Ballinvally
Townland in the civil parish of Geashill, barony of Geashill, Co. Offaly; in Irish Baile an Bhealaigh
Parcel 307747
- Area
- 446,959 m² (44.7 ha, 110.45 acres)
- Buildings
- 6 buildings touch it, 234 m² on the ground
- Zoning
- R2 Existing Residential (Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027) The objective
- Townland
- Ballinvally
Planning applications on this parcel
No planning application touches this parcel in the national file, which goes back to 2010.
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 24 recorded monuments.
- OF025-017001 Religious house - Franciscan friars
Description
Associated with St. Sinchell who founded a monastery here in the sixth century. The church and convent marked on the OS 6-inch map are the same buildings which represent the remains of a large Franciscan Abbey formerly the site of an Augustinian Priory (OF025-017003-) which is today incorporated into a guest house (OF025-030----) and a C of I church. The site has undergone many alterations as can be seen from the different stonework throughout the site which suggests that the abbey may originally have been a 12th-century Augustinian priory. The Abbey now consists of a main Church which is today used by the Church of Ireland as a place of worship which has been shortened on its E end. Evidence of a large E window probably of the triple light lancet type at the E end of the Abbey is now incorporated into the graveyard wall. From a drawing in 1896 the church had a central belfry tower and a S transept off the W end of the S wall of which today there are no remains. There is a barrel vaulted chapter house at the E end of the N wall of the Abbey with later doorway and mural stairways which gives access to the floor above chapter house with several musket loops visible on the E wall and possible garderobe chute in NE angle. The chapter house (int. dims. 12.2m E-W; 5.15m N-S; wall T 1.2m) has a cobblestone floor with 3 engaged columns of varying profiles on the N and S walls with a large partially destroyed round arched window in the E wall. The barrel vault along with the inner half of the N wall are a later insertion of probable 15th-century date. The E window of the chapter house has late 12th/13th-century jambs with a later medieval arch which was probably altered during the insertion of the barrel vault. Above the W wall of the sacristy can still be seen the string course of the ambulatory which enclosed the cloister area which was located to the N of the main church. Domestic buildings located around this cloister area are now the site of outhouses with a central well which is now blocked up. The guest house known as the Abbey (OF025-030----) is a late medieval house with several late medieval ogee headed windows visible. Architectural fragments now housed inside the chapter house display a wide range in date from the 12th-century to the late medieval period. Early Christian cross-slab also located inside the chapter house. To the SW are the remains of an earthwork marked on the OS 6-inch map as 'Entrenchment' which may represent a medieval fortification of the site (1550 Survey) or perhaps the remains of an Early Christian enclosure (OF025-017011-). The earthwork consists of two earthen banks with intervening wide flat bottomed fosse similar to the earthworks enclosing the Abbey at Seir Kieran (OF039-003----). Graveyard (OF025-017004-) to the S contains 17th/19th-century headstones. This evidence indicates continued ecclesiastical settlement from the Early Christian period to the present. (Comerford 1883, 190-2; Cooke 1875, 256; Fitzgerald 1918-22, 23-32; O' Flanagan 1933, vol. 1, 23; Hadcock 1964, 128; Sheehy 1969 vol. 14, 2-3) In 1991 four trial trenches in an area to the N of the Fair Green on the N side of the main road (NGR 236764/218313) through the village of Killeigh were opened by Helen Keogh for ADS Ltd, but nothing of archaeological interest was noted in any of them, any disturbance noted being of modern date. In 1995 pre-development testing at the site of a proposed dwelling house extension was undertaken in January 1995 by Dominic Delany under licence no. 95E15. The site is located on the north side of the village fairgreen (NGR 236721/218328) about 150m north-east of the present Protestant church, which incorporates fragmentary remains of a 12th-century Augustinian abbey. No archaeological deposits or features were noted. Archaeological testing was carried out in 1999 under licence no. 99E0348 by Dominic Delany. Test excavation was undertaken before an application for open planning permission for four detached dwellings. Two test-trenches, 65-90m long and 1.8m wide, were mechanically excavated at locations corresponding to the general footprint of the proposed development. A 5-7m-wide spread of compacted, silty sand was encountered at the south-east ends of the two trenches. This feature is orientated north-east/south-west and may represent levelled bank material and/or the upper fill of a large ditch. It is significant that this feature is aligned with the earthwork and the curving field boundary in the field to the west of the site. This strongly suggests that it is part of the enclosing element associated with the ecclesiastical remains at Killeigh. Two post-medieval features-a large, irregular spread of grey/brown, silty sand and an oval pit-were also encountered in Trench 2. The pit (2.5m north-south by 0.95m) contained a fill of light grey/brown, silty sand, and the finds included green glass wine bottle fragments, clay pipe stem fragments and