Kilfinny

58 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Kilfinny, from 304 m² to 357,850 m² (35.78 ha, 88.43 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary; 29 neighbouring parcels touch it.

Download the townland: DXF, in Irish Transverse Mercator metres, with its boundary, parcels and buildings; GeoJSON or KML.

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

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

• 5 Sept 2025Conditional

  as constructed extensions and associated works to the existing dwelling house

  Retention · Limerick County Council, 25307

• 4 Aug 2020Conditional

  construction of a domestic extension to our existing dwelling house consisting of two bedrooms, family room, snooker room, wet room, utility room. Relocate the existing septic tank and percolation area to facilitate the said extension and all associated services

  Permission · Limerick County Council, 20753

• 31 Oct 2019Conditional

  construction of a three bedroom dormer bungalow, detached domestic garage, a mechanical aeration system with polishing filter, front entrance and all associated services

  Permission, 1 home · Limerick County Council, 191078

• 16 Jan 2018Conditional

  construction of a two storey dwelling house, detached domestic garage, wastewater treatment system, percolation area, entrance and all ancillary site works

  Permission, 1 home · Limerick County Council, 1826

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 the townland of Kilfinny.

Recorded monuments

• LI030-041 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  In pasture, on gently undulating terrain. Monument, depicted as embanked circular enclosure (diam. c. 30m) on 1924 OS 6-inch map, now almost completely covered by dense overgrowth. Where accessible it is enclosed by low earthen bank (H c. 0.5m) with external fosse (Wth c. 0.7m) and counterscarp bank (int. H 1.5m; ext. H 0.95m) which has been stone faced to form part of surrounding field boundary system. Field boundaries abut bank at E, W and S. Compiled by: Denis Power Date of upload: 26 August 2011 See attached ASI aerial photograph ASIAP – taken on 04/03/2006.

• LI030-042 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  In pasture, on gently undulating terrain. Circular area (diam. c. 35m) enclosed by earthen bank (int. H 0.9m; ext. H 1.9m) with external fosse (Wth 1.7m). A field boundary runs along outer edge of fosse and is abutted by field boundaries at NE and E. Another field boundary which abutted enclosure at SSW has been removed. Causeway entrance (Wth 2m) at E. Interior is completely covered by dense overgrowth but appears to dip slightly down towards centre. Compiled by: Denis Power Date of upload: 26 August 2011 See attached ASI aerial photographs ASIAP – taken on 04/03/2006.

• LI030-043 Windmill
  Description

  At N end of summit of limestone ridge. According to local information tall circular tower demolished c. 1995. Area where tower stood now much disturbed- it lies c. 30m from edge of active stone quarry; no surviving remains of structure identified. Similar windmill (LI030-045---), c. 250m to SSE, also demolished c. 1995. The 1654-56 Civil Survey of Limerick recorded that LT. Coll. William Piggott was the owner of Kilfinny which contained 'a castle [LI030-048----] an orchard and a mill seate [LI030-043/-45----]' (Simington 1938, 289). Westropp (1906-7, 221-2) recorded the Kilfinny windmill; 'Jan., 1642. The C[astle]. was besieged by the Confederates under Edy Lacy, of Bruree, who laid an ambuscade, but was driven off by ten "mosceters" on a windmill. Gen. Purcell next arrived, who took the mill and barns, whence he was driven, and the buildings were burned in a sally, 8th and 9th. Ric. Stephenson, the sheriff, next assailed the C[astle]. and was shot. An attempt was made to capture it by "sows," but they were pierced through. It was then so loosely blockaded that Lady Dowdall relieved Croom five times from it. The surrender of Limerick C[astle]. gave heavy guns to the Confederates, so that Purcell, with a great force, assailed Kilfinny. After three shots Lady Dowdall surrendered, and was brought off safely by Lord Inchiquin (Hist. Irish Confeds. ii., p. 69, Deps. 138, 376). 1655 Killfinie C[astle]. orchard, and mill seat held by Gerott FitzGarrold (C.S., p. 46)'. Compiled by: Denis Power Date of upload: 26 August 2011

