Dowth

118 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Dowth, from 18 m² to 1,369,627 m² (136.96 ha, 338.44 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary. 19 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.

• P5RA - Rural Area (Mixed/general primary sector uses, including 'rural')
  Meath County Development Plan 2021-2027 (As Varied), Meath · 132 parcels The zoning objective in the plan

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

• 1 Sept 2026N/a

  the developments consist of the retention of sunroom extension at front (approved under SA/20019), rear extensions to house and garage, gazebo in rear garden, internal alterations and stairs to new attic room, and all associated works

  Retention · Meath County Council, 26200

• 10 Feb 2023Conditional

  planning permission is sought comprising alterations to previously approved planning application Reg. Ref. 22/809. The proposed alterations consist of the provision of roof-integrated solar panels to the south facing standing seam metal roof to the rear of the house and all associated ancillary works necessary to facilitite the development

  Permission · Meath County Council, 23119

• 20 Jun 2022Conditional

  the proposed development will consist of the refurbishment of and alterations to the existing two storey dwelling. The proposed development will also include: - The demolition and reconstruction of the non-original extensions and part of the outbuildings with improvements to materials and layouts. - An extension at ground floor level of (20sqm) of additional floor area to the south, and (6sqm) of additional floor area to the north of the reconstructed non-original extensions and outbuildings. - An extension at first floor of (12sqm) of additional floor area to the south of the existing two storey dwelling. - The replacement of the existing roof, windows, and doors to the retained outbuilding to the west. - The installation of a proprietary wastewater treatment system and percolation filter in addition to all associated site development works including landscaping and boundary treatment

  Permission · Meath County Council, 22809

• 12 Oct 2021Unconditional

  EXTENSION OF DUARATION OF PLANNING PERMISSION LB161094 - the development consists of the demolition of existing derelict single storey wings to north and south of Dowth Hall, and replacement with two new wings, with associated external terracing to accommodate an orangery and universal accessible (UA) accommodation including UA access UA access to the basement of Dowth Hall. New external arcades are to be constructed at basement level to support terracing. The existing basement is to be upgraded to house informal living, kitchen/dining, banquette kitchen, TV/cinema room, gym and associated ancillary spaces. Externally sunken terraces are to be created at basement level to the south and west, immediately adjacent to Dowth Hall. All existing 20th century windows to ground, first and second floors are to be replaced to match existing historic windows retained in basement. The existing external stonework will be cleaned and repaired as required. Existing cement based external render will be removed and replaced with lime-based render. Existing emergency works to roof will be removed and roof returned to historic layout, roof slated, timbers will be repaired or replaced only when required. Rainwater goods will be repaired or replaced only when required. Internal finishes will be restored and repaired/replaced only when repaired. Historic urns to be restored to parapet level with new to match. Historic subterranean, ancillary spaces to basement area to be waterproofed with eversible tanking membrane. The historic fabric of the adjacent estate cottage is to be renovated and upgraded. Mechanical and electrical services to both Dowth Hall and estate cottage are to be upgraded throughout. A new foul water treatment system is to be installed to replace existing obsolete septic tank

  Extension of duration · Meath County Council, 211981

• 3 Jun 2020Conditional

  the removal of a below tolerable standard recent flat roof extension to the East of the original building, to be replaced by a new two storey extension with a ridge height no higher than the ridge height of the existing retained building; refurbishment and modifications to existing internal arrangements of the existing cottage; associated site works to include external store, car parking, a new waste water treatment system, and hard and soft landscaping

  Permission · Meath County Council, LB200681

• 12 Mar 2020N/a

  the removal of a below tolerable standard recent flat roof extension to the East of the original building, to be replaced by a new two storey extension with a ridge height no higher than the ridge height of the existing retained building; refurbishment and modifications to existing internal arrangements of the existing cottage; associated site works to include external store, car parking and hard and soft landscaping

  Permission, 1 home · Meath County Council, LB200330

• 15 Apr 2019Conditional

  change of use from residential to research institution, comprising the removal and erection of internal walls and doors. The addition of an accessible entrance to the front of the house. Restoration and refurbishment works to be completed where necessary, using materials sympathetic to the existing house. Conversion of the existing garage to office accommodation and storage. Conversion of the existing shed to a wet laboratory and office accommodation. Associated site works, hard and soft landscaping and car parking facilities. The proposed development takes place within the curtilage of a Protected Structure.

  Permission · Meath County Council, LB190447

• 5 Apr 2019N/a

  change of use from residential to research institution, comprising the removal and erection of internal walls and doors. The addition of an accessible entrance to the front of the house. Restoration and refurbishment works to be completed where necessary, using materials sympathetic to the existing house. Conversion of the existing garage to office accommodation and storage. Conversion of the existing shed to a workshop and office accommodation. Associated site works, hard and soft landscaping

  Permission · Meath County Council, LB190391

• 31 Jul 2017Conditional

  the refurbishment of and extension to the existing u-plan courtyard stable buildings, which have protected status (RPS Ref. MH020107), for re-established use as working stables. A proposed new two-storey extension to the southern range will accommodate a biomass heating system, fuel storage unit and plant equipment. Some modifications to the internal arrangement are proposed as well as associated site works consisting of hard & soft landscaping

