High Street, Birr

Area

85 m²

Buildings

3 buildings touch it, 521 m² on the ground

Zoning

M1 Town Centre/Mixed Use (Birr Local Area Plan 2023-2029) The objective

Townland

Townparks

Planning applications on this parcel

• 10 Nov 2022Conditional

  THE CHANGE OF USE FROM EXISTING USE TO DENTAL SURGERY TOGETHER WITH ALL ASSOCIATED SIGNAGE AND SITE WORKS

  Permission · Offaly County Council, 22580

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 17 recorded monuments.

• OF035-012 Historic town
  Description

  Birr is situated in the low-lying fertile valley of the Little Brosna River. The town developed SE of the castle (OF035-012004-) and within the bounds of a pronounced meander in the River Camcor. The Camcor joins the Little Brosna to NW of the town. St Brendan reputedly established a monastery (OF035-012001/003-) here in the 6th century which subsequently became a prestigious and influential foundation and one of the most celebrated members of St Columcille's great federation of churches. Located in the border area between the provinces of Munster, Meath, Leinster and Connacht and itself located in the territory of Eile in Munster, the monastic settlement was frequently chosen as a venue for the meetings of both kings and churchmen, perhaps the most significant of which were the synods of AD 697 and 1174. An Anglo-Norman castle (OF035-012009-) and settlement had been established at Birr by 1207 and continued at least until c. 1315. By the mid-14th century the settlement had reverted to the O'Carrolls of Ely. The 'Black Castle' (OF035-012010) became one of the principal seats of the ruling branch of that dynasty and remained as such until its sale to Butler of Ormond in 1594. In 1621 as part of the Plantation of Ely O'Carroll, Laurence Parsons was granted the lands, 'castle and fortilage' of Birr which became the manor of Parsonstown and a new castle (OF035-012004-) was erected by the Parsons family. It was from this time and under Laurence Parsons' direction that Birr began to develop as a true town. In 1621 he obtained a grant of a Tuesady market and two annual fairs, to which were added a Saturday market and two more fairs in 1627. He rigorously imposed a number of bye laws in 1626-7 for the paving and cleaning of the town, for the erection of chimneys and the regulation of drinking houses. Such was the steady pace of its development and its pleasing appearance that by 1633, John Bramhall, writing to Lord Deputy Thomas Wentworth, declared that Parsonstown 'is the only town that I have found yet in all my journey fit to accommodate a traveller, having trademsen in it of all kinds' (Loeber 1988). Although virtually razed by the Confederate forces in 1642, the town recovered after the Restoration and by 1672 it had been established as a borough, returning two members to Parliament. A map of Birr made by Michael Richards in 1691 indicates that the town was esentially linear in plan, a layout which is preserved in Main St. with a subtriangular market place with a market house (OF035-012018) at the S end near the bridge (OF035-012006-). Castle St. is shown running off the Market Square with Mill Lane, Shamble Lane and Fayle's Lane leading off Maint St. to E and W. Richards also shows town defences (OF035-012007-) on his plan, the N wall running from William St. to the junction of Emmet St. the present day Spinner's Lane marking its original line. The Square was fortified with two bastions one of which possibly stood at the N end of Spinner's Lane and the other at the point where Emmet St. meets the Square. At this bastion the town wall turned S terminating on this side at a rectangular tower lying between Chapel Lane and the mill race. Ot has been suggested that portion of the town wall defences at SE are incorporated into the fabric of a later wall running from the SE end of Brendan St. towards the Manor Saw Mill. The southern defences followed the line of what is now Mill Lane. Moving W of the river, there was an additional stretch of walling which terminated in yet another bastion. With the castle (OF035-012004-) and the church (OF035-012001-) positioned in this quarter of the town and their need for protection, the western defences were reinforced with earthen