Ballinlena

112 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Ballinlena, from 28 m² to 48,132 m² (4.81 ha, 11.89 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary. 14 neighbouring parcels touch it.

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

No zone of a development plan covers Ballinlena 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.

• 26 Jan 2026Conditional

  Full Planning Permission for the following: 1.) Demolition works to existing dwelling and domestic garage, 2.) Construction of a new single storey extension to the existing dwellinghouse, 3.) Alterations to all elevations, 4.) Proposed upgrade of existing septic tank system to a tertiary wastewater treatment system and percolation area, together with connections to services and all associated site works

  Permission · Mayo County Council, 2660069

• 10 Dec 2025Conditional

  alterations and additions to an existing dwelling house , a new effluent treatment system, retention of and modifications to an existing outbuilding and for all associated site works

  Permission · Mayo County Council, 2560901

• 6 Nov 2024Conditional

  the construction of a single storey extension to the Northeast of the existing residential property, construction of a hallway, single storey extension to the North of the existing property and construction of a free-standing carport structure to North of the existing property. Construction to include all enabling and associated works as part of the proposed extension with all works taking place within the curtilage of the existing site boundary.

  Permission · Mayo County Council, 2460681

• 14 Oct 2024N/a

  Section 5 Declaration: Single storey rear extension to an existing dwelling house where the total area is 40m2 or less

  Permission · Mayo County Council, 24427

• 28 Jun 2023Conditional

  full planning permission for the following; (1) Close up existing entrance to the southwest corner of the site, with new replacement entrance to the front boundary, (2) 5.no self-contained glamping pods with on-site services , (3) Installation of 300sqm of free standing solar panels, including plant room ,(4) On-site waste water treatment unit , (5) Proposed reception area within existing building and (6) all associated site works at Ballinlena, Carrowmore-Lacken, Ballina, Co. Mayo.

  Permission · Mayo County Council, 2360248

• 20 Feb 2023Refused

  Full planning permission ; (1) Proposed to close up existing entrance to the southwest corner of the site, and proposed new replacement entrance to the front boundary, (2) Proposed 7.no stand-alone self-contained glamping pods to be serviced by on-site services , (3) to also include a self-contained barbeque area, plant room, 300sqm of free standing solar panels , proposed treatment unit and percolation area and (4) all associated site works

  Permission · Mayo County Council, 2360036

• 21 Feb 2022Conditional

  RETAIN EXISTING DOMESTIC GARAGE, EXISTING GROUND FLOOR AND FIRST FLOOR EXTENSION TO THE SOUTHEAST ELEVATION OF THE B & B, REVISED SITE BOUNDARIES FROM PREVIOUS PL REF P00/1901 AND ALL ASSOCIATED SITE WORKS

  Retention, 1 home · Mayo County Council, 22117

• 28 Sept 2021Conditional

  EXTEND AND RECONSTRUCT DWELLING HOUSE

  Permission, 1 home · Mayo County Council, 211026

• 7 Apr 2021Conditional

  FULL PLANNING PERMISSION FOR CONSTRUCTION OF A SIDE EXTENSION TO THE EXISTING DWELLING HOUSE, ALTERATIONS TO THE EXISTING DWELLING, TOGETHER WITH ALTERATIONS OF FENESTRATION TO ALL ELEVATIONS AND ALL ASSOCIATED SITE WORKS

  Permission, 1 home · Mayo County Council, 21312

• 15 Feb 2019Conditional

  CONSTRUCT AGRICULTURAL SHED (192SQM) FOR THE STORAGE OF MACHINERY, FODDER AND TO PROVIDE WINTERING FACILITIES FOR SHEEP AND ALL ASSOCIATED SITE WORKS

  Permission · Mayo County Council, 1995

• 19 Dec 2017Conditional

  DEMOLITION OF EXISTING DWELLING HOUSE AND CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW DWELLING HOUSE TOGETHER WITH EFFLUENT TREATMENT SYSTEM, PERCOLATION AREA AND ALL ASSOCIATED SITE WORKS

  Permission, 1 home · Mayo County Council, 171008

Source: National Planning Applications, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Applicants are not shown.

