Dunsany

92 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Dunsany, from 8 m² to 162,426 m² (16.24 ha, 40.14 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary; 46 neighbouring parcels touch it.

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

• P5RA - Rural Area (Mixed/general primary sector uses, including 'rural')
  Meath County Development Plan 2021-2027, Meath · 103 parcels The zoning objective in the plan

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

• 19 Nov 2024N/a

  the development consists of (i) the Demolition of Existing Shed (7m²), (ii) Retention of Existing Timber Garden Shed (18m²), (iii) Permission for the proposed construction of a Two Storey Extension to the side of existing house, (iv) proposed Single Storey Porch Extension to the front, (v) proposed Single Storey Extension to the rear, Total Proposed Extended Area = 48m², (vi) 2 no Proposed Roof-lights and all associated site works

  Permission · Meath County Council, 2460984

• 24 Sept 2024Conditional

  the development consists of the demolition of an existing Sun Room and Pergola type structure to side of the existing dwelling, partial demolition of existing shed and permission for proposed extension to the rear of the existing dwelling. Significant further information/revised plans submitted on this application

  Permission · Meath County Council, 2460777

• 23 Oct 2023Conditional

  The retention of existing detached timber single storey structure (28 sq. m.) incorporating gym, toilet and domestic storage shed for the purpose of being incidental to the enjoyment of the existing dwelling.

  Retention · Meath County Council, 2360363

• 6 Oct 2023Conditional

  the retention of existing Sun Room

  Retention · Meath County Council, 2360320

• 2 Feb 2023Conditional

  proposed single storey extension to side and rear, and new porch to front of existing dwelling. Replacement of old septic tank with new waste water treatment unit, new percolation area and all ancillary works

  Permission · Meath County Council, 2392

• 22 Dec 2022Conditional

  the upgrading of the flood lighting to training standard and all associated ancillary and site works to serve the existing football pitch

  Permission · Meath County Council, 221712

• 2 Dec 2022N/a

  the upgrading of the flood lighting to training standard and all associated ancillary and site works to serve the existing football pitch

  Permission · Meath County Council, 221560

• 17 Dec 2021Conditional

  retention of detached timber single storey structure (28 sq. m.) incorporating gym, toilet and domestic storage shed for the only purpose of being incidental to the enjoyment of the existing dwelling, demolition of existing Sun Room and Pergola type structure to side of existing dwelling, built without the benefit of Planning Permission, demolition of existing shed and permission for proposed extension to side of existing dwelling. Significant further information/revised plans submitted on this application

  Permission, 1 home · Meath County Council, 212359

• 21 Oct 2021Conditional

  alterations and additions to the existing 1.5 storey house, the conversion of the existing outbuilding to a bedroom, the construction of an attached garage and plant room and all associated site works. Significant further information/revised plans submitted on this application

  Permission, 1 home · Meath County Council, 212032

• 20 Dec 2019Conditional

  the proposed development consists of the erection of a temporay single-storey one-classroom pre-fab and associated site works on grounds to the front of the exising school building at Dunsany National School

  Permission · Meath County Council, RA191777

• 14 Aug 2019Conditional

  retention of Kitchen/Dining Room Extension and Garage to rear of dwelling

  Retention · Meath County Council, RA191064

• 30 Jul 2019N/a

  retention of Kitchen/Dining Room Extension and Garage to rear of dwelling

  Retention · Meath County Council, RA191004

• 14 May 2019Conditional

  the demolition of the existing water tower, construction of a new single-storey extension to the side and alterations & refurbishment of the existing building to the front of Dunsany National School

  Permission · Meath County Council, RA190598

• 15 Dec 2017Conditional

  retention of a single storey conservatory (floor area not exceeding 10.4sq.m) to the rear of the existing dwelling

  Retention · Meath County Council, RA171450

• 27 Mar 2017N/a

  the development will consist of change of house type from that previously granted Planning Permission under DA/901358 and granted Extension of Duration under DA/140006 to include detached domestic garage, revised site layout, new dual entrance, proprietary waste water treatment system and all associated site development works

  Permission, 1 home · Meath County Council, RA170310

• 3 Mar 2017N/a

  the development will consist of change of house type from that previously granted Planning Permission under DA/901358 and granted Extension of Duration under DA/140006 to include detached domestic garage, new dual entrance, proprietary waste water treatment system and all associated site development works

  Permission, 1 home · Meath County Council, RA170228

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

Designated sites

No designated site (Special Area of Conservation, Special Protection Area, Natural Heritage Area or proposed one) touches the townland of Dunsany.

