Rathbane South

17 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Rathbane South, from 122 m² to 156,817 m² (15.68 ha, 38.75 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary; 36 neighbouring parcels touch it.

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

• R2Existing Residential (Existing residential)
  Limerick Development Plan 2022-2028, Limerick · 20 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
• G5Open Space and Recreation (Mixed/general 'green'/recreation/conservation, other)
  Limerick Development Plan 2022-2028, Limerick · 17 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
• P1Agriculture
  Limerick Development Plan 2022-2028, Limerick · 4 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
• S5Education and Community Facilities (Mixed/general community services/facilities uses)
  Limerick Development Plan 2022-2028, Limerick · 1 parcels The zoning objective in the plan

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

• 16 Jul 2026N/a

  the demolition of an existing previous administration building and all associated site works

  Permission · Limerick County Council, 2660810

• 26 Aug 2020Conditional

  change of use for an existing single storey building from use as a workshop to use as an after school facility, minor alterations to the existing single storey building. The proposed works are in proximity to Southill House, a protected structure(RPS 1637)

  Retention · Limerick County Council, 20829

• 26 Sept 2017Conditional

  the existing building as constructed (previously used for childcare purposes) to provide pre-school facilities to enhance the current childcare services and propose minor alteration to the internal layout and external façade including ancillary site works. These works are adjacent the protected structure on this site

  Retention · Limerick County Council, 17885

• 27 Mar 2017Conditional

  1. Reinstatement & widening of original 19th C. entrance gateway from public road, 2. Repair of original boundary wall flanking public road, 3. Construction of new car park and associated works (This is a protected structure No. RPS 1637)

  Permission · Limerick County Council, 17263

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 Rathbane South.

Recorded monuments

• LI013-020 Barrow - unclassified
  Description

  Situated immediately S of Rathbane Golf Course, in gently rolling pasture, prior to road construction. The monument has been impacted on by the construction of the N20. Indicated with hachures on the 1924 OS 6-inch map, as an oval platform or mound (diam. c. 40m NW-SE; 20m N-S). Test excavations were carried out in 1997 by Audrey Gahan for ADS (97E0287), in advance of road construction for the N20/N21. The site 'appeared on inspection as a sub circular mound. Slight depressions in the surrounding area suggested the possibility of a ditch. The mound, which was approximately 15m in diameter, was constructed by layers of redeposited subsoil. A row of large stones was uncovered which may represent kerbing. That the mound had been heavily truncated became immediately apparent…Under the redeposited material the remains of a ditch, encircling the mound, were uncovered. This was roughly v-shaped and was also largely filled with redeposited subsoil. The possible remains of a second ditch were found, between 1m and 2m beyond the first ditch. This was ill-defined and was filled by redeposited boulder clay. No artefacts were recovered which could suggest a date for the site. Excavations by Frank Coyne of Aegis under licence No. 99E0630 were summarised as following; 'This site was first noted during fieldwork for an archaeological impact assessment for the Limerick Southern Ring Road and identified as a possible barrow. It was subsequently test-trenched and found to be of archaeological merit and was then excavated from December 1999 to February 2000. This site was almost perfectly circular, measuring 14.5m north-south by 14m, and survived to a maximum height of 0.75m. It was already known from local information that this mound was substantially denuded in recent years in an attempt to level the land. However, a sufficient amount of the site survived to indicate two distinct phases of activity. It appears that this site originally took the form of a low mound, created from a layer of stone cobbles and capped with a layer of redeposited clay. This clay was removed in recent years in the course of land improvements, but the cobbled layer survived. A small quantity of cremated bone and a quantity of charcoal were recovered from this surface. Removal of this layer of cobbles exposed a substantial amount of pre-mound activity in the form of several irregular cut features in the naturally occurring boulder clay. The largest of these measured 3.18m north-south by 4.54m, having a depth of almost 2m. A substantial amount of charcoal was recovered from this cut, as was a quantity of animal bone, a piece of flint and portion of a human femur. A nearby pond, which curved around the site from west to north, measuring 25m in length, may have been the source for the original clay capping of the site. Several post-holes were excavated around the perimeter of the site but did not form any discernible pattern. A 50m area was stripped of topsoil on either side of this site, but no additional features were uncovered. No enclosing element was uncovered. The available evidence seems to point to this site being the remains of a funerary monument in the barrow tradition.

