Southwell, 1676'. Compiled by: Denis Power Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 14 January 2019

• LI029-031005 Graveyard
  Description

  The medieval church ruins (LI029-031004-) of Rathkeale dedicated to the Holy Trinity lie 10 metres S of the 19th century C. of I. church both of which stand in the N quadrant of a square-shaped graveyard (approx. dims. 78m E-W x 79m N-S) enclosed by a post-1700 stone wall with entrance gate at centre of N wall. Architectural fragments from the medieval church ruins have been reused as graveyard markers visible in the SW corner of the graveyard (Bradley et. al. 1989, 221-2). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 14 January 2019

• LI029-031006 Religious house - Augustinian canons
  Description

  The Urban Survey of Limerick recorded the following details about St. Mary's Augustinian Priory of Rathkeale (Bradley et. al. 1989, 222-4); 'This is said to have been founded by Gilbert Harvey in the early thirteenth century (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 190). In 1436 an indulgence was granted to penitents visiting and giving alms for the repair of the church (ibid., 191). The monastery was suppressed in 1542 but a small community may have remained until the Desmond Rebellion in the 1580s. Subsequently the monastery was granted to Sir Henry wallop (ibid.). This thirteenth century abbey with fifteenth and sixteenth century additions is located at the north-east end of the town. It was built of rubble masonry with sandstone jambs while later additions are in limestone. It was a single aisled nave and chancel church with evidence for a possible southern cloister in the form of a gable line for a two storied eastern range and a low roof line for a north ambulatory in the south wall. It had a vaulted north tower of uncertain height and a two to three floored building of the north side of the chancel. The west tower was possibly of four floors. The surviving remains consist of the south and east walls of the church, the chancel end of the north wall and the ground floor of the north tower. Part of the north wall of the west tower also survives. Church The east stepped gable is almost intact although the coping stones on the north side are missing. The thirteenth century window with sandstone jambs almost filled the east wall but this was filled in and a four-light window with switchline tracery inserted probably in the fourteenth or fifteenth century. Externally the window has a limestone hood moulding with tapering chamfered stops. The inner face of the wall below the window is damaged and there are sandstone blocks built into the wall. Only the eastern half of the north wall survives and the only original feature appears to be the east splay of a window with sandstone jambs near the east end. There is a blocked round arch, also near the east end, into which a (?)sixteenth century tomb recess was inserted. The wall facing within the recess is missing. The south wall is c. 8.5m high and the drainage course and chutes are fairly intact. The chancel was originally lit by five very narrow splayed lancets with chamfered sandstone jambs and rounded rear arches. These are all damaged now and a twin-light ogee-headed window (also badly damaged) was inserted into the fifth window from the east. There is a wall recess (?sedilia) below the second window from the east and possibly another below the fourth. A possible round arched door opened to the east cloister garth while further west there is an inserted high pointed opening with roughly dressed voussoirs and jambs above which there is a ?bellcote. A further blocked round arched opening occurs close to the west end of the wall. Only one short section of the west wall c. 5m high remains but as this is battered internally it is probably not the original west wall of the church but rather the east wall of the west tower. North tower Only the barrell vault of the ground floor remains. The external facing of the featureless east wall is gone while the north wall is missing. Much of the south wall is rebuilt but there is a round arched doorway at the east end opening into the church with flat lintelled rear arch set into the barrell vault. There was another splayed opening at the west end of the wall to the church but this is now blocked. West tower Only 4m of the north wall remains along with a pile of rubble. There is evidence that the first floor was supported on wooden beams and there were small flat lintelled splayed slits at ground and first floor levels. A view of the tower late in the last century shows that it was then covered in ivy (Hewson 1879,86-90)'. See attached drawing of Abbey taken from Hewson 1879. Compiled by: Denis Power Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 14 January 2019

• LI029-031007 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  The Urban Survey of Limerick recorded the following details about the Rath of Rathkeale; 'Located on a hill at the south end of the town. It appears as a natural knoll c.2m higher that the sub-rectangular field in which it is situated. It measures 40m east-west by 32m north-south and the ground slopes away gradually on all sides' (Bradley et. al. 1989, 224-5). Outline of enclosure not visible today on Digital Globe aerial photography. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 14 January 2019