Recorded monuments

• ME037-017 Cross - Wayside cross
  Description

  Situated on the NE side of the Dunshaughlin to Kilmessan road opposite the entrance avenue to Dunsany castle (ME037-018----) and c. 200m N of Dunsany church (ME037-019----). The cross (H 2.35m) was thought to be a fossiliferous limestone but is probably granite. It is rectangular in cross-section and consists of a shaft (dims 0.25m x 0.17m; H 1.22m), collar (dims 0.31m x 0.16m; H 0.29m) and upper shaft (dims 0.21m x 0.13m; H 0.84m) set in a rectangular base (dims 0.92m x 0.88m; H 0.14m) that also has two basins of a bullaun stone (ME037-044----). The base is on a plinth of three steps. The edges of the shaft are chamfered and the narrow sides taper. The upper shaft is a Latin cross decorated on the W side in false relief with a crucifixion at the crux and a winged ox, a symbol of St Luke, in the panel above. There is a small mortice on the top of the upper shaft. A date of c. 1600 is suggested (King 1984, 108). This cross was badly vandalised on 1 June 2013 when the shaft was broken just above the base and the head was fractured into three large pieces. The cross was conserved by Laurent Madelmont for the Dunsany estate and re-erected in August 2014 (Meath Chronicle c. 14/08/2014). (Westropp 1894, 227-9; Moore 1987, no. 1535) Compiled by: Geraldine Stout, Michael Moore Date of revised upload: 05 September, 2014

• ME037-018 Castle - unclassified
  Description

  Situated on a low-lying landscape. Hugh de Lacy granted the barony of Skreen to Adam de Feipo in 1172 but the details of the sub-infeudation are not known. However, Dunsany is likely to be an early manor in the possession of the Cussack family, but with what form of castle is not known. In 1401 Sir Christopher Plunket of Rathregan, first Lord Killeen, married Joan Cussack, heiress to Killeen and Dunsany, and Dunsany has remained in the Plunket family ever since. Their eldest son John inherited Killeen and his descendants became Earls of Fingal, while Dunsany was left to their second son, Christopher who became the first baron Dunsany. In 1641 the entire parish of Dunsany amounting to 240 acres was owned by Patrick Plunket, ninth Baron Dunsany, but he also owned most of the land in the Meath parishes of Kentstown and Oldcastle as well as other land in the county amounting to over 1000 acres (Simington 1940, 70-1, 122-3, 145, 268, 270, 273). The first Lord Dunsany or his descendants many have built a masonry castle here, the form of which is now completely obscured by remodelling in a neo-gothic style in the 1780s, and again c. 1840. The castle is described (Bence-Jones 1978, 117) as: ‘two tall blocks, each with a pair of square corner-towers, joined by a hall range so as to enclose a shallow 3-sided court. The 13th Lord Dunsay restored and modernized the old castle 1780s, filling in the old court between the projecting tower-blocks to form a spacious staircase hall, putting in pointed Georgian Gothic windows..’ Some of what could have been a tower house could survive in the square projecting corner towers. (Bence-Jones 1978, 117). 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: 21 August 2019