  Permission · Meath County Council, LB170886

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: River Boyne and River Blackwater SAC 002299
• Special Protection Area: River Boyne and River Blackwater SPA 004232
• Proposed Natural Heritage Area: Dowth Wetland 001861

Recorded monuments

• ME019-040 Barrow - mound barrow
  Description

  Remains of mound, c. 20m in diam., with central depression. Listed as passage-tomb (Herity 1974, 251). Decorated stone (ME019-041001-) found immediately S of fence which borders mound on that side (O'Kelly 1978, 58-9). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 10 July 2007

• ME019-041 Mound
  Description

  Long mound, c. 70m long by 35m wide, with quarried depression on N side; probably natural moraine ridge (O'Kelly 1978, 58). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 10 July 2007

• ME019-042 Barrow - mound barrow
  Description

  Remains of mound, c. 20m in diam. and over 1m high, with central depression in which are a number of exposed stones. Listed as possible passage-tomb (Herity 1974, 251) (O'Kelly 1978, 57-8). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 10 July 2007

• ME019-043 Barrow - mound barrow
  Description

  Some 700m NE of the great mound at Newgrange (ME019-045----) is a mound , c. 22m in diam. and 4m high, surrounded by a kerb 31m in diam. Listed as possible passage-tomb (Herity 1974, 251) (O'Kelly 1978, 59). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 10 July 2007

• ME019-052 Mound
  Description

  Low oval mound (dims. c. 14m N-S, c. 9m E-W, H c. 0.5m). Possibly natural. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 10 July 2007

• ME019-053 Standing stone
  Description

  Orientated NW-SE. Oval cross-section (H 1.9m, L 1.9m, W0.6m) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 10 July 2007

• ME019-064 Architectural fragment
  Description

  Architectural fragment consisting of a carved stone which may be the remains of a decorated spandrel of a window now incorporated into the lintel of the front door in the porch of a 19th century cottage (ASI File).

• ME019-103 Embanked enclosure
  Description

  A large embanked enclosure on the north bank of the river Boyne identified from Lidar survey of the Boyne Valley (Davis et al 2010, 181). Recorded by Davis as Site F7-ii/LP1 (Davis et. al. 2010, 181). Compiled by: Geraldine Stout See attached Lidar image showing Site F7-ii/LP1, taken from Davis et. al. 2010.

• ME019-117 Linear earthwork
  Description

  A low relief, double banked curvilinear feature (L c. 150m plus) N of Dowth passage tomb was identified from LiDAR coverage (Davies, S. et al 2010, 168-9, D8-ii).

• ME019-128 Passage tomb art
  Description

  Located on the S-facing slope of the Dowth ridge. The stone is indicated as a feature on the 1908 edition of the OS 6-inch map and it is now displayed for at the entry kiosk to the great passage tomb at Newgrange (ME019-045----). It is described (O’Kelly 1967, 45-6, Pl. 2) as large (max. dims 1.22m x 1.06m; H 1.98m) with art on the two large faces. The flat face had been visible in a drain and was damaged. It has a spiral close to one edge with what are probably two pairs of concentric circles adjacent. A possible serpent motif beneath these terminates in a cup-mark and there are two other cup-marks on this surface. The other, more bulbous side has a spiral of eight turns with an attached circle. Cross-reference with ME019-041001-. See attached photographs taken from O'Kelly 1967, Pl. 2 Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 12 September 2018

• ME020-009 Stone circle
  Description

  The following description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 10 July 2007 Classification uncertain - may have been a megalithic tomb or stone circle. Destroyed by quarrying in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the surviving records indicate a circle of large stones set on end some 21 feet in diam. (Studia Hibernica 7, 142-5).

• ME020-010 Henge
  Description

  This monument is described by Stout (1991, 259) as: This impressive enclosure is situated towards the summit at the eastern end of a ridge above the River Boyne. It is located on a grey-brown podzolic soil. The passage tombs at Dowth are situated 1km to the south-west. The monument consists of a flat-topped earthen bank which encloses an oval area, 165m north-west – south-east by 175m north-east to south-west. The bank is well preserved, reaching heights of between 3m and 5m. It is 20m wide on average. The interior has a domed shape created by the scarping of an area 18m wide inside the inner edge of the bank. This was the source of the bank material. The enclosing bank is breached in two diametrically opposed places; the more definite of the two breaks occurs in the south-west (227 degrees T) for a maximum distance of 20m, narrowing to 12m. The second opening, in the north-east (55 degrees T), was marked by a dotted line on the OS first edition map. Today the bank at either end of this break narrows considerably and there are traces of a narrower bank continuing across part of the break, leaving a gap of 15m. A slight rise and a definite fall to the exterior along this opening in line with the bank make it highly probable that this opening is not contemporary with the construction of the enclosure. A shallow ditch outside the bank in the south-west portion of the enclosure corresponds to a field fence marked on the OS 6-inch map of 1837. (Coffey 1892, 51; 1912, 44; Crawford 1927, 98; Ó Ríordáin and Daniel 1964, 87, pl. 54; Burl 1969, 17; Wainwright 1969, 131; C. O’Kelly 1978, 56; Clare 1986, 311) Date of revision: 10 January 2017 This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 13/1976).