• LI030-044 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  In rough pasture, on N-facing slope of limestone ridge. Circular area (24m N-S; 24m E-W) enclosed by denuded earth-and-stone bank (int. H 0.35m; ext. H 1.05m) best preserved NW->NE. Field boundary, which formerly skirted enclosure at N, is recently removed; uneven surface of interior may result from dumping of this material here. Interior is covered by thistles. Compiled by: Denis Power Date of upload: 26 August 2011

• LI030-045 Windmill
  Description

  At S end of summit of limestone ridge. According to local information tall circular stone-built tower demolished c. 1995. Now reduced to mound of rubble (c. 8m N-S; c. 6m E-W; H c. 1m). Similar windmill, c. 250m to NNW (LI030-043---), also demolished c. 1995. The 1654-56 Civil Survey of Limerick recorded that LT. Coll. William Piggott was the owner of Kilfinny which contained 'a castle [LI030-048----] an orchard and a mill seate [LI030-043/-45----]' (Simington 1938, 289). Westropp (1906-7, 221-2) recorded the Kilfinny windmill; 'Jan., 1642. The C[astle]. was besieged by the Confederates under Edy Lacy, of Bruree, who laid an ambuscade, but was driven off by ten "mosceters" on a windmill. Gen. Purcell next arrived, who took the mill and barns, whence he was driven, and the buildings were burned in a sally, 8th and 9th. Ric. Stephenson, the sheriff, next assailed the C[astle]. and was shot. An attempt was made to capture it by "sows," but they were pierced through. It was then so loosely blockaded that Lady Dowdall relieved Croom five times from it. The surrender of Limerick C[astle]. gave heavy guns to the Confederates, so that Purcell, with a great force, assailed Kilfinny. After three shots Lady Dowdall surrendered, and was brought off safely by Lord Inchiquin (Hist. Irish Confeds. ii., p. 69, Deps. 138, 376). 1655 Killfinie C[astle]. orchard, and mill seat held by Gerott FitzGarrold (C.S., p. 46)'. Compiled by: Denis Power Date of upload: 26 August 2011

• LI030-046 Ringfort - cashel
  Description

  In rough grazing, on S-facing slope just below brow of limestone ridge. Oval area (29m N-S; 26m E-W) enclosed by denuded stony bank (int. H 0.95m; ext. H 0.35; Wth base 9.35m) best preserved on E side; gap in bank to SSW may indicate former entrance. Interior, over which much loose stone is scattered, slopes down to south following natural gradient. Projecting c. 12m into interior from bank to N is denuded stony bank (H c. 0.5m; Wth 4.5m); short run of similar bank in SW quadrant (L 3.9m; axis ESE-WNW); just inside bank to S is low clearance cairn. Abutting enclosure to NNE and SE, and extending downhill from it to S (for c. 40m) and E (for c. 20m) are denuded banks of relict curvilinear field system, possibly contemporary with enclosure. Compiled by: Denis Power Date of upload: 26 August 2011 See attached ASI aerial photographs ASIAP – taken on 04/03/2006.

• LI030-047 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  In pasture, on gentle S-facing slope, just below brow of low rise. Roughly circular area (28.15m N-S; 25.7m E-W) enclosed by earthen bank (int. H 0.55m; ext. H 1.9m) with external fosse (D 0.7m; Wth 2m). Interior, in pasture, is crossed by metalled farm track which cuts through enclosure's defences at NE and SW. Causeway entrance (Wth 4.9m) at SE. Gap (Wth 6.8m) in bank at NW. Site is enclosed by small rectangular field (c. 50m N-S; c. 40m E-W) the E and W boundaries of which overlie fosse on those sides. Compiled by: Denis Power Date of upload: 26 August 2011 See attached ASI aerial photographs ASIAP – taken on 04/03/2006.