• LI013-171 Fulacht fia
  Description

  Identified during archaeological monitoring associated with the N20/N21 Limerick Bypass road scheme. Fulacht fia (LI013-172----) located 70m to S. Excavated under licence no. 99E0634 by Catherine McLoughlin (McLoughlin 1999), the results were summarised as following; ‘a spread of burnt stone within a charcoal-rich ploughsoil. The spread measured 14m north-south by 28m. The site consisted of several layers of soil, all of which had been disturbed by ploughing. These contexts, which contained varying levels of burnt stone and charcoal, overlay a series of subsoil-cut features. Unfortunately, the relationship between some of these features had been obscured by pre-construction engineering test-pits. The main phase of activity on the site was represented by a rectangular pit that held evidence of in situ burning. This pit, which had straight sides and a flat base, had a mean depth of 0.5m, measured 2.75m by 1.8m and was immediately identified as the trough or central feature of the site. A large circular pit with a maximum depth of 1.35m and an average diameter of 3.9m was immediately to the west of the trough. This feature was lined with a layer of clay, indicating that it had a water-holding function. The pit may have been used as a cistern to store the water necessary for the cooking process in the adjacent trough. This possibility is supported by the absence of naturally rising or running water in the immediate vicinity of the site, which was within an area of dry, natural gravels. Another feature, which ran diagonally across the site along a south-east/north-west direction, was also identified as having a water-management function. This gully, which fell steadily toward the north-west, had steep sides and a gently rounded bottom. It had an average width and depth of 1.1m and 0.48m respectively and ran for a recorded length of 15m. In common with the large pit, which was a minimum distance of 2m to the west, this gully had an applied clay lining. Unfortunately, the relationship between the two features was obscured by a pre-construction test-pit. Several smaller features (pits and stake-holes) were identified and excavated below the level of the burnt material; no archaeological features were identified beyond the spread of burnt stone. Although the various fills of the large pit mentioned above contained bones from both wild and domestic animals, no artefacts datable without scientific analysis were recovered from the site’ (www.excavations.ie; McLoughlin 2000, 179-80). Compiled by: Martin Fitzpatrick Date upload: 26 June 2020

• LI013-172 Fulacht fia
  Description

  Identified during archaeological monitoring associated with the N20/N21 Limerick Bypass. Fulacht fia (LI013-171----) located 70m to N. Excavated under licence no. 99E0633 by Catherine McLoughlin (McLoughlin 1999), the results were summarised as following; ‘The site was a roughly circular spread of black soil and heat-shattered stone that measured 7.5m east-west by 8.5m and was c. 0.2m deep. Several pits were found beneath the burnt spread, as well as a trough and fire-pit. The trough was an oval cut into the subsoil and measured 2.6m north-south by 1.9m. The depth of the cut varied but at its maximum was 0.4m, and it was filled by burnt mound debris. The fire-pit was 0.5m to the east of the trough. It measured 1.7m east-west by 1.2m and had a maximum depth of 0.35m. The base of the cut was filled by an extremely charcoal-rich layer with some burnt stone. Twelve stake-holes ran between the trough and the fire-pit, which would have acted as a windbreak. Several other pits were found in the vicinity of the trough and fire-pit, none of which produced any artefacts. All these features were sealed beneath the burnt spread, which was cut by a later gully and several lazy-beds. The gully was linear and orientated east-west. No artefacts were recovered from the fill to suggest a date for its use’ (www.excavations.ie; McLoughlin 2000, 179). Compiled by: Martin Fitzpatrick Date upload: 26 June 2020

