Garrycastle

22 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Garrycastle, from 564 m² to 396,866 m² (39.69 ha, 98.07 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary; 45 neighbouring parcels touch it.

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

No zone of a development plan covers Garrycastle in the national zoning. Outside zoned towns and villages, the county development plan's rural policies apply to each application.

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

• 8 Dec 2022Conditional

  (1) THE REMOVAL OF DEAD, DANGEROUS AND HAZARDOUS TREES ON SITE (FOLIOS OY29747F & OY22812F) INCLUDING THOSE IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THE MAIN ROAD, THE R439 AND TO THOSE LOCATED ADJACENT TO THE AVENUE ROAD TRAVERSING THE LANDS. (2) CONTINUATION OF WORKS SCHEDULED AS OUTLINED IN THE DEPT OF AGRICULTURE VALIDATED FELLING LICENCE TFL00145618

  Permission · Offaly County Council, 22630

• 21 Oct 2022N/a

  (1) THE REMOVAL OF DEAD, DANGEROUS AND HAZARDOUS TREES ON SITE (FOLIOS OY9592 & OY22812F) INCLUDING THOSE IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THE MAIN ROAD, THE R439 AND TO THOSE LOCATED ADJACENT TO THE AVENUE ROAD TRAVERSING THE LANDS AND (2) CONTINUATION OF WORKS SCHEDULED AS OUTLINED IN THE DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE VALIDATED FELLING LICENCE TFL00145618

  Permission · Offaly County Council, 22546

• 7 Oct 2022N/a

  THE REMOVAL OF DEAD, DANGEROUS AND HAZARDOUS TREES AT THIS SITE AND THE CONTINUED WORKS AS SCHEDULED IN THE DEPT OF AGRICULTURE VALIDATED FELLING LICENCE. THE DEVELOPMENT CONSISTS OF (1) THE REMOVAL OF DEAD, DANGEROUS AND HAZARDOUS TREES ON SITE (FOLIO 'S OY9592 & OY22812F) INCLUDING THOSE IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THE MAIN ROAD, THE R439 AND TO THOSE LOCATED ADJACENT TO THE AVENUE ROAD TRAVERSING THE LANDS. (2) CONTINUATION OF WORKS SCHEDULED AS OUTLINED IN THE DEPT OFAGRICULTURE VALIDATED FELLING LICENCE TFL00145618

  Permission · Offaly County Council, 22517

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: All Saints Bog and Esker SAC 000566
• Special Protection Area: All Saints Bog SPA 004103
• Proposed Natural Heritage Area: All Saints Bog And Esker 000566