• LI030-048 Castle - hall-house
  Description

  Kilfinny Castle and bawn (LI030-048001-) described in 1840 as follows; 'said to have been built in the reign of king John by Cormac Mac Eniry, one of the ancient chiefs of Corcomohid, whose principal seat was at Castletown Mac Eniry it was forfeited in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and was beseiged by the Irish under Col. Purcell in 1641 It is said to have been last inhabited by Lady Dowdall. Its remains consist of 2 quadrilateral towers and a Court. The towers, standing, at the N. and S. ends of the Court, are roughly 20 ft. [6m] by 8½ ft. [2.6m], and contained 2 arched floors, over which were 2 other stories, 4 stories in all. The Court measures 32 ft. [9.75m] by 20 ft. [6m], and contains one arched floor, end over this 2 stories, 3 stories in all. Its walls are about 35 ft. [10.6m] high and 3½ ft. [1m] in thickness' (OSNB Kilfinny Parish, 949) Castle described in the Ordnance Survey Letters as; 'The Castle of Kilfinny lies about a quarter of a mile south of the old Church and in the Townland of Kilfinny. It consists of two quadrangular towers and court. The tower which lies to the south measures twenty feet by eight and a half feet and contains two arched floors over which there are two other stories, in all four stories. It is about forty five feet high, the walls being three and a half feet in thickness. North of this tower and attached to it is the Court, which measures thirty two feet by twenty feet and contains one arched floor and over this two stories, in all three. Its walls are about thirty five feet high and three and a half feet in thickness. At the north end of the Court there is another quadrangular tower similar to that on the south. These towers contain pointed windows and loop holes. The Castle of Kilfinny is said to have belonged to the family of Mac Eniry, the ancient Chiefs of Corcomohid whose principal seat was at Castletown Mc Eniry' (O'Flanagan 1929, 45). The 1654-56 Civil Survey of Limerick recorded that LT. Coll. William Piggott was the owner of Kilfinny which contained 'a castle an orchard and a mill seate [LI030-043/-45----]' (Simington 1938, 289). Fortified house type castle depicted on the 1657 Down Survey map of Connello Barony (Hib. Reg.). Westropp (1906-7, 221-2) recorded the following details about Kilfinny Castle; '1201 Kellnafidnaigi (B.B.L., p. 14). 1289 T. Bretnach deprived of Kylnafytheny, but reinstated (Plea R., 13); 1336 Kylfynygy; 1418 Kylnafynygy. In 1569 Kilfenny C[astle]. surrendered (C.S.P.L). 1583 Ger. f. Tho., when he rebelled with Desmond, held C[astle]. "gardin; hort; pomar; edif; et molend," in parish of Ballynekylley, much wasted and ruined (Des. R., 70b; Peyton, 240b; Inq. Exch., 11). 1588 Granted to Billingsley (F. 5171). 1604 Put in settlement by Sir J. Dowdall to secure jointure to his wife Eliz., daughter of Sir T. Southwell (Exch. Deeds, P.R.O.I., 15, p. 22). 1615 The Bishop claimed it, but it was retained by Billingsley. 1623 Will of Sir J. Dowdall (Exch. Deeds, p. 46), Jan., 1642. The C[astle]. was besieged by the Confederates under Edy Lacy, of Bruree, who laid an ambuscade, but was driven off by ten "mosceters" on a windmill. Gen. Purcell next arrived, who took the mill and barns, whence he was driven, and the buildings were burned in a sally, 8th and 9th. Ric. Stephenson, the sheriff, next assailed the C[astle]. and was shot. An attempt was made to capture it by "sows," but they were pierced through. It was then so loosely blockaded that Lady Dowdall relieved Croom five times from it. The surrender of Limerick C[astle]. gave heavy guns to the Confederates, so that Purcell, with a great force, assailed Kilfinny. After three shots Lady Dowdall surrendered, and was brought off safely by Lord Inchiquin (Hist. Irish Confeds. ii., p. 69, Deps. 138, 376). 1655 Killfinie C[astle]. orchard, and mill seat held by Gerott FitzGarrold (C.S., p. 46). 1683 Gertrude, wife of J. Piggott and dau. of Sir T. Southwell, was buried at Kilfinny, and a monument erected in 1718 (FitzGerald i., p. 383). Fabric - A court and two towers, the southern 20 feet by 8 feet inside; walls 3½ feet thick and 45 feet high, with two vaulted and two upper stories. The court is 32 feet by 20 feet, with three stories; the lower vaulted. The north tower has pointed windows and loops. It is traditionally a McEniry Castle (O.S.L., 8, p. 130)'. Castle classified by Donnelly (1999, 22, 37) as a Type 3 Tower House which are; 'irregular tower houses, each of which had its own particular and unique floor plan that differed significantly in form from those recorded elsewhere in the county'. Kilfinny Castle described by Salter (2004, 86) as follows; 'This MacEniry castle was granted to the Billingsleys in 1588. Lady Dowdall was here besieged for forty weeks by Eady Lacy for the Confederate Irish in 1641 . It has a bawn with flankers 4.2m square on the east corners. A 17th century range adjoins the SE flanker. On the west side is a 13th century hall house measuring 16.8m by 8.2m wide over walls 1m thick above a battered base and probably originally having an upper storey hall with a chamber at the north end, where there is straight service stair in a thick end wall. This part was later divided off by an inserted crosswall and built up as a tower with the second level vaulted whilst the hall was given a solid floor over two vaults supported on a longitudinal crosswall and some sort of porch was added at the south end'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 9 December 2020