• LI013-173 Fulacht fia
  Description

  Identified during archaeological monitoring associated with the N20/N21 Limerick Bypass. Fulacht fia (LI013-171----) located approx. 100m to E. Excavated under licence no. 99E0525 by Catherine McLoughlin (McLoughlin 1999), the results were summarised as following: ‘The site was an artificial platform of brushwood, peat and clay. The brushwood base was horizontally laid, with no evidence for vertical pegs to hold the larger timbers in place. The timbers were very poorly preserved and showed no signs of toolmarks. They were laid on top of an apparently natural peat layer and were concentrated underneath a peaty redeposit in an area measuring c. 8.5m east-west by 3.5m. Above the layers of timber and peat a thin deposit of tacky, grey clay formed an artificial ground surface above the natural water level. This clay layer was cut in the north-western quadrant of the platform by a shallow, subcircular pit that had a maximum depth of 0.4m and a mean diameter of 1.24m. The pit was filled by two peaty deposits but yielded no artefacts. The pit, its fills and the grey clay surface were sealed beneath a charcoal-rich layer of heat-shattered sandstone, with a maximum depth of 0.3m. Although this layer conforms to the classic definition of fulacht fiadh material, no further evidence, such as a definite trough feature or traces of on-site burning, indicate the use of the site as a cooking area. The presence of an extensive fulacht fiadh c. 100m to the east (LI013-171----) suggests that the stony, charcoal-rich layer may have been transported to the site to refurbish the artificial platform following the abandonment of the pit. No datable artefacts were recovered from the site (www.excavations.ie; McLoughlin 2000, 179). Compiled by: Martin Fitzpatrick Date upload: 26 June 2020

• LI013-175 Fulacht fia
  Description

  Identified during archaeological monitoring associated with the Limerick Main Drainage Scheme. Excavated under licence no. 00E0431 by Edmond O’Donovan (O’Donovan 2000), the results were summarised as following; ‘The initial archaeological excavations led to the identification of a horseshoe-shaped mound consisting of charcoal and heat-shattered sandstone measuring 13m north–south by 14m, with a maximum depth of 0.2m. An area of burning filled the open end of the horseshoe to the west. Two troughs, C17 and C18, were identified under the burnt mound material; a third feature either pre-dated the mound or was an uncompleted trough. These were located towards the centre of the mound and on an east-south-east/west-north-west axis. A thin layer of compact, plastic, grey/purple clay lay under the sandstone (though not within the troughs) directly over subsoil. This was interpreted as a buried sod. A total of 80 features were excavated: 58 stake-holes, 5 plank settings, 4 modern linear field drains, 3 troughs, 2 pits and 8 other features. Trough C17 was sub-oval in plan and contained a subcircular arrangement of 35–8 stake-holes cut within its base, which was lined with a thin deposit of sand. A later addition to the trough was cut into its eastern extent. Trough C18 was subrectangular in plan with near-vertical sides and had five plank-holes and one stake-hole cut within its flat base. Two artefacts were recovered, a flint flake and a chert hollow-based arrowhead. The association of the hollow-based arrowhead with the site suggests a date for the monument in the Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age. The site was clearly multi-phased; however, the span over which this ranged awaits the confirmation of radiocarbon dating. A further feature, not visible on the surface prior to excavation, was discovered approximately 15m to the north of the site. It consisted of a V-shaped cut (pit, 0.72m deep, 2.8m east–west) associated with a thin band of charcoal-rich clay running c. 7m east–west (www.excavations.ie; 0607). Radiocarbon dating of charcoal from the lower fill of the trough indicated occupation at the site between 2199 and 1983 BC (O’Donovan 2002, 26). Compiled by: Martin Fitzpatrick Date upload: 26 June 2020

• LI013-216 Cremation pit
  Description

  Identified by Avril Hayes during archaeological pre-development testing (Licence 00E0855) associated with the Limerick Southern Ring Road Project. A corn drying kiln (LI013-217----) was located approx. 10m to E. Excavated under licence no. 00E0855 ext. by Avril Hayes (Hayes 2001), the results were summarised as following; ‘A ‘token’ cremation deposit was recovered from one of the isolated pits. The pit measured 0.35m in diameter and was 0.4m in depth. This adult cremation consisted of long bone fragments with some skull vault fragments and one finger bone fragment’ (www.excavations.ie 2001; 595 & 796, Hayes 2001, 16). Compiled by: Martin Fitzpatrick Date upload: 30 June 2020

