Teltown

87 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Teltown, from 69 m² to 631,406 m² (63.14 ha, 156.02 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary; 35 neighbouring parcels touch it.

• P5RA - Rural Area (Mixed/general primary sector uses, including 'rural')
  Meath County Development Plan 2021-2027, Meath · 122 parcels The zoning objective in the plan

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

• 29 Jun 2022Conditional

  retention of conversion of existing two storey dormer type domestic garage to dwelling, & permission for two storey dormer type extension & alterations to same, new percolation area in accordance with EPA2021 to existing proprietary effluent treatment system as granted permission under ref. no. KA70299. The existing foundations & footings of house granted planning permission under ref. no. KA70299 are to be covered over with top soil, levelled & lawned. Existing entrance is as per original planning permission ref. no. KA70299 onto public road, & all ancillary site works

  Permission · Meath County Council, 22854

• 10 Nov 2021Conditional

  the demolition of existing dwelling and garage and replacement with new single store dwelling, associated detached single car garage, detached office and gym outbuilding for domestic personal use and wastewater treatment system and sand filter and gravity filter together with all associated site development works. Significant further information/revised plans submitted on this application

  Permission, 1 home · Meath County Council, 212153

• 15 Oct 2021Conditional

  constructing a 2 storey 4 bedroom dwelling, domestic garage, new entrance & new sewage treatment system with percolation area also the existing hedge to be removed to create a proper site entrance with unobstructed sightlines and all ancillary site works. Significant further information/revised plans submitted on this application

  Permission, 1 home · Meath County Council, 212010

• 16 Dec 2020Refused

  development will consist of permission to complete partly constructed dwelling granted planning under planning ref number KA/70299 and all associated site works

  Permission, 1 home · Meath County Council, KA201958

• 21 Feb 2020Conditional

  the construction of a single storey dwelling, domestic garage, provision of a septic tank and percolation area, domestic entrance, including all associated site works

  Permission, 1 home · Meath County Council, KA200223

• 19 Feb 2020Conditional

  the construction of a storey and a half dwelling, domestic garage, provision of domestic entrance, septic tank and percolation area, including all associated site works

  Permission, 1 home · Meath County Council, KA200198

• 19 Feb 2020Conditional

  the construction of a single storey dwelling, domestic garage, domestic entrance, provision of a septic tank and percolation area, including all associated site works

  Permission, 1 home · Meath County Council, KA200199

• 3 May 2019Conditional

  the erection of a storey-and-half style dwelling and detached domestic garage. Also for permission to use existing residential entrance on adjoining site for individual access and to install a proprietary waste water treatment system and percolation area and to include for all ancillary site works

  Permission, 1 home · Meath County Council, KA190547

• 2 May 2019N/a

  a dormer bungalow with a new site entrance, wastewater treatment system & percolation area, domestic well together with associated site works

  Permission, 1 home · Meath County Council, KA190527

• 11 Apr 2019N/a

  to construct a dormer bungalow with a new site entrance, wastewater treatment system & percolation area, domestic well together with associated site works

  Permission, 1 home · Meath County Council, KA190430

• 5 Feb 2019Conditional

  construction of a storey and a half dwelling with attached domestic garage, provision of domestic entrance, septic tank and percolation area, including all associated site works

  Permission, 1 home · Meath County Council, KA190106

• 3 Aug 2017Conditional

  the development consists of the construction of a rock ramp fish pass in front of the existing weir, a Natura Impact Statement (NIS) will be submitted with this application. The development lies within the curtilage of a Protected Structure, Martry Mills (MH017127) and adjacent to a Protected Structure Martry House (MH017128)

  Permission · Meath County Council, KA170906

• 6 Jul 2017N/a

  the development will consist/consists of the construction of a rock ramp fish pass in front of the existing weir, a natura impact statement (NIS) will be submitted with this application

  Permission · Meath County Council, KA170784

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

Recorded monuments

• ME017-027 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; Mac Gabhann 2000, 226-32) 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 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 MacNéill (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, 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 SW-facing slope. The name Rath Dubh – Black Rath – was provided by local people to the Ordinance Survey in the 1830s, and the enclosure reputedly had a second bank until a few years before John O’Donovan’s visit in 1836 (Herity 2001, 11). It now consists of a raised circular, and slightly domed (H 0.3m at N to 2.8m at E) grass-covered area (diam. 92m N-S; 91m E-W) defined by an earthen bank (Wth of base 7m; Wth of top 2m; int. H 0.6m; ext. H 2.6m) WNW-N and at SW but the perimeter is largely a scarp (at ENE: Wth 6m; H 1.5m). There is an outer fosse (Wth of top 9-12m; Wth of base 2-4m; ext. D 0.2-0.4m) W-N-ENE. The scarp is broken down at E where there may have been an entrance, although Wilde (1849, 128) says it had entrances at N and S. The ponds (ME017-055----; ME017-056----) are c. 170m to the N and c. 100m to the NE respectively. Archaeological testing (09E0287) by B. Halpin c. 100m to the NE produced no related material (excavations.ie 2009:664). 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. Revised by: Michael Moore Date of revision: 15 April 2019 Amended: 16 March 2021; 3 March 2023