• LI030-048001 Bawn
  Description

  Kilfinny Castle (LI030-048----) and bawn described in 1840 as follows; 'Its remains consist of 2 quadrilateral towers and a Court. The towers, standing, at the N. and S. ends of the Court, are roughly 20 ft. [6m] by 8½ ft. [2.6m], and contained 2 arched floors, over which were 2 other stories, 4 stories in all. The Court measures 32 ft. [9.75m] by 20 ft. [6m], and contains one arched floor, end over this 2 stories, 3 stories in all. Its walls are about 35 ft. [10.6m] high and 3½ ft. [1m] in thickness' (OSNB Kilfinny Parish, 949). The 1654-56 Civil Survey of Limerick recorded that LT. Coll. William Piggott was the owner of Kilfinny which contained 'a castle an orchard and a mill seate' (Simington 1938, 289). Westropp (1906-7, 221-2) recorded the following details about Kilfinny Castle; 'Jan., 1642. The C[astle]. was besieged by the Confederates under Edy Lacy, of Bruree, who laid an ambuscade, but was driven off by ten "mosceters" on a windmill. Gen. Purcell next arrived, who took the mill and barns, whence he was driven, and the buildings were burned in a sally, 8th and 9th. Ric. Stephenson, the sheriff, next assailed the C[astle]. and was shot. An attempt was made to capture it by "sows," but they were pierced through. It was then so loosely blockaded that Lady Dowdall relieved Croom five times from it. The surrender of Limerick C[astle]. gave heavy guns to the Confederates, so that Purcell, with a great force, assailed Kilfinny. After three shots Lady Dowdall surrendered, and was brought off safely by Lord Inchiquin (Hist. Irish Confeds. ii., p. 69, Deps. 138, 376). 1655 Killfinie C[astle]. orchard, and mill seat held by Gerott FitzGarrold (C.S., p. 46). 1683 Gertrude, wife of J. Piggott and dau. of Sir T. Southwell, was buried at Kilfinny, and a monument erected in 1718 (FitzGerald i., p. 383). Fabric - A court and two towers, the southern 20 feet by 8 feet inside; walls 3½ feet thick and 45 feet high, with two vaulted and two upper stories. The court is 32 feet by 20 feet, with three stories; the lower vaulted. The north tower has pointed windows and loops. It is traditionally a McEniry Castle (O.S.L., 8, p. 130)'. Kilfinny Castle described by Salter (2004, 86) as follows; 'It has a bawn with flankers 4.2m square on the east corners. A 17th century range adjoins the SE flanker. On the west side is a 13th century hall house [LI030-048----] measuring 16.8m by 8.2m wide over walls 1m thick above a battered base and probably originally having an upper storey hall with a chamber at the north end, where there is straight service stair in a thick end wall. This part was later divided off by an inserted crosswall and built up as a tower with the second level vaulted whilst the hall was given a solid floor over two vaults supported on a longitudinal crosswall and some sort of porch was added at the south end'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 9 December 2020