• ME037-019 Church
  Description

  Located on a fairly level landscape at the N side of a natural knoll (dims of base c. 100m NE-SW; c. 50m NW-SE; max. H c. 10m at SW). A church at Dunsany is listed in the ecclesiastical taxation (1302-06) of Pope Nicholas IV (Cal. doc. Ire., 5, 255). Ussher (1622) describes the church and chancel as being reasonably well repaired (Erlington 1847-64, 1, lxxiii). According to Dopping (1682-5) the church of St Nicholas was ruined since 1641 but the graveyard was enclosed (Ellison 1972, 7). The church was probably built by the second Sir Christopher Plunkett, the first baron of Dunsany, before his death in 1461, and it was probably extant by c. 1450 (Leask 1960, 14). He was the second son of Sir Christopher Plunkett and Joan Cussack, whose marriage in 1403 created a dynasty that would rule at Dunsany, Killeen, Rathmore and Loughcrew, and produce a saint in St Oliver Plunkett (1625-81). Sir Christopher’s will itemises arras, crosiers, chalices, missals, psalters and hymnals together with copes of gold and satin for the church and the statue of the Blessed Virgin. There was to be a chantry chapel of priests to pray his soul and those of his wives, Anne FitzGerald and Elizabeth Preston. This is a fortified parish church which has been fully described (Westropp 1894, 222-29), on the site of an older parish church, of which there is no trace. It consists of a nave (int. dims 16.6m E-W; 6.5m N-S) and chancel (int. dims 15.3m E-W; 6.6m N-S), which survives complete as a conserved National Monument, although within the Dunsany estate (Harbison 1970, 184). It is within a D-shaped graveyard (dims 68m E-W; 41m N-S) with the straight side at S where it is defined by an inner fosse (Wth 5.3m; int. D 0.5m; ext. D 0.5-1m) and outer bank (Wth c. 5m; ext. H 0.2m). The perimeter is defined by an outer scarp at W (Wth 2m; H 1.4m), which decreases around to N (Wth 5.5m; H 0.7m) and fades away on the E side. The headstones date generally from c. 1720 to c. 1950 with a few later inscriptions. The nave is entered through reconstructed doorways at N (Wth 1.8m) and S (Wth 1.25m). The nave has single large pointed windows in the S (destroyed) and N walls, placed E of the doorways. That on the N wall probably had three multi-cusped lights with two smaller cusped lights above. It may have been a similar design to the W window, of which only two mullions partially survive. There is a recess (L 3.77m; D 0.53m) towards the E end of the S wall, which provides two, two-light, cusped windows, one above the other for the rood loft. The stairs to the loft is in the N pier of the round chancel arch (Wth 2.97m) and it leads to a space in a projection (ext. dims 6.25m E-W; 2.25m N-S; int. dims 4m E-W; 2.45m N-S) at the E end of the N nave wall. The large rectangular window on the N wall of this chapel on the ground floor is robbed, but at the loft level there is a simple ogee-headed light. The chancel arch may be rebuilt as the footing of the N pier suggest a narrower original arch (Wth 2.2m), more centrally placed on the main axis of the church. The chancel has one decorated window at the W end of the N wall, and three two-light cusped windows with very little tracery remaining on the S wall. There is a triple sedelia with multi-cusped openings under a square hood between the E and central windows of the S wall. The E window is a reconstruction of a three-light cusped window that is based on the E window at Killeen (ME038-013----). Large beam-holes placed high in the N and S walls would have divided the chancel in two, providing a chantry at the W end. A dais (Wth 2.7m; H 0.2m) at the E end supports the base of an altar (dims 2.95m x 0.9m), which is against the E wall. A pointed doorway (Wth 0.82m; H 1.85m) in the N wall leads to the vaulted sacristy on the ground floor of the NE tower (ext. dims 7.4m E-W; 5.85m N-S) that is kept permanently locked. A blocked round-headed doorway (Wth 1m) in the E wall leads to the sacristy from the outside and there is a rectangular chamfered light in the N wall. The doorway from the chancel also leads to a mural stairs in the W wall to the first floor over the vault, which has lights in the N and E walls, and a hagioscope in the S wall that allows a view of the high altar below in the chancel. A mural stairs in the W wall leads to the second floor with lights on the N and E walls. The NE is the largest of four towers at each angle of the church, but the SE tower (ext. dims 2.07m E-W; 2.05m N-S), although it has a small chamber with square window in the S wall, is inaccessible, and its only function is to provide a newel stairs rising from the wall-walk on the S wall to the E wall. A passage over the chancel arch wall also connects the N and S wall-walks, which do not survive anywhere. From the nave a lintelled doorway at the S end of the W wall leads to a newel stairs in the SW tower (ext. dims 3.3m E-W; 3.25m N-S) that permits access to the wall-walk on the S wall of the nave. The stairs continues upwards and at the top a lintelled doorway leads to a destroyed passage over the W gable to the belfry stage of the NW tower. This tower (ext. dims 3.4m N-S; 3.3m E-W) is entered at the ground floor by a lintelled doorway at the N end of the W nave wall. There are small lights in the W and N walls, but access to the first and second floors and the belfry stage above, if it was present, was by internal ladders. The belfry stage has a corbelled roof, two tall ogee-headed openings on the N and W sides, and single openings on the S and E sides. The fragmentary double effigy tomb of a lady and her knight is now reconstructed in the N chapel off the nave. The table (dims 2.16m x 1.24m; T 0.11m; H over base 0.82m) has a chamfered edge and is carved in relief. The end-panels show ecclesiastics (E) and the scourging of Christ (W), while the long sides have crests including Plunkett, FitzGerald, Fleming, and FitzEustace, amongst others. Although there is no inscription, the tomb may have been prepared for Sir Christopher, who died in 1461, and his first wife, Anne Fitzgerald, or possibly for his son, Richard, who died c. 1470-72. (FitzGerald 1915; Hunt 1974, 1, 205-06). The decorated font (FitzGerald 1915) is now kept in the Castle (ME037-018----) for safe-keeping. The basin is octagonal (ext. dim. 0.68m; H 033m), has a circular basin (int. diam. 0.5m;D 0.2m) and rests on a separate piece (H 0.17m) with slightly chamfered under-panels. The upper panels have images of two apostles in separate ogee-headed niches on each side, together with panels devoted to the Crucifixion and the symbols of the Passion. The octagonal shaft is attached to an octagonal, pyramidal base with four mouldings, but the decoration on the under-panels and shaft are all geometric, apart from four heraldic shields held by angels. These include the arms of Plunkett and FitzGerald, a plain latin cross, and a heart pierced by two swords, which is a symbol of the Blessed Virgin. (Roe 1968, 49-55) Outside the N doorway is the surviving fragment of the shaft of a cross (dims 0.23m x 0.14m; H 0. 47m) with chamfered edges. Each side has a figure in false relief representing St Peter (W), St Andrew (N), St James of Compostella (E), and St. John (S). A date of c. 1480 has been suggested (King 1984, 98-9). 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. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of revised upload: 10 March, 2015

