The Steeples, Duleek

Area

49,672 m² (4.97 ha, 12.27 acres)

Buildings

136 buildings touch it, 9,238 m² on the ground

Zoning

R2 A1 - Existing Residential (Meath County Development Plan 2021-2027) The objective
R1 A2 - New Residential (Meath County Development Plan 2021-2027) The objective

Townland

Commons

Planning applications on this parcel

• 28 Mar 2024Conditional

  The development will consist of the demolition of the existing single storey dwelling and associated outbuildings and the construction of 10 no. semi-detached two storey dwellings, connection to all public services and all associated site works at Larrix Street, Duleek, Co. Meath, A92 E683. Significant further information/revised plans submitted on this application.

  Permission, 9 homes · Meath County Council, 2460224

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 this parcel.

Recorded monuments around it

This parcel is in the zone of notification of 33 recorded monuments.

• ME027-019 Bridge
  Description

  The following description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 10 July 2007 Marked on Down Survey maps but river changed course since. Fragments of two arches survive.

• ME027-020 Bridge
  Description

  The following description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 10 July 2007 Bridge of three arches and causeway with two arches built, as inscription on parapet proclaims, by William Bathe in 1587. Built in two sections. Most southerly arch of causeway has wicker centering.

• ME027-038 Historic town
  Description

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

• ME027-038001 Church
  Description

  This church has been identified as St Patrick's (Bradley 1980-1, 40-51), which was described as having its own churchyard and to be located N of St. Cianán’s church (ME027-037003-) in the cartulary of St. Michael’s priory (ME027-038011-) of Llanthony Secondo, dated 1381. The building (ext. dims c. 12m plus NE-SW, 6.4m NW-SE; int. dims 11m NE-SW plus; 4.7m NW-SE) survives, except the NE wall (H c. 0.7m) and the SW wall, which is completely absent. Its only feature is a pointed doorway (Wth 0.97m; H 2.15m) of undressed stone in the SE wall. Earlier walls are visible under the NW wall. Apart from a field boundary curving around the church NE-SE-S c. 10-20m distant there is no evidence of an enclosure or graveyard. Built into the inner face of the NW wall is an irregularly shaped limestone slab broken into four pieces (max. dims 1.65m x 0.85m). Centrally placed across the stone is a lightly incised inscription: ÓR DO SCANLA_N. (Anon. 1916, 205; Macalister 1949, 2, 33) 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: 14 August, 2014

• ME027-038002 Inscribed slab
  Description

  Built into the inner face of the NW wall of St. Patrick's church (ME027-038001-) is an irregularly shaped limestone slab broken into four pieces (max. dims 1.65m x 0.85m). Centrally placed across the stone is a lightly incised inscription: ÓR DO SCANLA_N. (Anon. 1916, 205; Macalister 1949, 2, 33; Bradley 1980-1, 46) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 14 August, 2014

• ME027-038003 Church
  Description

  Situated on a rise in the flood-plain of the River Nanny at a point where it changes from a S-N course to a W-E course, and the river is c. 350m to the SE. St. Patrick is thought to have established the earliest stone church in Ireland here at what came to be known as Daimhliag Chianáin – Cianán’s stone church – from which the name ‘Duleek’ is derived. Patrick placed Cianán over it as its first abbot and bishop, but this is likely to be a late legend (Bradley 1980-1, 48-9). Cianán is said to have received Patrick’s own copy of the gospels, which were retained as a relic until a late period (Cogan 1862-70, 1, 23). Cianán was descended from the local sept of the Cianachta of Brega, and is not associated with any other churches. The recurrence of copper vessels in tales associated with him suggest a pagan origin for Cianán. According to the annals he died in AD 489, which would make him a close contemporary of St. Patrick. (Cuffe 1965, 187-92; Ó Riain 2011, 166-7) The deaths of abbots are recorded fairly consistently from AD 749 (Cuffe 1965, 192--4) and the first Viking raid occurred in 830. However, the next raid did not occur until 878, after which there appears to have been no other attack recorded until after the battle of Clontarf in 1014. After the battle the bodies of Brian Boroimhe and his son, Morrogh, were brought to Duleek on their way to Armagh for burial. Thereafter, eight raids or burnings are recorded up to 1170, some led by Irish groups. In 1123 the Gaileanga burnt eighty houses at Duleek and the High King, Murchad Ó Maelseachlainn, was lucky to escape with his life. In 1147 the cloigteach or round tower was struck by lightning, and two years later Dermot MacMurchada, king of Leinster, and his Dublin allies plundered the abbey. (Cogan 1862-70, 36-7; Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 75) Duleek was chosen as the centre of a bishopric at the Synod of Rathbreasail in AD 1111, but was de-selected in favour of Clonard the following year. Duleek continued to be regarded as part of the Armagh province until c. 1174 when it was merged with other centres into the diocese of Meath, based on Clonard. Thereafter, St. Cianán’s church became parochial, and it seems to have been administered by the Augustinian priory of St. Michael’s (Brooks 1953a, 145). Only a few decorated stones remain of the earlier building, and one of these, a face-corbel (dims 0.42m x 0.23m; H 0.18m), the hair of which morphed into interlace bands indicates that the church was rebuilt in a Romanesque style in the 12th century. This corbel, the only surviving evidence of this construction phase was brutally damaged by vandals in June 2014 and the stone has been removed for safe-keeping. A parish church (ME027-038013-) developed on the site of St. Cianán’s church, and the cartulary of Llanthony Secunda, dated 1381, makes it clear that the saint’s grave, i.e. the remnant of his church, was incorporated into the N part of the chancel (Brooks 1953, 295). That there was an early church at Duleek is amply demonstrated by the presence of two high crosses, the round tower, and early cross-slab within an ecclesiastical enclosure (dims c. 325m N-S; 38m E-W) that has become fossilised in the street system, being bounded by Larrix St. N-E, Main St. E-S-SW, and a curving lane connecting Main St. and Larrix St. SW-N (Swan 1983, 269). The early features are within a subrectangular graveyard (dims c. 100m ENE-WSW; c. 30-50m NNW-SSE) defined by masonry walls, whose headstone inscriptions have been recorded (O Boyle 2001). A cross-slab that was described as rectangular (max. dims 1.35m x 0.39m; T 0.2m) with a double-ringed incised cross (Bradley and King 1985, 45), whose arms do not extend beyond the ring, has been removed for safe-keeping (O Boyle 2001, 129). The round tower survived into the high middle ages and is visible now as a concave hollow (C 3.5m; H 14.3m) that tapers as it rises on the N side of the tower at the W end of the parish church. At the top a pointed doorway leads to the second floor of the church tower (Leask 1960, 3, 25; Barrow 1979, 169-70). The North cross is N of St. Kienan’s Church of Ireland church, now converted to a restaurant, and the top of its base (dims 0.5m x 0.45m) is visible. The sandstone ringed cross (dims at base 0.37m x 0.21m; H 1.82m; Wth 0.97m) has edge moulding and a tenon on top for a missing cap. The E face is devoted entirely to panels of interlace with seven bosses at the crux. The W face has the family of Mary, an angel bringing bread to the Virgin, and the parents of Mary on the shaft. The W side of the head has a Crucifixion with two soldiers, and St. Anthony and St. Paul decorate the extremities at S and N respectively. The top has SS Paul and Anthony defeating a devil. The N and S faces are all devoted to interlace, apart from the ends of the arms that have fabulous beasts. (Harbison 1992, 1, 76-8) The South cross is now in the S aisle of the parish church. The sandstone head of a ringed cross is set in an undecorated pyramidal base (dims at base 1.05m x 0.85m; H 0.63m), with which it might not have been originally associated. The cross-head (H 0.9m; Wth 1.05m T 0.2m) has a roll moulding on the outer edge of the ring that connects with bosses at the extremities on the E face. The W face has a Crucifixion with two soldiers at the centre where Christ’s head is supported by two angels and the extremities of the cross have decorated bosses that are connected by the moulding on the outer edge of the ring. (Harbison 1992, 78-9) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. See the attached aerial image Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of revision: 14 August, 2014 Amended: 18 August, 2014

