Oristown

248 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Oristown, from 37 m² to 1,205,246 m² (120.52 ha, 297.82 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary; 72 neighbouring parcels touch it.

• P5RA - Rural Area (Mixed/general primary sector uses, including 'rural')
  Meath County Development Plan 2021-2027, Meath · 260 parcels The zoning objective in the plan

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

• 12 Jul 2026Conditional

  the development consists of 1. The construction of a 1 no bedroom, art studio ground floor extension to the rear of the existing dwelling. 2. A rear ground floor extension to the existing kitchen dining room area 3. To construct a domestic garage. 4 To demolish the existing sunroom area to the rear of the dwelling 5. To reconfigure the interior of the existing dwelling with minor alterations externally which include a new location for the front door. 5 Decommissioning of the existing wastewater treatment system and installation of a new wastewater treatment system, together with all associated landscaping, site works and services

  Permission · Meath County Council, 2660879

• 27 Jun 2026N/a

  the development consists of 1. The construction of a 1 no bedroom, art studio ground floor extension to the rear of the existing dwelling. 2. A rear ground floor extension to the existing kitchen dining room area 3. To demolish the existing sunroom area to the rear of the dwelling 4. To reconfigure the interior of the existing dwelling with minor alterations externally which include a new location for the front door. 5 A new sewerage treatment system with percolation area and with all ancillary site development work

  Permission, 1 home · Meath County Council, 2660805

• 5 Jun 2026N/a

  the development consists of retention permission for two storey extension to rear of two storey house, detached domestic stores, utility room, boiler room, & covered seating area to rear private garden, retention of chimney to front elevation of public bar area, retention of open canopy to beer garden to rear of public bar, & permission for proposed demolition of detached existing shed & boundary wall, new vehicular entrance to public road, & car parking area to existing concrete yard to serve public bar, close up existing agricultural entrance, and all required ancillary works

  Retention · Meath County Council, 2660683

• 5 Mar 2026N/a

  RED III APPLICATION- A solar farm and energy storage compound with a total area of circa 137 hectares. The proposed development will consist of a solar farm comprising of c. 462,660 sq.m of solar photovoltaic panels on ground mounted frames, associated string inverters mounted to rear of panels and 41 no. single storey electrical transformer stations and 1 no. medium voltage control/switching substation. The energy storage compound will consist of 70 no. containerised energy storage modules and associated plant and equipment, 35 no. transformers and 5 no. auxiliary transformers, 2 no. spare parts containers and 1. no. medium voltage control/switching substation. The overall project will also consist of underground electrical ducting and cabling within the development site and within the R163 and R147 public roads, Horizontal Directional Drill (HDD) crossing of the Blackwater River, temporary construction compounds, security fencing, CCTV, access tracks, landscaping, drainage and all ancillary development works and apparatus necessary to facilitate the proposed development. Construction and operational access will be via 2 no. existing entrances from the R147 and R163 which will be upgraded. The operational lifespan of the solar farm will be 40 years and planning permission is requested for this duration. A Natura Impact Statement (NIS) has been prepared and will be submitted to the Planning Authority with the application. The NIS includes an assessment of the grid connection for the solar farm project comprising a 110kV electricity substation and ‘loop-in / loop-out’ grid connection cabling to the existing Arvagh/Navan 110kV overhead line which will be the subject of an application to An Coimisiún Pleanála and is situated in the townland of Kilmainham, Kells, Co. Meath. This development is covered by the provisions of the Renewable Energy Directive III (Directive (EU) 2023/2413) and it is important to note that the planning application may be subject to section 34D of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. When a notice issues in accordance with section 34D(b), the provisions of article 26A of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 to 2025 shall apply.

  Permission · Meath County Council, 2660267

• 7 Aug 2025Conditional

  the development will consist of a single storey family flat extension to the North-West side of the existing dwelling, and all associated site works, including demolition of outbuildings to the North-West of the existing dwelling. Significant further information/revised plans submitted on this application

  Permission · Meath County Council, 2560827

• 2 Jul 2025N/a

  the development will consist of a single storey family flat extension to the North-West side of the existing dwelling, and all associated site works, including demolition of outbuildings to the North-West of the existing dwelling

  Permission · Meath County Council, 2560674

• 7 Jun 2025N/a

  the development will consist of a single storey family flat extension to the North-West side of the existing dwelling, and all associated site works, including demolition of outbuildings to the North-West of the existing dwelling

  Permission · Meath County Council, 2560577

• 28 Feb 2025Conditional

  Séard a bheidh i gceist san fhorbairt seo ná athrú ar a sort tí ó sin ar tugadh cead pleanala dó faoi uimhir thagartha phleanála 21/937, go bungaló aon stóir scoite chomh maith leis na h-oibreacha a bhaineann leis. English Version The development will consist of change of house type from that previously granted planning permission under planning reference no 21/937 to single storey detached bungalow together with all associated site works.