• LI030-049 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  In pasture, with surface outcropping of limestone, atop low hill. Circular area (22m N-S; 22m E-W) enclosed by denuded earth-and-stone bank (int. H 0.25m; ext. H 0.4m), best preserved N->SSW. Interior, under pasture with limestone outcrops, slopes down gently to E; just S-of-centre is raised sub-circular area (c. 5m E-W; c. 6m N-S; max. H 0.4m). Compiled by: Denis Power Date of upload: 26 August 2011

• LI030-050 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  In pasture, on gentle W-facing slope. Monument, depicted as embanked circular enclosure (diam. c. 40m) on 1841 OS 6-inch map, has been levelled. No trace of monument evident when inspected. Compiled by: Denis Power Date of upload: 26 August 2011

• LI030-160 Fulacht fia
  Description

  The site was excavated by Emer Dennehy (02E0559) during monitoring of topsoil-stripping along Section 3 of the Bord Gáis Éireann pipeline from Goatisland, Co. Limerick, to Gort, Co. Galway. 'The site was revealed as a shallow, subcircular burnt mound, measuring 21m north-south and composed of 80% fire-cracked limestone to a depth of 0.22m. The site was heavily disturbed in the south-east by two large, filled drains. There were three separate phases of activity at the site. Phase I began with the excavation and use of two troughs. Trough 1 was subcircular, measuring 1.7m north-south by 1.4m by 0.48m deep. Trough 2 was sub-oval, measuring 1.53m by 0.96m by 0.53m deep. Also associated with this phase were three pot-boilers, all of which were subcircular, the largest being 1.3m long, 0.9m wide and 0.32m deep. All of the troughs from this phase were filled with fire-cracked limestone. Phase II of the site is represented by the excavation of a subrectangular trough, measuring 2.5m north-south by 0.7m by 0.34m deep. The fill was predominantly large pieces of burnt limestone. Phase III is defined by the cutting of two large, linear, filled drains that ran across the south-eastern corner of the site. Both of these features have a primary fill of burnt limestone, showing slippage from the surrounding mound. Given the amount of burnt limestone in the fill, it was concluded that the troughs associated with Phase I were not used for the open cooking of foodstuffs. The pot-boilers contained a quantity of sandstone and limestone, showing that they were used to provide sustained heat. The Phase II trough (with its limestone fill) was not used for cooking. With both drains being filled with burnt-mound material (indicating slippage), it can be concluded that the area of the mound must have been levelled for agricultural use and would originally have had a much greater depth.' The above description is posted on the web at the following internet address: http://www.excavations.ie/ (accessed 22 August 2012). Compiled by: Denis Power Date of upload: 22 August 2012

