# Dysert, Co. Limerick: townland, land parcels and planning

Townland in the civil parish of Robertstown, barony of Shanid, Co. Limerick; in Irish An Díseart.

- Area (Tailte Éireann): 362,341 m² (36.23 ha, 89.54 acres)
- Land parcels (Tailte Éireann): 4 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in it, median 125,038 m² (12.5 ha, 30.9 acres)
- Zoning (national zoning, MyPlan): not in a zoned settlement
- Planning (National Planning Applications): 0 applications since 2010
- Civil parish: Robertstown, https://everytownland.com/limerick/parish/robertstown.md
- Barony: Shanid
- Electoral division: Craggs, the unit of the census
- Census 2022 (Central Statistics Office): 258 people lived in 92 households in the Craggs electoral division. 91% of households owned their home. 16% of homes were built since 2001. 14% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 2% were holiday homes.
- County: Co. Limerick, https://everytownland.com/limerick.md
- Placenames Database of Ireland: https://www.logainm.ie/en/32014
- Townland number at Tailte Éireann: 120953
- Centre: latitude 52.601339, longitude -9.05694 (WGS 84)

## Land parcels (registered freehold land, Tailte Éireann)

4 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Dysert, from 11,384 m² (1.14 ha, 2.81 acres) to 188,290 m² (18.83 ha, 46.53 acres); 2 neighbouring parcels touch its boundary. Largest first:

- Parcel 1601917: 188,290 m² (18.83 ha, 46.53 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/1601917.md
- Parcel 1674344: 162,906 m² (16.29 ha, 40.25 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/1674344.md
- Parcel 1664176: 87,170 m² (8.72 ha, 21.54 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/1664176.md
- Parcel 1664110: 11,384 m² (1.14 ha, 2.81 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/1664110.md

## Zoning (national zoning of development plans, MyPlan)

No zone of a development plan covers Dysert in the national zoning. Outside zoned towns and villages, the county development plan's rural policies apply to each application.

## Planning applications whose site touches the townland (National Planning Applications, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)

No planning application touches the townland of Dysert in the national file, which goes back to 2010.

## Designated sites (National Parks and Wildlife Service)

- Special Area of Conservation: Lower River Shannon SAC, site code 002165, https://www.npws.ie/protected-sites/sac/002165
- Special Protection Area: River Shannon and River Fergus Estuaries SPA, site code 004077, https://www.npws.ie/protected-sites/spa/004077
- Proposed Natural Heritage Area: Inner Shannon Estuary - South Shore, site code 000435