• ME020-012 Megalithic tomb - passage tomb
  Description

  The following description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 10 July 2007 Remains of mound, c. 20m in diam., overgrown with trees and shrubs. Several kerb stones have been noted and the site has been listed as possible passage-tomb (Herity 1974, 250). (O'Kelly 1978, 54, site I) Archaeological testing (21E0649) c. 15m to the N produced no related material (excavatioins.ie 2021:226).

• ME020-013 Megalithic tomb - passage tomb
  Description

  The following description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 10 July 2007 In the landscaped garden of Dowth House this mound, c. 20m in diam., contains a corbel-roofed, multi-celled chamber; probably a passage-tomb. A spiral has been noted on one of the stones. (O'Kelly 1978, 54-5)

• ME020-015 Mound
  Description

  The following description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 10 July 2007 Circular mound defined by sharply profiled fosse (diam. c. 20m). Berm at mid height and depression on top. Possibly landscape feature. (O'Kelly 1978, 55-6)

• ME020-016001 Field system
  Description

  Situated on a gentle S-facing slope. Earthworks in the field E of the great Dowth passage tomb (ME020-017----) have been resolved by oblique aerial photography and LiDAR imagery (Davis 2018) into a small area of post-medieval fields at the NW edge of the field running parallel with the public road. It consists of at least three small plots of cultivation ridges with the drills running either parallel with or vertical to the present NE-SW roadway. The area is defined by a rather curved bank at its SE edge. These plots are probably post-medieval in date. Further S are more extensive and probably later cultivation ridges on the same alignments that overlie the ring-ditch (ME020-016004-) and a hollow way (ME020-016005-) leading to the church (ME020-019----) and the deserted medieval village (ME020-082----) of Dowth The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of revision: 10 September 2018

• ME020-016002 Megalithic tomb - unclassified
  Description

  Situated on a gentle S-facing slope in the vicinity of the great passage tomb of Dowth (ME020-017----) and the medieval parish church (ME020-019----). Lewis (1837, vol. 1, 496) describes a cromlech ‘consisting of four large upright stones, and several others lying near’. Sir William Wilde (1849, 210-11) mentions a giant’s tomb in the vicinity of the great tomb and Dowth castle (ME020-018----) in addition to the Cloghalea stones (ME020-009----) with which it might be confused. O’Kelly (1978, 59-60) observed a number of large stones against the E boundary of this field, and there is a quarry at one point which might be the site of this structure and account for the removal of the tomb. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of revision: 10 September 2018

• ME020-016003 Ritual site - holy well
  Description

  Situated on a gentle S-facing slope. St Bernard’s Well is described in gothic lettering on the 1836 and 1908 editions of the OS 6-inch map. In 1836 John O’Donovan describes the well as Tober Seannachainn (Herity 2001, 43), and the name had been recorded by in the early seventeenth century by Bishop Usher. The name continued into the 1930s at least (IFC: vol. 317, 524) together with the story of how it became polluted and moved to a location closer to the River Boyne (French 2011, 3, 4). Seanchán was reputedly one of the seven sons of the pagan god Lugh, and he and his brothers are associated with churches in the Dublin and Meth area. The ninth century Martyrology of Tallaght describes Seanchán as of Dowth, and his feast was celebrated on the 16th or 17th of December (Ó Riain 2011, 560-1). The well is a natural spring feeding into a rectangular cement trough beneath a bush but there is no evidence of veneration. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 10 September 2018

• ME020-016004 Ring-ditch
  Description

  Situated on a gentle S-facing slope. Earthworks in the field E of the great Dowth passage tomb (ME020-017----) have been resolved by oblique aerial photography and LiDAR imagery (Davis 2018) into a post-medieval field system (ME020-016001-) at NW, a ring-ditch and a medieval hollow way (ME020-016005-). The ring-ditch is a circular grass-covered feature (diam. 11.5m) defined by a low bank overlaid by NE-SW lazy beds. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 10 September, 2018 Davis, S. 2018 Secretes from the Snow. Archaeology Ireland, vol. 32, No. 3, 24-5.

• ME020-016005 Road - hollow-way
  Description

  Situated on a gentle S-facing slope. Earthworks in the field E of the great Dowth passage tomb (ME020-017----) have been resolved by oblique aerial photography and LiDAR imagery (Davis 2018) into a post-medieval field system (ME020-016001-) at NW, a ring-ditch (ME020-016004-) and a hollow way or sunken road (Wth c. 2m; D 0.3m) defined by low banks (Wth c. 2m; H c. 0.3m) that runs NW-SE (L c. 150m) just to the NE of the passage tomb. It runs between the passage tomb and the ring-ditch, indicating that the latter was probably an extant barrow when it was in use, and it leads directly to the medieval parish church of Dowth (ME020-019----). Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload; 10 September 2018

• ME020-017 Megalithic tomb - passage tomb
  Description

  The following description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 10 July 2007 This great mound, comparable in original size with those at Newgrange (ME019-045----) and (ME019-030----), is not as well preserved. Much of the material to W was removed at various times in the past and in 1847, when in the course of excavation a large crater was dug into the top of the mound. This monument comprises a kerbed mound, 85m in diam., and 15m in H, covering two passage-tombs opening onto its W side. The N tomb, 12.5m long, is of cruciform shape; an annex of two chambers opens off S recess. A reconstructed stone basin lies in centre of chamber. S tomb is 8.25m long and comprises a short passage leading to a sub-circular chamber with a single recess opening off its SE side. A number of kerb stones and structural stones in both tombs bear megalithic art. (Souterrain (ME020-017001-) built into the mound. (PRIA 1983, 5-190)

• ME020-017001 Souterrain
  Description

  The following description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 10 July 2007 Two passages connected by drop-hole (total L c. 23.5m), terminating in beehive chamber with another beehive chamber off main passage close to entrance. Built within mound of passage-tomb (ME020-017----).