• ME037-019001 Graveyard
  Description

  The fortified parish church (ME037-019----) of Dunsany is within a D-shaped graveyard (dims 68m E-W; 41m N-S) with the straight side at S where it is defined by an inner fosse (Wth 5.3m; int. D 0.5m; ext. D 0.5-1m) and outer bank (Wth c. 5m; ext. H 0.2m). Elsewhere the perimeter is defined by an outer scarp at W (Wth 2m; H 1.4m), which decreases around to N (Wth 5.5m; H 0.7m) and fades away on the E side. The headstones date generally from c. 1720 to c. 1950 with a few later inscriptions. The churchyard cross (ME037-019003-) is in the graveyard outside the N doorway of the church. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 10 March, 2015

• ME037-019002 Font
  Description

  The decorated font that was kept in the nave of Dunsany church (ME037-019----) is now kept in the Castle (ME037-018----) for safe-keeping. The top is octagonal (ext. dim. 0.68m; H 033m), has a circular basin (int. diam. 0.5m; D 0.2m), and rests on a separate piece (H 0.17m) with slightly chamfered under-panels. The upper panels have images of two apostles in separate ogee-headed niches, together with panels devoted to the Crucifixion and the symbols of the Passion. The octagonal shaft is attached to an octagonal, pyramidal base with four mouldings, but the decoration on the under-panels and shaft are all geometric, apart from four heraldic shields held by angels. These include the arms of Plunkett and FitzGerald, a plain latin cross, and a heart pierced by two swords, which is a symbol of the Blessed Virgin. (Roe 1968, 49-55) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 10 March, 2015

• ME037-019003 Cross - Churchyard cross
  Description

  Outside the N doorway of the fortified parish church of Dunsany (ME037-019----) is the surviving fragment of the shaft of a cross (dims 0.23m x 0.14m; H 0. 47m) with chamfered edges. Each side has a figure in false relief representing St Peter (W), St Andrew (N), St James of Compostella (E), and St. John (S). A date of c. 1480 has been suggested (King 1984, 98-9). It is described by King as: Close to the N wall of the medieval church in the grounds of Dunsany Castle. Set on a concrete shaft 1959. Material: Limestone. H 0.48m; Wth 0.22m; D 0.15m. A shaft fragment, rectangular in section with chamfered edges, decorated I false relief. Each face has a figure set in an ogee-headed niche above which are floral and architectural designs. The shaft edges have a trellis pattern on three sides and four marigolds on the N-W bevel. No inscriptions. W: St. Peter with a large out-turned key. His tunic, like that of the other figures, is pleated. Above is an ivy-leaf design. E: St James of Compostella wearing a pilgrim's hat and carrying a staff. A bird-inhabited fruiting vine above. N: St Andrew with a large saltire cross under a two-stage pattern of pierce perpendicular tracery. S: St John, clean-shaven, holding the poisoned goblet, and a book (?). Above is a stiff laurel-leaf design. A date c. 1480 is suggested. Date of upload: 10 March, 2015