• ME017-031 Church
  Description

  Situated on a slight rise in the floodplain of the NW-SE Blackwater River, with a N-S section of the stream c. 230m to the W. The church of Teltown is mentioned in an early 12th century poem where the legendary Mac Erc is amongst its patrons (Gwynn 1924, L 157-60). The church was burnt by Dermot Mac Murrough in 1170 (Mulvany 1971, 15) but the church is not listed in the ecclesiastical taxation (1302-06) of Pope Nicholas IV (Cal. doc. Ire. 5, 260). Ussher describes a church at Tellan as a chapel-of-ease to Donnaghpatrick but the church and chancel were ruined (Erlington 1847-64, 1, xc). According to Dopping’s Visitation (1682-5) the parish church was dedicated to St. Barnabas but had been a ruin for 40 years and it was not enclosed (Ellison 1973, 8). The church survives largely as foundations and it is undifferentiated (ext. dims 15.2m E-W; 6.25m N-S), although traces of a cross-wall may separate the nave (int. dims 7.3m E-W; 4.9m N-S) from the chancel. The W wall (L 6.25m; max. H 3m) and adjacent part of the N wall (L 4m; T 0.7m; max. H 2.5m) survives with no architectural features other than two putlog-holes. The architectural fragments in the graveyard suggest a building period possibly in the late twelfth century (Gosling 2016a). The church is within a rectangular graveyard (dims c. 53m E-W; c. 43m N-S) defined by earthen banks with external stone-facing, entered through a gate at N. Within the graveyard is a damaged cross-base (dims of base 0.55m x 0.4m plus; dims of top 0.35m x 0.25m plus; H 0.37m). Nearby is a broken headstone (dims 0.7m; H 0.4m) with a cross (H 0.35m; span c. 0.35m) inscribed on the W face with expanded terminals. These were first identified by Eogan (2006, 19-24), who also records a piece of rock outcrop (dims c. 0.7m x c. 0.5m; H o.4m) with rock-art consisting of two concentric incised lines (ext. diam. c. 0.2m) picked with lines (Wth c. 1.2cm). There are some dressed stones from the church in the graveyard, and there is local knowledge of two areas of collapse having occurred NW of the graveyard, which could have been from a souterrain. A possible ecclesiastical enclosure is suggested as a ghost feature by the medieval roadway (ME017) curving around the graveyard N-SE at a distance of c. 40-60m from the graveyard wall (Gosling 2016, 72, fig. 7). 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 amended revision: 15 April, 2019

• ME017-031001 Graveyard
  Description

  Situated on a slight rise in the floodplain of the NW-SE Blackwater River, with a N-S section of the stream c. 230m to the W. The church of Teltown (ME017-031----) is within a rectangular graveyard (dims c. 53m E-W; c. 43m N-S) defined by earthen banks with external stone-facing, entered through a gate at N. The cross-base (ME017-031002-), cross-inscribed stone (ME017-031003-) and prehistoric rock-art (ME017-031004-) are within the graveyard. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 28 January, 2016

• ME017-031002 Cross
  Description

  Inside the NW angle of the graveyard (ME017-031001-)at Teltown is a damaged cross-base (dims of base 0.55m x 0.4m plus; dims of top 0.35m x 0.25m plus; H 0.37m) with no decoration. (Eogan 2006, 22-3) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 28 January 2016

• ME017-031003 Cross-inscribed stone
  Description

  Inside the NW angle of the graveyard (ME017-031001-)at Teltown is a damaged headstone(dims 0.7m; H 0.4m) with a cross (H 0.35m; span c. 0.35m) that has expanded terminals crudely inscribed on its W face. (Eogan 2006, 20-1) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 28 January, 2016

• ME017-031004 Rock art
  Description

  Inside the W perimeter of the graveyard (ME017-031001-)at Teltown a piece of rock-outcrop (dims c. 0.7m x c. 0.5m; H o.4m) is decorated with rock-art consisting of two concentric incised lines (ext. diam. c. 0.2m) picked with broad, shallow lines (Wth c. 1.2cm). (Eogan 2006, 19, 20; 2011, 12-13; No. 18) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 28 January, 2016

• ME017-031005 Ecclesiastical enclosure
  Description

  The church of Teltown (ME017-031----) Situated on a slight rise in the floodplain of the NW-SE Blackwater River, with a N-S section of the stream to the W. The church of Teltown (ME017-031----) included the legendary Eochaid Mac Erc, the last king of the Fir Bolg and the first husband of Tailtiu, the patroness of Óenach Tailten, amongst its patrons (Gwynn 1924, L 157-60) and it could be of early medieval origin. An ecclesiastical enclosure is suggested as a ghost feature by the medieval roadway (ME017-061----) curving around the graveyard N-SE at a distance of c. 40-60m from the graveyard wall (Gosling 2016, 72, fig. 7). Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload; 15 April, 2019