• ME020-018 Castle - tower house
  Description

  Situated on a broad E-W ridge. The manor of Dowth is first recorded as in the possession of Ralph de Picheford in 1234 and an inquiry in 1253 described the manor as five ploughlands with a garden and dovecote on a demesne of 132 acres. The manor had passed to the Netterville family by the end of the thirteenth century, and they retained it down to the nineteenth. In 1409 Luke Netterville was confirmed in the possession of Dowth. In 1622 Nicholas was raised to the peerage as the first Viscount Netterville (Stout 2007, 335-8). A gabled structure on the perimeter of a subcircular enclosure that has two smaller towers is represented at Dowth on the Down Survey (1656-8) barony map of Slane (http://downsurvey.tcd.ie/). According to the Civil Survey (1654-6) Sir John Netterville owned the manor of Dowth with 442 acres there in 1640, which had ‘a stone house, a stable and divers other outhouses, also a church, a farmhouse, a malthouse and bawn, a corn mill and tuck mill’ (Simington 1940, 351). They retained the estate through the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, but the last Viscount Netterville, bequeathed the castle and 60 acres to a charity and the castle became incorporated into the Netterville Institute, a seven bay, two storey and attic house attached to the E, to provide accommodation for widows and orphans (D’Alton 1844, 2, 390, 433-4; Lewis 1837, 1, 496; Stout 2007, 338). This is a three-storey tower house with a stairs tower at the NE angle and a base-batter on the walls. The original entrance is through a flat-arched doorway in a projecting tower at the centre of the S wall that has a fragment of a bawn wall extending S from it. The ground floor has an E-W vault with traces of wicker-centring and corbels for a loft. There is a fireplace and oven in the W wall and three inserted windows in the N wall. The original stairs in the S tower is removed but the first floor has a fireplace in the W wall, and a flat-arched doorway with decorative punch-dressing leads to a garderobe in the NE tower that has two finely decorated trefoil ventilators. The remaining features are inserted and second floor was entirely rebuilt in the Victorian era. (Stout 2007 346-8) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of revised upload: 22 June 2016

• ME020-019 Church
  Description

  Situated on the NE SW ridge of Dowth. The church of St. David at Dowth is recorded from at least 1202-04 (Stout 2002, 99), and a church at Donnethe is listed in the ecclesiastical taxation (1302-06) of Pope Nicholas (1288-92) (Cal. doc. Ire. 5, 261). Douth is amongst the possession of Llanthony at the Suppression in 1540 (White 1943, 316). Ussher (1622) describes the church and chancel as reasonably well repaired (Erlington 1847-64, 1, xcvii). According to Dopping’s Visitation (1682-5) the church was ruined since 1641, the graveyard was not enclosed, and the church was dedicated to St. Sinnac (Ellison 1973, 5). This is Seanchán, one of the seven sons of Lughaidh, of the Uí Chéithigh branch of Leinster, whose siblings are associated with churches in the Dublin/Kildare area, but little else is known about him (Ó Riain 2011, 560 1). The parish church of Dowth is a divided nave (ext. dims 12.6m E-W; c. 7m E-W) and chancel (ext. dims 10.7m E-W; c. 6.5m E-W) structure within a subrectangular graveyard (dims c. 60-65m E-W; c. 35-40m N-S) defined by masonry walls. The walls are almost complete, but much of the chancel has been rebuilt, and it may have had a sacristy attached to its N wall (Stout 2007, 342). The nave has opposing round-headed doorways towards the W end of the N and S walls. There is a pointed window (Wth 0.5m; H 1.5m) with a glazing groove and bar-holes in the W gable with a double belfry over it. There are two blocked windows in the S wall of the chancel, and an aumbry towards its E end. A sheela-na-gig, which was damaged by the erection of a headstone, is recorded from the exterior of the S wall of the church (Guest 1936, 113; Andersen 1977, 148). The font is now at the Roman Catholic church at Monknewtown (ME019-018001-). This is an octagonal stone (dim 0.75m; H 0.52m) tapering towards the base with a circular basin (diam. 0.57m; D 0.17m) that has a wave-like rim, rising to peaks at the angles, but it lacks a drain-hole (Roe 1968, 124-5). A broken graveslab was recorded in the graveyard re-used as a grave-marker by Du Noyer in 1867 (Stout 2007, Fig. 6), but has not been noted since. Dowth tower house (ME020-018----) is c. 30m to the NE. (Cogan 1862-70, 2, 204-08) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload/revision: 15 December, 2014

• ME020-019001 Graveyard
  Description

  Situated on the NE-SW ridge of Dowth. The parish church of Dowth (ME020-019----) is in a subrectangular graveyard (dims c. 60-65m E-W; c. 35-40m N-S) defined by masonry walls. The graveyard walls have been built since 1682-5 when Dopping describes the graveyard as unenclosed (Ellison 1973, 5). Archaeological monitoring (E002470) during 2006 of a road surface to the graveyard from the E produced evidence of two post-medieval walls (Russell 2007). Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 12 June, 2014 Amended: 17 February 2021