Recorded monuments

• OF029-006001 Castle - tower house
  Description

  Situated on a low natural rise in undulating countryside. Remains of four storey tower (ext. dims. 9.7m E-W; wall T 2.2m) built with roughly coursed limestone rubble with only N wall and part of W wall surviving. Circular tower attached to W side of tower house via original bawn wall running S from this tower. Originally the bawn would have returned E to join onto the tower house. The surviving larger bawn belongs to a later 16th/17th-century building phase. Architectural features evident on the Tower house consist of a bartizan on NE angle at battlement level with Sheela-na-gig (OF029-006004-) beside corbel of destroyed bartizan, mural passage in E wall at first floor level gives access to a garderobe in the NE angle with a second garderobe directly above at second floor level. Evidence of a destroyed fireplace at the centre of the N wall at second floor level with mural chamber in the NW angle also at this level. The ground floor has a barrel vault over, with wooden floors carried in the thickness of the wall over the upper storeys. The larger surviving bawn wall (dims. 50m E-W; 53m N-S; wall T 1m) with wall-walk has a two centred gateway with punch dressed jambs and is not contemporary with the adjoining Tower house. The gateway is protected externally by a machicolation which is accessed from a gatehouse directly over the interior of the gate. From this gatehouse the wall walk was accessed. During this phase a large fortified house (dims. 18.7m N-S; 10.7m E-W; wall T 1.3m) was built to the S of the tower house forming the W side of the bawn wall. Only the W wall and S gable with part of the E wall survives. The house had a flanking gun tower one storey high at the SW angle which was accessed from the ground floor of the house. Other features include a curious double fireplace in the S gable wall with no evidence of a chimney flue visible, three opes in the W wall and a single punch dressed jamb of a window splay on the S end of the E wall with a larger window directly opposite on the W wall. Mural stairs in the W wall was accessed from the NW angle and gave access to the wall walk. Possible evidence to indicate a flanking tower existed at this angle as well. Later Georgian farmhouse added to the E wall of the bawn. Interesting site with continuous occupation from the late medieval phase to the present century with the architecture reflecting each contrasting period. Stronghold of the Mac Coghlan's built in the year 1450 (ITA Survey 1942). (Cooke 1875, 314; Weir 1980, 62) Archaeological monitoring of topsoil-stripping was undertaken by Dominic Delany at Garrycastle, Banagher, Co. Offaly, in December 1997. A number of areas were stripped as part of the ongoing restoration and extension of an existing Georgian dwelling-house inside a late medieval bawn. The archaeological remains at the site comprise a tower-house, a fortified gabled dwelling, and a large irregular bawn with gatehouse at north and circular angle-towers at north-west and south-west. Topsoil-stripping was confined to the areas on the south and south-west sides of the Georgian house, the area within the existing extension on the west side of the house and the site of the proposed septic tank and percolation area about 20m north-east of the house. The topsoil consisted of a dark brown clayey silt with moderate inclusions of roots, cobbles, pebbles, brick, slate, mortar and modern pottery sherds and glass fragments. Naturally occurring deposits of orange silty clay and light brown medium sand were encountered at a depth of 0.45m. Two wall foundations were encountered on the south side of the dwelling-house. The foundations were 0.55m wide and were of rubble limestone masonry facing a mortared rubble core. The foundations were those of a demolished structure which abutted the south gable of the dwelling-house. This structure was entered through a brick-arched doorway (now blocked) in the bawn wall immediately south-east of the dwelling-house. No deposits or features pre-dating the Georgian house were encountered. 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

• OF029-006002 Bawn
  Description

  Situated on a low natural rise in undulating countryside. Remains of four storey tower (OF029-006001-) built with roughly coursed limestone rubble with only N wall and part of W wall surviving. Circular tower attached to W side of tower house via original bawn wall running S from this tower. Originally the bawn would have returned E to join onto the tower house. The surviving larger bawn belongs to a later 16th/17th-century building phase. Architectural features evident on the Tower house consist of a bartizan on NE angle at battlement level with Sheela-na-gig (OF029-006004-) ) beside corbel of destroyed bartizan, mural passage in E wall at first floor level gives access to a garderobe in the NE angle with a second garderobe directly above at second floor level. The larger surviving bawn wall (dims. 50m E-W; 53m N-S; wall T 1m) with wall-walk has a two centred gateway with punch dressed jambs and is not contemporary with the adjoining Tower house. The gateway is protected externally by a machicolation which is accessed from a gatehouse directly over the interior of the gate. From this gatehouse the wall walk was accessed. During this phase a large fortified house (OF029-006003-) was built to the S of the tower house forming the W side of the bawn wall. Only the W wall and S gable with part of the E wall survives. The house had a flanking gun tower one storey high at the SW angle which was accessed from the ground floor of the house. Other features include a curious double fireplace in the S gable wall with no evidence of a chimney flue visible, three opes in the W wall and a single punch dressed jamb of a window splay on the S end of the E wall with a larger window directly opposite on the W wall. Mural stairs in the W wall was accessed from the NW angle and gave access to the wall walk. Possible evidence to indicate a flanking tower existed at this angle as well. Later Georgian farmhouse added to the E wall of the bawn. Interesting site with continuous occupation from the late medieval phase to the present century with the architecture reflecting each contrasting period. Stronghold of the Mac Coghlan's built in the year 1450 (ITA Survey 1942). (Cooke 1875, 314; Weir 1980, 62) 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