Designated sites

• Proposed Natural Heritage Area: Lackan Saltmarsh And Kilcummin Head 000516

Recorded monuments

• MA008-004001 Ritual site - holy well
  Description

  Located on a gentle E-facing slope on the E side of Kilcummin Head, overlooking Killala Bay. This holy well is named ‘St. Cummin’s Well’ on the 1838 and 1922 OS 6-inch maps. It was traditionally visited on the last Sunday in July, known as ‘Garland Sunday’ or ‘Domhnach Chrom Dubh’. Water from the well was believed to have curative powers. It consists of a spring confined to a square pool (0.98m E-W; 0.85m N-S) by a surround of flat flags, enclosed within a house-shaped, stone-built structure (2.1m E-W; 2.15m N-S; H 1.65m at E). This well house, 18th -/19th -century in date, is constructed of rough limestone blocks bonded with clay mortar, and roofed with stone slabs. A plaque mounted above the doorway details the traditional ‘pattern’ or round of prayers enacted at the well. Within the well house, there are two small wall recesses; at the time of visit, these contained small plastic religious statues, a religious picture and a number of cups. According to the 1838 OS Letters, a recess within the well house once held a small inscribed stone (MA008-004003-) (O’Flanagan 1927, 101 (94)). The area immediately in front of the door is paved with stone flags, beneath which a channel carries overflow from the well. The covered channel becomes a shallow, open drain as it extends downslope to E. There are two penitential stations or cairns (MA008-004004-; MA008-004005-) adjacent to the well at S. The well and the two cairns are enclosed within a rectangular walled enclosure (11m N–S; 9m E–W) of relatively modern construction. An early medieval church (MA008-006001-) and graveyard (MA008-006007-) are located c. 40m to S. Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy Date of upload: 1 July 2019

• MA008-004003 Inscribed stone
  Description

  At a holy well (MA008-004001-). According to the 1838 OS Letters, a recess in the interior of the holy well structure held a small rectangular slab (L 0.15m; Wth 0.1m; T0.02m), on one side of which were indentations or incised lines that may have been fragments of an inscription (O’Flanagan 1927, 101 (194). The current whereabouts of the stone are unknown. Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy Date of upload: 1 July 2019

• MA008-004004 Penitential station
  Description

  Located immediately to the S of a holy well (MA008-004001-), on an E-facing slope. This penitential cairn (2.5m E-W; 4.2m N-S; H 0.6m) consists of a loose pile of field stones, now partly sod-covered. It is associated with a ‘pattern’ or prayer round traditionally undertaken at the well. Another penitential cairn (MA008-004005-) is located a few meters to the NE. An early medieval church (MA008-006001-) and graveyard (MA008-006007-) are located c. 40m to S. Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy Date of upload: 1 July 2019

• MA008-004005 Penitential station
  Description

  Located immediately to SE of a holy well (MA008-004001), on an E-facing slope. This penitential cairn, which was associated with a ‘pattern’ or round of prayers traditionally undertaken at the well, consists of a partly sod-covered, loose pile (3m E-W; 4m N-S; H 0.8m) of stones. Another penitential cairn (MA008-004004-) is located a few meters to the SW. An early medieval church (MA008-006001-) and graveyard (MA008-006007-) are located c. 40m to S. Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy Date of upload: 1 July 2019

• MA008-005 Castle - unclassified
  Description

  Located on the SE side of Benwee or Kilcummin Head, c. 200m from the rocky shoreline overlooking Killala Bay. A rectangular building named ‘Kilcummin Castle’ is indicated on the 1838 OS 6-inch map, with a cluster of vernacular buildings shown immediately to W and N of it; it is not shown on the 25-inch plan and the 1922 OS 6-inch map, where the location is marked as ‘Kilcummin Castle (Site of)’. There are no visible remains of the castle. A number of large quoin stones with rough hammer dressing are evident in the wall of a ruined vernacular stone cottage at this location; it is possible that these stones were salvaged from the ruined castle. There is a holy well (MA008-004001-) c. 10-15m to N, and a church (MA008-006001-) and graveyard (MA008-006007-) c. 20m to S. Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy Date of upload: 15 July 2019