• ME020-019002 Sheela-na-gig
  Description

  Sheela-na-gig located on external face of S wall of medieval church at Dowth (ME020-019----). Described by Freitag as a ‘figure only vaguely discernible, obscured by funerary monument. Photograph published by Margaret Murray in 1934 shows a small head, biggish, almost rotund torso and both arms reaching down to sizeable round hole, indicating vulva. Guest reported in 1936 that the `prominent abdomen characteristic of this figure had been hacked off to accommodate a modern tombstone'. She also asserts that according to a sketch in private possession, at one time figure had splayed legs and hands directed towards lower abdomen’ (Freitag 2004, 131). (Guest 1936, 113; Andersen 1977, 148). Compiled by: Caimin O'Broem Date of revised upload: 27 January, 2017

• ME020-019003 Font
  Description

  The font from the medieval parish church of Dowth (ME020-019----) is now at the Roman Catholic church of Monknewtown (ME019-018001-). This is an octagonal stone (dim 0.75m; H 0.52m) tapering towards the base with a circular basin (diam. 0.57m; D 0.17m) that has a wave-like rim, rising to peaks at the angles, but it lacks a drain-hole (Roe 1968, 124-5). Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload; 12 June, 2014

• ME020-019004 Graveslab
  Description

  A broken graveslab with an incised cross and chamfered edge was recorded in the graveyard at Dowth (ME020-019001-) by Du Noyer in 1867. It was re-used as a grave-marker (Stout 2007, Fig. 6), but has not been noted since Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload; 15 December, 2014

• ME020-020 Mound
  Description

  The following description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 10 July 2007 Oval mound (dims. 26m NNE-SSW, 11m WNW-ESE, H c. 1.4m). Probably natural.

• ME020-023 Mound
  Description

  Situated in a fold and in a relatively low-lying position c. 130m from a WNW-ESE section of the River Boyne to the S and c. 220m from a SSW-NNE part of the river to the E. This is a subcircular natural mound (dims c. 91m E-W; c. 82m N-S; H c. 4m at N to c. 12m at S) that has been scarped at the bottom (at S: H 1.4m) and incorporated into a field bank with mature deciduous trees W-N-E. There is also a broad scarp around the summit. Remote sensing surveys (12R0080; 14R0060) detected what proved on excavation (15E0244) at SE to be a rock-cut ditch, which surrounds the mound but is split into two at W. Other modifications of the mound included a terrace on the W side and a possible flattening of the top. The ditch produced no material apart from a silver hand-pin in the secondary ditch at W, but was undisturbed beneath layers with some medieval ceramics at W. Middle to Late Neolithic material was recovered from the SE part of the mound. The ditch and scarping of the mound probably occurred in the first millennium AD. (Ní Lionáin and Davis 2016, 128-33) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 13 December, 2016

• ME020-028001 Weir - fish
  Description

  There are two weirs (ME019-066001-; ME020-028002-) on the River Boyne at this location which are both marked on the current edition of the OS six-inch map. One of the weirs is depicted on the map as a 'Weir' while the second structure to the S is marked as a fish weir (ME020-028002-). The weir marked on the OS 6-inch map may have been located on the site of or in close proximity to a medieval fish weir which belonged to the Cistercian abbey of Mellifont in the 14th century. In 1358 the Abbot of Mellifont obtained a judgment in his favour regarding the three fishing weirs at Rosnaree, Knowth and Staghlyn (Stalleen) (Went 1953, 22). At the dissolution of the abbey of the Mellifont, a fishing weir at 'Stalyng' was listed as part of the possessions of the abbey (ibid., 23). According to Went the 'fishing weirs at Staleen and Newgrange (ME019-068001-) have not been used recently for the capture of salmon. Only those of Oldbrige and Rosnaree (ME019-0680022-) have been used for upwards of a century, although the Staleen weir may have been used for eels in more recent years' (ibid., 23-4). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 11 November 2013.

• ME020-028002 Weir - fish
  Description

  The Archaeological Survey of Ireland (ASI) is in the process of providing information on all monuments on The Historic Environment Viewer (HEV). Currently the information for this record has not been uploaded. To access available information for research purposes please make an appointment in advance with the Archive Unit (open Fridays 10.00 am – 5.00 pm), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, The Custom House, Dublin 1 D01W6XO or email NMarchive@housing.gov.ie.

• ME020-073 Mound
  Description

  A mound identified on Lidar coverage (Davies, S. et al 2010,168, D8-i).

