# Hermitage, Co. Limerick: townland, land parcels and planning Townland in the civil parish of Stradbally, barony of Clanwilliam, Co. Limerick; in Irish Eirmeatáiste. - Area (Tailte Éireann): 682,318 m² (68.23 ha, 168.6 acres) - Land parcels (Tailte Éireann): 9 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in it, median 2,613 m² (0.26 ha, 0.65 acres) - Zoning (national zoning, MyPlan): not in a zoned settlement - Planning (National Planning Applications): 9 applications since 2010 - Civil parish: Stradbally, https://everytownland.com/limerick/parish/stradbally.md - Barony: Clanwilliam - Electoral division: Castleconnell, the unit of the census - Census 2022 (Central Statistics Office): 3,607 people lived in 1,298 households in the Castleconnell electoral division. 75% of households owned their home. 37% of homes were built since 2001. 6% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 1% were holiday homes. - County: Co. Limerick, https://everytownland.com/limerick.md - Placenames Database of Ireland: https://www.logainm.ie/en/31388 - Townland number at Tailte Éireann: 121214 - Centre: latitude 52.69931, longitude -8.512445 (WGS 84) ## Land parcels (registered freehold land, Tailte Éireann) 9 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Hermitage, from 974 m² to 32,546 m² (3.25 ha, 8.04 acres); 28 neighbouring parcels touch its boundary. Largest first: - Parcel 1663420: 32,546 m² (3.25 ha, 8.04 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/1663420.md - Parcel 5385234: 6,514 m² (0.65 ha, 1.61 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/5385234.md - Parcel 5365826: 5,028 m² (0.5 ha, 1.24 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/5365826.md - Parcel 1589778: 3,861 m² (0.39 ha, 0.95 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/1589778.md - Parcel 3266102: 2,613 m² (0.26 ha, 0.65 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/3266102.md - Parcel 5330208: 2,336 m² (0.23 ha, 0.58 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/5330208.md - Parcel 6019877: 2,145 m² (0.21 ha, 0.53 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/6019877.md - Parcel 1608005: 1,534 m², https://everytownland.com/parcel/1608005.md - Parcel 5475556: 974 m², https://everytownland.com/parcel/5475556.md ## Zoning (national zoning of development plans, MyPlan) No zone of a development plan covers Hermitage 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) 9 applications, newest first. - 12 Oct 2021, Limerick County Council 217040: Refused. Extension of duration. extension of duration for 17/257 for the construction of a two-storey dwelling, vehicular entrance, driveway, wastewater treatment unit, polishing filter & all ancillary site services & development works. File: https://eplanning.ie/LimerickCCC/AppFileRefDetails/217040/0 - 4 Mar 2021, Limerick County Council 21251: Conditional. Permission. construction of a milking parlour, dairy, collecting yard, slatted effluent tank and all ancillary site works within the curtilage of a protected structure. File: https://eplanning.ie/LimerickCCC/AppFileRefDetails/21251/0 - 31 Aug 2020, Limerick County Council 20846: Conditional. Permission. the construction of a milking parlour, dairy, collecting yard, slatted tanks and all associated site works within the curtilage of Protected Structure. File: https://eplanning.ie/LimerickCCC/AppFileRefDetails/20846/0 - 12 Jun 2019, Limerick County Council 19566: Conditional. Permission. demolition of existing hay barn & silage slab and construction of cubicle shed with underground slatted tank in its place and all associated site works. This site lies within the curtilage of a protected structure(s). File: https://eplanning.ie/LimerickCCC/AppFileRefDetails/19566/0 - 11 Dec 2017, Limerick County Council 171157: Conditional. Permission. alterations and renovation of existing dwelling house including construction of first floor extension to side (west facing) elevation of house and construction of a single storey living room extension to rear (south facing elevation). Permission is also sought for material changes to front (north facing) elevation including removal of bow windows and construction of new enclosed front porch in-lieu of existing open porch. Permission is also sought for removal of existing front boundary fence and construction of new boundary and entrance walls and carry out all associated site works. File: https://eplanning.ie/LimerickCCC/AppFileRefDetails/171157/0 - 28 Apr 2017, Limerick County Council 17377: Conditional. Permission, 1 home. a change of two storey dwelling house design and detached garage design to that previously granted under Planning Reference Number 16/90. File: https://eplanning.ie/LimerickCCC/AppFileRefDetails/17377/0 - 20 Apr 2017, Limerick County Council 17343: Conditional. Permission. Slatted unit for Dairy Cows and associated site works. File: https://eplanning.ie/LimerickCCC/AppFileRefDetails/17343/0 - 23 Mar 2017, Limerick County Council 17257: Conditional. Permission, 1 home. for the construction of a two-storey dwelling, vehicular entrance, driveway, wastewater