  Permission, 1 home · Meath County Council, 2560203

• 22 Oct 2024Conditional

  the development will consist of a single storey extension to the side of the existing dwelling which was previously granted permission under application register reference 21/640. Proposed development consists of A) An extension to the side of the existing dwelling comprising a lounge / living area and B) all ancillary site works

  Permission · Meath County Council, 2460879

• 8 Jul 2024Conditional

  The development will consist of the construction of a storey and a half dwelling with detached domestic garage, septic tank with percolation area, entrance to public road and all associated site works.

  Permission, 1 home · Meath County Council, 2460503

• 27 May 2024Conditional

  is sought for: • The placing of topsoil berm with an area of 1,102m2 at site perimeter, • The pouring of concrete for the concrete pad with an area of 538m2 and • Placing of crushed rock for the creation of hard stand with an area of 4,581m2

  Retention · Meath County Council, 2460379

• 18 May 2024N/a

  retention permission is sought for: • The placing of topsoil berm with an area of 1,102m2 at site perimeter, • The pouring of concrete for the concrete pad with an area of 538m2 and • Placing of crushed rock for the creation of hard stand with an area of 4,581m2

  Retention · Meath County Council, 2460356

• 16 Feb 2024Conditional

  construct a part two storey, part single storey style dwelling, install wastewater treatment system and percolation area, form a new entrance from the public road, together with all associated site works

  Permission, 1 home · Meath County Council, 2460117

• 9 Feb 2024N/a

  construct a part two storey, part single storey style dwelling, install wastewater treatment system and percolation area, form a new entrance from the public road, together with all associated site works

  Permission, 1 home · Meath County Council, 2460096

• 8 Dec 2023Conditional

  the development will consist of changes during the course of construction of the development in 2004 consisting of revised site boundary, revised site access, front and rear extensions and enlargement of first floor level due to increase in roof height. Also retention of garage build in 2012

  Retention, 2 homes · Meath County Council, 231120

• 27 Nov 2023N/a

  the development will consist of changes during the course of construction of the development in 2004 consisting of revised site boundary, revised site access, front and rear extensions and enlargement of first floor level due to increase in roof height. Also retention of garage build in 2012

  Retention, 2 homes · Meath County Council, 231085

• 4 Aug 2023Refused

  Construct a part two storey, part single storey style dwelling, install wastewater treatment system and percolation area, form a new entrance from the public road, together with all associated site works.

  Permission, 1 home · Meath County Council, 2360201

• 10 Jul 2023N/a

  construct a part two storey, part single storey style dwelling, install wastewater treatment system and percolation area, form a new entrance from the public road, together with all associated site works

  Permission, 1 home · Meath County Council, 2360154

• 16 Jun 2023N/a

  Construct a part two storey, part single storey style dwelling, install wastewater treatment system and percolation area, form a new entrance from the public road, together with all associated site works.

  Permission, 1 home · Meath County Council, 2360094

• 29 Mar 2023Conditional

  the change of house type from a storey and half to two storey type, change of garage type and revisions to the site layout plan as previously granted under Ref. 211008. And all associated site works and landscaping

  Permission, 1 home · Meath County Council, 23337

• 10 Mar 2023Refused

  construct a part two storey, part single storey style dwelling, install waste water treatment system and percolation area, form a new entrance from the public road, together with all associated site works

  Permission, 1 home · Meath County Council, 23261

• 24 Nov 2022Conditional

  permission construct Grain Store, concrete apron, attenuation tank and all associated site works

  Permission · Meath County Council, 221526

• 26 Sept 2022Conditional

  an application to retain (retention planning permission) the dwelling house, domestic garage, entrance, roadside fence, site location and all ancillary works, as constructed. The previous planning permission reference is 00/1873

  Retention, 2 homes · Meath County Council, 221259

• 7 Jun 2022Conditional

  erection of a 2 storey dwelling, detached domestic garage, alterations to existing site access to provide access to dwelling site and separate access to farmland, effluent treatment system, percolation area & associated site works

  Permission, 1 home · Meath County Council, 22746

• 3 Jun 2022Conditional

  a two storey dwelling house, domestic garage, new entrance and install a sewage treatment system with percolation areas together with all associated site development works on site. Significant further information/revised plans submitted on this application

  Permission, 1 home · Meath County Council, 22740

The 25 most recent of 65 applications.

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 Oristown.

Recorded monuments

• ME017-014 Church
  Description

  Described as a church in gothic lettering on the 1836 ed. of the OS 6 inch map, it is situated on a prominent natural hillock. It is probably a Chapel-of-Ease to Teltown parish church (ME017-031----), which is c. 2.8km to the S. It is not mentioned in Ussher’s Visitation (1622) (Erlington 1847-64, 1, lxxxvii-xc), but according to Dopping’s Visitation (1682-5) a chapel at Oristown (Baile Órthaí) was dedicated to St. Catherine and it was a chapel-of-ease to Donaghpatrick, c. 3.5km to the SSE (Ellison 1973, 9). At that time it was long in disrepair but the graveyard was enclosed. The foundations (int. dims 13.5m E-W; 5.35m N-S) of a rectangular structure with a probable doorway in the N wall and another in the S wall are in a D-shaped graveyard (dims c. 33m NE-SW; c. 22m NW-SE) defined by masonry walls retaining the base of the hillock (H 1.3-2m) and with the straight side at NW formed by an earthen field bank and hedge. The graveyard was restored in 1998. 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: 12 December, 2014

