Abbeylara

51 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Abbeylara, from 45 m² to 357,406 m² (35.74 ha, 88.32 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary; 33 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 Abbeylara 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.

• 29 Mar 2022Conditional

  of PL17/321 - development which consists of (1) to demolish existing chimney stack to existing boiler house (2) modifications to existing boiler house (3) construct single storey extension to side of existing boiler house to incorporate toilets and storage (4) place new gable roof over entire building (5) connect to existing treatment unit and complete all ancillary site works

  Extension of duration · Longford County Council, 2270

• 27 Jun 2018Conditional

  the proposed change of use of existing vacant shop unit which was previously granted full planning permission from An Bord Pleanala under Planning Reference number PL14.201791 into habitable accommodation consisting of 1 No. 2 bedroom apartment together with seeking full planning permission to make alterations to the existing facades and all ancillary works

  Permission · Longford County Council, 18136

• 22 Dec 2017Conditional

  development which consists of (1) to demolish existing chimney stack to existing boiler house (2) modifications to existing boiler house (3) construct single storey extension to side of existing boiler house to incorporate toilets and storage (4) place new gable roof over entire building (5) connect to existing treatment unit and complete all ancillary site works

  Permission · Longford County Council, 17321

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 Abbeylara.

Recorded monuments

• LF011-036001 Religious house - Cistercian monks
  Description

  On low-lying ground, c. 40m to the NE of a stream, and within a graveyard (LF011-036004-). Said to have been ‘founded by St Patrick, who appointed St Guasacht its first abbot: it was refounded for monks of the Cistercian order, and dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, in 1205, by Lord Richard Tuit’, who was subsequently interred here in 1211 (Lewis 1837, vol. 1, 3). It is a daughter house of St Mary's abbey (DU018-343----), Dublin (Cal. papal letters, vol. 6, 198). Also known as the monastery of 'St. Mary's de Lera alias de Grenardo' (ibid. vol. 9, 29). In 1410 the pope issued an indulgence to penitents who gave 'alms for the conservation and repair of church and monastery, which monastery has part of its buildings threatening ruin and collapsed' (ibid., 218). It is not clear if these repairs were undertaken as in 1422 a monk informed the pope that the 'monastery is threatened with ruin by the negligence of abbot Richard' (ibid. vol. 7, 233). A second indulgence was issued in 1434 5 (ibid. vol. 8, 505-6). In 1552, after the dissolution of the monasteries, it was leased to Richard Nugent (Henry VIII-Eliz., vol. 1, 368) and in 1612 it was granted to Francis Shane (Cal. pat. rolls Ire., Jas I, 244). Upstanding remains indicate that the original 13th-century abbey church consisted of a nave divided from the chancel by a central crossing-tower. Transepts extended off the N and S sides of the crossing-tower and a vaulted chamber or small chapel extended off the N side of the chancel. The cloister and conventual range of buildings were located on the S side of the church (Stalley 1987, 241). Only the N, S and W sides of the crossing-tower (ext. dims. 10.6m N-S; 10.3m E-W; wall T 1m) and the adjoining sections of the N and S walls of the church survive, as well as traces of the transepts and chapel. A later turret was inserted in the angle between the S transept and the S wall of the nave. The crossing-tower, constructed of roughly coursed limestone rubble, originally had four high pointed arches of cut sandstone. In the 15th century the N and S arches were partially infilled to support a stone barrel-vaulted roof springing from N to S (ibid.). Possible remains of the original rib vaulting can be seen in the SW angle. Seven of eight wooden beam holes are visible in the N wall, just below the springing of the vault, and these may have supported a floor that was accessed through a square-headed doorway in the centre of the W wall of the tower. The springing of the stone vault over the ground floor of the small chapel is visible on the external face of the N wall of the chancel, as is the scar line of its roof. This structure was accessed from the almost completely destroyed N transept. The turret, housing a spiral stairs, may have replaced an earlier S aisle (ibid.) and it cuts across the original S and W arches of the crossing-tower. It is accessed through a broken-out sandstone doorway in the NW angle of the S transept and is lit by a series of square-headed narrow windows with sandstone surrounds. The stairs accessed the floor levels above the crossing-tower. Smaller pointed archways were inserted in the fill of the N and S arches. A tall pointed recessed niche is visible to the W of this opening in the N arch. A poorly preserved carving in relief on the chamfered face of its dressed stone surround may be a 15th-century mason's mark. Directly opposite in the infill of the S arch are the remains of a similar niche. At first-floor level a sheela-na-gig (LF011-036002-) is visible. Scar lines of steeply pitched roofs can still be seen on the external faces W and N walls of the crossing-tower. Narrow square-headed doorways located just below the scar lines gave access to the roof space over the nave and to an inserted floor over the N transept. A second square-headed doorway is visible above the doorway in the N wall and a series of putlog holes are also visible in this wall. In the 16th century the crossing-tower may have been modified again and turned into a fortified dwelling while the rest of the abbey buildings fell into a ruinous condition (ibid.). No visible surface trace of the cloister survives. In the field to the S low undulating earthworks appear to represent the grass-covered wall-footings of the S range of conventual buildings. About 25m to the NW of the abbey the wall-footings of an 18th/19th-century church (LF011-036003-) are evident. Numerous architectural fragments, including a dumb-bell pier from the cloister, are visible in the surrounding graveyard. In the field to the E very wide cultivation ridges run diagonally across the field from NE-SW. They may be associated with the abbey. (McNamee 1940a, 11; 1940b, 38; ITA Survey 1944; Hartnett 1954, 181; Leask 1960, vol. 3, 43, 45; O'Donovan 2003, 27) Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 4 June 2013