treatment unit, polishing filter & all ancillary site services & development works. File: https://eplanning.ie/LimerickCCC/AppFileRefDetails/17257/0 - 23 Feb 2017, Limerick County Council 17171: N/a. Permission, 1 home. the construction of a two-storey dwelling, vehicular entrance, driveway, wastewater treatment unit, polishing filter & all ancillary site services & development works. File: https://eplanning.ie/LimerickCCC/AppFileRefDetails/17171/0 Applicants are not shown. ## 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 ## Recorded monuments (Sites and Monuments Record, National Monuments Service) - LI001-009001: Cremation pit, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CLI001-009001-. In pasture, at the base of the valley, on the S side of the River Shannon. Not depicted on OS historic mapping. A fording point (LI001-001----) is located c. 100m to NE. Identified during archaeological testing (License No. 01E0319) which consisted of an advanced topsoil strip, within the way-leave corridor for the Castleconnell Sewerage Scheme (McCutcheon 2001). The feature was excavated (License No. 01E0319 ext.) in Area A and recorded as C5, a subcircular-shaped cremation pit (0.5m E-W; 0.6m N-S; D 0.4m), in the centre of which was a large stone axe (01E0319:3:1), set blade-downwards and which had once rested against a post C11, that had been driven into the base of the pit prior to the deposition of the cremation (Collins 2001, 29). It is reasonable to suggest that this post projected out of the ground above the cremation pit, and may have served as a grave-marker (ibid). An area of burning and heat-reddened boulder clay in close proximity may be the site of the cremation pyre (ibid). The way-leave and spoil-heaps were also inspected for artefacts. Several axe fragments were retrieved in this exercise, as well as most of the worked chert and flint (71 fragments of flint and 116 of chert were recovered). Artefact analysis and dating are in progress. There is no visible surface expression of the monument on Digital Globe aerial photography. Compiled by: Alison McQueen, and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 18 June 2020 Archaeological excavation in 2001 under licence No. 01E0319 ext. was summarised by Aegis Archaeology as following; 'This site was originally test-trenched by Sarah McCutcheon (see No. 762 above) as the way-leave for the Castleconnell Rising Main was cutting through the zone of archaeological potential for RMP LI001-001----, a potential fording-point of the River Shannon just downstream from Castleconnell village. The trenching revealed the presence of several possible archaeological features, which Ægis was contracted by the local authority to excavate. The excavation covered an area of about 4,400 square metres. It was divided into four areas, A-D. Area A revealed three features. These included a shallow circular pit and a circular cremation pit, in the centre of which was a large stone axe, set blade-downwards. This axe had once rested against a post that had been driven into the base of the pit prior to the deposition of the cremation. It is reasonable to suggest that this post projected out of the ground above the cremation pit, and possibly served as a grave-marker. The third feature was an area of burning and heat-reddened boulder clay, which might be the site of the cremation pyre. There were two distinct areas of activity in Area B. One had a large concentration of stake- and post-holes, with up to three small subcircular huts tentatively identified in the first zone, and a stone axe. Some of the features had been disturbed by tree root activity, so their identification was somewhat hampered. The second area was characterised by small stake-holes and slot-trenches. One of the slot-trenches was interpreted as a horseshoe-shaped hut, which was associated with worked flint and chert (although no chipping floors were identified), and had a stone axe, tentatively identified as an adze type, deposited within the slot-trench. This feature was truncated by the baulk, so it was not fully revealed. To the south-west of this hut a large cremation pit was excavated, containing one individual and no grave-goods. To the east a badly truncated keyhole-shaped drying kiln was excavated, which is presumed to be later in date than the other features. Area C was the largest in the excavation and included most of the estate features excavated, such as field boundaries, sumps and furrows. There were some pits and the remnants of burnt spreads, but none yielded dating evidence or artefacts. The way-leave partially impacted on a fulacht fiadh, from which samples for dating were taken. This fulacht fiadh seemed to be associated with several shallow subcircular pits, which were filled with heat-shattered stone and may have been roasting pits. Area D contained several pit features, which did not contain any datable material, under a burnt spread which appeared to be of modern origin and so was not itself suitable for dating purposes. The way-leave and spoil-heaps were also inspected for artefacts. Several axe fragments