## Recorded monuments (Sites and Monuments Record, National Monuments Service)

- LI010-075: Ringfort - rath, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CLI010-075----. On low rise, in low-lying pasture. Roughly oval area (34m N-S; 28.7m E-W) enclosed by an earthen bank (int. H 0.75m; ext. H 0.7m) N->SW, but bank overlain or replaced by field boundary SW->NW, and bank removed NW->N leaving gap (Wth 9.7m). Field boundary which overlies enclosing bank on W side continues to run immediately outside bank elsewhere except for gap at N which corresponds to removed section of bank. Level interior under pasture. Compiled by: Denis Power Date of upload: 26 August 2011
- LI010-076: Ringfort - rath, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CLI010-076----. Monument, depicted as embanked circular enclosure (diam. c. 25m) on 1841 OS 6-inch map but is not shown on 1923 OS 6-inch map, was not inspected as landowner refused survey permission to inspect site. Compiled by: Denis Power Date of upload: 26 August 2011
- LI010-077: Castle - tower house, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CLI010-077----. Westropp (1906-7) recorded the following details about Dysert also known as Díseart Muirdeabhair; 'Probably included Morgans [LI010-030----] and Craggs [LI010-177----] at one time. Diseart Murdebrair in Ui Chonaill Gabrai (Cal. Oenghus), Disuirt Murdewar, 1201; Dissert Marrgeoin, 1336. 1584 Morris mac Tirrelagh Mac Moryertagh (O'Brien) held the Isles of Arin, near Galway; Crag mac teigh, near Dissert, in Conyllagh (Inq. Exch., 12, p. 270; Peyton, 187). 1600 Jas. Gould held at his death Craige and Disertbargeon from the Bishop (Inq. Exch., Vis. Reg.). 1608 J. Wakeman held them, as estate of Teige Clansie, attainted (Pat. R., Rev. Exch., 1613-18, &c). 1638-1655 Wingfield held Craige and Dissert C[astle]. (C.S., 95)'. The 1654-56 Civil Survey of Limerick recorded that Sir Edward Wingfield was in possession of the lands of 'Craige and Dissarte' which contained a 'Castle 72 Irish accres' (Simington 1938, 327). Fabric - A tower 19 feet [5.8m] by 13 feet [4m], inside; walls, 4½ feet [1.4m] thick. It is four stories high, with a barrel stair of sixty-eight steps north-west beside the door, the latter protected by a "murder-hole". The lower and third story are vaulted, with a closet in the wall on the second floor. The details are of the later fifteenth century. There are slight traces of a side wing and bawn [LI010-077001-], all much injured (O.S.L., 8, p. 17). The Ordnance Survey Letters for the parish of Robertstown describes the castle remains as, 'on level ground, measures nineteen feet [5.8m] by thirteen feet [4m] inside. It has four stories, the arches of two of which still remains. The walls are about fifty feet [15m] high and four and a half feet [1.4m] in thickness'. The ruins of Dysert Castle stands on low-lying pasture overlooking the wet floodplains of the Robertstown River to E. On 1840 ed. OS 6-inch map the castle is depicted standing in the centre of a sub-rectangular-shaped field or bawn (LI010-077001-)with poorly drained land on all sides except at W. Ringforts (LI010-075-/076----) 165m to W and 210m to NNW respectively. Well preserved but ivy-covered castle built with limestone masonry and a high prominent base batter that has been robbed out on all corners. Four-storey rectangular tower (ext. dims. 8.85m N-S x 9.8m E-W) with partially destroyed garderobe tower on SW angle. Only a short section of the E wall of the garderobe tower survives projection out from the S wall of the castle and this tower appears to be the side wall and bawn described above by Westropp. The castle is entered via a flat-headed rectangular doorway (Wth 1.2m; H 2.3m) of roughly cut limestone with external chamfer in centre of W wall which leads to a lobby area off which the spiral stairs is accessed in NW angle. The stairs is accessed from the lobby via a round-headed doorway (Wth 0.6m; H 1.84m). Ground floor chamber (int. dims. 4.4m N-S x 5.85m E-W) entered through a pointed cut-stone doorway (Wth 0.8m; H 2m) in E wall of lobby area. The doorway has lightly punch-dressed external chamfered jambstones with drawbar socket (dims. 0.44m x 0.13m x D 1.1m) internally on either side. The lobby area is protected by overhead murder-hole (1.3m x 0.3m). This chamber with stone vaulted roof is lit by a single light slit opes in centre of N, E and S walls. These double-splayed windows have cut stone surrounds set into the centre of the wall and splay internally and externally given their distinctive double splay. The flat-headed windows have chamfered cut limestone surrounds and are set into poorly preserved window embrasures (H 0.9m; Wth 1m) . The stone vaulted roof has traces of plaster still visible on the underside of the roof and also visible on all four walls of the ground floor chamber. A hole (Wth 0.9m H 0.9m; D 0.52m) in the SE corner of the ground floor chamber reveals an intramural chute-like opening (dims. 0.5m x 0.43m) which runs down from the first floor in the thickness of the wall. There is no clear opening or exit hole for this chute which has the appearance of a possible secret mural chamber. A small circular iron-loop visible in E side of breach in wall may have been some sort of fixture for wooden floor. The first floor is accessed via a pointed doorway