• ME020-075 Concentric enclosure
  Description

  Located on a bluff overlooking a NW-SE section of the River Boyne, which is c. 100m to the SW. This monument was first identified from a LiDAR Survey of the Brú na Bóinne World Heritage Site (Davis et al. 2013), and was confirmed by a magnetic gradiometry survey (12R0080) conducted during 2012. Close analysis of these results identifies three widely-spaced ditch features (ext. dims c. 123m E-W; c. 104m N-S). The innermost enclosure (diam. c. 60m) has at least one possible souterrain identified as a trench in the NW interior, while a rectangular house site is identifiable in the NE interior. Two other house-sites are in the vicinity and a line of at least three rectangular fields (dims c. 40m x c. 30m) extend NNW from the innermost ditch feature. (Ní Lionáin and Davis 2016, 134-5) Two cores were extracted (16E0347) by Clíodhna Ní Lionáin and other from the inner (Wth of top 8-9m; min. D 1.5m) and middle (Wth of top 6-7m; min. D 2.68m) ditches of this monument (excavation.ie 2016:848) for chemical analysis. The higher phosphate values of the inner fosse suggest that it has accumulated more settlement debris. Compiled by Michael Moore Date of revised upload: 9 December, 2016 Amended: 3 February 2021

• ME020-080 Passage tomb art
  Description

  A stone (dims c. 1.5m x c. 1.5m; max. T 0.4m) with two spiral motifs of passage tomb art was discovered in 2014 in the ha-ha to the east of Dowth Hall (pers. comm. Clíodhna Ní Lionáin, 6 January 2015). See attached screenshot of 3D model of rock art created by Wicklow Rock Art Project, School of Archaeology, University College Dublin under the direction of Dr. Clíodhna Ní Lionáin. Photogrammetric 3D rock art model can be accessed at the following website: https://skfb.ly/68oBQ Compiled by: Paul Walsh Revised date of upload: 6 January 2015

• ME020-081 Field system
  Description

  Situated on a broad, fairly level area. A remote sensing survey (12R0080 ext.) conducted during 2014 in the Racecourse Field of the Dowth estate recorded elements of a field system that cover almost the entire area of about 20ha (c. 50 acres). These single ditch features create five E-W field divisions, spaced 66-90m apart, and sub-divided by N-S oriented linear elements to create long, rectangular, and very regular fields (dims c. 100-150m x c. 50-100m). There are a number of possible stock-holding enclosures in the corners of some of the fields. One of them (ME020-081001-) at the S edge of the area was tested and Neolithic pottery was recovered from a post-hole in the fill of its ditch (Ni Lionáin 2019, 7-9). A possible ‘plectrum-shaped enclosure’ and associated features were identified in the northeast corner of the area. In the southeast there is a single, curvilinear boundary with a higher magnetic reading than in other areas, which is perhaps a later addition. (Ní Lionáin and Davis 2016, 149) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload; 9 December, 2016 Amended: 1 November 2022

• ME020-081001 Enclosure
  Description

  Located towards the top of a slight N-facing slope and within the co-axial field system (ME020-081----). A gradiometer survey (12R0080) of the Old Racecourse field recorded the relict ditches of the field system and some enclosures defined by ditches (Ní Lionáin and Davies 2016, 149). Archaeological monitoring and testing (18E0047) by C. Ní Lionáin of a sequence of tree-planting sites on the line of the old avenues that are recorded on the 1836 edition of the OS 6-inch map identified the ditch (R2) of an enclosure (diam. c. 23m) from the gradiometer survey, which was investigated in a small area (dims 3.4m NE-SW; 3m NW-SE). Four post-holes, three of which were cut into the upper fill of the enclosure ditch (Wth 2m; max. D 0.53m) and could have formed a rectangular structure (dims c. 1.25m NE-SW; x c. 1.2m NW-SE), or another combination of three post-holes might have formed a post-line crossing the ditch. The tip of a flint arrowhead and crumbly sherds of Early Neolithic pottery were recovered from the top fills of two of the post-holes. The U-shaped enclosure ditch had two fills of yellow/brown silty clay or sandy silt and produced one chert flake. The W edge of a metalled area was just S of the enclosure ditch and it sealed another NE-SW ditch (Wth 1.1m plus; D 0.6m) with two fills of sandy silt or clay that produced no artefacts and appears to run parallel the enclosure ditch. (Ní Lionáin 2019, 7-9) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 1 November 2022

• ME020-083 Barrow - ring-barrow
  Description

  Situated on the broad ridge of Dowth c. 190m W of Dowth henge (ME020-010----). A remote sensing survey (12R0080 ext.) conducted over most of the Henge field during 2014 recorded a subcircular enclosure (dims c. 44m N-S; c. 41m E-W) defined by a wide fosse (Wth 5m plus) and a possible external bank, with a possible central structure in its interior. This enclosure could lie within a larger enclosure, as suggested by a quiet magnetic ‘halo’ effect surrounding it. (Ní Lionáin and Davis 2016, 152) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 9 December, 2016

• ME020-084 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  Situated on an undulating landscape c. 100m NE of the concentric enclosure (ME020-075----). A remote sensing survey (12R0080 ext.) conducted during 2014 recorded the southwest portion of a bivallate enclosure. This consists of at least two ditch circuits that are closely spaced (ext. dims c. 40m NNW-SSE; c. 30m ENE-WSW) and are evident S-NW, with elements of an associated field system to the west and southwest. The ditches are strongly magnetic, indicative of possible burning. The remainder of the enclosure extends beneath an 18th century tree plantation on the NE side. (Ní Lionáin and Davis 2016, 159) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload; 9 December, 2016

• ME020-085 Concentric enclosure
  Description

  Situated on a bluff overlooking a SSW-NNE section of the River Boyne, which is c. 100m to the SE. A remote sensing survey (12R0080 ext.) conducted during 2015 recorded two widely-spaced ditch features (ext. diam. c. 90m NNE-SW; int. diam. c. 40m NNE-SSW) that survive SSW-N and back onto a quarry-face or what might have been a natural cliff. A doubling of the outer ditch feature at SW probably indicates a re-working of the enclosing element here. (Ní Lionáin and Davis 2016, 161) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 9 December, 2016