were retrieved in this exercise, as well as most of the worked chert and flint (71 fragments of flint and 116 of chert were recovered). Artefact analysis and dating are in progress' (www.excavations.ie). This excavation was recently described as following; 'Cremation pyre by Aaron Watson (after Williams 2006) On a bend of the River Shannon, Ireland’s largest watercourse, a small band of hunter-gathers came to together nearly 9,500 years ago, to bury one of their own. At what is now known as Hermitage, Co. Limerick, they placed the remains of a man upon a large funerary pyre. It was then lit and afterwards the cremated bone was carefully gathered together and placed within a small pit, marked by a wooden post. Over the following years two more burials were added to this small cemetery and thus Ireland’s oldest-known graveyard was founded. The earliest burial at the site was located within a sub-circular pit that measured 0.60m in diameter by 0.30m deep (Collins & Coyne 2003). The pit also contained evidence for a wooden post, approximately 0.20 m in diameter that may have represented a grave marker or some form of totem pole. The cremated remains had been carefully placed at the base of the pit in a crescent shape around the wooden post. They consisted of 1979g of burnt bone and represented the remains of an adult individual, possibly a male. The bone was efficiently cremated demonstrating that the people performing the rite were familiar with the procedure. Axe from cremation burial 1 (Collins & Coyne 2003) A large stone axe was found in association with the burial remains, along with a number of flint and chert artefacts. The axe had evidence for burning, suggesting that it had also been placed on the funerary pyre. Radiocarbon analysis of a bone fragment from the cremation returned an Early Mesolithic date of 7530-7320 BC (Collins & Coyne 2006), confirming that this was the oldest burial thus far identified in Ireland. The second Mesolithic burial was located approximately 100m away from the first cremation. It was deposited in a much larger pit that measured 2.30m long by 1.50m wide by 0.65m deep and in this instance there was no evidence for an associated wooden post. A small deposit of cremated bone, representing an adult individual, of indeterminate gender, was found in the pit. One of the fragments of bone was radiocarbon dated to 7090-7030 BC, making this burial slightly later in date than the first one. Finds from the burial included worked and un-worked chert pieces along with burnt fish bone (Driscoll 2006). The latter possibly represents the deceased’s last meal or else a food offering that had been placed on the funerary pyre. The human remains consisted of just 179g of bone, which is well below the expected weight of an adult cremation (c. 1,000-2,400g, after McKinley 1993, 285). This suggests that only part of the individual was deposited within the pit. This form of ‘token burial’ is characteristic of much of Irish prehistory. The reasoning behind this practice is uncertain but it is possible that part of the cremated bone was kept by the living as ancestral relics (see Brook 2006, 80) or else that selected fragments were deposited in the adjacent River Shannon. This latter option is paralleled in modern India, where some cremations burials are still deposited in the sacred waters of the River Ganges. The 1st cremation pit & posthole (Collins & Coyne, 2003) The final Mesolithic burial contained and even smaller amount of cremated bone. Consequently the deposit could not be conclusively identified as human and its f - LI001-009002: Burial, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CLI001-009002-. In pasture, at the base of the valley, on the S side of the River Shannon. Not depicted on OS historic mapping. A fording point (LI001-001----) is located c. 100m to NE. Identified during archaeological testing (License No. 01E0319) which consisted of an advanced topsoil strip, within the way-leave corridor for the Castleconnell Sewerage Scheme (McCutcheon 2001). The feature was excavated (License No. 01E0319 ext.) in Area A and recorded as C13, an oval-shaped pit (1.29m E-W; 1.01m N-S; D 0.18m), having concave sides and an uneven base (Collins 2001, 30). The fill C9 had occasional inclusions of small stones and flecks of charcoal, with two fragments of cremated bone and a number of pieces of struck flint and chert (ibid). The fragments of bone were too small to positively identify as human or animal (ibid). The way-leave and spoil-heaps were also inspected for artefacts. Several axe fragments were retrieved in this exercise, as well as most of the worked chert and flint (71 fragments of flint and 116 of chert were recovered). Artefact analysis and dating are in progress. There is no visible surface expression of the monument on Digital Globe aerial photography. Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 18 June 2020 Archaeological excavations carried out by Tracy Collins of Aegis under licence No. 01E0319 ext. were summarised as following; 'This site was originally test-trenched by Sarah McCutcheon as the way-leave for the Castleconnell Rising Main was cutting through the zone of archaeological potential for RMP LI001-001----, a potential fording-point of the River Shannon just downstream from Castleconnell village. The trenching revealed the presence of several possible archaeological features, which Aegis was contracted by the local authority to excavate. The excavation covered an area of about 4,400 square metres. It was divided into four areas, A-D. Area A revealed three features. These included a shallow circular pit and a circular cremation pit, (LI001-009001-) in the centre of which was a large stone axe, set blade-downwards. This axe had once rested against a post that had been driven into the base of the pit prior to the deposition of the cremation. It is reasonable to suggest that this post projected out of the ground above the cremation pit, and possibly served as a grave-marker. The third feature was an area of burning and heat-reddened boulder clay, which might be the site of the cremation pyre. There were two distinct areas of activity in Area B. One had a large concentration of stake- and post-holes, with up to three small subcircular huts tentatively identified in the first zone, and a stone axe. Some of the features had been disturbed by tree root activity, so their identification was somewhat hampered. The second area was characterised by small stake-holes and slot-trenches. One of the slot-trenches was interpreted as a horseshoe-shaped hut, which was associated with worked flint and chert (although no chipping floors were identified), and had a stone axe, tentatively identified as an adze type, deposited within the slot-trench. This feature was truncated by the baulk, so it was not fully revealed. To the south-west of this hut a large cremation pit was excavated, containing one individual and no grave-goods. To the east a badly truncated keyhole-shaped drying kiln was excavated, which is presumed to be later in date than the other features. Area C was the largest in the excavation and included most of the estate features excavated, such as field boundaries, sumps and furrows. There were some pits and the remnants of burnt spreads, but none yielded dating evidence or artefacts. The way-leave partially impacted on a fulacht fiadh, from which samples for dating were taken. This fulacht fiadh seemed to be associated with several shallow subcircular pits, which were filled with heat-shattered stone and may have been roasting pits. Area D contained several pit features, which did not contain any datable material, under a burnt spread which appeared to be of modern origin and so was not itself suitable for dating purposes. The way-leave and spoil-heaps were also inspected for artefacts. Several axe fragments were retrieved in this exercise, as well as most of the worked chert and flint (71 fragments of flint and 116 of chert were recovered). Artefact analysis and dating are in progress' (www.excavations.ie). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 21 January 2020 - LI001-010001: Cremation pit, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CLI001-010001-. In pasture, at the base of the valley, on the S side of the River Shannon. Not depicted on OS historic mapping. A fording point (LI001-001----) is located c. 100m to NE. Identified during archaeological testing (License No. 01E0319) which consisted of an advanced topsoil strip, within the way-leave corridor for the Castleconnell Sewerage Scheme (McCutcheon 2001). The feature was excavated (License No. 01E0319 ext.) in Area B and recorded as C42, an oval-shaped cremation pit (2.3m N-S; 1.5m E-W; D 0.65m), which had concave sides and a N-facing slope at base (Collins 2001, 35). The upper portion of the fill C41, contained moderate inclusions of charcoal and cremated bone and the lower had inclusions of burnt clay, with some heat-shattered stone (max. 0.4m x 0.3m) at the base (ibid). The way-leave and spoil-heaps were also inspected for artefacts. Several axe fragments were retrieved in this exercise, as well as most of the worked chert and flint (71 fragments of flint and 116 of chert were recovered). Artefact analysis and dating are in progress. There is no visible surface expression of the monument on Digital Globe aerial photography. Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 18 June 2020 - LI001-010002: Kiln - corn-drying, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CLI001-010002-. In pasture, at the base of the valley, on the S side of the River Shannon. Not depicted on OS historic mapping. A fording point (LI001-001----) is located c. 100m to NE. Identified during archaeological testing (License No. 01E0319) which consisted of an advanced topsoil strip, within the way-leave corridor for the Castleconnell Sewerage Scheme (McCutcheon 2001). The feature was excavated (License No. 01E0319 ext.) in Area B and recorded as C5, a badly truncated keyhole-shaped drying kiln (2.46m E-W; 0.8m N-S; D 0.2m), which is presumed to be later in date than the other features (Collins 2001, 32). The neck of the linear flue (L 1.5m; Wth 0.42m) was defined by two flat stones set on edge and leading into a circular-shaped bowl (diam. 0.8m) (ibid). The way-leave and spoil-heaps were also inspected for artefacts. Several axe fragments were retrieved in this exercise, as well as most of the worked chert and flint (71 fragments of flint and 116 of chert were recovered). Artefact analysis and dating are in progress. There is no visible surface expression of the monument on Digital Globe aerial photography. Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 18 June 2020 - LI001-010003: Excavation - miscellaneous, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CLI001-010003-. In pasture, at the base of the valley, on the S side of the River Shannon. Not depicted on OS historic mapping. A fording point (LI001-001----) is located c. 100m to NE. Identified during archaeological testing (License No. 01E0319) which consisted of an advanced topsoil strip, within the way-leave corridor for the Castleconnell Sewerage Scheme (McCutcheon 2001). The feature was excavated (License No. 01E0319 ext.) in Area B and recorded as C4, a curvilinear feature (C 3.1m; Wth 0.98m; D 0.45m) which may be the residual remains of a circular-shaped slot trench (Collins 2001, 32). The sides were generally concave and came to a flat base and having an upper fill C12 and a lower fill C3 (ibid). The lower fill contained a stone axe, a flint arrowhead, cremated bone and a number of struck flints (ibid). The way-leave and spoil-heaps were also inspected for artefacts. Several axe fragments were retrieved in this exercise, as well as most of the worked chert and flint (71 fragments of flint and 116 of chert were recovered). Artefact analysis and dating are in progress. There is no visible surface expression of the monument on Digital Globe aerial photography. Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 18 June 2020 - LI001-011001: Excavation - miscellaneous, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CLI001-011001-. In pasture, at the base of the valley, on the S side of the River Shannon. Not depicted on OS historic mapping. A fording point (LI001-001----) is located c. 100m to NE. Identified during archaeological testing (License No. 01E0319) which consisted of an advanced topsoil strip, within the way-leave corridor for the Castleconnell Sewerage Scheme (McCutcheon 2001). The feature was excavated (License No. 01E0319 ext.) in Area B2 and represented a spread C147 (Collins 2001, 50). It consisted of a compact orange brown deposit (3m N-S; 2.4m E-W; D 0.03m; 0.17m) C140, which had frequent flecks of charcoal and contained a stone axe (ibid). The way-leave and spoil-heaps were also inspected for artefacts. Several axe fragments were retrieved in this exercise, as well as most of the worked chert and flint (71 fragments of flint and 116 of chert were recovered). Artefact analysis and dating are in progress. There is no visible surface expression of the monument on Digital Globe aerial photography. Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 18 June 2020 - LI001-011002: Hut site, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CLI001-011002-. In pasture, at the base of the valley, on the S side of the River Shannon. Not depicted on OS historic mapping. A fording point (LI001-001----) is located c. 100m to NE. Identified during archaeological testing (License No. 01E0319) which consisted of an advanced topsoil strip, within the way-leave corridor for the Castleconnell Sewerage Scheme (McCutcheon 2001). The feature was excavated (License No. 01E0319 ext.) in Area B2 and represented a possible hut site (Collins 2001, 75). It consisted of a series of postholes and stakeholes that tentatively formed a possible structure (Collins 2001, 44-52). The way-leave and spoil-heaps were also inspected for artefacts. Several axe fragments were retrieved in this exercise, as well as most of the worked chert and flint (71 fragments of flint and 116 of chert were recovered). Artefact analysis and dating are in progress. There is no visible surface expression of the monument on Digital Globe aerial photography. Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 18 June 2020 - LI001-011003: Hut site, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CLI001-011003-. In pasture, at the base of the valley, on the S side of the River Shannon. Not depicted on OS historic mapping. A fording point (LI001-001----) is located c. 100m to NE. Identified during archaeological testing (License No. 01E0319) which consisted of an advanced topsoil strip, within the way-leave corridor for the Castleconnell Sewerage Scheme (McCutcheon 2001). The feature was excavated (License No. 01E0319 ext.) in Area B2 and represented a possible hut site (Collins 2001, 75). It consisted of a series of postholes and stakeholes that tentatively formed a possible structure (Collins 2001, 44-52). The way-leave and spoil-heaps were also inspected for artefacts. Several axe fragments were retrieved in this exercise, as well as most of the worked chert and flint (71 fragments of flint and 116 of chert were recovered). Artefact analysis and dating are in progress. There is no visible surface expression of the monument on Digital Globe aerial photography. Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 18 June 2020 - LI001-011004: Excavation - miscellaneous, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CLI001-011004-. In pasture, at the base of the valley, on the S side of the River Shannon. Not depicted on OS historic mapping. A fording point (LI001-001----) is located c. 100m to NE. Identified during archaeological testing (License No. 01E0319) which consisted of an advanced topsoil strip, within the way-leave corridor for the Castleconnell Sewerage Scheme (McCutcheon 2001). The feature was excavated (License No. 01E0319 ext.) in Area B2 and represented a shallow oval-shaped pit (1.2m N-S; 1m E-W; D 0.4m) (Collins 2001, 53). The cut C181 had concave sides and a rounded base and the fill C180 was a reddish brown sandy clay with frequent inclusions of pebbles (ibid). The way-leave and spoil-heaps were also inspected for artefacts. Several axe fragments were retrieved in this exercise, as well as most of the worked chert and flint (71 fragments of flint and 116 of chert were recovered). Artefact analysis and dating are in progress. There is no visible surface expression of the monument on Digital Globe aerial photography. Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 18 June 2020 - LI001-012001: Fulacht fia, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CLI001-012001-. In pasture, at the base of the valley, on the S side of the River Shannon. Not depicted on OS historic mapping. A fording point (LI001-001----) is located c. 80m to NE. Identified during archaeological testing (License No. 01E0319) which consisted of an advanced topsoil strip, within the way-leave corridor for the Castleconnell Sewerage Scheme (McCutcheon 2001). The feature was excavated (License No. 01E0319 ext.) in Area C (Series 500/500) and represented part of a burnt spread (L 4.6m; Wth 0.9m; D 0.4m) which ran under the N baulk at the edge of the way-leave corridor for the scheme (Collins 2001, 59). The deposit C35 consisted of loose dark greyish black sandy silt, which contained frequent inclusions of burnt stones (ibid). The way-leave and spoil-heaps were also inspected for artefacts. Several axe fragments were retrieved in this exercise, as well as most of the worked chert and flint (71 fragments of flint and 116 of chert were recovered). Artefact analysis and dating are in progress. There is no visible surface expression of the monument on Digital Globe aerial photography. Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 18 June 2020 - LI001-012002: Burnt spread, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CLI001-012002-. In pasture, at the base of the valley, on the S side of the River Shannon. Not depicted on OS historic mapping. A fording point (LI001-001----) is located c. 80m to NE. Identified during archaeological testing (License No. 01E0319) which consisted of an advanced topsoil strip, within the way-leave corridor for the Castleconnell Sewerage Scheme (McCutcheon 2001). The feature was excavated (License No. 01E0319 ext.) in Area C (Series 500/500) and represented part of a burnt spread (L 2m; Wth 0.95m; D 0.1m), C46 (Collins 2001, 59). The deposit C35 consisted of moderate dark brown sandy clay, which contained frequent inclusions of burnt stone and flecks of charcoal (ibid). The way-leave and spoil-heaps were also inspected for artefacts. Several axe fragments were retrieved in this exercise, as well as most of the worked chert and flint (71 fragments of flint and 116 of chert were recovered). Artefact analysis and dating are in progress. There is no visible surface expression of the monument on Digital Globe aerial photography. Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 18 June 2020 - LI001-013: Cremation pit, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CLI001-013----. In pasture, at the base of the valley, on the S side of the River Shannon. Not depicted on OS historic mapping. A fording point (LI001-001----) is located c. 60m to NE. Identified during archaeological testing (License No. 01E0319) which consisted of an advanced topsoil strip, within the way-leave corridor for the Castleconnell Sewerage Scheme (McCutcheon 2001). The feature was excavated (License No. 01E0319 ext.) in Area C (Series 1000/1000) and represented a keyhole-shaped pit (1.3m NNE-SSW; 0.68m WNW-ESE; D 0.48m) (Collins 2001, 64). The cut C55 has straight sides and a rounded base with a fill C50 of dark brownish black mix of topsoil and re-deposited boulder clay which contained frequent charcoal flecks, burnt stone, cremated bone, chert blades and flakes (ibid). The way-leave and spoil-heaps were also inspected for artefacts. Several axe fragments were retrieved in this exercise, as well as most of the worked chert and flint (71 fragments of flint and 116 of chert were recovered). Artefact analysis and dating are in progress. There is no visible surface expression of the monument on Digital Globe aerial photography. Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 18 June 2020 - LI001-013001: Furnace, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CLI001-013001-. In pasture, at the base of the valley, on the S side of the River Shannon. Not depicted on OS historic mapping. A fording point (LI001-001----) is located c. 60m to NE. Identified during archaeological testing (License No. 01E0319) which consisted of an advanced topsoil strip, within the way-leave corridor for the Castleconnell Sewerage Scheme (McCutcheon 2001). The feature was excavated (License No. 01E0319 ext.) in Area C (Series 1000/1000) and represented a disturbed keyhole-shaped bowl furnace (diam. 0.8m) C68, with a flue (L1.79m; Wth 0.41m; D 0.1m) entering from SSE and a less defined flue (L 3.1m; Wth 1.52m; D 0.18m) at W (Collins 2001, 65). Traces of in-situ burning were recorded on the base and sides of the flue but not in the bowl (ibid). The fill C67, was a loose greyish brown silty clay which contained frequent flecks of charcoal and stones, a piece of chert and a clay pipe stem (ibid). The way-leave and spoil-heaps were also inspected for artefacts. Several axe fragments were retrieved in this exercise, as well as most of the worked chert and flint (71 fragments of flint and 116 of chert were recovered). Artefact analysis and dating are in progress. There is no visible surface expression of the monument on Digital Globe aerial photography. Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 18 June 2020 - LI006-005: Ringfort - rath, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CLI006-005----. On flat undulating pasture 390m S of the River Shannon, 180m E of a stream flowing into the Shannon which marks the townland boundary with Newgarden North. On the demesne lands of Hermitage House located 290m to N, walled gardens of the Hermitage 40m to N. Not depicted as an antiquity on the 1840 ed. OS map where it is depicted as circular-shaped tree plantation. Remains consist of a circular-shaped area (approx. int. diam. 40m) defined by a scarp and external fosse with well standing in NNW quadrant of fosse as shown on the 1897 ed. OS 25-inch map. Outline of tree-covered monument with waterlogged ditch visible on Digital Globe orthoimage taken 2011-13. A linear water channel is visible on Google earth orthoimage taken 19/11/2019 flowing out to the stream at W from fosse of ringfort in NW quadrant. The water channel may represent the remains of an overflow channel from the well shown on the OS 25-inch map. This may have been a ringfort that was reused as a tree-ring or designed landscape feature in the post-1700 associated with the landscaping of the demesne of the Hermitage. See attached Google Earth orthoimages Compiled by: Edmond O’Donovan Date of upload: 10 July 2020 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) - Hermitage, stables, outbuilding, 1790–1810, Regional interest, registry number 21900603, https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&county=LC®no=21900603. Pair of U-plan ranges of outbuildings, built in 1800. South range comprising nine-bay two-storey east block with windbreak to east elevation, three-bay single-storey north block and three-bay two-storey block to west. Hipped slate roof to east block having render over brick chimneystacks and cast-iron rainwater goods. Single-pitched slate roof to windbreak. Coursed rubble limestone walls. Square-headed openings to first floor with three-over-three pane timber sliding sash windows and limestone sills. Square-headed openings to ground floor, east elevation having brick voussoirs and six-over-six pane timber sliding sash windows. Those to west elevation with cast-iron sill guards. Square-headed opening to windbreak having glazed overlight over timber battened door. Square-headed openings to west elevation with brick voussoirs, some having timber battened doors. Square-headed door openings having brick voussoirs, now blocked up. Hipped slate roof to north block. Coursed roughly dressed limestone walls. Square-headed window opening with brick surround. Square-headed openings having glazed overlights over timber battened doors. Brick relieving arch to door, centre bay. Hipped slate roof to west block. Coursed roughly dressed limestone walls. Arrow slit windows to first floor. Round-headed door openings with brick voussoirs. Dressed limestone square-profile pier and coursed limestone walls to south. North range comprising eight-bay two-storey west block, seven-bay two-storey east block and seven-bay two-storey south block. Hipped slate roof to west block with brick chimneystack. Coursed roughly dressed limestone walls. Diocletian style window openings to first floor having brick surrounds and limestone sills. Camber-headed openings to ground floor with inset square-headed windows and limestone sills. Camber-headed openings with inset square-headed timber battened doors. Triple elliptical-headed carriage arches having brick surrounds, dressed limestone walls and replacement metal doors. Hipped slate roof to east block with brick chimneystacks. Coursed roughly dressed limestone walls. Diocletian style window openings to first floor