• LI030-161 Fulacht fia
  Description

  This site was excavated by Graham Hull (02E0581) as part of Bord Gáis Éireann's Pipeline to the West. 'It lay on generally flat pasture, with a rectified stream immediately to the south-east. Very thin patches of fire-cracked stone were observed across a hand-cleaned area of c. 20m by 20m. These patches were probably remnants of a formerly more substantial stone spread. The stream clearly cut the deposits of burnt stone, and modern agricultural activity has possibly further damaged what may have been a larger monument. Indeed, a section of the western baulk of the machined spread revealed a layer of burnt stone, 0.2m thick. The topsoil-stripping before construction of the pipeline may have substantially damaged the burnt mound. A single trough filled with laminated deposits of burnt stone and charcoal-rich soil was positioned centrally in the examined area. This feature was oval, measuring 2.05m north-east/south west by 1.6m. In profile the trough was bowl shaped, with gently sloping sides coming down to a flattish base, 0.45m deep. Five fills were observed. The primary fill was a light grey silt, 0.09m thick, with an ashy texture. The second fill was a dark grey/black, silty clay that included 45-55% burnt limestone pieces and was 0.16-0.22m thick. The third fill was a dark brown/black, peaty deposit, 0.09m thick. Above this was a thin (0.03m) deposit of burnt stone, probably derived from the presumed modern agricultural disturbance. Topsoil, 0.24m thick, was the final fill of the trough. Three artefacts were recovered from the vicinity of the trough. Two flint flakes were found in the disturbed burnt stone deposits, and a piece of bottle glass was retrieved from the final topsoil fill of the trough. Soil samples of the primary and secondary fills of the trough were taken for charcoal recovery and possible species identification and radiocarbon dating. The site represented part of a damaged fulacht fiadh and an associated and undamaged trough. These archaeological deposits are likely to be Bronze Age, and the stratified deposits found in the trough may facilitate the refining of the monument chronology. The two flint flakes add to the small corpus of artefactual material recovered in conjunction with fulachta fiadh.' The above description is posted on the web at the following internet address: http://www.excavations.ie/ (accessed 22 August 2012). Compiled by: Denis Power Date of upload: 22 August 2012

• LI030-170 Fulacht fia
  Description

  In gently undulating, low-lying pasture. A spread of burnt material (9m N-S; 10m E-W) immediately W of a drainage trench which is cut along the W side of a N-S field boundary. The E side of the trench shows burnt material to a depth of 0.3m below present ground level. Compiled by: Denis Power Date of upload: 26 August 2011

• LI030-171 Kiln - lime
  Description

  At base of E-facing slope of limestone ridge, on W side of abandoned passageway. Much of S side of kiln recently demolished. Arched opening faced E but only springing of red-brick arch survives. Front face battered (H 2.5m) and then set-back (Wth 0.1m) at level of top of arch, then rises vertically a further c. 1m. Top back of kiln (W end) level with slope; front projects 6.3m forward. Funnel either destroyed or covered by rubble. Built of uncoursed limestone. Compiled by: Denis Power Date of upload: 26 August 2011

Architectural heritage

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

Designated sites: National Parks and Wildlife Service. Recorded monuments: Sites and Monuments Record, National Monuments Service. Buildings: National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Works at or in relation to a recorded monument need two months' written notice to the National Monuments Service (National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994, section 12).

Radon

About 1 in 5 homes in this area is likely to have high radon levels. Testing a home

Landslides

Susceptibility moderately high, moderately low, low, low (inferred), on the 1:50,000 map.

Terrain model

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

Flooding

The flood maps of the Office of Public Works: floodinfo.ie.

Radon Risk Map of Ireland, Environmental Protection Agency; Landslide Susceptibility Classification, Geological Survey Ireland; both CC BY 4.0. LiDAR: contains Irish Public Sector Data (Geological Survey Ireland & the Office of Public Works) licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.

• Kilfinny, Adare10 sales

Name

Kilfinny · Cill na Fíonaí

Area

2,904,047 m² (290.4 ha, 717.61 acres)

Civil parish

Kilfinny, and its townlands

Barony

Connello Upper

Electoral division

Kilfinny, the unit of the census

Census 2022

Kilfinny electoral division: 314 people in 103 households; 90% of households own their home; 34% of homes were built since 2001; 9% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 2% were holiday homes.

Neighbouring townlands

Ballyfoleen North, Ballyfoleen South, Ballymackeamore, Ballynakill, Commons, Kilmacow, Lisduff

Placenames

Kilfinny on logainm.ie, the Placenames Database of Ireland

Townlands, civil parishes, baronies and electoral divisions, National Statutory Boundaries, Tailte Éireann, CC BY 4.0. Census 2022, Small Area Population Statistics by electoral division, Central Statistics Office, CC BY 4.0. A townland is the smallest land division of Ireland, and the unit of a rural address; old registers such as the 1901 and 1911 censuses file it under its civil parish and barony.