Springfield

12 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Springfield, from 446 m² to 105,305 m² (10.53 ha, 26.02 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 Springfield 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.

• 16 Jun 2026N/a

  the construction of a new dwelling house, entrance off graveyard passage, domestic wastewater treatment system & all associated site works. (The proposed works are in the Curtilage of a Protected Structure)

  Permission, 1 home · Limerick County Council, 2660671

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 Springfield.

Recorded monuments

• LI054-004001 Church
  Description

  Near NE corner of graveyard (LI054-004002-). Only ivy-clad E gable (L 7.8m; full length c. 8m), and short return of S wall (L 0.7m), now stand; shown as rectangular (c. 20m E-W) church 'in ruins' on 1840 OS 6-inch map- remaining area of church now covered by burial plots. Built of roughly coursed limestone blocks. In centre is window with double ogee-headed light, missing its mullion; splayed embrasure covered by segmental arch has dressed limestone blocks along inner edge. Formerly church of Gort na Tiobraid (Westropp 1904-5, 406) which Spellissy (1989, 158) suggests may have been a chapel-of-ease built by Fitzgeralds (see LI054-005---). Compiled by: Denis Power Date of upload: 26 August 2011

• LI054-004002 Graveyard
  Description

  In demesne of Springfield Castle (see LI054-005---). Square graveyard (L c. 50m) enclosed by stone wall, with recent extension to S and SW. Still in use and maintained. Small collection of 18th and 19th century headstones, the earliest noted dated 1783. Near NE corner E gable of former church (LI054-004001-); on line of N wall of church is late-18th century chest tomb. No visible surface trace of C of I church which stood in NW corner of graveyard; limestone gate piers with iron gate in this corner probably contemporary with church. Compiled by: Denis Power Date of upload: 26 August 2011

• LI054-005 Castle - tower house
  Description

  The 1654-56 Civil Survey of Limerick recorded that in 1640 Sir Edmund Fitz Gerrald of Cloinegleisse an Irish Papist was the owner of 'Gortnatrabuid by common estimation 60 acres with a Castle and Bawne [LI054-005001-] and open quarie' (Simington 1938, 271). In 1840 the Ordnance Survey recorded the following about Gort na Tiobraide Castle; ‘In the Town land of Springfield (Gort na Tiobraid) and adjoining the dwelling house of Lord Muskerry, there is an Old square Castle, the walls of which are still perfect. It is four stories high and has one floor (the 2nd) arched. It measures thirty four feet [10.3m] by twenty one feet four inches [6.5m], the walls being about forty five feet [13.7m] high, five feet [1.5m] in thickness and built of large and small stones. The windows are all square and formed of cut lime stone. This Castle belonged, it is said, to the Desmond family‘ (O’Flanagan 1929, 20; OSL Killagholehane Parish). Westropp (1906-7, 236) recorded the following details about Gortnetubbrid (Gort na Tiobraide/Springfield) Castle in the townland of Springfield; '1569 Cortenaytowbryte C[astle]. surrendered (C.S.P.L). 1579 A fierce battle fought near it, in which Jas. f. Maur., who had recently returned from Spain, defeated the English under Drury and Malbie (A.F.M.). 1581 T. Caune f. J. de Geraldinis held it with Killeedy and Clenlish; his son Maur. succeeded (Des. R, 73b; Fi. 5998; Peyton, 244b; Inq. Exch, 11, 12, 20, 53, 54). 1607 Suit of Maur. f. Tho, of Gortentubert, and G. Oughtred Courtney (Equity Exch. Order, June). 1624 Pardon to T. Fitzgerald, of Cleanlishe, for alienation of Gortintubbrid C.[astle] by trust deed, 1614, to Theo. Lord Castleconnell and Tirlogh oge O'Brien for use of Slany Fitzgerald, alias O'Brien, his wife (Pat. R.). O'Sullivan Beare calls it "Ager fontis." 1653 M. Bromley, for horse soldiers quartered there, £35 7s. 0d. (Acct. R., 7b). 1655 The C[astle]. held by Sir E. Fitzgerald (C.S, p. 25). 1670 Sir E. Fitzgerald, Baronet, of Clanlish, confirmed in the C[astle]. (Act Sett.). 1703 Hon. W. Fitzgerald purchased Gortnetubbred C[astle]. and lands, the late estate of Sir J. Fitzgerald, attainted (Pat. R.). 1708 The latter fell at Oudenarde; his widow had a jointure on Gortnetubbrid'. Springfield Castle was described by the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) as follows; 'Attached Gothic Revival style country house with courtyard complex, commenced c. 1740, comprising attached eight-bay two-storey country house, rebuilt c. 1925, having single-bay three-stage entrance tower. Earlier two-bay three-storey wing to side (east) having single-bay three-stage gate tower with integral camber-headed carriage arch. Tooled limestone octagonal corner turrets with pinnacles to front (south) elevation of wing gate tower, rendered octagonal turrets and pinnacles to side (west) elevation of main block. Two-bay two-storey double-pile over basement block to rear (north) incorporating possibly earlier three-stage tower to north-west. Additional lean-to stairwell block to side (west) elevation of extension block. Now in use as a holiday home/commercial accommodation. Two-bay four-stage eighteenth-century tower house to northern end of eastern range. Attached to three-stage rectangular profile sixteenth-century tower house having rubble stone walls with battered plinth, dressed stone quoins and pointed arch vaulting above ground floor. Decorative window openings with carved limestone hoodmouldings and decorative tooled limestone mullions. Ruins of circular turret associated with original bawn wall [LI054-005001-] to north-west of tower house [LI054-005---]. Rubble stone enclosing walls forming folly to rear elevation and attached to side (south) elevation of sixteenth century tower house, having tooled limestone octagonal corner turret surmounted by rendered pinnacle. The house and courtyard complex are the ancestral home of Lord and Lady Muskerry and occupies the site of an old bawn associated with the sixteenth-century tower house. A visible mark to the tower house represents part of the roof line of an earlier eighteenth-century mansion that was built by John Fitzmaurice, a grandson of the 20th Lord of Kerry' (https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/21905404/springfield-castle-springfield-dromcolliher-limerick; NIAH Reg. No. 21905404). Tower house and bawn (LI054-005001-) described by Salter (2004, 96) as a 'roofless but well preserved late 16th century tower has four gables rising direct off the outer walls, and two circular bartizans at diagonally opposite corners. The second of the four storeys is vaulted. A circular bawn [LI054-005001-] flanker lies closely. Here in 1579 the Earl of Desmond's brother John inflicted a severe defeat on an English force. After Sir John Fitzgerald fled to France following the Treaty of Limerick in 1691 Springfield went to the FitzMaurices and later passed to the Deanes, Lords Muskerry. They laid out a new house in the bawn, but it was replaced after being burnt in the Civil War of 1923'. See attached photograph courtesy of Mike Searle (https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3037448) Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 7 October 2021