• ME037-019004 Tomb - effigial
  Description

  The fragmentary double effigy tomb of a lady and her knight is now reconstructed in the N chapel off the nave. The table (dims 2.16m x 1.24m; T 0.11m; H over base 0.82m) has a chamfered edge and is carved in relief. The end-panels show ecclesiastics (E) and the scourging of Christ (W), while the long sides have crests including the Plunkett, FitzGerlad, Fleming, and FitzEsutace arms, amongst others. Although there is no inscription, the tomb may have been prepared for Sir Christopher, who died in 1462, and his first wife, Anne Fitzgerald, or possibly for his son, Richard, who died c. 1470-72. (FitzGerald 1915, 338-9; Hunt 1974, 1, 205-06). The tomb is described by FitzGerald as: This altar-tomb is uninscribed. The covering slab bears the effigies of a knight and his wife in the horned head-dress of the period; the feet of the knight rest on a dog, and those of his wife on a cushion embroidered with two eagles between which is a (?) cat’s head. One end-slab of the sides has a representation of the chastisement of our Lord in a central panel, with an angel swinging a censor in the panels on either side; in the opposite end a bishop or saint occupies each of the three panels. The two longer sides are each divided into five niches, richly floriated, and, though empty, coats-of-arms on shields occupy the spaces between the nice-heads. On one side appear, from left to right, the arms of Plunkett, Fleming (?), Castlemartin (three towers), and Plunkett, impaling FitzGerald or FitzEustace. On the other side are shields bearing the arms of Plunkett, on another FitzGerald or FitzEustace, on the third a heart pierced by two swords saltire-wide, and on the fifth a cross and some emblems of the Crucifixion. Possibly the knight represents Sir Christopher Plunkett, Kt. (second son of Sir Christopher of Killeen), who is generally considered to have been the first Baron of Dunsany, and who died in 1462. He was twice married – first to Anne FitzGerald, daughter to Richard FitzGerald, of Ballyshannon, a younger son of Maurice, 4th Earl of Kldare; and secondly to Elizabeth Preston, daughter of Roger, first Viscount Gormanston. He left issue by his first wife. As the altar-tomb bears no inscription, and the Preston arms do not appear on it, it strikes one that it may have been erected during the lifetime of Sir Christopher. Yet, as Sir Christopher Plunkett in his will desires his body to be buried in the chancel of the church at Killeen, it is just possible that the Dunsany tomb may belong to his son and successor, Richard Plunkett, 2nd Lord Dunsany, who died between 1474 and 1482; his wife was Joan, daughter of Sir Rowland FitzEustace, Baron of Portlester, whose family arms are: “Or, a saltire gules”; and when sculptured on a stone are identical with the FitzGerald arms: “Argent, a saltire gules”; hence the shield on the side of the tomb may be either the FitzGerald or the FitzEustace arms. Of the two, it is more probable that the tomb belongs to the latter Lord Dunsany. Date of upload: 11 March, 2015

• ME037-044 Bullaun stone
  Description

  Located on the roadside, opposite the entrance to Dunsany castle. On the limestone base of the Dunsany cross (ME037-017----), which is a rectilinear slab (L 0.86m, Wth 0.80m, T 0.08m) are a number of regular hollows. These form a cluster on the upper surface of the slab to the S of the cross shaft. There are three main circular, rounded, hollows, in the E (diam. 0.15m, D 0.09m); in the W ( diam, 0.17m, D 0.09m); the S example is smaller (diam. 0.03m, D 0.01m). To the S and E of these are a series of smaller shallow, artificial, cavities. Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Date of upload: 02 December 2013 The linked images of the bullaun stone were taken on 7 July 2013.

Architectural heritage

• Dunsany Castle, gate lodge, 1830–1850 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached single-bay two-stage gate lodge with castellations parapet, built c.1840, now vacant. Dressed limestone walls with ashlar string courses. Paired gun loop openings with ashlar dressings and label mouldings. Ashlar limestone entrance gate with castellated parapet to north-west, with Tudor arch opening having a single and a pair of cast-iron gates. Carved stone crest over main gate. Set in roughly dressed limestone boundary walls with castellated parapet.