• ME027-038004 Cross - High cross
  Description

  The N cross is north of St. Kienan’s Church of Ireland church, now converted to a restaurant, and the top of its base (dims 0.5m x 0.45m) is visible. The sandstone ringed cross (dims at base 0.37m x 0.21m; H 1.82m; Wth 0.97m) has edge moulding and a tenon on top for a missing cap. The E face is devoted entirely to panels of interlace with seven bosses at the crux. The W face has the family of Mary, an angel bringing bread to the Virgin, and the parents of Mary on the shaft. The W side of the head has a Crucifixion with two soldiers, and St. Anthony and St. Paul decorate the extremities at S and N respectively. The top has SS Paul and Anthony defeating a devil. The N and S faces are all devoted to interlace, apart from the ends of the arms that have fabulous beasts. (Harbison 1992, 1, 76-8) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 14 August, 2014

• ME027-038005 Cross - High cross
  Description

  The S cross is now in the S aisle of the parish church. The sandstone head of a ringed cross is set in an undecorated pyramidal base (dims at base 1.05m x 0.85m; H 0.63m), with which it might not have been originally associated. The cross-head (H 0.9m; Wth 1.05m T 0.2m) has a roll moulding on the outer edge of the ring that connects with bosses at the extremities on the E face. The W face has a Crucifixion with two soldiers at the centre where Christ’s head is supported by two angels and the extremities of the cross have decorated bosses that are connected by the moulding on the outer edge of the ring. (Harbison 1992, 78-9) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload; 14 August, 2014

• ME027-038006 Tomb - chest tomb
  Description

  From Bradley and King (1985, 45): Chest tomb. The Preston-Plunkett tomb c. 1450-1500. The surrounds of the chest-tomb are in the S aisle of St. Cianáin’s church. The N side has six ogee-headed niches with floriated heads displaying five coats of arms, including Preston and Plunkett, Preston and Bellew, St. Lawrence and Bellew, and the arms of the Passion. The S side is similar to the N but with the Bermingham and FitzGerald arms. The E end has four ogee-headed niches depicting a Crucifixion between Our Lady and St. John; St. Michael with shield and dragon below. The W end is similar to the E but showing a mitred bishop (?St. Patrick), St. Catherine, and Archbishop (? St. Thomas Becket) and St, Peter. Hunt (1974, 204-05) compares this tomb chest to those at Dunsany, Rathmore and Howth, and it is evident that it belongs to the Pale group of sculptures. Date of upload: 14 August, 2014 Amended: 18 August, 2014

• ME027-038007 Architectural fragment
  Description

  A gargoyle decorated as a human head (dims 1.12m; max. Wth 0.23m) is kept in the S aisle of St. Cianán's parish church (ME027-038013-), but the face-corbel (dims 0.42m x 0.23m; H 0.18m), the hair of which morphed into interlace bands and which indicates that the church was rebuilt in a Romanesque style in the 12th century, has been removed for safe-keeping after it was damaged by vandals in June 2014. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 14 August, 2014

And 23 more.

Designated sites: National Parks and Wildlife Service. Recorded monuments: Sites and Monuments Record, National Monuments Service. 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).

Registered freehold land, Tailte Éireann, CC BY 4.0. A parcel is the land of a title, not an address. The owner's name is in the Land Registry of Tailte Éireann: a copy of the folio can be ordered on landdirect.ie, for a fee.