off the spiral stairs (diam. 0.78m) in the NW angle which is lit by narrow flat headed slit opes (Wth 0.08m x H 0.8m). The pointed doorway (H 1.62m; Wth 0.7m) has lightly punch-dressed jambs with semi-circular shaped threshold stone visible. Internally the door has rebated jambs with drawbar socket (L 0.12m x Wth 0.15m x D 0.48m) visible on S side. Directly inside the doorway on N wall there is a recessed section (Wth 0.75m x D 0.2m) in the wall to accommodate the wooden door of the first floor. This chamber is lit by two large windows in the N, and S walls which are set large embrasures that are almost floor to ceiling high. The N window (H 2m x Wth 0.58m) is set into a slight segmental arched embrasure (H 2.2m x Wth 1.18m) while the S window (H 1.14m x Wth 0.17m) stands inside a flat-headed embrasure (H. 1.9m x Wth 1m). A flat headed window off centre to N in the E wall gives access to a mural passage from a doorway in the S wall of the window embrasure. This L-shaped mural passage (Wth 0.6m x H 2.06m x L 1.97m) runs S in the thickness of the E wall and turns W for a short distance forming an L-shaped plan. The end of this lintelled chamber is lit by a narrow slit window in the SE corner with stone lined hole (0.36m x 0.33m) in the floor of the passage which presumably gave access to the secret intramural chamber. An aumbry or wall-cupboard (H. 0.52m x Wth 0.73m X D 0.62m) is visible off centre to W in S wall c. 0.9m high above the floor level. A flat-headed breach in the W wall of the first floor unusually located 1.2m above the floor level gives access to the murder-hole chamber (L 2.5m x Wth 1m) over the lobby area. This murder-hole chamber is lit by a slit ope window in the W wall. Limestone corbels which supported the wall plate for a wooden floor over this chamber are visible in the N and S walls. There is evidence of wicker-centring on the underside of the arches of the window embrasures in the N and S walls. The stone vaulted second floor is accessed off a pointed doorway (H 1.18m; Wth 0.7m) from the spiral stairs in NW corner. Traces of wicker-centring are visible on the partially destroyed stone vaulted roof. This chamber is lit by three windows, one in each of the N, E and S walls that are set into tall floor to ceiling embrasures. The base of the S window embrasure unusually extends down to serve as the lintel of the window of the first floor below. A doorway in the centre of the W wall leads into a mural chamber which is not accessible. This probably gave access to the garderobe in the SW angle. A series of small holes in the wall to E of N window appear to be nesting boxes for pigeons suggesting that the interior was converted into a dovecote in the post-medieval period. The third floor (int. dims. 7.3m E-W x 4.3m N-S) above the stone vaulted second floor was accessed through a pointed doorway (H 1.7m; Wth 0.7m) accessed off the spiral stairs in the NW angle. A recessed section (0.83m x 0.1m) of the wall directly inside the doorway to S in W wall was built to accommodate the internal wooden doorway. This floor had a stone vaulted roof the springers of which are all that survive and are now visible in the W wall. A large breach off centre to E in the N wall was probably a broken out window embrasure. A twin-light ogee-headed window with internally rebated jambs set into a large flat-headed embrasure (H 2.7m x Wth 1.7m) is visible in the centre of the E wall. A single light ogee-headed window with probable slop-stone beneath set into a large flat-headed window embrasure is visible off centre to E in the S wall. A gap or hole in the wall is visible off centre to E in S wall close to SE corner. The spiral stairs in the NW angle r
- LI010-077001: Bawn, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CLI010-077001-. Westropp (1906-7) recorded the following details about Dysert also known as Díseart Muirdeabhair; ' A tower [LI010-077----] 19 feet [5.8m] by 13 feet [4m], inside; walls, 4½ feet [1.4m] thick. It is four stories high, with a barrel stair of sixty-eight steps north-west beside the door, the latter protected by a "murder-hole". The lower and third story are vaulted, with a closet in the wall on the second floor. The details are of the later fifteenth century. There are slight traces of a side wing and bawn [LI010-077001-], all much injured (O.S.L., 8, p. 17). The Ordnance Survey Letters for the parish of Robertstown describes the castle remains as, 'on level ground, measures nineteen feet [5.8m] by thirteen feet [4m] inside. It has four stories, the arches of two of which still remains. The walls are about fifty feet [15m] high and four and a half feet [1.4m] in thickness'. No surface remains visible of bawn wall mentioned in the Ordnance Survey Letters. A river to SE of tower house may have been flanked by a bawn as there is a lot of stone lying on the ground. A low scarp (approx. L 35m) is visible from SE-S of the castle which may mark the outline of the levelled bawn wall. The 1840 ed. OS 6-inch map shows the castle standing in the centre of a sub-rectangular shaped field (approx. dims. 80m N-S x 60m E-W) which may represent the outline of the castle bawn. The fields around the castle have been levelled. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 15 May 2020 See attached ASI aerial photographs ASIAP – taken on 04/03/2006.