• Dunsany Castle, gate lodge, 1800–1840 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached three-bay single-storey gate lodge, built c.1820, with central breakfront. Now in ruins. Rendered walls. Square-headed openings set in recessed blind arches. Rubble stone boundary walls to site with ashlar dressings to gate.

• Dunsany Castle, gate lodge, 1830–1850 · Regional interest
  Description

  Pair of pointed-arch entrance gates, built c.1840, with mock ruined stone tower having gun loops to the north-west. Three-bay single-storey stone gate lodge to site. Ashlar voussoirs and dressings to main entrance, rusticated arch to pedestrian entrance. Some paired timber sash windows to gate lodge.

• Welleran House, worker's house, 1849–1889 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached three-bay single-storey worker's house with half-dormer attic, c.1870, on a symmetrical plan centred on single-bay full-height gabled breakfront. Now disused. Pitched slate roof including gablets to window openings to half-dormer attic centred on pitched (gabled) slate roof (breakfront), clay ridge tiles, "Cavetto" coping to gables on cut-limestone kneelers with rendered chimney stacks to apexes having stringcourses below corbelled stepped capping supporting terracotta pots, and cast-iron rainwater goods on ogee or thumbnail beaded consoles retaining cast-iron downpipes. Rendered, ruled and lined walls on rendered plinth with rendered quoins to corners. Segmental-headed central door opening with two steps, cut-limestone block-and-start surround having chamfered reveals with hood moulding framing boarded-up door having overlight. Square-headed flanking window openings in bipartite arrangement with cut-limestone sills, timber mullions, and cut-limestone block-and-start surrounds having chamfered reveals with hood mouldings framing two-over-two timber sash windows. Square-headed window openings (half-dormer attic) with cut-limestone sills, and cut-limestone block-and-start surrounds having chamfered reveals framing two-over-two timber sash windows. Set back from line of road with wrought iron "estate railings" to perimeter.

• Clontara, worker's house, 1849–1889 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached three-bay single-storey worker's house with half-dormer attic, c.1870, on a T-shaped plan centred on single-bay full-height gabled projecting breakfront. Renovated. Pitched slate roof on a T-shaped plan including gablets to window openings to half-dormer attic centred on pitched (gabled) slate roof (breakfront), roll moulded ridge tiles, cut-limestone "Cavetto" coping to gables on cut-limestone kneelers with replacement yellow brick Running bond chimney stacks to apexes having corbelled stepped stringcourses below capping supporting terracotta pots, and cast-iron rainwater goods on ogee or thumbnail beaded consoles retaining cast-iron octagonal or ogee hoppers and downpipes. Repointed rubble stone walls originally rendered, ruled and lined with hammered limestone flush quoins to corners. Square-headed central window opening (breakfront) with cut-limestone block-and-start surround having chamfered reveals framing replacement timber window. Square-headed window openings originally in tripartite arrangement (ground floor) with cut-limestone block-and-start surrounds having chamfered reveals framing replacement timber windows. Square-headed window openings originally in bipartite arrangement (half-dormer attic) with cut-limestone block-and-start surrounds framing replacement timber windows. Road fronted on a corner site with flagged footpath to front.

• Dunsany Constabulary Barrack, garda station/constabulary barracks, 1849–1889 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached three-bay single-storey constabulary barrack with half-dormer attic, c.1870, on a T-shaped plan centred on single-bay full-height gabled projecting breakfront. Occupied, 1901. Vacated, 1906. Now disused. Pitched slate roof on a T-shaped plan centred on pitched (gabled) slate roof (breakfront), lichen-covered ridge tiles, red brick Running bond central chimney stack on chamfered plinth having corbelled stepped stringcourse below capping supporting terracotta or yellow terracotta pots, cut-limestone coping to gables on kneelers, and cast-iron rainwater goods on exposed timber rafters retaining cast-iron octagonal or ogee hoppers and downpipes. Part repointed snecked limestone walls on benchmark-inscribed cut-limestone plinth with cut-limestone flush quoins to corners. Square-headed central window opening in tripartite arrangement with cut-limestone block-and-start surround framing timber casement windows having square glazing bars. Square-headed window opening in bipartite arrangement (half-dormer attic) with cut-limestone block-and-start surround framing timber casement windows having square glazing bars. Paired square-headed "loops" with cut-limestone surrounds. Square-headed window openings in bipartite arrangement (ground floor) with cut-limestone sills, and cut-limestone lintels framing timber casement windows behind cast-iron bars. Square-headed window openings in bipartite arrangement (half-dormer attic) with cut-limestone block-and-start surrounds framing timber casement windows having square glazing bars. Road fronted on a corner site.

