Gleann Daire, Ardagh

Area

255 m²

Buildings

2 buildings touch it, 126 m² on the ground

Zoning

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

Townland

Ardagh

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 6 recorded monuments.

• LI028-102 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  National monument No. 459. Atop rise, in gently undulating pasture. Partially levelled monument the levelling of which was described in 1869 when Dunraven (1866-9, 433) recorded that the monument had 'been partly levelled for the purpose of tillage'. Present remains consist of a circular-shaped area (52m N-S; 53m E-W) enclosed by an earthen bank (int. H 1.75m; ext. H 3.57m), with external fosse (Wth 2.8m; D 0.95m) ESE-NNE and SSE-SW; latter section covered by dense overgrowth. Bank best preserved NNE-NNW and SSE-SW; elsewhere it has been degraded to a scarped edge (H 0.5m; Wth 3.4m). Interior is under pasture and dips gently down towards centre. There is a shallow depression (10m E-W; 4m N-S; D c. 0.2m) to E of centre. Fosse is skirted by field /Ardvone townland boundary from SE-S-SW, this turns N and skirts fosse at W; this forms part of small field surrounding the site. This field is bounded by a public road marking the townland boundary with Ardagh immediately N of site and by a compound for two water towers immediately to NE. The monument appears to have been a bivallate ringfort as depicted on the first ed. OS map. The curving townland boundary to S and a low curving degraded bank visible at W may be the remains of a second enclosing bank. According to Dunraven there was a possible standing stone (LI028-102001-), known locally as; Reerasta Cloch' which had been built into the external face of the enclosing bank of the ringfort. This stone was described by Dunraven (1866-9, 434) as following; 'Formerly, a large stone, called Reerasta Cloch, stood on, or formed part of, the external face of the bank; this stone was broken up within the present century'. Durnaven recorded the following about the discovery of an Early Christian hoard including the 8th century Ardagh Chalice at the ringfort in 1868. Dunraven (1866-9, 433) wrote that; 'Towards the end of September, 1868, her son [widow Quin, the owner] was digging potatos in the fort at the south-western side. On reaching the base of the bank, and close to a thorn bush, he found the surface soft: he drove the spade down between the roots of the thorn, and felt it strike against something hard, like metal. While clearing the earth and roots to see what this could be, he thrust down his hand, and laid hold of the long pin of a fibula. He then excavated to the depth of about three feet, and found a most beautiful cup laid in the earth, with a rough flag stone on one side of it, and inside the cup was a smaller cup and four fibulae. The small cup was the only article broken by the stroke of the spade. Excavations have been since made in the immediate vicinity of the spot where these articles were found, but nothing has turned up'. The landowner at the time was a widow named Quin who informed the Earl of Dunraven (1866-9, 433) that 'about twenty years ago, while tilling the ground, a beautiful chalice of gold was turned up about fifty yards west of the fort', however, 'one day her children took it out of the house to play with, and that she never saw it again.' The hoard from the SW quadrant of the ringfort contained a silver chalice, a bronze chalice, and four brooches (de Paor 1977, 138). The silver chalice, known as the Ardagh Chalice, is 'the finest piece of eight-century metalwork' from Ireland (ibid.). This hoard is now kept in the National Museum of Ireland (NMI 1874:99). Compiled by: Denis Power Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 11 June 2018