• MA008-006001 Church
  Description

  Located in the SE quadrant of a graveyard (MA008-0060007), on a gentle E-facing slope, c. 50m from the rocky shore overlooking Killala Bay.  This Early Medieval church, named ‘Kilcummin Church’ on the 1838 and 1922 OS 6-inch maps, was according to tradition founded by St. Cummin (O’Flanagan 1927, 186 (100)). It consists now of a roofless rectangular building (7.2m E-W; 10.9m E-W; wall T 0.9m) constructed of coursed, mortared stone. The N and S walls (T 0.9m; H c. 3.5m) survive to full height (c. 3.5m) and the gables (H c. 5m) stand to almost full height, missing their tops. The walls are constructed using large, squared blocks of stone, with some large stones set on edge in the wall face. Particularly large blocks (e.g. L 1.4m; H 0.8m) are used in the basal courses of the N and S walls, in the quoins, and in parts in the gables. The church is located on a slight E-facing slope, and is built on a low foundation plinth to compensate for this. The plinth (H 0.4-0.45m), which projects c. 0.2m from the base of the wall, can be seen at the E gable and along E half of the N and S walls. E gable: There is an inwardly-splayed, round arched window in the centre of the E gable. The round arch of the broad embrasure (H 1.9m; Wth at base 0.85m) is defined by two carefully shaped, and closely fitted curved stones; a single carved block forms the arch of the small window or ope (H c. 0.7m; Wth c. 0.39) within the embrasure. Two small grooves are visible on the N side of the exterior face of the window, which would have held fittings for an external wooden shutter. W gable: There is a round arched doorway (H 1.87m; Wth at base 0.86; T 0.9m) in the centre of the W gable. The doorway narrows slightly from base to top. It is framed by very large stone blocks, with some blocks spanning the full thickness of the doorway, with the arch constructed of three shaped, close-fitting stones. A single flat slab paves the threshold. In the interior face of the N jamb of the door, there are two small grooves to hold the fittings for the door, one just above ground level and the second at the spring of the arch. The lower groove retains a small residual lump of iron.  S wall: There is a pointed-arched window (H 1.4m) at the E end of the S wall. The pointed head is formed of two opposing straight-sided stones which lean against each other to create the apex of a triangle. On its exterior face, a stone has been inserted at the base of the embrasure to decrease the size of the ope. There is a flat-headed doorway (int: H 2.3m; Wth 1.25m), now blocked up, towards the W end of the S wall, which appears to be a late insertion. The wall bows inward slightly at this point. A small pivot hole for the door is cut into the single, thin lintel slab that tops the doorway.  N wall: there is a small recess (H 0.35m; Wth 0.35m; D 0.55m) towards the W end of the N wall. Several grave slabs, some slightly displaced, occupy the interior, now largely obscured by overgrowth and loose rubble. Architectural features, such as the large blocks and large edge-set stones used in the wall construction, the round arched windows and the W doorway, suggest an early date for this church, possibly late 11th- or early 12th-century. A few meters to N of the church is a shrine (MA008-006002-) associated with St. Cummin, which incorporates a cross-slab (MA008-006003-), and c. 50m to N is a holy well (MA088-004001-), dedicated to St. Cummin. Attached images: MA008-006001-_01.JPG Church viewed from NW MA008-006001-_02.JPG W doorway (interior) MA008-006001-_03.JPG E window interior) MA008-006001-_04.JPG S wall, showing window and blocked up doorway (interior) MA008-006001-_05.JPG S wall, viewed from SE MA008-006001-_06.JPG E gable Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy Date of upload: 15 July 2019

• MA008-006002 Shrine
  Description

  Located in the N half of a graveyard (MA008-0060007-), 15m N of a church (MA008-006001-). This monument is traditionally known as the grave of St. Cummin, who is said to have founded a monastery here in the 7th century. It consists of a low, sod-covered stony mound (3.7m N–S; 2.5m E–W; H 0.55m at W). An upright, edge-set slab (L 1.12m N–S; H 0.4m; T 0.05m) borders the E side of the mound, and in line this, is a smaller upright slab, now leaning to E, which is located just beyond the S end of the mound. The W side of the mound is bordered by a N–S row of seven upright slabs, with long axes aligned to the axis of the mound. Amongst the seven uprights there are two tall pillar-like slabs and a cross-slab (MA008-006003-). One of the pillar-like slabs (H 1.85m; L 0.3m N–S; T 0.09m) marks the N end of the row, and is in line with the N end of the mound/grave. The cross-slab and two other low, close-set uprights intervene between this pillar and the second pillar (H 1.7m; L 0.2m N–S; T 0.14m) which is located toward the S end of the row, just beyond the S end of the mound. The row ends with two further low, upright slabs, which are located immediately S of the S pillar slab. The two pillar stones are rectangular in cross-section with flat tops, and are well matched in size and shape. The low uprights are more variable in form, falling within the following size range: H 0.3-0.7m; W 0.15-0.3m. According to local tradition, soil taken from the vicinity of the grave confers a blessing on whoever holds it. The mound is largely obscured by grass and clumps of brambles. Attached image: MA008-006002-_01.JPG Viewed from W Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy Date of upload: 15 July 2019