embankments. Aside from the castle and church which are described elsewhere in this volume, 17th century records note additional monuments at Birr. There was a masonry bridge (OF035-012006-) crossing the River Camcor as early as 1626 which was replaced by the present structure of mid-18th century origin, and according to Cooke (1875, 45) there was a second 17th-century bridge (OF035-012014) near the castle in the vicinity of St Brendan's holy well (OF035-012005-). There was also a market cross (OF035-012015) in the town which was erected in c. 1625, a tuck mill (OF035-012017), two grist mills, five watermills (OF035-012011) and as early as 1626 a Free School (OF035-012016). A gaol (OF035-012012) is marked on Richard's plan of 1691. The survival of 17th-century domestic houses in the town is difficult to ascertain fully because the present buildings in what were the principal residential areas of the town in 1691 - Main St. and Market Square have been altered and rendered. However, several of these narrow three-storey houses are esentially 17th-century buildings, their facades added later in the 18th century. Two positively identified 17th-century which are characteristically stone-built narrow and with pitched roofs and one which carries a date of 1679 (OF035-012013), occur on the corner of Market Square and Brendan St. Another four houses, two immediately N of the above, one of which was refurbished c. 1780 by Samuel Abbot and the others on Fayle's Lane and Church Lane, may also be included. (Cooke 1875, 37-88, Bradley 1986, 20-29; Loeber Survey 1988). Dominic Delany (Excavations 1997, No. 445, 97E0352) carried out test excavations almost directly opposite the current development site, on the eastern side of Main Street, prior to the extension of the supermarket at this location. Four test-trenches were excavated. No features or finds of definite medieval date were uncovered. A possible paving layer was revealed in Trench 4, probably post-medieval. When taken in conjunction with the findings from across the road (Excavations 1997, No. 445), the paving layer is probably of 18th-century date. At the time of testing, the formation levels of the construction had not been finalised. Test-trenching was undertaken in 1999 by John Tierney under licence no. 99E0758 at the request of the client in order to satisfy planning requirements prior to development. This derelict site, lying within Birr's zone of archaeological potential, was fronted by the façades of a number of houses. Documentary research demonstrated that Church Street had been occupied by standing houses since at least the 17th century while also suggesting that the route may have been a relict of the early medieval enclosure of St Brendan's ecclesiastical settlement. On this site the client wished to construct three townhouses while retaining the façades of the original structures. The maximum depth of construction activity was 0.6m, while the ground level was to be raised by 0.1m. Four test-trenches were opened to a depth of 0.8m. These were located in the north-west and north-east corners, on a north-south axis, and along the southern foundation line. The deposits uncovered in these trenches were modern, and to this extent development would not have had a negative impact on any archaeological deposits. A test excavation was carried out in 2000 by Kenneth Wiggins under licence no. 00E0228 at Chapel Street on a small site where the construction of a terrace of three townhouses was proposed. Two trial cuttings were mechanically excavated on 14 April 2000. The excavation revealed two walls relating to 19th-century cottages that formerly occupied the site, but no archaeological features pre-dating this period were uncovered. Rubble derived from the demolition of the cottages was present on the site, and there was much artefactual material of modern origin in this debris. An assessment was carried out under licence no, 02E0322 at 23 Main Street, Birr, Co. Offaly. Three trenches were excavated: Trench 1 in the ground floor of the shop, and Trenches 2 and 3 in the yard to the rear. Trench 1 was excavated by hand in the middle of the shop floor. It measured 1m by 1m and was dug to a maximum depth of 0.5m. The floor of pine square-cut plank