• LF011-036002 Sheela-na-gig
  Description

  Protruding from the inner face of the S wall of the crossing‑tower of the Cistercian abbey of Abbeylara (LF011‑036001‑), at a height of c. 2.5m, is a decorated figure carving in sandstone (dims. 0.37m x 0.22m). The carving has been interpreted as a very weathered representation of a sheela‑na‑gig (Guest 1936, 118; Andersen 1977, 144; McMahon and Roberts 2001, 111; Freitag 2004, 121; Roberts 2009, No. 84), although an alternative view has been proposed by Harnett (1954, 181) who suggested that it might be 'taken as a crude representation of a Virgin and Child' with the female genitalia being represented as an oval or lozenge-shaped shield in which is a figure in low relief of an infant. The condition of the carving makes it impossible to classify with any degree of certainty and the interpretation given is purely tentative. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 16 April 2012

• LF011-036003 Church
  Description

  Within a graveyard (LF011-036004-) c. 25m NW of a Cistercian abbey (LF011-036001-) are the wall-footings of a church (ext. dims. 14.1m E-W, 8.45m N-S, Wall T 0.85m). It is depicted as a church located in the NW quadrant of the graveyard on all eds. of the OS 6-inch map but it is not possible to assign a date to it on the basis of the upstanding remains. The building was probably a late 18th or early 19th century Church of Ireland church. Some of the dressed stone from this demolished church appears to have been incorporated into the fabric of the graveyard wall to the SW of the church site. It was described in the early 19th century as the parish church of Lerha or Abbey-Laragh which now 'occupies the site of the former monastic buildings' (Brewer, J.N., The Beauties of Ireland (1826) vol. 2, 263). This church appears to be the 'new church' recorded by Nicholas Carlisle in 1810 (Carlisle 1810, 2). (ITA Survey 1944) Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 26 August 2011

• LF011-036004 Graveyard
  Description

  Associated with the Cistercian abbey (LF011-036001-) that lies in its E end; wall footings of an 18th/19th-century church (LF011-036003-) are evident in the NW quadrant. This large subrectangular graveyard (51m E-W; 43m N-S) is enclosed by a stone wall. Access is gained at the NW corner. It is no longer in use and contains memorials dating from the 18th to the 20th centuries. Numerous architectural fragments, including a dumb-bell pier from the cloister, are visible within it and in the external face of the S wall. Archaeological testing for a proposed treatment plant serving a residential development c. 10m to the N of the NE corner of the boundary wall in 2002 and 2005 revealed no archaeological features or artifacts (Delaney 2008, 251). (Lennon 2005) Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 4 June 2013

• LF011-057 Ritual site - holy well
  Description

  On low-lying ground, at the WNW end of Abbeylara village. Farrell (1891, 266) recorded that there was possibly 'a sacred well near the Abbey of Lerha (LF011-036001-), which was called the Well of the Saintesses'. This natural spring is defined by a circular mortared wall (diam. 0.9m), which has recently been modernised. In addition, a wellhouse has been constructed over it. The well is known locally as the 'Well of the Holy Woman'. Compiled by: Patrick F. O'Donovan Date of upload: 7 June 2013

Architectural heritage

• P.P. Masterson, house, 1880–1920 · Regional interest
  Description

  Attached three-bay two-storey former house with shopfront, built c. 1900, having two-storey return to rear (south) under artificial slate catslide roof. Now disused. Pitched artificial slate roof with rendered chimneystacks to either gable end (east and west) and having cast-iron rainwater goods. Painted ruled-and-lined rendered walls with render block quoins to either end. Square-headed window openings with moulded render architraved surrounds, painted stone sills and two-over-two pane timber sliding sash windows. Square-headed fixed-pane window to ground floor with render architrave surround. Shopfront to the west end of the main façade having central square-headed doorway with timber panelled door and overlight, square-headed window openings with fixed-pane display windows and with a render shopfront having pilasters surmounted by console brackets supporting fascia over with cornice with dentil detail course. Painted lettering to fascia. Road-fronted to the west end of Abbeylara. Complex of outbuildings to the rear.