• MA008-006003 Cross-slab
  Description

  Located in the N half of a graveyard (MA008-0060007-), on the W side of a shrine (MA008-006002-), traditionally known as St. Cummin’s grave. This early medieval cross-slab is set upright in the ground in a row of seven upright stones which border the W side of the shrine. It consists of a roughly rectangular slab (H 0.62m; L 0.38m N–S; T 0.12m) on the broad W face of which there are four crosses each enclosed within a circle, all outlined by incised grooves. The design is symmetrically executed, with three small crosses flanking a central large cross. The largest cross is roughly centrally placed on the slab. It consists of a single line Greek cross (H 0.18m; Wth 0.15m) with forked terminals, framed by an outer line which follows the cross shape; the whole is enclosed within a single-line circle. There is a small circular dimple or depression in each of the four quadrants of the circle flanking the arms of the cross. The enclosing circle (H 0.43; Wth 0.2m) is more properly described as ovoid in shape, narrowing towards it base where it fuses with a smaller circle (diam. 0.1m), enclosing a Maltese cross. The two other cross-in-circles are located above the largest cross-in-circle, one on either side of the top half of the slab; both these circles (diam. 0.1m) enclose a Maltese-type cross. The cross-slab probably falls within the date range of 7th to 9th century. The slab is blotched with lichen. Attached image: MA008-006003-_01.JPG Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy Date of upload: 15 July 2019

• MA008-006004 Cross-slab
  Description

  This cross slab was found in 1802 by Rev. James Little in Kilcummin graveyard (MA008-006007-). The following year he published a drawing of the slab, with an erroneous, fanciful interpretation of the incised inscription (Little 1803, 3-7). Little's published drawing shows a rectangular slab, with irregular or broken edges. A Latin cross extends almost the full length and width of the slab. The terminals of the horizontal members have a slight splay. The plain terminals of the vertical members are each incorporated into a horizontal incised line, asymmetrical in length, with the line at the lower terminal continuing to the edge of the slab on one side. These horizontal lines, incomplete in the drawing, most likely originally formed a continuous grooved frame around the entire the slab. An incised inscription fills the four quadrants of the slab flanking the cross. In three of the quadrants the letters of the inscription are followed by a small incised Latin cross. The Goidelic inscription was described by Petrie (1878, 46): ‘The inscription read as following: O~R~T~ || AR | AN || MAI | N+ || M~ | ET || ICH | + || +’ He interpreted this as OROIT AR ANMAIN MAC ETICH and gave the translation as ‘Pray for the soul of Mac Etich’. Macalister (1949, 13-14) gave the same reading, and provided a few details about the slab: 'I could not find it at Kilcummin: but a young woman who was passing by told me that she remembered seeing it when she was a child, and pointed to a dense growth of brambles, which, she thought, were covering it: they are against the south side of the church, outside. The main cross is flanked in its lower sinister [left] and dexter [right] quadrants by small equal-armed crosses. A third such cross is in the upper sinister quadrant, integrated into the text of the inscription. The first three of the four lines of text occupy the sinister and dexter upper quadrants of the cross. The fourth and final line runs across the two lower quadrants.’ Macalaister’s account suggests that the cross-slab was still in the graveyard in the 1940’s, but its exact whereabouts are now unknown. Another cross-slab (MA008-006003-) in located in the N half of the graveyard. Attached image: MA008-006004-_01.JPG Drawing of cross-slab in Little (1803) Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy Date of upload: 15 July 2019

• MA008-006005 Inscribed stone
  Description

  The 1838 OS Letters record that in Kilcummin graveyard (MA008-006007-) there was an inscribed stone that was traditionally used as a cursing stone: ‘There formerly was a stone in this Churchyard on which it is said there was some inscription, and which the people were accustomed to turn or get turned, when they imprecated curses against any one of their enemies.’ (O’Flanagan 1927, 101-2 (195-6)). The stone was deliberately broken to prevent its use, then reassembled, and finally, sometime in the early 1800’s, removed from the graveyard by a local priest, who is said to have brought it to a ‘new Roman Catholic chapel’ in Ballina. According to tradition, a fragment of the stone remained in the graveyard (ibid. 101-2 (195-6). The exact whereabouts of the stone are unknown. Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy Date of upload: 15 July 2019