• OF035-012001 Church
  Description

  Ancient monastic site founded by St. Brendan in the seventh century associated with the illuminated manuscript known as the 'Gospels of Mac Regol' now housed in the Bodleian Library, Oxford (Bradley 1986, 20). Present remains consist of a poorly preserved remains of multiperiod square shaped church (ext. dims. 16.65m N-S; 16.95m E-W; wall T 0.7m) built with roughly coursed limestone with large sandstone quoin stones with 17th-century tower (ext. dims. 6.6m E-W; 6.5m N-S; wall T 1.7m) three storeys high added to the S end of W wall. All floors were wooden carried in the thickness of the wall with evidence of internal wooden stairs. The top of the tower has crenellated battlements with round arched entrance at ground floor level on N, S and W walls with flat headed door between church and tower. Coat of arms over W door of tower with small round headed windows at first floor level and twin light round headed windows at second floor level. The church was originally a small rectangular building (int. dims. 7.7m N-S; 15.5m E-W) with large pointed two centred single light windows of sandstone jambs with hood moulding over of possible late 13th/early 14th-century date. In the late medieval period the N wall was moved further N creating a large square shaped church with double gable roof which would have been supported by columns where the two roofs met. The N roof is lower than the S roof which would have given the church a lopsided appearance. Large flat headed door inserted in W wall at N end with two blocked windows at W end of S wall with late 18th/19th-century mortuary structure added to the centre of the S wall. Poorly preserved square shaped aumbry under E window of S gable. Probable late 13th/14th-century church built on site of ancient monastery which was later extended and fortified in the 17th-century. (Cooke 1875, 21-58; O' Flanagan 1933, vol. 2, 70-4) Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien. Date of upload: 23 May 2011

