Knockanour

Area

87,364 m² (8.74 ha, 21.59 acres)

Buildings

5 buildings touch it. Their footprint covers 571 m².

Zoning

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

Townland

Knockanour

Planning applications on this parcel

• 10 Jun 2025Conditional

  planning permission for the installation of a proposed foul water pumping station, rising main, and all other associated site development works above and below ground level and all other development works as set out in the planning application documentation. All services connections are to existing services on the public road. All of the above is proposed at Horkans Garden Centre, Turlough Rd, Turlough (Turlach) TD. and Knockanour TD., Castlebar, Co. Mayo.

  Permission · Mayo County Council, 2560364

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 9 recorded monuments.

• MA070-143 Ringfort - rath
  Description

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

• MA070-144001 Religious house - unclassified
  Description

  In a graveyard (MA088-144008-) prominently sited on the top of a small hill. The church and adjacent round tower (MA088-144002-) occupy almost the full available space on the hill summit, and immediately to E and S a steep long slope falls to the Castlebar River. The location provides extensive views SE−S over the river valley and surrounding rolling pastureland. It is overlooked to N by a higher ridge, on top of which is a rath (MA070-143----) located 80m to NW. There is a holy well (MA070-145----) 75m to NNE. This church is indicated as ‘Abbey in Ruins’ on the 1838 and 1920 OS 6-inch maps. It stands on the site of an early medieval monastery, which, according to tradition, was founded by St. Patrick; it was under the jurisdiction of the archbishopric of Armagh until at least the early 13th century (Gwynne and Hadcock 1970, 408). The Annals of Loch Cé record that it was plundered in 1236 by MacWilliam (Burke) (Hennessy 1871). The round tower is the only structure to survive from the early medieval period. The present roofless church is late in date: While it may retain remnants of a medieval church in its masonry fabric, it appears to be largely 17th-century in date, with evidence of refurbishment/restoration in the 18th and 19th-centuries. It is a National Monument in state ownership (No. 100). The building (int. 19.2m E−W; 7m N−S), constructed of roughly coursed mortared rubble, is cruciform in plan. The entrance is in the centre of the W wall, opening into the nave, and a semicircular apse at the E end defines the chancel. Three tall round-arched windows grace the apse, and three similar windows light the nave, two in the N wall one and one at the W end of the S wall; these windows appear to have been inserted in the 18th-century or early 19th century. The N and S transepts, which are accessed through broad round-arched openings, are lit by 17th-century mullioned windows. A plain arch (Wth 2.53m; H 2.6m; D 0.86m) opens into the N transept (4.8m E−W; c. 6m N−S). At ground floor level there are two square mullioned windows: the four-light window in the centre of the E wall is intact and has a square hood-moulding on its exterior; the window in the centre of the N wall is now missing its mullion. The upper storey has two flat-lintelled rectangular windows in the E wall and one at the S end of the W wall. The S transept archway (Wth 2.84m; H 2.66m; D 0.96m) has a moulded surround, with punch dressing on the inner face; it is now fitted with an iron gate, and access to the transept is not possible. The upper storey is lit by a pair of square windows in the E wall, and a matching pair in the W wall. At ground floor level, there is a round-arched window in the S wall. In the centre of the W wall is an intact late 16th-or early17th-century four-light mullioned window, with heavily punch-dresses cut limestone frame, topped on the exterior by square hood-moulding with stepped ends. A triangular-shaped stone crowns the centre of the hood moulding. The two stones flanking either side of the stepped ends of the hood-moulding are each ornamented with a small decorative roundel, with a central rosette and a segmented outer ring. There are four tombs in the S transept. A table tomb stands against the S wall beneath the window. A table tomb and two box tombs stand on a low rectangular platform or plinth, which spans the E−W width of the transept; one of the box tombs is located at the E end of the plinth and is inserted into a shallow recess in the E wall of the transept. The flat arch of this recess is formed of four rows of contiguously-set punch-dressed limestone blocks. The punch dressing is 17th-centry in style, featuring diagonal crosses, and triangular and lozenge-shaped patterns. The stones are not of uniform size and appear rather haphazardly mortared in place; they were most likely salvaged from another building and reused here. To E of this large recess, a fragment of an inscribed graveslslab (MA088-144003-) is displayed in a shallow square recess in the wall. A polygonal cut-stone stoup projects from the N wall of the transept, immediately to E of the archway. It has central circular hollow to hold the holy water, and a faceted sloping base. It is likely to be late 16th- or 17th-century in date. The interior of the church now has a gravel surface, and set in this are several rectangular graveslabs, 19th-century dates are legible on some but the inscriptions on the majority are entirely eroded. There are also several headstones of late 19th- and early 20th-century date. A crucifixion plaque (MA088-144007-) is displayed in the exterior wall face above plain flat-headed doorway in the W wall of the church, and another crucifixion plaque (MA088-144006-) is inserted into the exterior face of the W wall of the S transept. A low stepped stone plinth or offset projects from beneath the SW angle of church, and a rough base batter is evident in parts along the exterior of the N wall of the nave. A neater base batter is evident on the N wall of the N transept and the walls of the S transept. The church is built so close to the round tower that the W wall of the S transept almost abuts it. Two architectural fragments, a fragment of an early medieval round arched window head and a sandstone block with foliate ornamentation, probably of late 12th- or early 13th-century date, have been noted here, and are the only evidence of an earlier church that was replaced by the current building (Higgins 1997, 67-68). Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy Date of upload: 15 December 2020