• ME020-098 Megalithic tomb - passage tomb
  Description

  Situated at a high point towards the E end of the broad ENE-WSW ridge of Dowth, at a point that was later chosen for the construction of Dowth Hall c. 1744-1765 when the tomb had already probably been dismantled. Dowth Hall is a five-bay by four-bay, two storey over basement and attic Georgian mansion that was built for the fifth and sixth Viscounts Netterville. It was developed further in the nineteenth century with the addition of a conservatory to the S on older foundations and the addition of a detached sunken kitchen to the N. In the mid-nineteenth century the grounds immediately outside were landscaped into two terraces by adding hahas c. 20 and c. 40m from the walls of the Hall. Archaeological monitoring (17E0242) by C. Ní Lionáin (2018, 2021) identified significant prehistoric remains around the Hall to the S and W as well as structural features relating to the Hall (excavations.ie 2018:174), and these were fully investigated by the same archaeologist under the same licence from August 2017 to mid-February 2018 (excavations.ie 2019:734). Smaller investigative trenches c. 14m NW (Area 5) and c. 12m N (Area 4) of Dowth Hall identified what might be kerbstones of smaller satellite tombs, although it is possible that these might relate to the large passage tomb beneath Dowth Hall. The stone with passage tomb art (ME020-080----) that came to light in 2014 probably derived from this tomb. The house had interesting sub-surface features including a basement extending outside its footprint along the W side, with servants’ tunnels approaching from the S and W. What is called the bowed projection is a semi-circular feature (ext. dims 8.25m ENE-WSW; 4.15m NNW-SSE) that was S of the Hall. It was built with thick masonry walls (Wth 1.35-1.45m; surviving H 2m) and had an internal lime floor. There is an embrasure (Wth 1.2m) at S that was adapted into a mural passage turning W and N to connect with the 18th century basement. Externally, the wall has a plinth (Wth 0.65-1.4m; H 2.2m) and the feature appears to have been built over by the S wall of a nineteenth century plinth that was added to the Hall for the conservatory but it wasn’t possible to clarify the relationships between these walls. CAIRN: The remains of a large cairn (diam. c. 38-53m; max. H c. 1.1m at S to c. 1.6m at NW) were uncovered around the S and W edges of Dowth Hall. It was composed of angular stones that had a thin layer of yellow clay at its base representing the original old ground surface, although introduced sods provided a prepared surface for the cairn. There were six surviving greywacke kerbstones at the S edge, three in situ, although two cairns relating to the two chambers discovered might be present as differences in the cairn material were noted. The kerbstones form a straight line and here the cairn had been capped with a layer of quartz stones, some of which had been redeposited in the filling of the closed S servants’ tunnel but at the two chambers the cairn had water-rolled stones over more angular stones. The straightness of the kerb and the capping of quartz may indicate the nearby presence of an entrance passage of which there is no other evidence. The kerbstone K2 has one large surface almost completely covered with concentric circles and spirals and two other kerbstones have faint motifs. There were slips of cairn material over the kerbstones that covered two possible stone-settings and an E-W ditch (Wth c. 1m) that had an inserted cremation burial with the remains of three individuals. Possible Beaker pottery is found in this area which is pre-dated by three episodes of cairn slip and post-dated by three others (Ní Lionáin 2022). (Ní Lionáin 2018, 56-64) TOMB 1: The two chambers within the cairn were c. 17m apart. At NW Tomb 1 was beneath an overburden of builder’s rubble (D c. 1.6m) and the cairn had some quarries in its upper surface but it was originally capped with a layer of water-rolled stones (max. T 0.94m) in this area. The tomb consists of portion of a stalled chamber (dims 3.75m NW-SE; 1.7m NE-SW) represented by 12 structural stones, seven in situ, forming three stalls, one with a backstone, but a passage has not been identified. The stones are all local greywacke with one volcanic tuff and no roofstones are identified. Five stones have isolated motifs either pecked or scratched into their surfaces, one being an elaborate design of opposed nested Vs meeting at their apex where there are two horizontal lines. About 40% of the structural stones of this chamber have some art and c. 70% of the kerbstones also have art (Ní Lionáin 2022a). The chamber was filled with cairn material and an old ground surface has been identified together with burnt and unburnt human remains. Within and around one of the stalls natural stone concretions were set as a floor. An adult female mandible from the central chamber floor provided a C14 date of 3191-3009 cal. BC (BS420) (Ní Lionain 2022). The entire cairn may have been ritually destroyed in the Late Neolithic when human remains were carefully placed in this chamber after its roofing was removed. A partial female skull that was placed upside down at the entry to a stall had adult and juvenile finger bones in the cavity but the skull provided a radiocarbon determinations of 2492-2280 cal. BC (BS255). An isolated mandible, placed with equal care further W, yielded a nearly identical C14 date of 2474-2266 cal. BC (BS291), placing both and the likely slighting of the tomb in the Chalcolithic or Copper Age. (Ní Lionáin 2018, 36, 40-46) TOMB 2: At SW Tomb 2 was a subcircular chamber (dims 5.2m NW-SE; 4.5m NE-SW) with 14 surviving structural stones, six in situ, and a few courses of drystone walling W-N that probably relates to a later souterrain (ME020-098001-). One possible roofstone of sandstone is present with cup-marks on its underside but all the other stones are greywacke, two with slight incised motifs and another with patches of stippling. A passage is not identified but two stones projecting E from the chamber may be from a side-chamber (dims 1.4m N-S; 1.3m E-W) and was the only area partially excavated, but there may be original deposits beneath the cairn material closing the chamber. The cairn here was beneath an overburden of builders’ rubble (T c. 1.3m) and there were some quarries in its upper surface. (Ní Lionáin 2018, 37-8, 47-55) See the attached views and plans courtesy of Clíodhna Ní Lionáin: _1 Vertical photograph of Dowth Hall by Ken Williams (21/12/2021). N at left; _2 Site plan; _3 Vertical view of kerbstones at S by Ken Williams. N at right; _4 Kerbstone K2 looking W. Photograph by Ken Williams. _5 Plan of Tomb 1; _6 Vertical view of Tomb 1 by Ken Williams; _7 Tomb 1 looking ENE by Ken Williams; _8 Vertical view of Tomb 2 by Ken Williams; Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 12 October 2022