• LI028-102001 Standing stone
  Description

  National monument in state ownership No. 459. Situated on elevated grassland with commanding views of the surrounding countryside. Partially levelled ringfort the levelling of which was described in 1869 when Dunraven (1866-9, 433) recorded that the monument had 'been partly levelled for the purpose of tillage'. Present remains consist of a large ringfort (LI028-102----) known locally as the 'Ardagh Fort' with the possible site of a standing stone built into the external face of the enclosing bank which was destroyed in the early 1800s. According to Dunraven this possible standing stone, was known locally as; 'Reerasta Cloch'. This stone was described by Dunraven (1866-9, 434) as following; 'Formerly, a large stone, called Reerasta Cloch, stood on, or formed part of, the external face of the bank; this stone was broken up within the present century'. No surface remains visible of any levelled standing stone. Durnaven recorded the following about the discovery of an Early Christian hoard including the 8th century Ardagh Chalice at the ringfort (LI028-102----) in 1868. Dunraven (1866-9, 433) wrote that; 'Towards the end of September, 1868, her son [widow Quin, the owner] was digging potatos in the fort at the south-western side. On reaching the base of the bank, and close to a thorn bush, he found the surface soft: he drove the spade down between the roots of the thorn, and felt it strike against something hard, like metal. While clearing the earth and roots to see what this could be, he thrust down his hand, and laid hold of the long pin of a fibula. He then excavated to the depth of about three feet, and found a most beautiful cup laid in the earth, with a rough flag stone on one side of it, and inside the cup was a smaller cup and four fibulae. The small cup was the only article broken by the stroke of the spade. Excavations have been since made in the immediate vicinity of the spot where these articles were found, but nothing has turned up'. The landowner at the time was a widow named Quin who informed the Earl of Dunraven (1866-9, 433) that 'about twenty years ago, while tilling the ground, a beautiful chalice of gold was turned up about fifty yards west of the fort', however, 'one day her children took it out of the house to play with, and that she never saw it again.' The hoard from the SW quadrant of the ringfort contained a silver chalice, a bronze chalice, and four brooches (de Paor 1977, 138). The silver chalice, known as the Ardagh Chalice, is 'the finest piece of eight-century metalwork' from Ireland (ibid.). This hoard is now kept in the National Museum of Ireland (NMI 1874:99). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 11 June 2018

• LI028-103001 Historic town
  Description

  The Urban Survey of Limerick recorded the following about the medieval borough of Ardagh which contained the following monuments, a medieval mill (LI028-103005-), a possible castle (LI028-164----), a parish church (LI028-103002-) dedicated to St. Molua, a graveyard (LI028-103003-) and holy well (LI028-103004-) dedicated to St. Molua. 'Ardagh is situated in west Limerick off the Limerick to Tralee road to the north west of Newcastle West. Archaeologically the village is best known as the findplace of the magnificent Early Christian chalice to which it has given its name. The chalice formed part of a hoard which included four brooches one of which was of tenth century date and indicates that the chalice was already an antique at the time it was buried. The hoard was found within the ringfort beside the village and this suggests that there was pre-Norman activity at Ardagh. The dedication of the parish church to St. Molua may also indicate that there was a pre-Norman church site here. It is difficult to explain why the Anglo-Normans should have picked this location for development as a borough unless it was a pre-existing settlement site. The history of the Anglo-Norman settlement is itself obscure but it seems clear that a borough was established here in the thirteenth century. Revenues from its hundred court amounted to 6s 8d in 1298-9 (Sweetman 1875-86, iv, 257) and it was one of a number of boroughs which paid a subsidy of 40s to the crown in 1300 (Mills 1905, 304). It is likely that the Anglo-Norman settlement was never substantial and it was probably never anything more than a village or hamlet. The medieval borough was probably sited on the present village which has a linear, T-shaped, pattern with burgage plots fronting onto the street. None of the houses are pre-1700 in date' (Bradley et. al. 1989, vol. 1, 47-8). In 1452 the Rental of Connello recorded the following rental return from the burgage of Ardagh; the town of Ardagh (D'Villata de Ardagh) was valued at 24s.; D'Ballyduffgyn valued at 8s, the bake house and sergeancy there (D'Ffurno and S'iandria ibidem.) 3s 4d., the tenement of Robert Lowell 1s. The total rent of Ardagh is 36s. 4d., of which 26s 8d. is paid in rent to the Bishop and there remains for the lord 9s 8d. (Begley 1906, 328). The above description of this monument is taken from 'The Urban Archaeological Survey of County Limerick' compiled by John Bradley, Andrew Halpin and Heather A. King (Office of Public Works, 1985). Compiled by: Denis Power Date of upload: 26 August 2011