• ME017-014001 Graveyard
  Description

  Situated on a natural hillock. The foundations of a rectangular structure (ME017-014----) are in a D-shaped raised graveyard (dims c. 33m NE-SW; c. 22m NW-SE; H 1.3-2m) defined by masonry walls and with the straight side at NW. According to Dopping's Visitation (1682-5) the church was enclosed at that time (Ellison 1973, 8, 9). The graveyard was restored in 1998. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 12 December, 2014

• ME017-015 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  Marked as a rectangular feature (ext. dims c. 60m N-S; c. 35m E-W) described as a ‘Fort’ and with an oval feature (dims c. 40m N-S; 20m E-W) in the centre on the 1836 ed. of the OS 6-inch map and as a circular hachured feature (ext. diam. c. 35-40m) on the 25-inch map. This is a grass-covered area shaped like SE quadrant of circle (dims 37m N-S; 24m E-W) defined by scarps. A burial was found where a modern E-W field bank crosses the site, which is probably a rath, although it has been classified as a possible church site (Moore 1987, 142, No. 1473). 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: 5 June, 2014

• ME017-016 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  Situated on a broad rise. This is a D-shaped grass-covered area (dims 31.5m NNW-SSE; c. 20m E-W) defined by an earthen bank (Wth of base 4.5-5m; int. H 0.4-0.5m; ext. H 0.8m at N to 1.6m at S) N-E-S with some internal stone facing at ESE but the W part of the monument has been removed. There is no visible fosse but the entrance (Wth of base 2.5m), stone-lined at NE, is at SE. There is a raised platform (dims of top 12.5m N-S; 8m E-W; H 0.4m) inside the perimeter at N. Archaeological testing (00E0337) by F. O’Carroll immediately to the E produced no related material (excavatioins.ie 2000:0772). 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: 12 April 2019 Amended: 29 January 2021