several sherds of late/post-medieval pottery. A single sherd of Bellarmine pottery was recovered from the irregular spread. In 2000 a second phase of testing was carried out at this site. Nine trenches were excavated: two at each of three proposed house sites, and three on the line of the proposed service run. Following extensive testing it was established that the only definite archaeological features within the tested area are those that were discovered during the initial excavation. These comprise a portion of an ecclesiastical enclosure, which skirts the south-east end of the site, and two post-medieval features, which were discovered on the route of the proposed service road. Several possible archaeological features were tested. The results were inconclusive because no datable finds were recovered, but most appeared to be of post-medieval or modern date. The revised site layout plan provides for the exclusion of the enclosure element from the boundaries of the house sites, and the service road will be raised in order to minimise compaction of subsurface archaeological material. Archaeological testing was carried out in 2002 under licence no. 02E1006 as part of the planning schedule for a three-house development near the Early Christian enclosure of Killeigh (SMR 25:17). Nine trenches were excavated by mechanical digger. No features or finds of archaeological significance were revealed. John Purcell, Ballinvalley, Killeigh, Co. Offaly. Test-trenching was carried out by John Purcell under licence no. 05E0916 as part of the planning schedule for the extension to a carpark within the zone of potential for the village of Killeigh. A series of trenches were excavated by mechanical digger. No features or finds of archaeological significance were revealed. John Purcell, 17 Balmoral Terrace, Dillon's Cross, Cork. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 24 April 2009
- OF025-017002 Religious house - Augustinian nuns
Description
Associated with St. Sinchell who founded a monastery here in the sixth century. The church and convent marked on the OS 6-inch map are the same buildings which represent the remains of a large Franciscan Abbey formerly the site of an Augustinian Priory (OF025-017003-) which is today incorporated into a guest house (OF025-030----) and a C of I church. Site of Augustinian nunnery defined by well preserved large impressive earthwork consisting of two earthen banks with a deep wide flat bottomed intervening fosse which form an annexe to the main ecclesiastical enclosure on the SE side. No remains of any buildings within this annexe survives. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 23 May 2011
- OF025-017003 Religious house - Augustinian canons
Description
Associated with St. Sinchell who founded a monastery here in the sixth century. The church and convent marked on the OS 6-inch map are the same buildings which represent the remains of a large Franciscan Abbey formerly the site of an Augustinian Priory (OF025-017003-) which is today incorporated into a guest house (OF025-030----) and a C of I church. Site of Augustinian priory founded in the 12th-century later occupied by late 14th-century Franciscan foundation (OF025-017----) which would explain wide range of dates from the surviving architectural fragments. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien. Date of upload: 23 May 2011
- OF025-017004 Graveyard
Description
Associated with St. Sinchell who founded a monastery here in the sixth century. The church and convent marked on the OS 6-inch map are the same buildings which represent the remains of a large Franciscan Abbey formerly the site of an Augustinian Priory (OF025-017003-) which is today incorporated into a guest house (OF025-030----) and a C of I church. Graveyard (OF025-017004-) to the S of the Franciscan Friary contains 17th/19th-century headstones. This evidence indicates continued ecclesiastical settlement from the Early Christian period to the present. (Comerford 1883, 190-2; Cooke 1875, 256; Fitzgerald 1918-22, 23-32; O' Flanagan 1933, vol. 1, 23; Hadcock 1964, 128; Sheehy 1969 vol. 14, 2-3) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 23 May 2011
- OF025-017005 Graveslab
Description
Four late 17th century graveslabs located in the graveyard to the S of the Franciscan Friary (JKAS vol. 9, 1918-22, 23-32). The Tarleton family are buried in the SE corner of the graveyard in Killeigh and their memorial which has now sunk beneath the surface of the graveyard was recorded in 1919-20 and the inscription read 'Here under lyeth the body of Gilbert Tarleton of Hale Wood neere Liverpool in the County of Lancaster, and Muriel his wife and Kildare theire son. Gilbert dyed in July 1656, Muriell the 25 March 1673, Kildare the 2 February 1675. There are now living 3 sons, Edward and John Anno 1684. Edward Tarleton was intered the 28th february 1684 and left two sons Gilbert and Kildare. John Tarleton deceased the 20th of December Anno 1700. There yet remaineth his son Digby. Kildare Tarleton deceased January 22nd Anno Dni 1711. There yet remaineth his son Nicholas.' (Fitzpatrick and O'Brien 1998, 146-7). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 23 May 2011
- OF025-017006 Ritual site - holy well
Description
Holy well located just outside the W side of earthen ramparts (OF025-017----) associated with nearby monastic site (OF025-017----). The well is very overgrown with many architectural fragments from the nearby Abbey (OF025-017----) lying around the well. (Cooke 1875, 256; O' Flanagan 1933, vol. 1, 25; Comerford 1883, 190-2) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 23 May 2011