• MA008-006006 Cross-inscribed stone
  Description

  In Kilcummin graveyard (MA008-006007-). The 1838 OS Letters record that there was a triangular-shaped stone slab, with a small Maltese-type cross in circle inscribed on one face, located on the W side of St Cummin’s grave (MA008-006002-) in the N half of the graveyard (O’Flanagan 1927, 101). The small size of the stone suggested that it might have broken off a larger slab, and it was noted that the cross was similar in design to those on another cross-slab (MA008-006003-) which stands on the W side of the saint’s grave. The dimensions of the three sides of the triangular slab were recorded as 11 inches [0.28m], 8 inches [0.2m] and 6 inches [0.15m], and it was 2.5 inches [0.06m] thick. The current location of the stone is unknown. Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy Date of upload: 15 July 2019

• MA008-006007 Graveyard
  Description

  Located on a gentle E-facing slope, on the SE side of Kilcummin Head c. 70m from the rocky shore overlooking Killala Bay. The graveyard consists of a sub-rectangular area (c. 42m NE-SW; c. 44.7m NW-SE) enclosed by a mortared stone wall, with the entrance at the NW corner. The wall (Wth 0.5-0.6m; H 1.2m) on the NE side of the graveyard describes a shallow curve, but the three other sides are straight. There is an Early Medieval church (MA008-006001-) in the SW quadrant, a saint’s grave (MA008-006002-) and a cross slab (MA008-006003-) roughly in the centre of the N half, and a sundial (MA008-006007-) in the NW quadrant of the graveyard. Burials of both Church of Ireland and Roman Catholic faiths took place here. The oldest dated graves appear to be 18th-century in date. There are two box tombs and a table tomb in the NW quadrant. A holy well (MA088-004001), and the site of an unclassified castle (MA008-005) are located c. 50m to N. Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy Date of upload: 15 July 2019

• MA008-006009 Sundial
  Description

  Located within the W half of a graveyard (MA008-006007). This sundial consists of a roughly rectangular or trapezoidal-shaped stone slab (Wth 0.36m at top; T 0.006m) set upright in the ground. The total length of the stone appears to be at least 0.7m, but only c. 0.4m protrudes above the ground surface. Just below the top of the slab there is a circular perforation (diam. 0.003m) or gnomon hole. Radiating from gnomon hole are five incised lines or rays, two extending horizontally on either side of the gnomon hole, one extending vertically down from the hole, and two dividing the space between the vertical and horizontal lines. The rays end at an incised arc, which defines the base of the dial, curving from one edge of the slab to the other. A semicircular groove embellishes the ends of the rays, giving the end of each ray a three-pronged appearance; this semicircular feature is found on a number of Irish medieval sundials, the example that most closely resembles this one being at Monasterboice (LH021-0620011-). Sundials at Early Medieval monastic sites performed the important function of marking the prescribed hours for canonical prayer around which the monastic day revolved. The incised rays correspond to the principal canonical subdivisions of day, with the central vertical line calibrated to noon. The hole held the horizontal gnomon or stick, either wooden or metal, which cast a shadow on the rays of the dial. Attached image: MA008-006009-_01.JPG Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy Date of upload: 15 July 2019

Architectural heritage

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

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

At the centre of the townland of Ballinlena, about 1 in 10 homes in this area is likely to have high radon levels. Testing a home

Landslides

The 1:50,000 map rates the landslide susceptibility here as low.

Terrain model

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

Flooding

The Office of Public Works publishes its flood maps on floodinfo.ie.

Radon Risk Map of Ireland, Environmental Protection Agency, and Landslide Susceptibility Classification, Geological Survey Ireland, both under 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 Ballinlena with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Mayo.

Name

Ballinlena · Baile an Léana

Area

661,670 m² (66.17 ha, 163.5 acres)

Civil parish

Kilcummin, and its townlands

Barony

Tirawley

Electoral division

Lackan South, the unit of the census

Census 2022

460 people lived in 181 households in the Lackan South electoral division. 86% of households owned their home. 27% of homes were built since 2001. 15% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 18% were holiday homes.

Neighbouring townlands

Ballygarry, Banagher, Carrowsteelagh, Kilcummin

Placenames

Ballinlena 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.