• ME017-049 Ceremonial enclosure
  Description

  The venue of Óenach Tailten – the fair of Tailten – is perhaps the only closely located royal assembly place in the country. It is on a gentle SW-facing slope extending from the top of a NW-SE ridge in Oristown (Baile Orthaí) in the Meath Gaeltacht of Baile Ghib down to the NW-SE River Blackwater and the low N-S ridge of Teltown (Tailtin) in a southward loop of the river. Its boundaries would have been porous, but it lay between the ceremonial enclosures of Rath Dubh (ME017-027----) in the west and Rath Airthir (ME017-033----) at the E extremity. In Irish mythology Tailtiu was the wife of Eochaid Mac Eirc, the last king of the Fir Bolg, and subsequently of Eochaidh Garbh, king of the Tuatha dé Danann, who had defeated Mac Eirc at the Battle of Moytura. The river was anciently called Sele and its valley was known as Coill Chuan – the wood of Cuan, which Tailtiu cleared within a year of the battle but she died from her exertions and is buried at Tailten. Her foster-son, the god Lugh, instituted a festival of games in her memory, which were held annually over one or four weeks at the beginning of the harvest in July - August when a truce was to be observed. A mythological battle followed about a hundred years later which was won by the Milesians, the last mythical invaders of Ireland and the supposed ancestors of the Gaels, who took over the Óenach. Other mythical battles occurred here in the course of the Táin Bó Chuailgne, and it also features in tales of Fionn Mac Cumhaill and the Fianna. (MacNeill 1962, 320-5; Wilde 1849, 150) Legend also relates how Coirpre, a brother of King Laoighre, rejected St Patrick’s holy men while he was presiding over the festival. In response Patrick declared that Coirpre would have no royal descendants and that the river would henceforth have no salmon (Herity 2001, 6). In contrast Coirpre’s brother, Conall, gave Patrick the site of Donaghpatrick church (ME017-034006-) and was blessed by the saint (Swift 2000, 25). Saint Kieran of Clonmacnoise is said to have overseen the games on one occasion with Diarmaid Mac Cerbhaill, progenitor of the Clan Colman branch of the Uí Néill kings of Meath, which is unlikely (Binchy 1958, 123). However, the connection between the royal sovereignty of the Úi Néill and the games at Tailten, which may have been held on royal demesne land (Swift 2000, 28-9), was being established with the approval of the Church, and all under the sway of Uí Néill would be expected to attend at a high level (Binchy 1958, 117). St Columcille’s case was discussed at a synod which met at Tailten in 563, and the Óenach witnessed strife if not battle, almost exclusively amongst the Uí Néill, in 679, 717, 733, 777, 791, 827, and 927 (MacNeill 1962, 329-31; Binchy 1958, 118-22). Five occasions when the Óenach was not held in the 870s and 880s were noted in the annals, as well as attempts by interlopers to preside over the festivities, such as Cathal Mac Finguine, king of Munster, in 733 (ibid. 121), or Diarmaid Mac Cearbhail, king of Ossory, in 894 (MacNeill 1962, 326-31), although the latter might be an annalistic error (Byrne 1973, 163). Annalistic references cease after 926 until Brian Ború spent a night there while en route to Armagh in 1004. Maelseachlain, now only a sub-king of Meath, revived the Óenach in 1006 when a commemorative poem was written by Cúán Úa Lothcháin, and this provides most of our information on the origin and topography of the Óenach (Gwynn 1924, vol. 4, 147-63). Nine raths are named as well as the graves of Tailtiu and Eochaidh Garbh, and there were seven named stones. However, only Rath Aithir (Oirthear, eastern) is now applied to the ceremonial enclosure (ME017-033----). While Brian Ború may have hesitated over Tailten, Turlough O’Conor, the ambitious King of Connaught, made a point of presiding over an Óenach in 1120, and in 1168 his son Ruaraí, whose mother was a Clan Colman princess named Tailtin, held the last regal Óenach in 1168 when the crowds are said to have occupied the plain between Mulach Aiti (Hill of Lloyd) and Tailten. (MacNeill 1962, 332-35) The festival continued at the original location until c. 1770 (Wilde 1849, 152) when the games moved to the river at Martry mill (Mason 1814, 1, 95-6; Morris 1930, 114 ftn 5), and according to John O’Donovan they may have finally come to an end c. 1810 (Herity 2001, 11). Tailten is described in the sources as a cemetery, and this has led some to speculate that it was centred on the passage tombs of Slieve na Cailliagh (Conwell 1879, 72-81; Morris 1930), but John O’Donovan writing in 1836 (Herity 2001, 2-4, 11-15) fixed the location in the Telltown – Oristown area and identified many of the monuments. Máire MacNeill (1962, 311, 338) was able to confirm the continuing oral tradition of the festival in the 1950s, and Gosling (2016) confirms the importance of its monuments. All prehistoric and early historic monuments in the area could be related to the Óenach. This includes three Ceremonial enclosures (ME017-027----; 017-033----; ME017-049----) and four ponds which were brought to the attention of John O’Donovan by local people in 1836 as well as the enclosure of Lug an Aonaigh (ME017-0059----) where marriages were contracted in the seventeenth century according to Keating (Comyn and Dinneen 1902-14, 2, 248) and undoubtedly long before. Although Tailten is described as a burial place with numerous named raths and stones, only one barrow (ME017-033001-), the site of one cairn (ME017-058----) and one standing stone (ME017-034002-) are known. Early medieval church sites such as Donaghpatrick (ME017-034006-) and Teltown (ME017-031----) would be contemporary with the early historic Óenach, and the ford (ME017-061----) would allow access from the S side of the river long before the medieval roadway (ME017-062----) was established. Situated on a rise on a gentle S-facing slope. This once prominent feature, known locally as the Knockans – little hills, is not depicted on any edition of the OS 6-inch map. It was known as ‘Tullach na Coibhche’ – mound of the purchase (bride-price)’ in a tenth century gloss (MacNeill 1962, 317). It consisted of an earthen bank (L c. 50m E-W; Wth of base 7-12m; max. H 3.5m) that curved slightly to the N at either end, with a gap (Wth 4m) towards its W end, and a lower portion (L 7m; Wth 4m; H 0.6m) further W. This bank was separated on its N side by a flat-bottomed and probably re-cut ditch (L c. 90m; Wth of top 2.5-6m; D at E 0.6m) from a smaller, more amorphous bank (max. H at S: 1.7m). The two banks curving to the N at either end resemble a section of a ritual enclosure that might never have been completed rather than a linear barrier. (Conwell 1879, 74-5) The banks were damaged in 1997, and the resulting excavations (97E0183) identified a charcoal-rich layer with a votive deposit of cattle bones at the core of the S bank, which was retained by boulders at its S edge and by a stakes driven into gleys and silts on the N side but there was no excavated fosse between the two banks (Waddell and O’Brien 1998, 2000). Radiocarbon samples are said to indicate activity from the mid first millennium BC but the main construction phase was in the eight to tenth centuries AD (Gosling 2016, 71). Archaeological testing (08E0898) by P. D. Sweetman c. 100m to the SE produced no related material (excavatioins.ie 2008:978). Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 16 April, 2019 Amended: 29 January 2021