• House, 1870–1890 · Regional interest
  Description

  Attached four-bay two-storey house, built c. 1880, having integral square-headed carriage arch to west end bay, c. 1920, and two-storey flat-roofed return to rear (south). Pitched natural slate roof with rendered chimneystacks, raised verges to either end and with cast-iron rainwater goods. Painted pebbledashed walls with rendered sill course at first floor level, painted ruled-and-lined rendered walls to ground, both having render block quoins to the corners. Unevenly spaced square-headed window openings having one-over-one pane timber sliding sash windows, all having painted stone sills, those to ground floor having moulded rendered surrounds. Square-headed door opening with replacement door, overlights and sidelights with moulded render architraved surround. Painted render block surround to carriage arch. Road-fronted to the west end of Abbeylara.

• RIC barracks, 1820–1840 · Regional interest
  Description

  Corner-sited detached six-bay two-storey former police barrack, built c. 1830, converted to use as shop and retail outlet c. 1925, now disused. Single-bay open porch, c. 1925, located towards the south end of the main façade (east) and two single-storey extensions to rear (west), both having pitched natural slate roofs. Pitched natural slate roof with three (clustered) rendered brick chimneystacks, one to either gable end (north and south) and one to the centre, and with cast-iron rainwater goods. Pebbledashed walls to first floor, with painted render platband, painted smooth rendered ground floor walls and with painted smooth rendered plinth. Rendered eaves course brought around gable ends to form string course. Square-headed window openings with one-over-one pane timber sliding sash windows and painted stone sills. Recessed square-headed door opening to porch with half-glazed timber panelled door having decorative stained glass panel. Painted rendered shopfront to the north end of the main façade (east), comprising central square-headed doorway with early timber panelled door, square-headed window openings with fixed-pane display windows and with render pilasters surmounted by pedimented brackets supporting fascia with moulded cornice over. Road-fronted at road-junction at the centre of Abbeylara.

• Saint Bernard's Catholic Church, church/chapel, 1955–1960 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached Roman Catholic church, dated 1959, having eight-bay nave elevations (the first bay narrower than the remaining bays), side aisles, shallow single-bay chancel to the northwest end and a freestanding belltower on square-plan to the southwest. Open canopied gable-fronted porch to entrance gable (southeast) supported by four tooled cut limestone piers. Lean-to extension to northeast elevation and extension to southwest elevation having pitched sheeted copper roof. Pitched slate roof with overhanging metal-sheeted eaves, wrought-iron cross finials to gable ends and cast-iron rainwater goods. Rock-faced limestone walls with tooled cut limestone quoins to corners, and having carved limestone plaques to entrance gable and to southeast face of belltower. Shallow triangular-headed lancet window openings, in pairs to nave elevations, having painted rendered surrounds and stained glass. Five graded shallow triangular-headed lancet window openings to nave gable. Square-headed door opening to centre of open porch, recessed in rendered pointed surround, having double leaf timber panelled doors. Barrel-vaulted roof with stucco detailing to interior with marble altar and pulpit. Gallery over nave entrance (southeast), set in segmental-headed opening. Four-stage bell tower on square plan to west of site, of rock-faced limestone construction with tooled cut limestone quoins and carved limestone plaques to southeast elevation, having pitched sheeted copper roof. Rock-faced limestone boundary walls with tooled cut limestone gate piers, having wrought-iron double leaf gates and railings. Set back from road to the north end of Abbeylara with car parking area to front. Graveyard to the west with rubble limestone boundary walls. Entrance to the south side of enclosure comprising pair of moulded cut stone gate posts and wrought-iron double-leaf gates.

• House, 1780–1820 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached four-bay single-storey house, built c. 1800, having windbreak porch (offset) to the centre of the front elevation (southeast). Now disused. Two-bay single-storey garage extension, attached to the northwest gable end having square-headed carriage arch/garage door. Pitched natural slate roof with ridge tiles, three rendered chimneystacks and raised verges to either gable end. Flat-roof to windbreak and pitched corrugated-metal roof to garage extension. Painted smooth rendered walls. Square-headed window openings with painted stone sills, rendered reveals and one-over-one pane timber sliding sash windows. Square-headed door opening to porch having timber panelled door. Painted timber double-leaf door to carriage arch/garage door to extension. Painted random rubble stone single-storey outbuilding to rear (northwest) having pitched corrugated-metal roof. Painted random rubble stone boundary walls to site. Road-fronted to the north end of Abbeylara.

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 20 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.

Terrain model

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

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 Abbeylara with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Longford.

Name

Abbeylara · Mainistir Leathrátha

Area

1,196,849 m² (119.68 ha, 295.75 acres)

Civil parish

Abbeylara, and its townlands

Barony

Granard

Electoral division

Abbeylara, the unit of the census

Census 2022

Abbeylara electoral division: 351 people in 137 households; 76% of households own their home; 39% of homes were built since 2001; 13% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 3% were holiday homes.

Neighbouring townlands

Cloonaghmore, Kilbride, Ranaghan, Springtown, Toberfelim, Tonymore North, Tonymore South

Placenames

Abbeylara 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.