• OF029-006003 House - fortified house
  Description

  Situated on a low natural rise in undulating countryside. Remains of four storey tower (OF029-006001-) built with roughly coursed limestone rubble with only N wall and part of W wall (OF029-006002-) surviving. Circular tower attached to W side of tower house via original bawn wall running S from this tower. Originally the bawn would have returned E to join onto the tower house. The surviving larger bawn belongs to a later 16th/17th-century building phase. Architectural features evident on the Tower house consist of a bartizan on NE angle at battlement level with Sheela-na-gig (OF029-006004-) beside corbel of destroyed bartizan, mural passage in E wall at first floor level gives access to a garderobe in the NE angle with a second garderobe directly above at second floor level. The larger surviving bawn wall (dims. 50m E-W; 53m N-S; wall T 1m) with wall-walk has a two centred gateway with punch dressed jambs and is not contemporary with the adjoining Tower house. The gateway is protected externally by a machicolation which is accessed from a gatehouse directly over the interior of the gate. From this gatehouse the wall walk was accessed. During this phase a large fortified house (dims. 18.7m N-S; 10.7m E-W; wall T 1.3m) was built to the S of the tower house forming the W side of the bawn wall. Only the W wall and S gable with part of the E wall survives. The house had a flanking gun tower one storey high at the SW angle which was accessed from the ground floor of the house. Other features include a curious double fireplace in the S gable wall with no evidence of a chimney flue visible, three opes in the W wall and a single punch dressed jamb of a window splay on the S end of the E wall with a larger window directly opposite on the W wall. Mural stairs in the W wall was accessed from the NW angle and gave access to the wall walk. Possible evidence to indicate a flanking tower existed at this angle as well. Later Georgian farmhouse added to the E wall of the bawn. Interesting site with continuous occupation from the late medieval phase to the present century with the architecture reflecting each contrasting period. Stronghold of the Mac Coghlan's built in the year 1450 (ITA Survey 1942). (Cooke 1875, 314; Weir 1980, 62) 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

• OF029-006004 Sheela-na-gig
  Description

  Situated on a low natural rise in undulating countryside. Remains of four storey tower (OF029-006001-) built with roughly coursed limestone rubble with only N wall and part of W wall surviving. Situated on the external face of the E wall beside the corbel of a destroyed machicolation at battlement level on Garrycastle tower house (OF029-006001-). Described by Freitag as a figure consisting of a ‘large and unusually plump figure with round head, jug ears and simple facial features. Asymmetrical pendulous breasts; both arms in front of body, hands pulling at round vulva; legs splayed’ (Freitag 2004, 133-4). (Cooke 1875, 314; Weir 1980, 62) 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. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload/revision: 05 June 2012