• OF035-012002 Graveyard
  Description

  Birr is situated in the low-lying fertile valley of the Little Brosna River. The town (OF035-012----) developed SE of the castle (OF035-012004-) and within the bounds of a pronounced meander in the River Camcor. The Camcor joins the Little Brosna to NW of the town. St Brendan reputedly established a monastery (OF035-012001/003-) here in the 6th century which subsequently became a prestigious and influential foundation and one of the most celebrated members of St Columcille's great federation of churches. Located in the border area between the provinces of Munster, Meath, Leinster and Connacht and itself located in the territory of Eile in Munster, the monastic settlement was frequently chosen as a venue for the meetings of both kings and churchmen, perhaps the most significant of which were the synods of AD 697 and 1174. Present remains consist of a poorly preserved remains of multiperiod square shaped church (OF035-012001-) built with roughly coursed limestone with large sandstone quoin stones with 17th-century tower three storeys high added to the S end of W wall which is located in centre of a large irregular shaped graveyard containing 18th and 19th century memorials. Excavations undertaken to the rear of 24-26 Main Street, by Daniel Noonan on behalf of the Archaeology Company under licence no. 03E0432 revealed the skeletal remains of three human burials orientated on a N-S axis and located 13m to the E of the boundary wall of St Brendans graveyard. Two separate pits and the remains of a potential ditch were also found close to the external face of the E wall of the graveyard. These burials may be associated with the medieval graveyard which may extend beyond the graveyard boundary wall especially to the E. (Noonan, D. 2003, Archaeological Assessment at 24-26 Main Street, Birr. Unpublished excavation report by the Archaeology Company) An archaeological assessment under licence no. 03E0432 of the proposed redevelopment of 24-26 Main Street, Birr, was carried out in April 2003 as part of the grant of planning permission. The three properties had been amalgamated some time in the 19th century into one long, rectangular property, running from the Main Street on the east side to the boundary of St Brendan's Church and graveyard at the west. The eastern two-thirds of the site is covered with buildings of 18th- and 19th-century date. The western third is an open garden area, up to the western boundary wall with St Brendan's. The redevelopment involves the demolition of all standing structures apart from one, and the construction of six retail units and six apartments. A 10m wayleave from the western boundary wall is to be left undeveloped. Six machine-excavated trenches were dug in the lanes and yards formed by the various ranges of buildings of the three former properties. The results from all trenches were consistent, showing that the earliest activity in this part of the site was 18th-century in date. Two phases of cobble surfaces were found, with an intermediate make-up layer of rubble and silty clay containing 19th-century pottery and brick fragments. The lower cobble layer was intermittently on top of thin dark-brown silty clay, which may have been a buried soil horizon. However, it was generally sitting on top of greenish-grey sandy clay natural. This change in yard surfaces probably represents the amalgamation of the properties some time in the 19th century and the creation of a uniform ground level throughout. A single building, Building A, retains the original ground level associated with the earlier cobbling. Architecturally, this building's thin walls, shallow roof pitch and symmetrical window and door layout, together with its significance as being the earliest recognisable structure in the sequencing of the buildings on-site, suggests that it is of 18th-century date and that the cobbling, by association, is of a similar age. A stone-lined well at the east end of the main yard, external to the buildings, was also uncovered. It is probable that the well is contemporary with the structures. No finds or features of archaeological significance were uncovered during the testing of the built-up area. A further five machine-excavated trenches were dug to assess the potential of the garden area. Testing revealed the existence of significant archaeological material, including the remains of three individuals, towards the western end. Two separate pits with signs of oxidisation and a potential ditch were also found. All of this material appears to be confined to an area that extends c. 13m from the western boundary wall, which is common with St Brendan's graveyard. A variation in subsoil towards the west side of the garden also corresponds with this area. The sediment sequence at the east end of the garden, towards the built-up area, was clear-cut, with topsoil coming straight onto natural. The garden soil contained occasional broken 19th-century ceramic pieces, including Denby jars and locally produced clay pipes. In the west side of the garden, within the 13m area, the topsoil was on top of mid-brown silty clay, which in turn lay on natural. It appears that a substantial amount of topsoil was imported onto the site during the 18th/19th centuries, especially in the east side, to bring the garden to the level it is at today. The variation in subsoil at the west end may be an earlier, surviving surface associated with the burials, which, because of their proximity to the medieval church and graveyard of St Brendan's, are of probable medieval date. The western boundary wall is probably a product of the laying out of this part of Birr in the 18th to 19th centuries and does not correspond to the original extents of the churchyard. Therefore, it is possible that the archaeological activity within the 13m area of the western wall is a surviving part of the medieval townscape, earlier than the 17th-century redevelopment of the town by the Earls of Rosse. The discovery of human remains outside the current boundary wall suggests that the church precinct was originally larger than it is today. Daniel Noonan, The Archaeology Company, Birr Technology Centre, Mill Island, Birr, Co. Offaly. An assessment of the proposed redevelopment of 24-26 Main Street, Birr, was carried out in April 2003 as part of the grant of planning permission. The three properties had been amalgamated some time in the 19th century into the one property. The property is long and rectangular, running from Main Street on the east side to the boundary of St Brendan's Church and graveyard (SMR 35:12) at the west. The eastern two-thirds of the site is covered with buildings of 18th- and 19th-century date. The western third is an open garden area, up to the western boundary wall with St Brendan's. The redevelopment involves the demolition of all standing structures, apart from one, and the construction of six retail units and six apartments. A 10m wayleave from the western boundary wall is to be left undeveloped. Six machine-excavated trenches were dug by Ellen O'Carroll of the Archaeology Company under licence no. 04E1279 in the lanes and yards formed by the various ranges of buildings of the three former properties on Main St.. The results from all six were consistent, showing that the earliest activity in this part of the site was 18th-century in date. Two phases of cobble surfaces were found, with an intermediate make-up layer of rubble and silty clay containing 19th-century pottery and brick fragments. The lower cobble layer was intermittently on top of thin dark-brown silty clay, which may have been a buried soil horizon. However, it was generally sitting on top of greenish-grey sandy clay natural. This change in yard surfaces probably represents the amalgamation of the properties sometime in the 19th century and the creation of a uniform ground level throughout. A single building, Building A, retains the original ground level associated with the earlier cobbling. Architecturally, this

