Letterkeen

1 registered freehold parcel lies mostly in Letterkeen, from 124,469 m² (12.45 ha, 30.76 acres) to 124,469 m² (12.45 ha, 30.76 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary; 18 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 Letterkeen 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.

No planning application touches the townland of Letterkeen in the national file, which goes back to 2010.

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

Designated sites

• Special Area of Conservation: Owenduff/Nephin Complex SAC 000534
• Special Protection Area: Owenduff/Nephin Complex SPA 004098
• Proposed Natural Heritage Area: Altaconey Bog 000459
• Proposed Natural Heritage Area: Owenduff/Nephin Complex 000534

Recorded monuments

• MA046-004001 Cairn - burial cairn
  Description

  Located on a rise in the middle of a plateau bounded by the Goulaun River on one side and by the steep slope of Letterkeen Hill on the other, in an area of mountainous and boggy terrain. This burial cairn was excavated (E000015) in 1950 by Ó 'Ríordáin and Mac Dermott (1950-51). The excavators interpreted a stony rise or mound, which appeared to be partly natural and partly artificial, as a possible Bronze Age burial mound or cairn (ibid, 91). Three cists (MA046-004002-; MA046-004003-; MA046-004004-) and two pit burial (MA046-004005-; MA046-004006-) were found, and the stony material of the possible cairn directly overlay one (MA046-004003-) of them. At a later period, a rath (MA046-004007-) was built on this location. Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy Date of upload: 9 April 2019

• MA046-004002 Cist
  Description

  Located on a rise in the middle of a plateau bounded by the Goulaun River on one side and by the steep rise of Letterkeen Hill on the other, in an area of mountainous and boggy terrain. In 1935 a local man found two food vessels with a quantity of cremated bone in a cavity or cist (c. 0.9m x c. 0.6m x 0.6m) beneath a large slab (c. 0.9m x c. 0.6m) in the SW quadrant of a rath (MA046-004007-). The finds were sent to the National Museum. The bones were found to comprise the remains of at least two adults and a child, and the cist was dated to the Bronze Age (Ó 'Ríordáin and Mac Dermott, 1950-51, 89-90). A subsequent excavation (E000015) revealed that the cist was part of a phase of activity that pre-dated the construction of the rath (Ó 'Ríordáin and Mac Dermott, 1950-51). A possible burial cairn (MA046-004001-), two other cists (MA046-004003-; MA046-004004-) and two pit burial (MA046-004005-; MA046-004006-) were also found, also dating to the Bronze Age. Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy Date of upload: 9 April 2019

• MA046-004003 Cist
  Description

  Located on a rise in the middle of a plateau bounded by the Goulaun River on one side and by the steep rise of Letterkeen Hill on the other, in an area of mountainous and boggy terrain. This cist was excavated (E000015) in 1950 by Ó 'Ríordáin and Mac Dermott (1950-51, 92-93). It consisted of a short, sub-rectangular slab-lined cist (0.65m NE-SW; 0.55m NW-SE; D c. 0.45m), with the floor cobbled with rounded pebbles, and roofed with a single capstone (1.4m x 1m). Cremated bones were found within the fill of loose sandy clay, and two pottery vases, placed mouth down on the floor, covered small quantities of cremated bone. The bones included human bones of two adults, and a child of about 14 years, and also some animal bones. The cist underlay c. 0.4m of stony material associated with a possible burial cairn (MA046-004001-). Two other cists (MA046-004002-; MA046-004004-) and two pit burial (MA046-004005-; MA046-004006-) were also found. All were dated to the Bronze Age. At a later period, these features were overlain by a rath (MA046-004007-). Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy Date of upload: 9 April 2019