• OF029-015001 Church
  Description

  Situated on a natural rise overlooking flat low-lying land with four holy wells (OF029-015004-/006-/007-/008-) to the N. In the NE quadrant of a polygonal-shaped graveyard (OF029-015002-) are the remains of two buildings of late 17th/early 18th century date. On the 1838 ed. OS 6-inch map a building anotated as 'Convent' and aligned N-S stands in the area where the ruins of two buildings aligned E-W now stand. On the revised 1908 ed. OS 25-inch map two seperate buildings aligned E-W are depicted running parallel to each other as can be seen in the graveyard today. It is not clear which one of these buildings was annotated on the 1838 ed. OS 6-inch map as the 'Convent' or whether both buildings formed one structure as depicted on the 1838 ed. OS 6-inch map. Described in 1837 as ‘an ancient church called All Saints (OF029-015001-), near which is a holy well (Lewis 1837, 471). In 1838 the Ordnance Survey Letters recorded that ‘the walls of a comparatively modern church stand in ruins in the south part of Garrycastle townland and at the northeast side of it are portions of ruined walls, apparently of more ancient date’ (O’Flanagan 1933 vol. 2, 4). In 1942 Oliver Davies described the ‘ruins of a comparatively modern church (OF029-015001-) nothing remaining except the walls and to the north east there are portions of walls which seem to be more ancient date. In the end of these ruins which is nearest the road, there is a small bush (OF029-015003-) which is covered with souvenirs and at the base of which there is a collection of broken statuettes. When the people used perform the stations here they used finish at this bush’ (ITA Survey 1942). Present remains consists of an ivy-covered building possibly the remains of a late 17th / early 18th century chapel (dims. 8.4m E-W; 6.1m E-W; wall T 0.6m) with second more ruinous structure immediately to the N which the Ordnance Survey Letters recorded as a srtucture 'of morer ancient date' (O’Flanagan 1933 vol. 2, 4). The better preserved ivy-covered building is in good condition with its walls survive to full height. There is a large flat headed rectangular window in the E gable and a simple flat headed doorway at the W end of the S wall that has been partialy rebuilt with concrete lintel inserted over doorway opening. The interior of this chapel or convent was reused as a burial vault in the early 20th-century, the remains of the McDonald family burial vault can be seen in the NE angle of the church. The second ivy-clad poorly preserved building (dims. N-S 4.6m; E-W 9.2m; wall T 0.6m) alinged on an E-W axis is located immediately to the N of the church and is in a ruinous condition with no architectural features visible. Inside this building are the memorials of 19th century date belonging to the Tiquin family. This poorly preserved structure probably belongs to the same period as the adjoining church based on similar wall thickness which is too narrow for a medieval date. The 'Convent' marked on the OS 6-inch map may have been a late 17th century / early 18th century chapel or house that was built for friars similar to the convent (OF024-001----) in the townland of Cully. A pile of stones in the graveyard to the SW of the church probably marks the site of the 'Vault' that is depicted on the 1838 ed. OS 6-inch map. 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. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 03 September 2013

• OF029-015002 Graveyard
  Description

  Situated on a natural rise overlooking flat low-lying land with four holy wells (OF029-015004-/006-/007-/008-) to the N. The present graveyard boundary encloses a larger area than that depicted on the 1838 ed. OS 6-inch map which shows the ‘Convent’ standing in the centre of a narrow polygonal shaped graveyard with vault to the SW. On this map there is no boundary wall between the stream and the holy wells located to the N of the ‘Convent’. Some time after this date a new larger graveyard boundary wall was constructed and this is the boundary wall that is depicted on the 1908 ed. OS 25-inch map. On the 1908 ed. OS 25-inch map the ‘Vault’ to the SW of the convent building is no longer depicted and the holy wells and stream are now located outside the boundary wall of the graveyard to the N. Four holy wells (OF029-015004-/006-/007-/008-) are depicted on the 1838 ed. OS 6-inch map where they are shown located immediately to the N of a stream running E-W which at that time was located inside the boundary of the graveyard. Present remains consist of a large polygonal-shaped graveyard (dims. c. 78m N-S; 63m E-W) contains the remains of two buildings (OF029-015001-) of late 17th/early 18th century appearance which are annotated as a 'Convent' on the 1838 ed. OS 6-inch map. The graveyard contains memorials of post-1700 date and contains a 19th century burial enclosure belonging to the Sherlock family running along the E side of the graveyard wall. The interior of the convent appears to have been converted into private burial areas of local families including the McDonald and the Tiquin families in the 19th and 20th centuries. The graveyard wall is post-1700 in date and has a well preserved coffin-stand and stone stile located at the N end of the E wall of the graveyard close to the NE angle. To the N of the coffin stand there is an iron gateway giving access to the interior of the graveyard. 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. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 04 September 2013