• ME017-057 Ritual site - pond
  Description

  The venue of Óenach Tailten – the fair of Tailten – is perhaps the only closely located royal assembly place in the country. It is on a gentle SW-facing slope extending from the top of a NW-SE ridge in Oristown (Baile Orthaí) in the Meath Gaeltacht of Baile Ghib down to the NW-SE River Blackwater and the low N-S ridge of Teltown (Tailtin) in a southward loop of the river. Its boundaries would have been porous, but it lay between the ceremonial enclosures of Rath Dubh (ME017-027----) in the west and Rath Airthir (ME017-033----) at the E extremity. In Irish mythology Tailtiu was the wife of Eochaid Mac Eirc, the last king of the Fir Bolg, and subsequently of Eochaidh Garbh, king of the Tuatha dé Danann, who had defeated Mac Eirc at the Battle of Moytura. The river was anciently called Sele and its valley was known as Coill Chuan – the wood of Cuan, which Tailtiu cleared within a year of the battle but she died from her exertions and is buried at Tailten. Her foster-son, the god Lugh, instituted a festival of games in her memory, which were held annually over one or four weeks at the beginning of the harvest in July - August when a truce was to be observed. A mythological battle followed about a hundred years later which was won by the Milesians, the last mythical invaders of Ireland and the supposed ancestors of the Gaels, who took over the Óenach. Other mythical battles occurred here in the course of the Táin Bó Chuailgne, and it also features in tales of Fionn Mac Cumhaill and the Fianna. (MacNeill 1962, 320-5; Wilde 1849, 150) Legend also relates how Coirpre, a brother of King Laoighre, rejected St Patrick’s holy men while he was presiding over the festival. In response Patrick declared that Coirpre would have no royal descendants and that the river would henceforth have no salmon (Herity 2001, 6). In contrast Coirpre’s brother, Conall, gave Patrick the site of Donaghpatrick church (ME017-034006-) and was blessed by the saint (Swift 2000, 25). Saint Kieran of Clonmacnoise is said to have overseen the games on one occasion with Diarmaid Mac Cerbhaill, progenitor of the Clan Colman branch of the Uí Néill kings of Meath, which is unlikely (Binchy 1958, 123). However, the connection between the royal sovereignty of the Úi Néill and the games at Tailten, which may have been held on royal demesne land (Swift 2000, 28-9), was being established with the approval of the Church, and all under the sway of Uí Néill would be expected to attend at a high level (Binchy 1958, 117). St Columcille’s case was discussed at a synod which met at Tailten in 563, and the Óenach witnessed strife if not battle, almost exclusively amongst the Uí Néill, in 679, 717, 733, 777, 791, 827, and 927 (Mac Néill 329-31; Binchy 1958, 118-22). Five occasions when the Óenach was not held in the 870s and 880s were noted in the annals, as well as attempts by interlopers to preside over the festivities, such as Cathal Mac Finguine, king of Munster, in 733 (Binchy 1958, 121), or Diarmaid Mac Cearbhail, king of Ossory, in 894 (MacNeill 1962, 326-31), although the latter might be an annalistic error (Byrne 1973, 163). Annalistic references cease after 926 until Brian Ború spent a night there while en route to Armagh in 1004. Maelseachlain, now only a sub-king of Meath, revived the Óenach in 1006 when a commemorative poem was written by Cúán Úa Lothcháin, and this provides most of our information on the origin and topography of the Óenach (Gwynn 1924, vol. 4, 147-63). Nine raths are named as well as the graves of Tailtiu and Eochaidh Garbh, and there were seven named stones. However, only Rath Aithir (Oirthear, eastern) is now applied to the ceremonial enclosure (ME017-033----). While Brian Ború may have hesitated over Tailten, Turlough O’Conor, the ambitious King of Connaught, made a point of presiding over an Óenach in 1120, and in 1168 his son Ruaraí, whose mother was a Clan Colman princess named Tailtin, held the last regal Óenach in 1168 when the crowds are said to have occupied the plain between Mulach Aiti (Hill of Lloyd) and Tailten. (MacNeill 1962, 332-35) The festival continued at the original location until c. 1770 (Wilde 1849, 152) when the games moved to the river at Martry mill (Mason 1814, 1, 95-6; Morris 1930, 114 ftn 5), and according to John O’Donovan they may have finally come to an end c. 1810 (Herity 2001, 11). Tailten is described in the sources as a cemetery, and this has led some to speculate that it was centred on the passage tombs of Slieve na Cailliagh (Conwell 1879, 72-81; Morris 1930), but John O’Donovan writing in 1836 (Herity 2001, 2-4, 11-15) fixed the location in the Telltown – Oristown area and identified many of the monuments. Máire MacNeill (1962, 311, 338) was able to confirm the continuing oral tradition of the festival in the 1950s, and Gosling (2016) confirms the importance of its monuments. All prehistoric and early historic monuments in the area could be related to the Óenach. This includes three Ceremonial enclosures (ME017-027----; 017-033----; ME017-049----) and four ponds associated with the Óenach which were brought to the attention of John O’Donovan by local people in 1836 as well as the enclosure of Lug an Aonaigh (ME017-0059----) where marriages were contracted in the seventeenth century according to Keating (Comyn and Dinneen 1902-14, 2, 248) and undoubtedly long before. Although Tailten is described as a burial place with numerous named raths and stones, only one barrow (ME017-033001-), the site of one cairn (ME017-058----) and one standing stone (ME017-034002-) are known. Early medieval church sites such as Donaghpatrick (ME017-034006-) and Teltown (ME017-031----) would be contemporary with the early historic Óenach, and the ford (ME017-061----) would allow access from the S side of the river long before the medieval roadway (ME017-062----) was established. Located on a gentle S-facing slope. Local people drew the attention of John O’Donovan to the loughs associated with Óenach Tailten in 1836 and he described this one as recently dried up (Herity 2001, 11-14). A pond is depicted only on the 1912 edition of the OS 6-inch map and an oval marshy area (dims c. 50m E-W; c. 35m N-S) is still extant (OSAP). Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload; 15 April, 2019