- OF025-017008 Ringfort - rath
Description
Described by O. Davies in 1942 as a rath situated 'on limestone with generally good pasture. Restricted view. No fosse. The bank is 2 feet feet high outside and level inside. Centre level. Rath circ. 15 yds.' The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 23 May 2011
- OF025-017009 Souterrain
Description
Local tradition of a tunnel beneath the abbey (O. Davies 1942, ITA Survey) in the vicinity of the Franciscan Friary which may have been confused with either a silted up box drain or mill race associated with the friary or drainage works associated with the friary (Byrne 1979, 15). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 23 May 2011
- OF025-017010 Stone head
Description
Sculpture of a nun's head found at Killeigh in 1978, was in Offaly County Library but now unlocated. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 23 May 2011
- OF025-017011 Ecclesiastical enclosure
Description
Associated with St. Sinchell who founded a monastery here in the sixth century. The church and convent marked on the OS 6-inch map are the same buildings which represent the remains of a large Franciscan Abbey formerly the site of an Augustinian Priory (OF025-017003-) which is today incorporated into a guest house (OF025-030----) and a C of I church. To the SW are the remains of an earthwork marked on the OS 6-inch map as 'Entrenchment' which may represent a medieval fortification of the site (1550 Survey) or perhaps the remains of an Early Christian enclosure (OF025-017011). The earthwork consists of two earthen banks with intervening wide flat bottomed fosse similar to the earthworks enclosing the Abbey at Seir Kieran (OF039-003----). In 1991 four trial trenches in an area to the N of the Fair Green on the N side of the main road (NGR 236764/218313) through the village of Killeigh were opened by Helen Keogh for ADS Ltd, but nothing of archaeological interest was noted in any of them, any disturbance noted being of modern date. In 1995 pre-development testing at the site of a proposed dwelling house extension was undertaken in January 1995 by Dominic Delany under licence no. 95E15. The site is located on the north side of the village fairgreen (NGR 236721/218328) about 150m north-east of the present Protestant church, which incorporates fragmentary remains of a 12th-century Augustinian abbey. No archaeological deposits or features were noted. Archaeological testing was carried out in 1999 under licence no. 99E0348 by Dominic Delany. Test excavation was undertaken before an application for open planning permission for four detached dwellings. Two test-trenches, 65-90m long and 1.8m wide, were mechanically excavated at locations corresponding to the general footprint of the proposed development. A 5-7m-wide spread of compacted, silty sand was encountered at the south-east ends of the two trenches. This feature is orientated north-east/south-west and may represent levelled bank material and/or the upper fill of a large ditch. It is significant that this feature is aligned with the earthwork and the curving field boundary in the field to the west of the site. This strongly suggests that it is part of the enclosing element associated with the ecclesiastical remains at Killeigh. Two post-medieval features-a large, irregular spread of grey/brown, silty sand and an oval pit-were also encountered in Trench 2. The pit (2.5m north-south by 0.95m) contained a fill of light grey/brown, silty sand, and the finds included green glass wine bottle fragments, clay pipe stem fragments and several sherds of late/post-medieval pottery. A single sherd of Bellarmine pottery was recovered from the irregular spread. In 2000 a second phase of testing was carried out at this site. Nine trenches were excavated: two at each of three proposed house sites, and three on the line of the proposed service run. Following extensive testing it was established that the only definite archaeological features within the tested area are those that were discovered during the initial excavation. These comprise a portion of an ecclesiastical enclosure, which skirts the south-east end of the site, and two post-medieval features, which were discovered on the route of the proposed service road. Several possible archaeological features were tested. The results were inconclusive because no datable finds were recovered, but most appeared to be of post-medieval or modern date. The revised site layout plan provides for the exclusion of the enclosure element from the boundaries of the house sites, and the service road will be raised in order to minimise compaction of subsurface archaeological material. Archaeological testing was carried out in 2002 under licence no. 02E1006 as part of the planning schedule for a three-house development near the Early Christian enclosure of Killeigh (SMR 25:17). Nine trenches were excavated by mechanical digger. No features or finds of archaeological significance were revealed. John Purcell, Ballinvalley, Killeigh, Co. Offaly. Test-trenching was carried out by John Purcell under licence no. 05E0916 as part of the planning schedule for the extension to a carpark within the zone of potential for the village of Killeigh. A series of trenches were excavated by mechanical digger. No features or finds of archaeological significance were revealed. John Purcell, 17 Balmoral Terrace, Dillon's Cross, Cork. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 24 April 2009
And 14 more.