• ME020-098001 Souterrain
  Description

  Recorded by C. Ní Lionáin in excavating (17E0242) the passage tomb (ME020-098----) under Dowth Hall. About 7m NW of Tomb 2 a cut in the cairn material (dims 2.6m NNW-SSE; 1.5m ENE-WSW; D 0.48m) was lined on each side except the S with drystone walling which is the drop-down entry to a passage (L 2.05m plus; Wth 0.7m) that had been provided with a clay floor with a step at S before running into unexcavated ground. The passage was filled with rounded stones in a brown silty sand beneath a yellow brown silt. The souterrain extended into the chamber of tomb 2 and was responsible for the drystone walling on its N side (Ní Lionáin 2022). (Ní Lionáin 2021, 55) See the attached view of the passage at Tomb 2 looking NW by Ken Williams; Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 12 October 2022

Architectural heritage

• Netterville Manor, almshouse, 1870–1880 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached seven-bay two-storey former almshouse, built c.1877, now in use as guesthouse. Comprising central five-bays with gabled dormers and central porch, flanked by gabled advanced end bays. Pitched slate roofs with red brick chimneystacks, cast-iron ridge cresting and cast-iron finials. Red brick walls with string courses and limestone and blue brick dressings. Timber sash windows set in square-headed and segmental-arched openings with limestone and blue brick dressings. Medieval tower house to site. Ashlar limestone piers with cast-iron double gates.

• Netterville Manor, church/chapel, 1840–1880 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached stone church remodelled, c.1860, comprising of three-bay side elevations to the nave, with single-bay porch to south-gable. Dressed stone walls, with decorative recessed panels. Pointed arch openings.

• Netterville Manor, graveyard/cemetery, 1700–1750 · Regional interest
  Description

  Graveyard, with stone grave markers from c.1725. Rubble stone boundary walls with cast-iron double gates and turnstile. Remains of medieval church and medieval grave markers to the site.

• Dowth Hall, country house, 1740–1780 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached five-bay two-storey over basement country house, built c.1760, with additional mezzanine to the rear. Hipped slate roof with rendered chimneystacks and ashlar limestone parapets. Ashlar limestone walls with string courses having channelled ashlar to the entrance level. Timber sash windows, with alternating pediments to upper floor. Paired timber panelled doors. Carved limestone porch, comprising columns supporting entablature and pediment, approached by flight of limestone steps. Conservatory, c.1900, attached to south elevation. Outbuildings to north elevation

• Dowth Hall, stables, 1740–1780 · Regional interest
  Description

  Four ranges of stables, built c.1760, set around a central courtyard. Hipped slate roof with rendered chimneystacks. Rubbles stone walls with ashlar limestone dressings to segmental-arched carriage arch and square-headed door openings. Timber sash windows with stone sills.

• Dowth Hall, filling pump/station, 1950–1970 · Regional interest
  Description

  Cast-iron pump, c.1960, comprising cast-iron base with formerly glazed upper section retaining original internal machinery.

• Dowth Hall, gate lodge, 1820–1840 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached three-bay single-storey gate lodge, built c.1830, with gabled central porch. Pitched slate roofs with ashlar limestone chimneystack and eaves dentils. Rendered walls. Timber panelled door set in carved limestone doorcase, flanked by carved limestone pilasters supporting pediment above. Timber casement windows set in segmental arched openings with ashlar limestone dressings. Cast-iron piers, railings and gates to site.

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 Dowth, 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 high, moderately high, moderately low, low, partly inferred. Parts of the land are water.

Terrain model

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

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 Dowth with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Meath.

Name

Dowth · Dubhadh

Area

4,944,732 m² (494.47 ha, 1,221.87 acres)

Civil parish

Dowth, and its townlands

Barony

Slane Upper

Electoral division

Mellifont, the unit of the census

Census 2022

573 people lived in 197 households in the Mellifont electoral division. 85% of households owned their home. 24% of homes were built since 2001. 7% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 2% were holiday homes.

Neighbouring townlands

Balfeddock, Glebe, Littlegrange (Co. Louth), Newgrange, Oldbridge, Proudfootstown, Roughgrange, Stalleen

Placenames

Dowth 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.