• OF029-015003 Ritual site - holy tree/bush
  Description

  Today there are no surface remains visible of a hawthorn bush located in graveyard (OF029-015002-) with votive offerings attached and broken statuettes at base of bush. In 1942 Oliver Davies described the ‘ruins of a comparatively modern church (OF029-015001-) nothing remaining except the walls and to the north east there are portions of walls which seem to be more ancient date. In the end of these ruins which is nearest the road, there is a small bush which is covered with souvenirs and at the base of which there is a collection of broken statuettes. When the people used perform the stations here they used finish at this bush’ (ITA Survey 1942). Today there are the remains of a small niche containing holy statues located in the base of the inner face of the E wall of the structure located immediately N of the church (OF029-015001-). The holy bush described by Davies in 1942 may have been located inside this structure and adjoining the niche containing the statues, this area was used as a family burial area for the Tiquin family from the 19th century to the present day. 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. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 04 September 2013

• OF029-015004 Ritual site - holy well
  Description

  One of six holy wells (OF029-015006-/007-/008-/009-/010-) recorded by the Ordnance Survey in 1838, only four of these six wells were depicted on the OS 6-inch maps. Today the precise location of this holy well cannot be identified on the ground, a thorn bush growing in a hollow depression along a ridge of rock outcrop located to the N of the stream may mark the site of the filled in holy well. One of four holy wells (OF029-015004-/006-/007-/008-) depicted on the 1838 ed. OS 6-inch map where they are shown located immediately to the N of a stream running E-W which at that time was located inside the boundary of the graveyard (OF029-015002-). One of the four holy wells on the 1838 ed. OS 6-inch map is annotated as ‘All Saints Well’. On the 1908 ed. OS 25-inch map this well is depicted as being located at E end of stream to the N of the church (OF029-015001-), today the remains of a destroyed concrete water pump house and a concrete pipe rising from the stream may mark the site of one of the holy wells. The identification of this well as 'All Saint's Well' does not appear to match up with the 1838 ed. OS 6-inch map and with the description of the well in the 1838 Ordnance Survey Letters. The location of this well was recorded in 1838 by the Ordnance Survey Letters as being ‘a short distance from the Church yard “All Saints Well”, Tobar na Naomh, lying at the foot of a large tree which inclines southwards; a few yards to the north of this well is Lady’s Well (OF029-015008-) and a few yards to the east of Lady Well are the small wells called Eye Wells (OF029-015006-/007-/009-/010-); they are three in number. (There were four, but one ran dry). These small wells are called eye wells and head wells, from the circumstances of their water being applied to sore eyes and used as a remedy for head-aches. A patron was held here on SS. Peter and Paul’s day (June 29) and on the Sunday previous to the 1st of August, but it has been discontinued these three years back’ (O’Flanagan 1933, vol. 2, 4). In order to obtain a cure for your headache the custom at All Saint's Well was for people to visit the well on three successive days (Logan 1980, 78). On the 25-inch map the Lady's Well is depicted to the W of 'All Saint's Well' which contradicts the 1838 OS Letters. The well marked on the 25-inch map as 'All Saint's Well appears to be one of the 'Eye Wells' depicted on the 1838 ed. OS 6-inch map. Based on the 1838 ed. OS 6-inch map and the description in the OS Letters, All Saint's Well was located at the W end of the stream in an area N of the pond feature depicted on the 25-inch OS map. Lady's Well (OF029-015008-) was located a few metres to the N of this well. The present graveyard boundary encloses a larger area than that depicted on the 1838 ed. OS 6-inch map which shows the ‘Convent’ standing in the centre of a narrow polygonal shaped graveyard with vault to the SW. On this map there is no boundary wall between the stream and holy wells located to the N of the ‘Convent’. Some time after this date a new larger graveyard boundary wall was constructed and this is the boundary wall that is depicted on the 1908 ed. OS 25-inch map. On the 1908 ed. OS 25-inch map the ‘Vault’ to the SW of the convent building is no longer depicted and the holy wells and stream are now located outside the boundary wall of the graveyard to the N. Described in 1837 as ‘an ancient church called All Saints (OF029-015001-), near which is a holy well (Lewis 1837, 471). 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. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 05 September 2013