• MA070-144002 Round tower
  Description

  Located on a ridge, with a fall of ground to E and S, overlooking the valley of the Castlebar River. It stands immediately adjacent to a church (MA070-144001-) within a graveyard (MA070-144008-). This round tower is a National Monument in state ownership (No. 100). It is the only surviving visible remains of an early medieval monastery known to have existed at Turlough. The circular tower (base diam. c. 5.5m; H c. 22m) is built of sandstone rubble. It has a rather squat appearance, having one of the lowest heights of known towers. An offset (Wth 0.1m) is visible at the base of the tower on the SW side, where there is a natural fall in ground level. The original round-arched doorway (Wth 0.7m at base, 0.58m at springing of arch; H 1.83m) is at ESE, 3.96m above the external offset, and is now blocked up. Below this, there is another later opening (Wth 0.58m; H 0.95m), at a height of 1.15m above the current ground level, also blocked up. The uppermost storey is lit by four angle-headed windows located immediately beneath the roof at NNE, ESE, SSW and WNW, and lower levels are lit by four lintelled windows, located in descending order at ESE, NNE, WNW and SSE. A drawing by Bigari, dated to 1792, shows the original conical, stone-built cap in a ruinous state; it was rebuilt by the OPW in the late 1800’s. (Barrow 1979, 160-2). Attached images: MA070-144002-_01 viewed from W MA070-144002-_02 viewed from SE; original round-headed door, now blocked up, is visible, with a later flat-headed door, also blocked-up, beneath. The S transept of the church almost touches the tower Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy Date of upload: 15 December 2020

• MA070-144003 Graveslab
  Description

  Located in the S transept of a church (MA088-144001-). This subrectangular slab is set into a shallow square recess towards the N end of the W wall of the S transept. A Latin inscription in Roman capitals fills the entire slab. It is carved in false relief in six regular rows, with a thin raised horizontal line intervening between each row. The edges of the slab are broken and the inscription is now incomplete and its meaning uncertain. The stone appears to be fragment of a graveslab or funerary memorial. The style suggests a late 16th- or early 17th-century date. Attached images: MA070-144003-_01 viewed from W Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy Date of upload: 15 December 2020

• MA070-144006 Crucifixion plaque
  Description

  In the exterior face of the W wall of the S transept of a church (MA-88-144001-). This 17th-century rectangular crucifixion plaque is set into a recess framed by a cut-stone limestone surround, immediately to N of the mullioned window of the S transept. It is carved on a rectangular limestone slab (L 0.47m; H 0.6m) with a raised moulded edge. It features three figures, finely carved in relief. The central figure is the crucified Christ hanging on a cross. His disproportionately large hands are each pierced by a square-headed nail and the crossed feet are pieced by a single nail. He is depicted as bearded and long haired, with a twisted crown of thorns on the forehead of his tilted head, and he wears a simple loin cloth, knotted at one side. He is flanked on the left (as seen by the viewer) by Mary, Mother of Christ, who is shown in profile, looking up at Christ, with her hands outstretched towards the cross. She wears a cloak over a long robe, and a disk-like halo rests on her head. On the opposite side of the cross stands another long robed figure, tall with a broad, open face looking outwards, and arms crossed at the chest. This figure is beardless, with long hair; it might represent Mary Magdalene however it seems more likely to depict St John, as a stance with crossed arms is typical of medieval depictions of St. John (Higgins 1997, 78-9). INRI is carved in relief in a small recessed section of the moulded frame above the crucifixion scene; the date 1625 is carved on a section of the frame beneath the scene. Another crucifixion plaque (MA070144007-) is located above the W doorway of the church. Attached images: MA070-144006-_01 MA070-144006-_02 Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy Date of upload: 15 December 2020