• OF035-012003 Ecclesiastical site
  Description

  Birr is situated in the low-lying fertile valley of the Little Brosna River. The town (OF035-012----) developed SE of the castle (OF035-012004-) and within the bounds of a pronounced meander in the River Camcor. The Camcor joins the Little Brosna to NW of the town. St Brendan reputedly established a monastery here in the 6th century which subsequently became a prestigious and influential foundation and one of the most celebrated members of St Columcille's great federation of churches. Ancient monastic site founded by St. Brendan in the seventh century associated with the illuminated manuscript known as the 'Gospels of Mac Regol' now housed in the Bodleian Library, Oxford (Bradley 1986, 20). Located in the border area between the provinces of Munster, Meath, Leinster and Connacht and itself located in the territory of Eile in Munster, the monastic settlement was frequently chosen as a venue for the meetings of both kings and churchmen, perhaps the most significant of which were the synods of AD 697 and 1174. Present remains consist of a poorly preserved remains of multiperiod square shaped church (OF035-012001-) built with roughly coursed limestone with large sandstone quoin stones with 17th-century tower three storeys high added to the S end of W wall which is located in centre of a large irregular shaped graveyard containing 18th and 19th century memorials. The church (OF035-012001-) and graveyard (OF035-012002-) were possibly built on the site of the ancient monastery of Birr. Six machine-excavated trenches were dug by Ellen O'Carroll of the Archaeology Company under licence no. 04E1279 in the lanes and yards formed by the various ranges of buildings of the three former properties on Main St.. The results from all six were consistent, showing that the earliest activity in this part of the site was 18th-century in date. Two phases of cobble surfaces were found, with an intermediate make-up layer of rubble and silty clay containing 19th-century pottery and brick fragments. The lower cobble layer was intermittently on top of thin dark-brown silty clay, which may have been a buried soil horizon. However, it was generally sitting on top of greenish-grey sandy clay natural. This change in yard surfaces probably represents the amalgamation of the properties sometime in the 19th century and the creation of a uniform ground level throughout. A single building, Building A, retains the original ground level associated with the earlier cobbling. Architecturally, this building's thin walls, shallow roof pitch, symmetrical window and door layout, together with its significance as being the earliest recognisable structure in the sequencing of the buildings on site, suggests that it is of 18th-century date and that the cobbling, by association, is of a similar age. A stone-lined well at the east end of the main yard, outside the buildings, was also uncovered. It is probable that the well is contemporary with the structures. No finds or features of archaeological significance were uncovered during the testing of the built-up area. A further five machine-excavated trenches were dug to assess the potential of the garden area. Testing revealed the existence of significant archaeological material, including three burials, towards the western end. Two separate pits with signs of oxidisation and a potential ditch were also found. All of this material appears to be confined to an area that extends c. 13m from the western boundary wall, which is common to St Brendan's graveyard. A variation in subsoil towards the west side of the garden also corresponds with this area. The sediment sequence at the east end of the garden towards the built-up area was clear-cut, with topsoil coming straight onto natural. The garden soil contained occasional broken 19th-century ceramic pieces, including Denby jars and locally produced clay pipes. In the west side of the garden, within the 13m area, the topsoil was on top of mid-brown silty clay, which in turn was on natural. It appears that a substantial amount of topsoil was imported onto site during the 18th/19th centuries, especially in the east side, to bring the garden to the level it is at today. The variation in subsoil in the west end may be an earlier surviving surface associated with the burials, which, because of their proximity to the medieval church and graveyard of St Brendan's, are of probable medieval date. The western boundary wall is probably a product of the laying out of this part of Birr in the 18th to 19th centuries and does not correspond to the original extents of the churchyard. Therefore, it is possible that the archaeological activity within the 13m area of the western wall is a surviving part of the medieval townscape of Birr that is earlier than the 17th-century redevelopment of the town by the Earls of Rosse. The discovery of human remains outside the current boundary wall suggests that the church precinct was originally larger than it is today. Ellen O'Carroll, The Archaeology Company, 17 Castle Street, Dalkey, Co. Dublin. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien. Date of revision: 23 April 2009

• OF035-012004 Castle - unclassified
  Description

  Birr is situated in the low-lying fertile valley of the Little Brosna River. The town developed SE of the castle (OF035-012004-) and within the bounds of a pronounced meander in the River Camcor. The Camcor joins the Little Brosna to NW of the town. St Brendan reputedly established a monastery (OF035-012001-/003-) here in the 6th century which subsequently became a prestigious and influential foundation and one of the most celebrated members of St Columcille's great federation of churches. Located in the border area between the provinces of Munster, Meath, Leinster and Connacht and itself located in the territory of Eile in Munster, the monastic settlement was frequently chosen as a venue for the meetings of both kings and churchmen, perhaps the most significant of which were the synods of AD 697 and 1174. An Anglo-Norman castle (OF035-012009-) and settlement had been established at Birr by 1207 and continued at least until c. 1315. By the mid-14th century the settlement had reverted to the O'Carrolls of Ely. The 'Black Castle' (OF035-012010-) became one of the principal seats of the ruling branch of that dynasty and remained as such until its sale to Butler of Ormond in 1594. In 1621 as part of the Plantation of Ely O'Carroll, Laurence Parsons was granted the lands, 'castle and fortilage' of Birr which became the manor of Parsonstown and a new castle was erected by the Parsons family. Present remains consist of 19th-century castle designed by John Johnson built around the core of a 17th century castle, near to the site of a 13th-century O'Carroll castle (OF035-012010-) and a twelfth century motte castle (OF035-012009-). Earliest references to a castle located here in the 1207 (Annals of Clonmacnoise) when it was attacked and destroyed by Murchad Ua Briain. Black castle was demolished in 1778 (Girouard 1965) and replaced by lawns and parkland. Only surviving 17th-century feature is the internal staircase made of yew with bold turned balusters which rises through three storeys of the house (Bradley et. al. 1986, 26). Gatehouse with two round flanking towers were built or rebuilt between 1620-1627 by Sir Laurence Parsons (Bence-Jones 1978, 41). A drawing by Dorothy Parsons of Birr castle in 1668 depicts the house as a three storey five bay triple gable fronted house with tall Jacobean Chimney stacks with two bay three storey gable fronted L-shaped wings with dormer windows attached to the rear wall either side of the main block. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien. Date of upload: 23 May 2011