• OF029-015006 Ritual site - holy well
  Description

  One of six holy wells (OF029-015004-/006-/007-/008-/009-/010-) depicted on the 1838 ed. OS 6-inch map where they are shown located immediately to the N of a stream running E-W which at that time was located inside the boundary of the graveyard (OF029-015002-). Two holy wells (OF029-015006-/007-) are depicted on the 1838 ed. OS 6-inch as ‘Eye Wells or Tobernasool’. According to the 1838 Ordnance Survey letters there were four 'Eye Wells' but at that time only three were visible as the fourth well had dried up by then. Only two eye wells are outlined on the 1838 ed. OS 6-inch map. One of these 'Eye Wells' appears to have been located at the E end of the stream adjoining a modern bridge over the stream. On the 1908 ed. OS 25-inch map this well is incorrectly annotated as 'All Saint's Well'. Today the remains of a destroyed concrete water pump house and a concrete pipe rising from the stream may mark the site of one of the 'Eye Wells'. The identification of this well as 'All Saint's Well' does not match up with the 1838 ed. OS 6-inch map and with the description of the well in the 1838 Ordnance Survey Letters. The location of these wells was recorded in 1838 by the Ordnance Survey Letters as being ‘a short distance from the Church yard “All Saints Well”, Tobar na Naomh (OF029-015004-), lying at the foot of a large tree which inclines southwards; a few yards to the north of this well is Lady’s Well (OF029-015008-) and a few yards to the east of Lady Well are the small wells called Eye Wells (OF029-015006-/007-/009-/010-); they are three in number. (There were four, but one ran dry). These small wells are called eye wells and head wells, from the circumstances of their water being applied to sore eyes and used as a remedy for head-aches. A patron was held here on SS. Peter and Paul’s day (June 29) and on the Sunday previous to the 1st of August, but it has been discontinued these three years back’ (O’Flanagan 1933, vol. 2, 4). In order to obtain a cure for your headache the custom at All Saint's Well was for people to visit the well on three successive days (Logan 1980, 78). 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. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 05 September 2013

• OF029-015007 Ritual site - holy well
  Description

  No surface remains visible of one of the holy wells depicted as 'Eye Wells' on current ed. OS 6-inch map. The precise location of this well has not been identified. One of six holy wells (OF029-015004-/006-/007-/008-/009/010-) depicted on the 1838 ed. OS 6-inch map where they are shown located immediately to the N of a stream running E-W which at that time was located inside the boundary of the graveyard (OF029-015002-). Two holy wells (OF029-015006-/007-) are depicted on the 1838 ed. OS 6-inch as ‘Eye Wells or Tobernasool’. According to the 1838 Ordnance Survey letters there were four 'Eye Wells' but at that time only three were visible as the fourth well had dried up by then. Only two eye wells are outlined on the 1838 ed. OS 6-inch map. One of these 'Eye Wells' appears to have been located at the E end of the stream adjoining a modern bridge over the stream. The second 'Eye Well' was located a short distance to the NW of this well. The location of these wells was recorded in 1838 by the Ordnance Survey Letters as being ‘a short distance from the Church yard “All Saints Well”, Tobar na Naomh (OF029-015004-), lying at the foot of a large tree which inclines southwards; a few yards to the north of this well is Lady’s Well (OF029-015008-) and a few yards to the east of Lady Well are the small wells called Eye Wells (OF029-015006-/007-/009-/010-); they are three in number. (There were four, but one ran dry). These small wells are called eye wells and head wells, from the circumstances of their water being applied to sore eyes and used as a remedy for head-aches. A patron was held here on SS. Peter and Paul’s day (June 29) and on the Sunday previous to the 1st of August, but it has been discontinued these three years back’ (O’Flanagan 1933, vol. 2, 4). In order to obtain a cure for your headache the custom at All Saint's Well was for people to visit the well on three successive days (Logan 1980, 78). 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. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 05 September 2013