• MA070-144007 Crucifixion plaque
  Description

  Located above the doorway on the external face of the W wall of a church (MA-88-144001-). A large rectangular limestone slab (L 2m; H 0.9m) bearing a crucifixion scene carved in low false relief in a naïve style; the style suggests a 17th-century date. The centrally positioned, long-limbed figure of the crucified Christ dominates the slab, and is flanked by two smaller figures. The cross itself is not depicted but its outline is implied by the top recessed frame of the false relief panel. Christ’s head hangs heavily to one side, and is surrounded by a stylised spiky radiating halo. He is depicted with long hair and a beard that bifurcates at the base. The outstretched arms are disproportionally long, each hand pierced by a single barely discernible nail. The legs and feet are twisted to one side, with one foot resting on top of the other. The loin cloth is a simple rectangle with a knotted overhang at one side. INRI is carved directly above his head. The two figures standing on either side of Christ appear to represent Mary, Mother of Christ, and Mary Magdalene. Each is depicted in rather stylised form as a heavily cowled, long-robed figure. Christ’s Mother at left (as seen by viewer) holds up one hand, and supports the elbow of that arm with the other hand; this stance is typical for depictions of the Virgin in medieval crucifixion scenes (Higgins 1997, 74). The space to the right of the crucifixion scene is blank, but the left-hand side of the slab bears a curious carving, also in false relief, and now greatly weathered. It appears to represent a two-headed bird with out-stretched wings and long legs or possibly two birds with opposing bodies and intertwined or crossed neck. Higgins (1997, 72-76) discusses various possible interpretations of this enigmatic image. It may be a heraldic symbol. Alternatively, it may have religious significance: the eagle was used in medieval Christian iconography to reference John, the evangelist, for instance, but it was also used as a type for Christ himself, based on biblical and scriptural references to the eagle, which were taken as symbolic of the Ascension and the Resurrection. The plaque was placed in its present location by the OPW. Another crucifixion plaque (MA070144006-) is located on the W wall of the S transept. Attached images: MA070-144007-_01 Crucifixion plaque from W MA070-144007-_02 Crucifixion plaque from NW MA070-144007-_03 crucifixion scene MA070-144007-_04 carving of bird Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy Date of upload: 15 December 2020

• MA070-144008 Graveyard
  Description

  Encompassing the summit and slopes of a small hill, overlooking the valley of the Castlebar River. On the 1838 OS 6-inch map the perimeter of the graveyard is indicated by a dashed line enclosing a roughly circular area (diam. c. 60m), with the round tower (MA088-144002-) and church (MA088-144001-) located roughly in the centre; the delimited area appears to have encompasses the core part of the hill. By the time of the 1920 edition a rectangular extension (35m N−S; c. 40m E−W) had been added to the N side, and since then further expansion has taken place, and the early graveyard is now subsumed into the present day large rectangular walled graveyard, which is surrounded by a mortared stone wall, with a cement wall on the W side where the graveyard is bordered by a road. Access is through two wrought iron gates in the W wall. Headstones and graveslabs of 17th-, 18th- and 19th-century date are terraced into the hill slopes. A 19th-century grave plot, with wrought-iron surround, abuts the N wall of the N transept. Clusters of small, low uninscribed stone gravemarkers are evident amongst the formal graves, particularly to the W and S of the church. Burials of 20th-century date and later date are concentrated on the lower slopes to N and S. Attached images: MA070-144008-_01 Graveyard from N MA070-144008-_02 Graves terraced into the slope MA070-144008-_03 19th-century burial plot MA070-144008-_04 18th-century headstone MA070-144008-_05 19th- and 20th-century headstones within the church Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy Date of upload: 15 December 2020

• MA070-144009 Enclosure
  Description

  On a small hill overlooking the valley of the Castlebar River. On the 1838 OS 6-inch map Turlough graveyard (MA070-144008-) is depicted as a circular area (diam. c. 60m) delimited by a dashed line: this encompassed the hill, with the dashed line coinciding with the lower contours, and the round tower (MA088-144002-) and church (MA088-144001-) crowning the summit. It is possible that this reflected the outline of an early ecclesiastical enclosure, but no definitive evidence of this can be seen at ground level. Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy Date of upload: 15 December 2020

• MA070-145 Ritual site - holy well
  Description

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

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

At the centre of this parcel, about 1 in 5 homes in this area is likely to have high radon levels. Testing a home

Landslides

The 1:50,000 map rates the landslide susceptibility here as moderately low, low, partly inferred.

Terrain model

LiDAR of the Office of Public Works, flown in 2011, at 2 m: tile OPW_368 (ZIP).

Flooding

The Office of Public Works publishes its flood maps on floodinfo.ie.

Radon Risk Map of Ireland, Environmental Protection Agency, and Landslide Susceptibility Classification, Geological Survey Ireland, both under 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 as DXF, in Irish Transverse Mercator metres, with its neighbours and buildings, for a drawing program. GeoJSON, in WGS 84, suits a map, and KML opens in 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.