having brick surrounds and limestone sills. Camber-headed openings to ground floor with inset square-headed windows and limestone sills. Camber-headed openings with inset square-headed timber battened doors. Triple elliptical-headed carriage arches having brick surrounds, dressed limestone walls and replacement metal doors. Hipped corrugated-iron roof to south range. Rendered walls to first floor, coursed roughly dressed limestone walls to ground floor with cast-iron patris plates. Bronze sun dial to first floor. Diocletian style window openings to first floor having render surrounds with keystones and limestone sills. Camber-headed window openings to ground floor having limestone sills. Camber-headed openings with glazed overlights over corrugated-iron doors. Rubble limestone walls to north having limestone copings and elliptical-headed pedestrian entrance with ashlar limestone voussoirs and flanking square-profile piers. Pair of ashlar limestone tapering square-profile piers to east having carved caps, urn finials, double-leaf wrought-iron gates and sweeping walls with limestone copings. - Ballynacourty, house, 1750–1770, Regional interest, registry number 21900611, https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&county=LC®no=21900611. Detached four-bay two-storey with dormer attic U-plan house, built c. 1760, with later additions. Comprising gabled breakfront and gable-fronted projecting end bay to front (west) elevation, gable-fronted single-bay two-storey entrance-block to north elevation and three-bay two-storey extension to south. Pitched slate roof with cast-iron rainwater goods, limestone copings and rendered chimneystacks. Gabled dormer having fixed window. Rendered walls with render plinth course. Square-headed openings having timber casement windows, some with painted stone sills. Square-headed opening to south elevation having four-over-four pane timber sliding sash window and painted stone sill. Square-headed openings to rear (east) elevation with six-over-three pane timber sliding sash windows and painted stone sills. Square-headed openings to extension, first floor having six-over-three pane timber sliding sash windows and painted stone sills. Round-headed opening to entrance block leading to square-headed opening with timber panelled door. Square-headed opening to south extension having timber panelled door. Multiple-bay single-storey outbuilding adjoining north elevation with lean-to to front (west) elevation. Pitched slate roof. Rendered walls. Square-headed openings having two-over-two pane timber sliding sash windows and painted stone sills. Square-headed opening with glazed overlight over timber battened door. Square-headed openings having timber battened doors. Multiple-bay single-storey with dormer attic outbuilding to north with gable-fronted breakfront and recent porch and conservatory to front (west) elevation. Now in use as house. Pitched slate roof. Painted stone walls. Square-headed openings having replacement uPVC windows. Round-headed opening to porch with half-glazed timber panelled door. Rubble limestone boundary walls to site having camber-headed pedestrian entrance to north with red brick voussoirs and timber panelled door. Pair of square-profile rusticated limestone piers to north-east having limestone caps and double-leaf spear-headed cast-iron gates. - Hermitage, demesne walls/gates/railings, 1860–1880, Regional interest, registry number 21900612, https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&county=LC®no=21900612. Pair of square-profile cast-iron piers set in limestone plinths, erected c. 1870, having wrought-iron panels with acanthus motifs, cast-iron fluted caps having finials and ornate double-leaf cast-iron gates. Sweeping ornate cast-iron railings set in limestone plinths terminating in second pair of cast-iron square-profile piers with round-headed recessed panels and fluted caps having finials. ## 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 Hermitage, 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 high, moderately low, low, partly inferred. Parts of the land are water. - Terrain model: LiDAR of the Office of Public Works, flown in 2011, at 2 m: tile OPW_1053, https://gsi.geodata.gov.ie/downloads/LiDAR/OPW_NASC/OPW_1053.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/hermitage.dxf - GeoJSON, in WGS 84, for a map: https://everytownland.com/limerick/hermitage.geojson - KML, for Google Earth: https://everytownland.com/limerick/hermitage.kml ## Homes sold (Residential Property Price Register) No address of the register names Hermitage 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) - Ballynacourty: https://everytownland.com/limerick/ballynacourty-120325.md - Newgarden North: https://everytownland.com/limerick/newgarden-north.md - Ruan: https://everytownland.com/limerick/ruan.md - Stradbally North: https://everytownland.com/limerick/stradbally-north.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. --- 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/hermitage - In JSON: https://everytownland.com/api/townland/limerick/hermitage