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).

## Architectural heritage (National Inventory of Architectural Heritage)

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

## Ground and risks (Radon Risk Map of Ireland, EPA; Landslide Susceptibility Classification and LiDAR, Geological Survey Ireland)

- Radon: at the centre of the townland of Dysert, about 1 in 5 homes in this area is likely to have high radon levels. Testing a home: https://www.epa.ie/environment-and-you/radon/radon-testing/#d.en.82887
- Landslides: The 1:50,000 map rates the landslide susceptibility here as moderately low, low, partly inferred. Parts of the land are made ground.
- Terrain model: LiDAR of the Office of Public Works, flown in 2011, at 2 m: tile OPW_461, https://gsi.geodata.gov.ie/downloads/LiDAR/OPW_NASC/OPW_461.zip (ZIP).
- Flooding: the flood maps of the Office of Public Works, https://www.floodinfo.ie/map/floodmaps/, linked only: their licence does not allow re-use.

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.

## Downloads

- DXF, in Irish Transverse Mercator metres, with its boundary, parcels and buildings, for a drawing program: https://everytownland.com/limerick/dysert.dxf
- GeoJSON, in WGS 84, for a map: https://everytownland.com/limerick/dysert.geojson
- KML, for Google Earth: https://everytownland.com/limerick/dysert.kml

## Homes sold (Residential Property Price Register)

No address of the register names Dysert with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Limerick: https://everytownland.com/limerick.md

## Neighbouring townlands (National Statutory Boundaries, Tailte Éireann)

- Glenbane East: https://everytownland.com/limerick/glenbane-east.md
- Glenbane West: https://everytownland.com/limerick/glenbane-west.md

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.

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Everytownland reads the registered freehold land and the statutory boundaries of Tailte Éireann, the national zoning, planning file and heritage records of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and the Residential Property Price Register. A parcel is the land of a title, not an address. The owner's name is in the Land Registry of Tailte Éireann: a copy of the folio can be ordered on landdirect.ie, for a fee; this site names no owner. A price is the price recorded for a past sale, not a valuation.

Sources: Cadastral Parcels Freehold, Townlands, Civil Parishes, Baronies, Electoral Divisions and Buildings, Tailte Éireann, CC BY 4.0; national zoning of development plans (GZT, MyPlan) and National Planning Applications, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0, applicants not shown; designated sites, National Parks and Wildlife Service, CC BY 4.0; Sites and Monuments Record, National Monuments Service, CC BY 4.0; National Inventory of Architectural Heritage, CC BY 4.0; Residential Property Price Register, Property Services Regulatory Authority, re-used with the source acknowledged.

- Page: https://everytownland.com/limerick/dysert
- In JSON: https://everytownland.com/api/townland/limerick/dysert