• House, 1920–1940 · Regional interest
  Description

  Pair of semi-detached four-bay single-storey houses, built c.1930, with veranda entrance porches. Hipped slate roof with terracotta ridge cresting and red brick chimneystacks. Roughcast rendered walls. Timber sash windows with red brick dressings and stone sills. Timber panelled doors.

• Dunsany Castle, gate lodge, 1830–1850 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached single-bay two-stage castellated entrance gate tower, built c.1840, with single-storey gate lodge set behind flanking by castellated walls. Rock-faced stone walls set on ashlar plinths with piers, ashlar string courses and carved stone crest. Segmental-arched carriage opening with pair of studded timber gates having cast-iron portcullis gate above. Gun loops and square-headed openings with ashlar dressings.

• Bridge, 1840–1860 · Regional interest
  Description

  Single-arch rock-faced limestone railway bridge with string courses and copings, built c.1850, carrying the road over the former railway track which is now disused.

• Dunsany Castle, country house, 1770–1790 · National interest
  Description

  Detached ten-bay three-storey country house, commenced c.1200, with several phases of construction. Remodelled and renovated c.1780 and c.1840. Rubble stone walls. Rendered and ashlar limestone castellations and rendered chimneystacks. Ashlar limestone dressings with hood and label mouldings to square-headed and pointed-arched openings. Paired timber sash windows. Studded timber doors set in pointed-arched openings with hood mouldings. Port-cochere addition to north-east.

• Dunsany Castle, stables, 1830–1870 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached stable courtyard, built c.1850, comprising an entrance screen wall, with two perpendicular ranges of stables, set around a courtyard. Range of corrugated-iron outbuildings, c.1900 to north-west side. Tudor-arched integral carriagearch set in screen wall, flanked by pedestrian gates, with canted terminating bays having pedimented breakfronts. Pitched and hipped slate roofs with gablets and finials. Dressed stone walls with castellated parapets, string courses and ashlar dressings. Timber sash and timber casements windows set in openings with ashlar dressings.

• Dunsany Castle, farmyard complex, 1760–1800 · Regional interest
  Description

  Farmyard complex, built c.1780, comprising of four ranges of single- and two-storey outbuildings set around a central courtyard, with detached outbuildings set within the courtyard. Pitched slate roofs, with gabled central bays to north-western and south-western ranges, and with bellcote to north-eastern range. Dressed stone walls with ashlar limestone dressings to segmental-arched and square-headed openings. Remains of walled gardens and outbuildings to site.

• Dunsany Castle, steward's house, 1890–1910 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached four-bay single-storey over basement former estate manager's house, built c.1900, now vacant. Comprising a stepped gabled breakfront, flanked by single bays, with an angled terminating bay having canted bay window to the west gable. Pitched slate roof with curved gables and ashlar limestone chimneystacks. Snecked limestone walls with string course between floors. Timber sash windows set in openings with ashlar limestone dressings.

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

Terrain model

LiDAR of the Office of Public Works, flown in 2011, at 2 m: tile OPW_2792 (ZIP).

Flooding

The flood maps of the Office of Public Works: floodinfo.ie.

Radon Risk Map of Ireland, Environmental Protection Agency; Landslide Susceptibility Classification, Geological Survey Ireland; both CC BY 4.0. LiDAR: contains Irish Public Sector Data (Geological Survey Ireland & the Office of Public Works) licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.

No address of the register names Dunsany with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Meath.

Name

Dunsany · Dún Samhnaí

Area

4,574,621 m² (457.46 ha, 1,130.41 acres)

Civil parish

Dunsany, and its townlands

Barony

Skreen

Electoral division

Killeen, the unit of the census

Census 2022

Killeen electoral division: 1,283 people in 418 households; 89% of households own their home; 27% of homes were built since 2001; 6% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 0% were holiday homes.

Neighbouring townlands

Athronan, Belpere, Clongutery, Glane Great, Killeen, Swainstown, Warrenstown

Placenames

Dunsany 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.