Architectural heritage
No building of the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage stands on this parcel.
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).
Ground and risks
- Radon
- About 1 in 10 homes in this area is likely to have high radon levels. Testing a home
- Landslides
- Susceptibility low, on the 1:50,000 map.
- Terrain model
- No LiDAR survey of the Office of Public Works covers the centre of this parcel.
- Flooding
- The flood maps of the Office of Public Works: floodinfo.ie.
Radon Risk Map of Ireland, Environmental Protection Agency; Landslide Susceptibility Classification, Geological Survey Ireland; both CC BY 4.0. LiDAR: contains Irish Public Sector Data (Geological Survey Ireland & the Office of Public Works) licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.
Download this parcel: DXF, in Irish Transverse Mercator metres, with its neighbours and buildings, for a drawing program; GeoJSON, in WGS 84, for a map; KML, for Google Earth.
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.
- Area
- 597.3 ha
- 1,476 acres
- Land parcels
- 151
- registered freehold, median 4,532 m² (0.45 ha, 1.12 acres)
- Zoning
- R2
- Existing Residential
- Planning
- 13
- applications since 2010
Land parcels
Registered freehold land, Tailte Éireann
151 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Ballinvally, from 7 m² to 1,806,057 m² (180.61 ha, 446.29 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary; 31 neighbouring parcels touch it.
Download the townland: DXF, in Irish Transverse Mercator metres, with its boundary, parcels and buildings; GeoJSON or KML.
Zoning
Development plans, national zoning
- R2Existing Residential (Existing residential)
Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027, Offaly · 30 parcels The zoning objective in the plan - G5Open Space, Amenity and Recreation (Mixed/general 'green'/recreation/conservation, other)
Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027, Offaly · 0 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
Source: Tailte Éireann and the Department of Housing (MyPlan), national zoning, CC BY 4.0.
Planning applications
Sites that touch the townland, newest first
19 Mar 2026Conditional
for the renovation of the existing dwelling, demolition of an existing bay window and existing 2 storey extension to rear of property, new extensions to the east and west elevations (side), new treatment system, percolation area, relocate existing entrance gate, new domestic garage and all associated site works
Permission, 1 home · Offaly County Council, 2660145
12 Mar 2026N/a
for the renovation of the existing dwelling, demolition of an existing bay window and existing 2 storey extension to rear of property, new extensions to the east and west elevations (side), new treatment system, percolation area, relocate existing entrance gate, new domestic garage and all associated site works
Permission · Offaly County Council, 2660117
4 Mar 2026N/a
for the renovation of the existing dwelling, demolition of an existing bay window, new extensions to the east and west elevations (side), new treatment system, percolation area, relocate existing entrance gate, new domestic garage and all associated site works
Permission · Offaly County Council, 2660107
24 Oct 2025Conditional
THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW BUNGALOW DWELLING, DOMESTIC GARAGE, PACKAGED WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEM AND SOIL POLISHING FILTER AND ALL ASSOCIATED SITE DEVELOPMENT WORKS TO COMPLETE THE DEVELOPMENT
Permission, 1 home · Offaly County Council, 25107
16 Jun 2025Conditional
CONSTRUCTION OF NEW DWELLING HOUSE, DOMESTIC GARAGE/FUEL SHED, INSTALL TERTIARY TREATMENT SYSTEM WITH INFILTRATION/TREATMENT AREA AND ALL ANCILLARY SITE WORKS
Permission, 1 home · Offaly County Council, 2561
13 Jun 2025Conditional
Entrances, front and side boundaries, kitchen gable rear window, garage and outbuildings, all as constructed and all associated site works
Retention, 1 home · Offaly County Council, 2560234
27 Jul 2023Conditional
the construction of a dwelling house, garage, installation of sewerage treatment tank with percolation area and all associated site works
Permission, 1 home · Offaly County Council, 2360037
5 Apr 2023Conditional
CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW DWELLING HOUSE, DOMESTIC GARAGE, EFFLUENT TREATMENT SYSTEM AND PERCOLATION AREA AND ALL ANCILLARY SITEWORKS AND SERVICES
Permission, 1 home · Offaly County Council, 23147
21 Apr 2022Conditional
THE ERECTION OF A GUYED WIND MONITORING MAST, WITH INSTRUMENTS, UP TO 100M IN HEIGHT FOR A PERIOD OF SIX YEARS. THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROPOSED MAST IS TO ASSESS THE SUITABILITY OF THE COMPANY'S ADJACENT LANDS FOR WIND FARM DEVELOPMENT