• LI029-031008 Graveslab
  Description

  The Urban Survey of Limerick recorded the following details about a 17th century graveslab marking the grave of John Hayward located in the centre of the aisle of the church in Rathkeale; 'John Hayward. 1638. Said to be in the centre aisle and inscribed as follows: '1638 HEREUNDER LIETH THE BODY OF JOHN HAYWARD, WHO DECEASED .. OF FEBRUARY Mems Dead ix (1913-16), 307' (Bradley et. al. 1989, 221). Compiled by: Denis Power Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 14 January 2019

• LI029-031009 Graveslab
  Description

  The Urban Survey of Limerick (Bradley et. al. 1989, 221) recorded the following details about a 17th century graveslab (Dims: L. 1.96m x Wth 0.91m) marking the grave of Anne Pigott (nee Dowdall) located in the chancel of the church (LI029-031004-) in Rathkeale; 'Grave slab. A. Pigott. 1673 Rectangular limestone slab in the area of the chancel of the medieval church. It has an incised Roman lettered inscription: HEERE LIETH THE BODY/ OF ANNE PIGOTT ALIAS/ DOWDALL ELDEST/ DAVGHTEr OF SR IOHN/ DOWDALL OF KILFENY/ KNIGHT WHO DEPARTED/ THIS LIFE THE TWENTY/ SECOND DAY OF OCTOBER/ 1673" Compiled by: Denis Power Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 14 January 2019

• LI029-031010 Memorial stone
  Description

  The Urban Survey of Limerick recorded the following details about a 17th century wall memorial stone (approx. dims. Wth 1.96m x H 2.5m) commemorating the Southwell family, located in the Holy Trinity C, of I. church in Rathkeale; 'Wall memorial. T. Southwell. 1676. Black painted limestone slab set in a red marble frame with marble pediment. Inscribed in gold incised Roman lettering: SR THOMAS SOVTHWELL BART/ DESENDED FROM BARHAM HALL/ IN SVFFOLKE IN ENGLAND RA/ YSED THIS MONVMENT FOR/ HIS FAMILLY ANNO DOMIE 16/ 76 Anon. 1892-4, 160; ibid., ix (1913-16), 307' (Bradley et. al. 1989, 221). Compiled by: Denis Power Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 14 January 2019

• LI029-031011 Graveyard
  Description

  The following account was given by Celie O'Rahilly about the discovery of a burial possibly belonging to a graveyard associated with the Augustinian Abbey (LI029-031006-) in Rathkeale ; 'In 1992 during pipe-laying for a sewerage scheme, mechanical excavations uncovered human remains in Rathkeale, Co. Limerick, in the main street of the village opposite the abbey [LI029-031006-]. The bones and associated soil were lying on the footpath in a very disturbed condition at the time of inspection. The site was reported to the NMI and an investigation was carried out on its behalf by Celie O'Rahilly, archaeologist with Limerick Corporation. The human remains were examined by Barra Ó Donnabháin. The site was in the townland of Abbeylands, in the town of Rathkeale, Co. Limerick.48 It lay in the main street of the town, Boherboy, close to the grounds of the abbey in the town, at an altitude of 40—50m above sea level. The cut for the pipe measured 0.7m east/west by 1.2m north/south by 0.55m deep. The gravepit was 0.63m long from the south side to the edge of the footpath, and the remaining portion continued underneath the road. The grave-cut was visible in the eastern section of the pit. It was cut into very hard, dark orange natural clay. At the base of this cut, which was backfilled with a darker, more mixed soil, was a layer of soft brown soil. In situ human remains were also visible at the base of the cut, just above the bedrock. The grave had contained an articulated skeleton (2007:21), apparently aligned west/east, with the skull to the west. The remains represented an adult female, aged 25—35 years at the time of death. No associated artefacts were found in the grave. The in situ bones in the east section of the cut may be the lower half of the body. No further details were available as to the disposition of the burial. In the absence of associated finds or other dating evidence this burial must be regarded as undated' (Cahill and Sikora 2011, vol. 2, 364-367). Compiled by: Denis Power Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 26 July 2019

Architectural heritage

No building of the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage stands on this parcel.

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).

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