• ME017-058 Cairn - unclassified
  Description

  The venue of Óenach Tailten – the fair of Tailten – is perhaps the only closely located royal assembly place in the country. It is on a gentle SW-facing slope extending from the top of a NW-SE ridge in Oristown (Baile Orthaí) in the Meath Gaeltacht of Baile Ghib down to the NW-SE River Blackwater and the low N-S ridge of Teltown (Tailtin) in a southward loop of the river. Its boundaries would have been porous, but it lay between the ceremonial enclosures of Rath Dubh (ME017-027----) in the west and Rath Airthir (ME017-033----) at the E extremity. In Irish mythology Tailtiu was the wife of Eochaid Mac Eirc, the last king of the Fir Bolg, and subsequently of Eochaidh Garbh, king of the Tuatha dé Danann, who had defeated Mac Eirc at the Battle of Moytura. The river was anciently called Sele and its valley was known as Coill Chuan – the wood of Cuan, which Tailtiu cleared within a year of the battle but she died from her exertions and is buried at Tailten. Her foster-son, the god Lugh, instituted a festival of games in her memory, which were held annually over one or four weeks at the beginning of the harvest in July - August when a truce was to be observed. A mythological battle followed about a hundred years later which was won by the Milesians, the last mythical invaders of Ireland and the supposed ancestors of the Gaels, who took over the Óenach. Other mythical battles occurred here in the course of the Táin Bó Chuailgne, and it also features in tales of Fionn Mac Cumhaill and the Fianna. (MacNeill 1962, 320-5; Wilde 1849, 150) Legend also relates how Coirpre, a brother of King Laoighre, rejected St Patrick’s holy men while he was presiding over the festival. In response Patrick declared that Coirpre would have no royal descendants and that the river would henceforth have no salmon (Herity 2001, 6). In contrast Coirpre’s brother, Conall, gave Patrick the site of Donaghpatrick church (ME017-034006-) and was blessed by the saint (Swift 2000, 25). Saint Kieran of Clonmacnoise is said to have overseen the games on one occasion with Diarmaid Mac Cerbhaill, progenitor of the Clan Colman branch of the Uí Néill kings of Meath, which is unlikely (Binchy 1958, 123). However, the connection between the royal sovereignty of the Úi Néill and the games at Tailten, which may have been held on royal demesne land (Swift 2000, 28-9), was being established with the approval of the Church, and all under the sway of Uí Néill would be expected to attend at a high level (Binchy 1958, 117). St Columcille’s case was discussed at a synod which met at Tailten in 563, and the Óenach witnessed strife if not battle, almost exclusively amongst the Uí Néill, in 679, 717, 733, 777, 791, 827, and 927 (MacNeill 329-31; Binchy 1958, 118-22). Five occasions when the Óenach was not held in the 870s and 880s were noted in the annals, as well as attempts by interlopers to preside over the festivities, such as Cathal Mac Finguine, king of Munster, in 733 (Binchy 1958, 121), or Diarmaid Mac Cearbhail, king of Ossory, in 894 (MacNeill 1962, 326-31), although the latter might be an annalistic error (Byrne 1973, 163). Annalistic references cease after 926 until Brian Ború spent a night there while en route to Armagh in 1004. Maelseachlain, now only a sub-king of Meath, revived the Óenach in 1006 when a commemorative poem was written by Cúán Úa Lothcháin, and this provides most of our information on the origin and topography of the Óenach (Gwynn 1924, vol. 4, 147-63). Nine raths are named as well as the graves of Tailtiu and Eochaidh Garbh, and there were seven named stones. However, only Rath Aithir (Oirthear, eastern) is now applied to the ceremonial enclosure (ME017-033----). While Brian Ború may have hesitated over Tailten, Turlough O’Conor, the ambitious King of Connaught, made a point of presiding over an Óenach in 1120, and in 1168 his son Ruaraí, whose mother was a Clan Colman princess named Tailtin, held the last regal Óenach in 1168 when the crowds are said to have occupied the plain between Mulach Aiti (Hill of Lloyd) and Tailten. (MacNeill 1962, 332-35) The festival continued at the original location until c. 1770 (Wilde 1849, 152) when the games moved to the river at Martry mill (Mason 1814, 1, 95-6; Morris 1930, 114 ftn 5), and according to John O’Donovan they may have finally come to an end c. 1810 (Herity 2001, 11). Tailten is described in the sources as a cemetery, and this has led some to speculate that it was centred on the passage tombs of Slieve na Cailliagh (Conwell 1879, 72-81; Morris 1930), but John O’Donovan writing in 1836 (Herity 2001, 2-4, 11-15) fixed the location in the Telltown – Oristown area and identified many of the monuments. Máire MacNeill (1962, 311, 338) was able to confirm the continuing oral tradition of the festival in the 1950s, and Gosling (2016) confirms the importance of its monuments. All prehistoric and early historic monuments in the area could be related to the Óenach. This includes three Ceremonial enclosures (ME017-027----; 017-033----; ME017-049----) and four ponds which were brought to the attention of John O’Donovan by local people in 1836 as well as the enclosure of Lug an Aonaigh (ME017-0059----) where marriages were contracted in the seventeenth century according to Keating (Comyn and Dinneen 1902-14, 2, 248) and undoubtedly long before. Although Tailten is described as a burial place with numerous named raths and stones, only one barrow (ME017-033001-), the site of one cairn (ME017-058----) and one standing stone (ME017-034002-) are known. Early medieval church sites such as Donaghpatrick (ME017-034006-) and Teltown (ME017-031----) would be contemporary with the early historic Óenach, and the ford (ME017-061----) would allow access from the S side of the river long before the medieval roadway (ME017-062----) was established. Located on a gentle S-facing slope. Local people drew the attention of John O’Donovan to a cairn in 1836 and he described it as a cairn of stones around a tree called Bun Mucnaide, which reputedly commemorated a man called Art, of whom nothing else was recorded (Herity 2001, 11-14). It was never recorded on a map and no feature is extant now. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 15 April, 2019