• ME017-055 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 (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 in a slight hollow on a gentle S-facing slope. It is depicted as a marshy area on the 1836 and 1912 editions of the OS 6-inch map but described as a ‘Blind Lough’, by which is probably meant a pond without an outlet, only on the earlier map. Local people drew the attention of John O’Donovan to the loughs in 1836 and he described this one as: An artificial lake 191 paces in circumference (c. 175m; diam. c. 56m) that was nearly circular (Herity 2001, 11-14). It is still extant (OSAP 2018). Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 15 April 2019

• ME017-056 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 (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 (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. Situated in a slight hollow on a gentle S-facing slope. It is depicted as a marshy area on the 1836 and 1912 editions of the OS 6-inch map but described as a ‘Blind Lough’, by which is probably meant a pond without an outlet, only on the earlier map. Local people drew the attention of John O’Donovan to the loughs associated with the Óenach in 1836 and he described this one as: An artificial lake 130 paces in circumference (c. 119m; diam. c. 38m) (Herity 2001, 11-14). It is still extant (OSAP 2018). Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 15 April 2019

• ME017-060 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 (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. Located at the bottom of a gentle S-facing slope at the junction with a more level landscape. Local people drew the attention of John O’Donovan to the loughs associated with the Óenach in 1836 and he described this one as a blind lough known as Doolough – Dubh Lough (Black Lough) where St Patrick bound the pagan King Laoighre for eternity (Herity 2001, 14; Wilde 1849, 153; Mac Gabhann 2000, 229). It is the source of a stream that runs off to the SE and it is still extant (OSAP) as an oval marshy area (dims c. 80m NW-SE; c. 35-40m NE-SW). Archaeological testing (01E1093) by R. Meenan c. 70m to the SW produced no related material (excavations.ie 2001:1059). Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 15 April, 2019 Amended: 4 April, 2023

• ME017-061 Ford
  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. A ford on a W-E section of the River Blackwater in its southern loop at Teltown is an integral part of the medieval road (ME017-062----) between Ardee and Athboy, and its use undoubtedly pre-dated the road. Morris (1930, 114 ftn 5) describes the local custom of holding wrestling matches on the islands in the river and the racing of horses across it at this point on the occasion of the Lughnasa festival (MacNeill 1962, 337). The ford is named on the 1836 and 1912 editions of the OS 6-inch map at the E end of a chain of islands (dims c. 250m E-W; c. 50m N-S) that are now incorporated into the river banks on the N and S after the Boyne drainage works of the twentieth century. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 15 April, 2019

• ME017-062 Road - road/trackway
  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. A feature that was first identified by MacNeill (1962) and later elucidated by Gosling (2016) is a high medieval roadway, known locally as ‘Maeve’s Road’, extending as a relict feature (L c. 2.5km) from a ford (ME017-061----) on the River Blackwater northwards through Teltown into Oristown. It is continued today in country lanes and paths north-eastwards towards Clongill. On the S side of the ford it climbs the river bank and crossed the old Navan to Kells road (N3) to extend as a minor road westwards towards Martry cross (ME017-038----), although it may have deviated S from it (ibid. 76). It was described on a map of 1741 as part of the main road between the medieval towns of Athboy (ME029-023----) and Ardee (LH017-101----) (ibid. 81-2, fig. 9). From the ford it has no visible element as it climbs the steep bank northwards to the level plain of Telltown but would have proceeded towards the church (ME017-031----), which LiDAR imagery shows a broad rise skirting around on its E side, perhaps on the outer edge of an ecclesiastical enclosure (ME017-031005-) that might have been associated with the graveyard there. Proceeding N from this it is visible as a broad gently curved rise (Wth c. 16m) that appears to join the residential cul-de-sac known as Curran’s Lane, but LiDAR imagery shows that it curved NNE to cross a stream E of a pond known as the Dubh Lough (ME017-060----), after which it takes a more northerly course to meet the Donaghmore to Oristown road at Bunmuckny cross-roads and the site of the cairn (ME017-058----). The N end of this section can be confirmed in a map of 1741 (ibid. 81-2). From this point the road is now a country lane that was known as ‘Cromwell’s Road’ running to the Roman Catholic church at Oristown. (Gosling 2016, 76-82) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 16 April, 2019

Architectural heritage

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

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

Name

Teltown · Tailtin

Area

2,542,310 m² (254.23 ha, 628.22 acres)

Civil parish

Teltown, and its townlands

Barony

Kells Upper

Electoral division

Teltown, the unit of the census

Neighbouring townlands

Bloomsberry, Castlemartin, Gibstown Demesne, Hurdlestown, Martry, Oristown, Tankardstown

Gaeltacht

In an Irish-speaking area

Placenames

Teltown 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.