• OF035-012005 Ritual site - holy well
  Description

  Birr is situated in the low-lying fertile valley of the Little Brosna River. The town developed SE of the castle (OF035-012004-) and within the bounds of a pronounced meander in the River Camcor. The Camcor joins the Little Brosna to NW of the town. St Brendan reputedly established a monastery (OF035-012001/003-) here in the 6th century which subsequently became a prestigious and influential foundation and one of the most celebrated members of St Columcille's great federation of churches. Located in the border area between the provinces of Munster, Meath, Leinster and Connacht and itself located in the territory of Eile in Munster, the monastic settlement was frequently chosen as a venue for the meetings of both kings and churchmen, perhaps the most significant of which were the synods of AD 697 and 1174. St Brendan's holy well consists of a natural spring well situated on the grounds of Birr Castle enclosed within a modern stone canopy close to the Camcor River, church (OF035-012001-) and graveyard (OF035-012002-) located. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien. Date of upload: 23 May 2011

• OF035-012006 Bridge
  Description

  Birr is situated in the low-lying fertile valley of the Little Brosna River. The town developed SE of the castle (OF035-012004-) and within the bounds of a pronounced meander in the River Camcor. The Camcor joins the Little Brosna to NW of the town. St Brendan reputedly established a monastery (OF035-012001-/003-) here in the 6th century which subsequently became a prestigious and influential foundation and one of the most celebrated members of St Columcille's great federation of churches. Located in the border area between the provinces of Munster, Meath, Leinster and Connacht and itself located in the territory of Eile in Munster, the monastic settlement was frequently chosen as a venue for the meetings of both kings and churchmen, perhaps the most significant of which were the synods of AD 697 and 1174. An Anglo-Norman castle (OF035-012009-) and settlement had been established at Birr by 1207 and continued at least until c. 1315. By the mid-14th century the settlement had reverted to the O'Carrolls of Ely. The 'Black Castle' (OF035-012010-) became one of the principal seats of the ruling branch of that dynasty and remained as such until its sale to Butler of Ormond in 1594. In 1621 as part of the Plantation of Ely O'Carroll, Laurence Parsons was granted the lands, 'castle and fortilage' of Birr which became the manor of Parsonstown and a new castle (OF035-012004-) was erected by the Parsons family. It was from this time and under Laurence Parsons' direction that Birr began to develop as a true town. A map of Birr made by Michael Richards in 1691 indicates that the town was esentially linear in plan, a layout which is preserved in Main St. with a subtriangular market place at the S end near the bridge. There was a masonry bridge at the S end of the town crossing the River Camcor as early as 1626 which was replaced by the present structure of mid-18th century origin, and according to Cooke (1875, 45) there was a second 17th-century bridge near the castle in the vicinity of St Brendan's holy well (OF035-012005-). The present Bridge at the S end of the town is a multi-period structure which has been widened several times. The core of this bridge may be the 17th century bridge that is mentioned in 1626. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien. Date of upload: 23 May 2011