• LI054-005001 Bawn
  Description

  The 1654-56 Civil Survey of Limerick recorded that in 1640 Sir Edmund Fitz Gerrald of Cloinegleisse an Irish Papist was the owner of 'Gortnatrabuid (Gort na Tiobraide/Springfield) by common estimation 60 acres with a Castle [LI054-005----] and Bawne and open quarie' (Simington 1938, 271). Springfield (Gort na Tiobraide) Castle and bawn described by the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) as follows; 'Attached Gothic Revival style country house with courtyard complex, commenced c. 1740, comprising attached eight-bay two-storey country house, rebuilt c. 1925, having single-bay three-stage entrance tower. Earlier two-bay three-storey wing to side (east) having single-bay three-stage gate tower with integral camber-headed carriage arch. Now in use as a holiday home/commercial accommodation. Attached to three-stage rectangular profile sixteenth-century tower house [LI054-005----] having rubble stone walls with battered plinth, dressed stone quoins and pointed arch vaulting above ground floor. Ruins of circular turret associated with original bawn wall to north-west of tower house. Rubble stone enclosing walls forming folly to rear elevation and attached to side (south) elevation of sixteenth century tower house, having tooled limestone octagonal corner turret surmounted by rendered pinnacle. The house and courtyard complex are the ancestral home of Lord and Lady Muskerry and occupies the site of an old bawn associated with the sixteenth-century tower house. A visible mark to the tower house represents part of the roof line of an earlier eighteenth-century mansion that was built by John Fitzmaurice, a grandson of the 20th Lord of Kerry' (https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/21905404/springfield-castle-springfield-dromcolliher-limerick; NIAH Reg. No. 21905404). Tower house (LI054-005----) and bawn described by Salter (2004, 96) as a 'roofless but well preserved late 16th century tower has four gables rising direct off the outer walls, and two circular bartizans at diagonally opposite corners. The second of the four storeys is vaulted. A circular bawn [LI054-005001-] flanker lies closely. Here in 1579 the Earl of Desmond's brother John inflicted a severe defeat on an English force. After Sir John Fitzgerald fled to France following the Treaty of Limerick in 1691 Springfield went to the FitzMaurices and later passed to the Deanes, Lords Muskerry. They laid out a new house in the bawn, but it was replaced after being burnt in the Civil War of 1923'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 7 October 2021

• LI054-006 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  In pasture, on gentle E-facing slope, in demesne of Springfield Castle (LI054-005---). Circular area (56m N-S; 59m E-W) enclosed by denuded earthen bank (int. H 0.4m; ext. H 1.75m), with external fosse (Wth 3.5m) and counterscarp bank (ext. H 0.4m) N->S. Bank is much degraded SW->W by cattle accessing interior. On line of counterscarp SW->N is outer face of ha-ha associated with nearby country house. Interior slopes down gently to E. Entire site is under pasture. Compiled by: Denis Power Date of upload: 26 August 2011

• LI054-042 Barrow - ring-barrow
  Description

  In level pasture. Circular area (12m N-S; 13.5m E-W) defined by scarped edge (H 0.2m; Wth 1.45m) with external fosse (D 0.55m; base Wth 1.2m) and external bank (int. H 0.75m; ext. H 0.15m; Wth 6.95m). Breaks (Wth c. 2.75m) in external bank at NW and SE. Interior level and entire monument under grass. 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 Springfield.

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

Terrain model

LiDAR of the Office of Public Works, flown in 2011, at 2 m: tile OPW_555 (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 Springfield with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Limerick.

Name

Springfield · Gort na Tiobraide

Area

1,668,198 m² (166.82 ha, 412.22 acres)

Civil parish

Killagholehane, and its townlands

Barony

Glenquin

Electoral division

Broadford, the unit of the census

Census 2022

Broadford electoral division: 993 people in 349 households; 85% of households own their home; 28% of homes were built since 2001; 12% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 1% were holiday homes.

Neighbouring townlands

Ballinlongig, Cloonmore, Farrihy, Killeen, Tullaha

Placenames

Springfield 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.