• ME017-059 Enclosure
  Description

  The venue of Óenach Tailten – the fair of Tailten – is perhaps the only closely located royal assembly place in the country. It is on a gentle SW-facing slope extending from the top of a NW-SE ridge in Oristown (Baile Orthaí) in the Meath Gaeltacht of Baile Ghib down to the NW-SE River Blackwater and the low N-S ridge of Teltown (Tailtin) in a southward loop of the river. Its boundaries would have been porous, but it lay between the ceremonial enclosures of Rath Dubh (ME017-027----) in the west and Rath Airthir (ME017-033----) at the E extremity. In Irish mythology Tailtiu was the wife of Eochaid Mac Eirc, the last king of the Fir Bolg, and subsequently of Eochaidh Garbh, king of the Tuatha dé Danann, who had defeated Mac Eirc at the Battle of Moytura. The river was anciently called Sele and its valley was known as Coill Chuan – the wood of Cuan, which Tailtiu cleared within a year of the battle but she died from her exertions and is buried at Tailten. Her foster-son, the god Lugh, instituted a festival of games in her memory, which were held annually over one or four weeks at the beginning of the harvest in July - August when a truce was to be observed. A mythological battle followed about a hundred years later which was won by the Milesians, the last mythical invaders of Ireland and the supposed ancestors of the Gaels, who took over the Óenach. Other mythical battles occurred here in the course of the Táin Bó Chuailgne, and it also features in tales of Fionn Mac Cumhaill and the Fianna. (MacNeill 1962, 320-5; Wilde 1849, 150) Legend also relates how Coirpre, a brother of King Laoighre, rejected St Patrick’s holy men while he was presiding over the festival. In response Patrick declared that Coirpre would have no royal descendants and that the river would henceforth have no salmon (Herity 2001, 6). In contrast Coirpre’s brother, Conall, gave Patrick the site of Donaghpatrick church (ME017-034006-) and was blessed by the saint (Swift 2000, 25). Saint Kieran of Clonmacnoise is said to have overseen the games on one occasion with Diarmaid Mac Cerbhaill, progenitor of the Clan Colman branch of the Uí Néill kings of Meath, which is unlikely (Binchy 1958, 123). However, the connection between the royal sovereignty of the Úi Néill and the games at Tailten, which may have been held on royal demesne land (Swift 2000, 28-9), was being established with the approval of the Church, and all under the sway of Uí Néill would be expected to attend at a high level (Binchy 1958, 117). St Columcille’s case was discussed at a synod which met at Tailten in 563, and the Óenach witnessed strife if not battle, almost exclusively amongst the Uí Néill, in 679, 717, 733, 777, 791, 827, and 927 (MacNéill 1962, 329-31; Binchy 1958, 118-22). Five occasions when the Óenach was not held in the 870s and 880s were noted in the annals, as well as attempts by interlopers to preside over the festivities, such as Cathal Mac Finguine, king of Munster, in 733 (Binchy 1958, 121), or Diarmaid Mac Cearbhail, king of Ossory, in 894 (MacNeill 1962, 326-31), although the latter might be an annalistic error (Byrne 1973, 163). Annalistic references cease after 926 until Brian Ború spent a night there while en route to Armagh in 1004. Maelseachlain, now only a sub-king of Meath, revived the Óenach in 1006 when a commemorative poem was written by Cúán Úa Lothcháin, and this provides most of our information on the origin and topography of the Óenach (Gwynn 1924, vol. 4, 147-63). Nine raths are named as well as the graves of Tailtiu and Eochaidh Garbh, and there were seven named stones. However, only Rath Aithir (Oirthear, eastern) is now applied to the ceremonial enclosure (ME017-033----). While Brian Ború may have hesitated over Tailten, Turlough O’Conor, the ambitious King of Connaught, made a point of presiding over an Óenach in 1120, and in 1168 his son Ruaraí, whose mother was a Clan Colman princess named Tailtin, held the last regal Óenach in 1168 when the crowds are said to have occupied the plain between Mulach Aiti (Hill of Lloyd) and Tailten. (MacNeill 1962, 332-35) The festival continued at the original location until c. 1770 (Wilde 1849, 152) when the games moved to the river at Martry mill (Mason 1814, 1, 95-6; Morris 1930, 114 ftn 5), and according to John O’Donovan they may have finally come to an end c. 1810 (Herity 2001, 11). Tailten is described in the sources as a cemetery, and this has led some to speculate that it was centred on the passage tombs of Slieve na Cailliagh (Conwell 1879, 72-81; Morris 1930), but John O’Donovan writing in 1836 (Herity 2001, 2-4, 11-15) fixed the location in the Telltown – Oristown area and identified many of the monuments. Máire MacNeill (1962, 311, 338) was able to confirm the continuing oral tradition of the festival in the 1950s, and Gosling (2016) confirms the importance of its monuments. All prehistoric and early historic monuments in the area could be related to the Óenach. This includes three Ceremonial enclosures (ME017-027----; 017-033----; ME017-049----) and four ponds which were brought to the attention of John O’Donovan by local people in 1836 as well as the enclosure of Lug an Aonaigh (ME017-0059----) where marriages were contracted in the seventeenth century according to Keating (Comyn and Dinneen 1902-14, 2, 248) and undoubtedly long before. Although Tailten is described as a burial place with numerous named raths and stones, only one barrow (ME017-033001-), the site of one cairn (ME017-058----) and one standing stone (ME017-034002-) are known. Early medieval church sites such as Donaghpatrick (ME017-034006-) and Teltown (ME017-031----) would be contemporary with the early historic Óenach, and the ford (ME017-061----) would allow access from the S side of the river long before the medieval roadway (ME017-062----) was established. Located on a shelf on a gentle S-facing slope. This is a natural grass-covered hollow (dims c. 30m NE-SW; c. 20m NW-SE; max. D c. 3-4m) that is open to the SW. It was known as Lug an Aonaigh (the hollow of the fair) and was thought to be at the centre of Óenach Tailten. This was where marriages were traditionally brokered in the seventeenth century and probably earlier as recorded by Keating c. 1634 (Comyn and Dinneen 1902-14, 2, 249). John O’Donovan in 1836 (Herity 2001, 14) and Wilde (1849, 150-1) record the traditional process in detail. An E-W wall divided the hollow where eligible men congregated on the north side and eligible girls on the other side. A wooden doorway had an opening which allowed a girl to put her hand through, and whoever took it would be her spouse for a year. If either party was dissatisfied the marriage could be annulled at the end of the year at Rath Dubh (ME017-027----) or the Knockans (ME017-049----). (MacNeill 1962, 316-7) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 15 April, 2019