• LI013-217 Kiln - corn-drying
  Description

  Identified by Avril Hayes during archaeological pre-development testing (License 00E0855) associated with the Limerick Southern Ring Road Project. A cremation pit (LI013-216----) was located approx. 10m to W. Excavated under licence 00E8055 ext. by Avril Hayes (Hayes 2001), the results were summarised as following; ‘Excavation of the larger feature revealed it to be curvilinear, 10m long, 1.1m wide and 0.07m deep. Only the north and east portion survived, but it seemed to enclose a drying kiln to the south and west. The drying kiln was orientated north–south with the drying pit at north. The kiln was 5m long and varied in width from the burning-pit, 1.5m, to the flue, 0.75m. The cut of the kiln was filled with charcoal, and with ash in the flue and the burning-pit. A greyish brown silt filled the drying-pit. Roughly hewn limestones lined the sides of the kiln but they were present only in patches. The lining was heavily disturbed. The curvilinear feature has been interpreted as a possible barn enclosing the kiln.’ (www.excavations.ie 2001; 595 & 796, Hayes 2001). Compiled by: Martin Fitzpatrick Date upload: 30 June 2020

• LI013-218 Excavation - miscellaneous
  Description

  Identified by Avril Hayes during archaeological pre-development testing (Licence 00E0855) associated with the Limerick Southern Ring Road Project. A Corn Drying Kiln (LI013-217----) was located to E. Excavated under licence no. 00E0855 ext. by Avril Hayes (Hayes 2001), the results were summarised as following; ‘A number of other features were located to the south and west of the kiln. The first was a possible rectangular structure aligned north–south, evidenced by a linear arrangement of large post-holes running parallel to a possible slot-trench 4m to the west of the post-holes. The second feature was a large oval pit, 2m by 1.4m, located 2.5m west of the drying kiln. A small amount of iron slag was recovered from the bottom of the pit, which may suggest that it was a metalworking pit.’ (www.excavations.ie 2001; 595 & 796, Hayes 2001). Compiled by: Martin Fitzpatrick Date upload: 30 June 2020

Architectural heritage

• Southill House, house, 1810–1830 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached O-plan three-bay two-storey over basement former house, built c. 1820, facing south with a front entrance porch and two triple-height three-sided canted bays to the east and west elevations. A cobbled yard is attached to the north elevation with rebuilt outbuildings and a wrought-iron former vinery to the west. Former home of Peter Tait, now in use as a Community Resource Centre. Hipped natural slate roof with black clay ridge tiles and profiled cast-iron rainwater goods. Four centrally-placed rendered chimneystacks having four decorative square clay pots each. Overhanging eaves with a plain frieze and roll moulding below. Painted ruled and lined rendered walls with a moulded plinth course. Square-headed window openings with single-pane timber sash windows with ogee horns and limestone sills. Replacement uPVC windows to the basement of the three-sided bay to the east, set behind a retaining wall having a semi-circular cast-iron railing on limestone plinth course enclosing the basement below. Square-plan porch, formerly an open portico, comprising a round-arched opening to each side having moulded reveals, vermiculated keystones and channel rusticated walls with a continuous impost moulding. Modern hardwood glazed doors and overlights open from an encaustic tiled floor to two limestone steps. Within the porch is round-arched door opening flanked by a pair of timber pilasters and scrolled console brackets supporting a lintel architrave and hidden fanlight above. Raised and fielded timber-panelled door with a central fillet and limestone threshold stone. To the front of each bay to either side of the porch is a semi-circular cast-iron basement grille edged with limestone. A rendered screen wall set back to the north elevation has a segmental arched opening with Gibbsian limestone surround and steel door, the wall is attached to a rebuilt single-storey outbuilding having a three-pointed carriage arch with a cut limestone surround and pair of tongued and grooved timber gates leading to a cobbled yard with further stone outbuildings. Attached to the west elevation is a full-height extension containing the fire escape c. 1990, and an attached two-storey nursery wing c. 2000, with a further single-storey nursery extension c. 2004. Several parking areas and a winding tarmacadamed drive leads to the road with a pair of limestone piers and curved wings with the main inner piers and gates removed. Interior joinery remains intact with a large staircase with cast-iron balustrade leading to a damaged round-arched painted glass window to the half-landing. Three main reception room have elaborate classical painted and stencilled plaster walls and ceilings with decorative cornices and ceiling roses. To the first floor hall is a circular glazed lantern dome.