• MA046-004004 Cist
  Description

  Located on a rise in the middle of a plateau bounded by the Goulaun River on one side and by the steep rise of Letterkeen Hill on the other, in an area of mountainous and boggy terrain. This cist was excavated (E000015) in 1950 by Ó 'Ríordáin and Mac Dermott (1950-51, 93-94). It consisted of a short, rectangular slab-lined cist, long axis roughly E-W, divided into two compartments by a transverse slab, and roofed by an irregular-shaped slab (1.2m x 0.8m; T 0.15m). The W compartment contained the cremated bones of a least one adult, possibly a male, some animal bone, a possible bone pin made from a bird bone, and much charcoal. The E compartment contained the cremated bones of an adult, and a child of about 10 years. The cist was dated to the Bronze Age. A possible burial cairn (MA046-004001-), two other cists (MA046-004002-; MA046-004003-) and two pit burials (MA046-004005-; MA046-004006-) were found in close proximity, also dating to the Bronze Age. At a later period, these features were overlain by a rath (MA046-004007-). Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy Date of upload: 9 April 2019

• MA046-004005 Pit-burial
  Description

  Located on a rise in the middle of a plateau bounded by the Goulaun River on one side and by the steep rise of Letterkeen Hill on the other, in an area of mountainous and boggy terrain. This pit-burial was excavated (E000015) in 1950 by Ó 'Ríordáin and Mac Dermott (1950-51, 93). It consisted of a small, oval pit partly covered by a stone, and was firmly packed with cremated bone of an adult human, red burnt clay and charcoal. It was dated to the Bronze Age. It was located immediately above the capstone of a cist (MA046-004004-), and a possible burial cairn (MA046-004001-), two other cists (MA046-004002-; MA046-004003-) and another pit burial (MA046-004006-) were found in close proximity. At a later period, these features were overlain by a rath (MA046-004007-). Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy Date of upload: 9 April 2019

• MA046-004006 Pit-burial
  Description

  Located on a rise in the middle of a plateau bounded by the Goulaun River on one side and by the steep rise of Letterkeen Hill on the other, in an area of mountainous and boggy terrain. This pit-burial was excavated (E000015) in 1950 by Ó 'Ríordáin and Mac Dermott (1950-51, 95). It consisted of a pit (0.4m x 0.3m; D 0.15m), roughly rectangular in plan, completely filled with the cremated bones of an adult. An inverted pottery pygmy vessel was found in the upper levels of the bones. The burial was dated to the Bronze Age. A possible burial cairn (MA046-004001-), three other cists (MA046-004002-; MA046-004003-; MA046-004004-) and another pit burial (MA046-004005-), also dated to the Bronze Age, were found in close proximity. At a later period, these features were overlain by a rath (MA046-004007-). Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy Date of upload: 9 April 2019

• MA046-004007 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  Located on a rise in the middle of a plateau bounded by the Goulaun River on one side and by the steep rise of Letterkeen Hill on the other, in an area of mountainous and boggy terrain. This rath, traditionally known as ‘Lios na Gaoithe’, was excavated (E000015) in 1950 by Ó 'Ríordáin and Mac Dermott (1950-1). It consists of a raised circular area (diam. 26m) defined by an earthen bank with internal stone facing, and enclosed by a fosse with an external bank, on the inner edge of which there was a timber palisade. The entrance is at the SE, with a raised causeway across the fosse. In the interior, the excavators found evidence of two circular houses (MA046-004009-; MA046-004010-), another possible house (MA046-004014-), a souterrain (MA046-004008-), and a possible kiln (MA046-004011-). It was noted that the souterrain was built after the rath had already been inhabited for some time, and its construction resulted in several structural alterations to the rath. Finds included a bronze ring-pin, glass beads, fragments of glass and jet bracelets, fragments of clay crucibles, a fragment of a mudstone axe, fragments of whet stones, flint and chert tools, and a quern stone (MA0046-004012-). The natural rise on which the rath was constructed was used during the Bronze Age as a focus for burial, and in the layers underlying the rath evidence was found of a possible burial cairn (MA046-004001-), three cists (MA046-004002-; MA046-004003-; MA046-004004-) and two pit burials (MA046-004005-; MA046-004006-). Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy Date of upload: 9 April 2019