• ME017-070 Enclosure
  Description

  Situated on a gentle N-facing slope. The cropmark of a circular area (diam. c. 20m) defined by a fosse (Wth 3m) is visible on Apple Maps (2018). There is an entrance gap (Wth c. 5m) at E where it accesses a crescent-shaped annexe (dims c. 25m NE-SW; c. 5-7m NW-SE) attached to the perimeter ESE-SW, and some drains of a field system extend E and S. It is also partially visible on Google Earth (12/07/2013), and was first reported by Jean Charles Caillere. See the attached enhanced view from Apple Maps (2018) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 24 June 2021

Architectural heritage

• Scoil Náisiúnta Chaitríona Naofa, school, 1935–1945 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached multiple-bay single-storey national school, built 1940. Comprising a seven-bay double-height pitched roofed central block, with projecting flat-roofed block to front and side elevations. Three bays to flat-roofed entrance block with flanking five-bay flat-roofed projections. Roughcast rendered walls with name plaque and rendered eaves and plinth courses. Pitched tile roof with rendered chimneystacks. Timber sash windows with concrete sills. Stone door surround with concrete canopy. Square-profile water tower to site, adjoining flat-roofed playground shelter with concrete columns and timber seating. Bounded by roughcast rendered walls with metal gates and turnstiles.

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).

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

Name

Oristown · Baile Órthaí

Area

7,438,676 m² (743.87 ha, 1,838.14 acres)

Civil parish

Teltown, and its townlands

Barony

Kells Upper

Electoral division

Teltown, the unit of the census

Neighbouring townlands

Bloomsberry, Clongill, Dowdstown, Drakerath, Fyanstown, Gibstown Demesne, Mountainstown, Oristown, Rossmeen, Teltown

Gaeltacht

In an Irish-speaking area

Placenames

Oristown on logainm.ie, the Placenames Database of Ireland

Townlands, civil parishes, baronies and electoral divisions, National Statutory Boundaries, Tailte Éireann, 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.