• LI028-103002 Church
  Description

  The medieval parish church of Ardagh was a prebend of the Archdeacon of Limerick (Begley 1906, 272; 450) and was possibly built on the site of a pre-Norman church dedicated to St. Molua. Ardagh Church was described in the Urban Survey of Limerick as following; 'This was a pre-Norman church site. This suggestion is based on its dedication to Molua, the fact that the land belonged to the see of Limerick at the beginning of the thirteenth century, and the fact that the church gave its name to one of the deaneries of the medieval diocese. The ivy covered ruins of a late medieval church are situated to the rear of the modern R.C. church. Only parts of the roughly coursed rubble limestone north and south walls survive. The level within the graveyard (LI028-013003-) is raised and the top of the south wall is now only c. 3.5m above ground. There is a row of chamfered tapering corbels along the top of the wall to support a roof and the building was lit from the south by three single-light deeply splayed ogee-headed windows with rounded rear arches. The windows have chamfered limestone jambs; the centre one is blocked but has red sandstone jambs. To the west of the windows there is a break in the wall which may have been a doorway. The north wall is featureless. Broken rounded piece of limestone set in the wall of the lane leading down to the church. It has a chamfered edge, an incised marginal line and a recessed triangle in the centre. Dims: W.35 H.13" ' (Bradley et. al. 1989, vol. 1, 49-50). After the Synod of Cashel in 1172 the diocesan church in Limerick was reorganised and the Archdeacon was granted 'the church of St. John's, near the city wall, with its appurtenances, together with the churches of Kildecolum, Kildimo, with land and other appurtenances, and all the spiritual benefices of Ardagh, with their appurtenances' (Begley 1906, 129). In 1298 Maurice le Marescal, quite claimed to the bishop the land of Ardagh (ibid. 144). The medieval church was described in 1906 as following; 'It measures about 20 feet (6m) in breadth, but its length cannot be well determined, as the western gable has entirely disappeared. Judging, however, from what remains, it was considerable, as 72 feet (22m) of the south wall remains. About one hundred and fifty paces to the south of the church there is a holy well dedicated to St. Molua, who probably founded one of his monasteries here' (Begley 1906, 105-6). The following description of this monument is taken from 'The Urban Archaeological Survey of County Limerick' compiled by John Bradley, Andrew Halpin and Heather A. King (Office of Public Works, 1985). Compiled by: Denis Power Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 24 September 2018

• LI028-103003 Graveyard
  Description

  Medieval church ruins (LI028-103002-) standing in centre of rectangular-shaped graveyard (approx. dims. 45m N-S x 70m E-W) located at S end of the village of Ardagh (LI028-103001-). Holy well (LI028-103004-) dedicated to St. Molua located 60m to SSW. St. Patrick's R.C. Church and modern car park located immediately to N. Small graveyard extension to S and SE. According to Bradley (1989, vol. 1, 49), 'It has been mentioned above that there is a possibility that this was a pre-Norman church site. This suggestion is based on its dedication to Molua, the fact that the land belonged to the see of Limerick at the beginning of the thirteenth century, and the fact that the church gave its name to one of the deaneries of the medieval diocese'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 24 September 2018

• LI028-103004 Ritual site - holy well
  Description

  Situated on wet marshy land, 135m S of the main street running through the village of Ardagh (LI028-0103----). Medieval church ruins (LI028-103002-) and graveyard (LI028-103003-) 65m to NNE. Dedicated to St.Molua, its site is marked south of the graveyard (Bradley 1989, vol. 1, 50). The well and its pattern was described in 1906 as following: 'In times gone by the well was shaded by an aged ash tree measuring 4 feet 6 inches in girth at the base, which has now disappeared. It is still frequented by the parishioners who pay rounds there on the 3rd of August, the eve of the saint's feast. About 50 years ago the 4th of August was kept as a parish holiday in honour of St. Molua, but the custom has fallen into disuse' (Begley 1906, 106). The following folklore was recorded from Killaghteen National School about St. Molua’s Well; 'In the parish of Ardagh there is a holy well dedicated to St Molua. There is a legend told about this well that one day as St Patrick was was passing through a Ardagh he called at a house for a drink of water. The people refused him and so he cursed a well there. His curse was that the people who would drink its water would die. He got sorry for this course and he raised it that the birds that would drink its water would die' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0489, Page 084; accessible online at www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4921965/4914104/4942469). See attached photos taken in 1954 by Caoimhín Ó Danachair, courtesy of and © National Folklore Collection, UCD. The Photographic Collection, F025.21.00173 accessible online at www.duchas.ie/en/cbeg/16990 and F025.21.00174 accessible online at www.duchas.ie/en/cbeg/31140. See attached colour photographs courtesy of Amanda Clarke Compiled and revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 1 October 2020

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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Registered freehold land, Tailte Éireann, CC BY 4.0. 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.