• Southill House, country house, 1810–1830 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached three-bay two-storey over basement former house, built c. 1820, facing south with a front entrance porch and two triple-height three-sided canted bays to the east and west elevations. A cobbled yard is attached to the north elevation with rebuilt outbuildings and a wrought-iron former vinery to the west. Former home of Peter Tait, now in use as a Community Resource Centre. Hipped natural slate roof with black clay ridge tiles and profiled cast-iron rainwater goods. Four centrally placed rendered chimneystacks having four decorative square clay pots each. Overhanging eaves with a plain frieze and roll moulding below. Painted ruled-and-lined rendered walls with a moulded plinth course. Square-headed window openings with single-pane timber sash windows with ogee horns and limestone sills. Replacement uPVC windows to the basement of the three-sided bay to the east, set behind a retaining wall having a semi-circular cast-iron railing on limestone plinth course enclosing the basement below. Square-plan porch, formerly an open portico, comprising a round-arched opening to each side having moulded reveals, vermiculated keystones and channel rusticated walls with a continuous impost moulding. Modern hardwood glazed doors and overlights open from an encaustic tiled floor to two limestone steps. Within the porch is round-arched door opening flanked by a pair of timber pilasters and scrolled console brackets supporting a lintel architrave and hidden fanlight above. Raised and fielded timber panelled door with a central fillet and limestone threshold stone. To the front of each bay to either side of the porch is a semi-circular cast-iron basement grille edged with limestone. A rendered screen wall set back to the north elevation has a segmental arched opening with Gibbsian limestone surround and steel door, the wall is attached to a rebuilt single-storey outbuilding having a three-pointed carriage arch with a cut limestone surround and pair of tongued and grooved timber gates leading to a cobbled yard with further stone outbuildings. Attached to the west elevation is a full-height extension containing the fire escape c. 1990, and an attached two-storey nursery wing c. 2000, with a further single-storey nursery extension c. 2004. Several parking areas and a winding tarmacadamed drive leads to the road with a pair of limestone piers and curved wings with the main inner piers and gates removed. Interior joinery remains intact with a large staircase with cast-iron balustrade leading to a damaged round-arched painted glass window to the half-landing. Three main reception room have elaborate classical painted and stencilled plaster walls and ceilings with decorative cornices and ceiling roses. To the first floor hall is a circular glazed lantern dome.

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 10 homes in this area is likely to have high radon levels. Testing a home

Landslides

Susceptibility low, low (inferred), on the 1:50,000 map; parts are made ground.

Terrain model

LiDAR of the Office of Public Works, flown in 2011, at 2 m: tile OPW_974 (ZIP).

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.

No address of the register names Rathbane South with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Limerick.

Name

Rathbane South · An Ráth Bhán Theas

Area

647,121 m² (64.71 ha, 159.91 acres)

Civil parish

St. Nicholas', and its townlands

Barony

Clanwilliam

Electoral division

Limerick South Rural, the unit of the census

Census 2022

Limerick South Rural electoral division: 2,215 people in 721 households; 82% of households own their home; 64% of homes were built since 2001; 3% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 0% were holiday homes.

Neighbouring townlands

Banemore, Rathbane North, Rathurd, Rossbrien

Placenames

Rathbane South 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.