Permission · Offaly County Council, 22207
20 Aug 2019Conditional
ALTERATION AND EXTENSION OF EXISTING DWELLING, UPGRADE EXISTING SEPTIC TANK SYSTEM AND ALL ASSOCIATED WORKS
Permission, 1 home · Offaly County Council, 19412
19 Jul 2019Conditional
DEVELOPMENT CONSISTING OF THE PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION OF A BUNGALOW TYPE DWELLING HOUSE, ENTRANCE, BOUNDARY WALL/FENCE, SEPTIC TANK WITH PERCOLATION AREA AND ALL ANCILLARY SITE WORKS
Permission, 1 home · Offaly County Council, 19361
11 Jul 2019N/a
ALTERATIONS AND EXTEND EXISTING DWELLING, UPGRADE EXISTING SEPTIC TANK SYSTEM AND ALL ASSOCIATED WORKS
Permission, 1 home · Offaly County Council, 19343
1 Jul 2019N/a
TO ALTER AND EXTEND EXISTING DWELLING, UPGRADE EXISTING SEPTIC TANK SYSTEM AND ALL ASSOCIATED WORKS
Permission · Offaly County Council, 19312
Source: National Planning Applications, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Applicants are not shown.
Nature and heritage
Designated sites and recorded monuments
Designated sites
No designated site (Special Area of Conservation, Special Protection Area, Natural Heritage Area or proposed one) touches the townland of Ballinvally.
Recorded monuments
- OF025-015002 Linear earthwork
Description
Described by Stanley in the nieneteenth century as 'Midway between Killeigh and the river are patches of the 'double ditch' a fosse carried across terra firma, from a great bog which enters the Iregan dominions on one side. The work is not half a mile in length' (Stanley 1871-3, 81). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 23 May 2011
- OF025-016 Enclosure
Description
Not visible at ground level. Aerial photographs (GSI, N 179/80) shows cropmark of large circular enclosure. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 23 May 2011
- OF025-017002 Religious house - Augustinian nuns
Description
Associated with St. Sinchell who founded a monastery here in the sixth century. The church and convent marked on the OS 6-inch map are the same buildings which represent the remains of a large Franciscan Abbey formerly the site of an Augustinian Priory (OF025-017003-) which is today incorporated into a guest house (OF025-030----) and a C of I church. Site of Augustinian nunnery defined by well preserved large impressive earthwork consisting of two earthen banks with a deep wide flat bottomed intervening fosse which form an annexe to the main ecclesiastical enclosure on the SE side. No remains of any buildings within this annexe survives. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 23 May 2011
- OF025-017010 Stone head
Description
Sculpture of a nun's head found at Killeigh in 1978, was in Offaly County Library but now unlocated. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 23 May 2011
- OF025-031 Road - gravel/stone trackway - peatland
Description
This excavation was carried out by Jane Whitaker for ADS Ltd. Under licence no. 00E620 as part of the Bord na Móna Archaeological Mitigation Project for 2000. Monettia Bog is part of the Boora group and is located south of the village of Killeigh, Co. Offaly. The trackway, which was delimited along its edges by longitudinal roundwoods, was a maximum of 2m wide and ran in an east-west direction. It was composed of transverse roundwoods and brushwood timbers placed side by side, with gravel packed on top of and around some of the transverses. Pegs were noted at some locations. The trackway was traced for over 45m. The state of preservation varied along its length. It was best preserved on the stockpiled field to the west, where no milling had taken place for some time. On the field to the east, the site was in the process of being destroyed by the milling machines, and some of the timbers had been strewn across the field surface. However, the line of the trackway was clearly visible prior to excavation, in the form of scatters of wood chips and gravel. When the overlying peat was removed, the extent of the damage became apparent. All of the timbers were broken in several pieces from the weight of passing machinery. The site was 2-2.5m wide. It was composed of transverse, radially split roundwoods, and there was a deposit of gravel packed in between and over the timbers. It appears that the milling process had removed some of this gravel, which was sandy in texture and had mixed with the peat to form a hard, pasty, grey material 20-50mm deep. It contained some sub-angular stones ranging in size from 40mm to 50mm. The roundwoods were mainly ash, with some possible elm