• OF029-015008 Ritual site - holy well
  Description

  Lady's Well is one of six holy wells (OF029-015006-/007-/008-/009-/010-) recorded by the Ordnance Survey in 1838, only four of these six wells were depicted on the OS 6-inch maps. Today the precise location of this holy well cannot be identified on the ground, a slight hollow depression along a ridge of rock outcrop located to the NE of the stream may mark the site of the filled in holy well. One of four holy wells (OF029-015004-/006-/007-/008-) depicted on the 1838 ed. OS 6-inch map where they are shown located immediately to the N of a stream running E-W which at that time was located inside the boundary of the graveyard (OF029-015002-). One of the four holy wells on the 1838 ed. OS 6-inch map is annotated as ‘Lady's Well’. The location of this well was recorded in 1838 by the Ordnance Survey Letters as being ‘a short distance from the Church yard “All Saints Well”, Tobar na Naomh (OF029-015004-), lying at the foot of a large tree which inclines southwards; a few yards to the north of this well is Lady’s Well and a few yards to the east of Lady Well are the small wells called Eye Wells (OF029-015006-/007-/009-/010-); they are three in number. (There were four, but one ran dry). These small wells are called eye wells and head wells, from the circumstances of their water being applied to sore eyes and used as a remedy for head-aches. A patron was held here on SS. Peter and Paul’s day (June 29) and on the Sunday previous to the 1st of August, but it has been discontinued these three years back’ (O’Flanagan 1933, vol. 2, 4). In order to obtain a cure for your headache the custom at All Saint's Well was for people to visit the well on three successive days (Logan 1980, 78). 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. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 05 September 2013

Architectural heritage

• Castle Garden House, country house, 1810–1850 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached five-bay two-storey over half basement country house, built c.1830, with return to rear. Half-hipped roof with terracotta ridge tiles, rendered chimneystacks and some cast-iron rainwater goods. Roughcast rendered walls and limestone eaves course. Square-headed window openings with limestone sills and timber sash windows. Segmental-headed door opening with timber panelled door, petal fanlight and sidelights. Single- and two-storey outbuildings to rear yard. Plinth wall to south of house with limestone coping and wrought-iron railings. Square-profile limestone supporting wrought-iron double gates and flanked by wrought-iron railings on a limestone plinth wall.

Designated sites: National Parks and Wildlife Service. Recorded monuments: Sites and Monuments Record, National Monuments Service. Buildings: National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Works at or in relation to a recorded monument need two months' written notice to the National Monuments Service (National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994, section 12).

Radon

About 1 in 10 homes in this area is likely to have high radon levels. Testing a home

Landslides

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

Terrain model

No LiDAR survey of the Office of Public Works covers the centre of the townland of Garrycastle.

Flooding

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

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

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

Name

Garrycastle · Garraí an Chaisleáin

Area

3,629,526 m² (362.95 ha, 896.88 acres)

Civil parish

Reynagh, and its townlands

Barony

Garrycastle

Electoral division

Banagher, the unit of the census

Census 2022

Banagher electoral division: 2,215 people in 802 households; 65% of households own their home; 32% of homes were built since 2001; 9% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 2% were holiday homes.

Neighbouring townlands

Blackbull, Boolakeel, Claremount, Feeghroe or Mountcarteret, Feeghs, Kilnaglinny, Lecarrow Glebe or Britannia, Macnahanny or Ashgrove, Macnahanny or Fulough, Milltown

Placenames

Garrycastle 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.