• MA046-004008 Souterrain
  Description

  Located in the interior of a rath (MA046-004007-). The souterrain was excavated (E000015) in 1950 by Ó' Ríordáin and Mac Dermott (1950-1, 100-102). It consisted of an earth-cut chamber (L 9.3m; Wth 1.9m at top, 1.2m at base; D 1m) accessed by an earth-cut step at one end. A series of postholes were interpreted as holding supports for a timber roof. A path of stone flags led from the souterrain into the interior of a circular house (MA046-004009-). Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy Date of upload: 9 April 2019

• MA046-004009 House - early medieval
  Description

  Located in the south half of a rath (MA046-004007-). This house was excavated (E000015) in 1950 by Ó' Ríordáin and Mac Dermott (1950-1, 103). It was circular (max. diam. 5.2m) in plan, defined by postholes designed to support large timber posts. A path of stone flags led from the interior of the house to a souterrain (MA046-004008-). Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy Date of upload: 9 April 2019

• MA046-004010 House - early medieval
  Description

  Located in the south half of a rath (MA046-004007-). This house was excavated (E000015) in 1950 by Ó' Ríordáin and Mac Dermott (1950-1, 104-105). It consisted of a setting of stones associated with a thick deposit of charcoal. No complete plan was recovered, but the excavators interpreted the remains as possibly the site of a house. Evidence of intense burning, including burnt and glazed clay, and finds of crucible fragments suggested to the excavators that it may have been used as a workshop. Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy Date of upload: 9 April 2019

• MA046-004011 Kiln
  Description

  Located in the interior of a rath (MA046-004007-). This feature was excavated (E000015) in 1950 by Ó' Ríordáin and Mac Dermott (1950-1, 103-104). It consisted of a roughly rectangular trench (1.6m X 0.5m; D 0.6m), with sides lined with upright stones. At its E end two lintel stones remained in position. The fill included charcoal and tiny fragments of burnt animal bone. The excavators interpreted this structure as a type of kiln, although they acknowledging that it was not similar to known kiln types (ibid, 104). Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy Date of upload: 9 April 2019

• MA046-004013 Cremation pit
  Description

  Located on a rise in the middle of a plateau bounded by the Goulaun River on one side and by the steep rise of Letterkeen Hill on the other, in an area of mountainous and boggy terrain. This possible cremation pit was excavated (E000015) in 1950 by Ó' Ríordáin and Mac Dermott (1950-1, 95-96). It consisted of a semi-circular trench associated with several smaller pits over which stones had been built. The pits were filled with ashes, charcoal and large quantities of minute fragments of cremated bone representing at least one adult human, and an animal, possibly sheep. The excavators interpreted it as a possible crematorium associated with the use of this location as a Bronze Age cemetery. A possible burial cairn (MA046-004001-), three cists (MA046-004002-; MA046-004003-; MA046-004004-) and two pit burial (MA046-004005-; MA046-004006-) were found in close proximity. At a later period, all these features were overlain by a rath (MA046-004007-). Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy Date of upload: 9 April 2019

• MA046-004014 House - early medieval
  Description

  Located in the interior of a rath (MA046-004007). This possible house was excavated (E000015) in 1950 by Ó' Ríordáin and Mac Dermott (1950-1, 105-106). It consisted of a setting of stones forming an arc of a circle (max. cord. 4.5m) interpreted as possibly the wall-footings of a circular house. A carefully laid causeway or path of large flat stones led from this structure to the rath entrance. Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy Date of upload: 9 April 2019

Architectural heritage

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

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 high, moderately high, moderately low, moderately low (inferred), low, low (inferred), on the 1:50,000 map; parts are water.

Terrain model

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

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 Letterkeen with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Mayo.

Name

Letterkeen · Leitir Caoin

Area

12,324,894 m² (1,232.49 ha, 3,045.55 acres)

Civil parish

Burrishoole, and its townlands

Barony

Burrishoole

Electoral division

Srahmore, the unit of the census

Census 2022

Srahmore electoral division: 157 people in 62 households; 91% of households own their home; 27% of homes were built since 2001; 11% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 17% were holiday homes.

Neighbouring townlands

Altnabrocky, Bunaveela, Goulaun, Leamadartaun, Lettertrask, Maumaratta, Scardaun, Srahmore, Srahrevagh, Tawnynahulty

Placenames

Letterkeen 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.