included. These ranged in diameter from 0.05m to 0.29m. Along the southern ends of the transverses two longitudinal roundwoods were exposed in the cutting, 0.08m and 0.14m in diameter. These longitudinals were held in place with pegs alongside them, and, while a couple of the transverses ran underneath them, for the main part they appeared to delineate the edge of the trackway. A third longitudinal roundwood, 67mm in diameter and 24mm long, was located in the central part of the site. The site was visible on the adjoining production field to the east, where it was also badly damaged. The field to the west of the cutting contained a large stockpile of peat, but the site was visible at the edges of this field. Apart from these two additional sightings the site appears to be all but destroyed. Several fields to both the west and the south were walked in an attempt to trace the site, but it survives only in places as insubstantial gravel scatters. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien. Date of upload: 23 May 2011
- OF025-032 Road - class 1 togher
Description
During the summer of 1999, some milled oak planks were observed by a Bord na Móna (BnM) worker while undertaking some milling in Monettia Bog, Co. Offaly. The site was subsequently reported to ADS Ltd, who undertook an excavatior directed by Ellen O'Carroll under licence no. 00E621 so that peat production could resume in that area. Monettia Bog is part of the Boora group of bogs and is located south of the village of Killeigh, Co. Offaly. The site comprised a linear plank trackway that could be traced across the BnM fields for a length of 40m. The trackway had been milled at its north-western end, but the south-western end still had some surviving in situ remains. Two cuttings, each measuring 5m x 3m, were placed along the remaining length of the trackway. The site was composed of longitudinal oak planks laid end to end with no evidence of pegs or mortices. The planks were 0.4m wide and 0.1m deep. The site was a simple construction, probably laid on fairly stable peat, hence the lack of pegs, mortices and transverses in its make-up. The trackway has been dated to AD 760±9yrs (QUB-10065). The site could be traced to the edge of an area of turbury plots, where it is preserved under c. 1m of peat. These plots were located beside a dryland island known as Derrygunnigan, which was located in the centre of Monettia Bog. This island appears to be the destination of the linear plank trackway Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien. Date of upload: 23 May 2011
Architectural heritage
No building of the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage stands in the townland of Ballinvally.
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).
Ground and risks
Radon, landslides, flooding
- Radon
- About 1 in 10 homes in this area is likely to have high radon levels. Testing a home
- Landslides
- Susceptibility low, low (inferred), on the 1:50,000 map.
- Terrain model
- No LiDAR survey of the Office of Public Works covers the centre of the townland of Ballinvally.
- Flooding
- The flood maps of the Office of Public Works: floodinfo.ie.
Radon Risk Map of Ireland, Environmental Protection Agency; Landslide Susceptibility Classification, Geological Survey Ireland; both CC BY 4.0. LiDAR: contains Irish Public Sector Data (Geological Survey Ireland & the Office of Public Works) licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.
Homes sold
Property Price Register
No address of the register names Ballinvally with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Offaly.
The townland
- Name
- Ballinvally · Baile an Bhealaigh
- Area
- 5,972,758 m² (597.28 ha, 1,475.9 acres)
- Civil parish
- Geashill, and its townlands
- Barony
- Geashill
- Electoral division
- Killeigh, the unit of the census
- Census 2022
- Killeigh electoral division: 1,321 people in 441 households; 89% of households own their home; 28% of homes were built since 2001; 5% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 0% were holiday homes.
- Neighbouring townlands
- Ballynasrah, Cush Lower (Co. Laois), Derryad, Derrygunnigan, Gorteen, Killeigh, Pigeonhouse
- Placenames
- Ballinvally on logainm.ie, the Placenames Database of Ireland
Townlands, civil parishes, baronies and electoral divisions, National Statutory Boundaries, Tailte Éireann, CC BY 4.0. Census 2022, Small Area Population Statistics by electoral division, Central Statistics Office, CC BY 4.0. A townland is the smallest land division of Ireland, and the unit of a rural address; old registers such as the 1901 and 1911 censuses file it under its civil parish and barony.