• OF035-012007 Town defences
  Description

  Birr is situated in the low-lying fertile valley of the Little Brosna River. The town developed SE of the castle (OF035-012004-) and within the bounds of a pronounced meander in the River Camcor. The Camcor joins the Little Brosna to NW of the town. St Brendan reputedly established a monastery (OF035-012001/003-) here in the 6th century which subsequently became a prestigious and influential foundation and one of the most celebrated members of St Columcille's great federation of churches. Located in the border area between the provinces of Munster, Meath, Leinster and Connacht and itself located in the territory of Eile in Munster, the monastic settlement was frequently chosen as a venue for the meetings of both kings and churchmen, perhaps the most significant of which were the synods of AD 697 and 1174. An Anglo-Norman castle (OF035-012009-) and settlement had been established at Birr by 1207 and continued at least until c. 1315. By the mid-14th century the settlement had reverted to the O'Carrolls of Ely. The 'Black Castle' (OF035-012010) became one of the principal seats of the ruling branch of that dynasty and remained as such until its sale to Butler of Ormond in 1594. In 1621 as part of the Plantation of Ely O'Carroll, Laurence Parsons was granted the lands, 'castle and fortilage' of Birr which became the manor of Parsonstown and a new castle (OF035-012004-) was erected by the Parsons family. It was from this time and under Laurence Parsons' direction that Birr began to develop as a true town. A map of Birr made by Michael Richards in 1691 indicates that the town was esentially linear in plan, a layout which is preserved in Main St. with a subtriangular market place at the S end near the bridge. Richards also shows town defences (OF035-012007-) on his plan, the N wall running from William St. to the junction of Emmet St. the present day Spinner's Lane marking its original line. The Square was fortified with two bastions one of which possibly stood at the N end of Spinner's Lane and the other at the point where Emmet St. meets the Square. At this bastion the town wall turned S terminating on this side at a rectangular tower lying between Chapel Lane and the mill race. Ot has been suggested that portion of the town wall defences at SE are incorporated into the fabric of a later wall running from the SE end of Brendan St. towards the Manor Saw Mill. The southern defences followed the line of what is now Mill Lane. Moving W of the river, there was an additional stretch of walling which terminated in yet another bastion. With the castle (OF035-012004-) and the church (OF035-012001-) positioned in this quarter of the town and their need for protection, the western defences were reinforced with earthen embankments. These earthen embankments are marked on a 1691 map of the town drawn by Michael Richards as 'Cromwell's old Intrenchment'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien. Date of upload: 23 May 2011

• OF035-012008 Sheela-na-gig
  Description

  Found in the Birr area and now housed in the National Museum (Coll. 1956:14; Cherry 1992, 6). Interesting and unusual Sheela-na-gig which is carved in relief on the underside of a large hammer dressed limestone corbel (0.3m x 0.24m x 0.42m). The figure consists of a poorly preserved pear shaped face which is carved on the upward sloping part of the corbel with a small round body with bow shaped arms pulling vulva apart, which is represented by a small circular hole. There are two small circular breasts one between each arm. The head is the dominant part of the figure being carved in high relief and placed on the most visible part of the corbel. The rest of the body is carved in lower relief and is placed on the lower underside of the corbel. May have originally come from the medieval church (OF035-012001-) in the town of Birr. Described by Freitag as a ‘figure carved on curved underside of oblong stone (dims. H -0.53m; Wth 0.3m) which might be a broken-off corbel; quite weathered. Large (now) featureless head on elongated thick neck. Thin bent arms with small round breasts under armpits. Both well shaped hands in front of body, pointing to vulva whose irregular shape looks torn. Lower part of sculpture appears to have been deliberately damaged. Legs no longer traceable’ (Freitag 2004,125). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien. Date of upload: 05 June 2012

• OF035-012009 Castle - motte
  Description

  Birr is situated in the low-lying fertile valley of the Little Brosna River. The town developed SE of the castle (OF035-012004-) and within the bounds of a pronounced meander in the River Camcor. The Camcor joins the Little Brosna to NW of the town. St Brendan reputedly established a monastery (OF035-012001-/003-) here in the 6th century which subsequently became a prestigious and influential foundation and one of the most celebrated members of St Columcille's great federation of churches. Located in the border area between the provinces of Munster, Meath, Leinster and Connacht and itself located in the territory of Eile in Munster, the monastic settlement was frequently chosen as a venue for the meetings of both kings and churchmen, perhaps the most significant of which were the synods of AD 697 and 1174. An Anglo-Norman castle (OF035-012009-) and settlement had been established at Birr by 1207 and continued at least until c. 1315. By the mid-14th century the settlement had reverted to the O'Carrolls of Ely. The 'Black Castle' (OF035-012010-) became one of the principal seats of the ruling branch of that dynasty and remained as such until its sale to Butler of Ormond in 1594. In 1621 as part of the Plantation of Ely O'Carroll, Laurence Parsons was granted the lands, 'castle and fortilage' of Birr which became the manor of Parsonstown and a new castle (OF035-012004-) was erected by the Parsons family. The O'Carroll Castle known as 'The Black Castle' may have been built on top of the Anglo-Norman motte both of which were pulled down and levelled in the 18th century by the residents of Birr Castle. Black castle was demolished in 1778 (Girouard 1965) and replaced by lawns and parkland. No surface remains visible of the Black Castle and there are only the slightest remains of the levelled motte in an area overlooking the Camcor River to the W of Birr Castle which is the residence of the Parsons family. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien. Date of upload: 23 May 2011

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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).

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