Canal and Banks

Area

9 m²

Buildings

2 buildings touch it. Their footprint covers 103 m².

Zoning

R2 Established Residential (ATLAP 2014-2020) The objective

Townland

Canal and Banks

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 66 recorded monuments.

• WM029-042 Historic town
  Description

  The following description of Athlone has been mainly taken from the Urban Survey of Co. Westmeath (Bradley et. al. 1985, 20-49). The town sits astride the River Shannon just south of Lough Ree and is located on top of a broad ridge which forms part of the glacial eskers which traversed the country from east to west serving as natural routeways. The placename Athlone is derived from the Irish, Áth Luain, meaning the ford of Luain, which is a reference to a fording point (WM029-042054-) over the River Shannon. The ford is located at the point where the river Shannon intersects with the glacial ridge running east-west (Murtagh 1994, 1). This indicates that the town of Athlone developed around a fording point over the River Shannon. By the close of the Early Historic period it is evident that the ford had acquired strategic importance as the main gateway between Leinster and Connacht. To the Anglo-Normans, Athlone was the entrance to Connacht and the importance of its position is evident from the fact that since the Middle Ages all routes linking the eastern provinces with the west, including the Dublin-Galway railway, have crossed here. The first evidence for settlement in Athlone is provided by five cross-inscribed slabs (WM029-042095-; WM029-042096-; WM029-042097-; WM029-042047-), four of which were found in the graveyard (WM029-042092-) of the Franciscan Friary (WM029-042001-) graveyard, dating from the mid-eighth to eleventh centuries (Fanning and Ó hÉailidhe 1980). Although there has been a suggestion that the slabs were removed from Clonmacnoise, they almost certainly indicate an Early Christian monastery (WM029-042050-) on the east bank of the River Shannon at Athlone. The quality of these cross-slabs, which include one apparently commemorating a King of Connacht, suggest that it was an important Early Christian monastery. There may also have been an early Christian church site on the Connacht side of the river (Stokes 1890-1, 181: Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 110) but the evidence is not clear cut. In 1001 the Annals of Ulster note that ‘the causeway of Ath-Luain [Athlone]’ was built by Mael Sechlainn, King of Midhe, and Cathal son of Conchobhar, King of Connacht (AU). Between 1128 and 1170, Athlone was the focus of intense activity because it formed the essential bridgehead into Midhe for Toirdhealbhach [Turlough] and Ruaidhri [Rory] Ua Conchobhar [O’Conor], the expansionist Kings of Connacht (Claffey 1970-1, 55). In 1120, Toirdhealbhach built a bridge (WM029-042004-) across the Shannon at Áth Luain and in 1129 he constructed a castle or earthwork fortification (WM029-042098-) there to defend it. Over the next forty years the Annals frequently record the destruction of the bridge and the fortification by the Ua Máel Sechlainn’s of Meath and their subsequent reconstruction by the Ua Conchobhars [O’Conor’s]. In 1168 the Annals of the Four Masters state that the ‘house (teach) of Ruaidhri Ua Conchobhair’ at Áth Luain was raided by the Cinél Eoghain with the comharba of Derry who took away ‘gold, raiment and many cows’(AFM). The implication of this reference suggests that the King of Connacht had a residence possibly in the form of an earth and timber fortification (WM029-042098-) at Athlone. In addition to the royal house or fortification of the O’Conor’s, the Cluniac priory (WM029-042033-) of Saints Peter and Paul was located on the west bank of the Shannon from c. 1158 (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 110). The priory was located between Abbey Lane and Excise St. No trace of any medieval buildings survives with the exception of a possible fragment of the north-west nave return in Abbey lane. Medieval Athlone The Kingdom of Míde [Meath] was granted to Hugh de Lacy in 1172 (Mills and McEnery 1916, 177) and the process of sub-infeudation and settlement began soon afterwards but it is unlikely that any effective inroads were made as far west as Athlone for some time. The original Anglo-Norman grantee of Athlone seems to have been Geoffrey de Costentin who was granted a cantred in Connacht adjoining Athlone in 1200 (Cal. doc. Ire., no. 137; Orpen 1907, 259; Claffey 1970-1, 55). He was also probably responsible for the construction of a possible motte castle (WM020-042099-) at Athlone sometime between 1191 and 1199 (Orpen 1911-20, II, 129; Graham 1980, 53). The visit of King John to Ireland in 1210 marks a turning point in the development of Athlone. John de Grey, Bishop of Norwich, was appointed justiciar of Ireland as part of John’s efforts to improve the administration of the colony and he appears to have recognized the strategic importance of Athlone as the gateway between the Anglo-Norman liberty of Meath and Connacht, still effectively in Irish hands (Orpen 1911-20, II, 281; Claffey 1970-1, 56). De Grey appears to have desired to establish Athlone as the joint seat (with Dublin) of English administration in Ireland (Claffey 1970-1, 56) and the first step in this plan was the construction of a new castle (WM029-042002-) and bridge (WM029-042004-) at Athlone in 1210. The castle was of stone and it is possible that the bridge was also stone-built. The new castle and bridge may have attracted further settlers and references to the vill and mills (WM029-042056-) of Athlone occur in 1225 and 1235 (Cal. doc. Ire., no’s. 1261, 2289). The precise date at which the settlement achieved borough status is unknown but half a burgage plot on the west bank of the river was granted to St. Mary’s Abbey, Dublin, in the early thirteenth century (Gilbert 1884, I, 224; cf. ibid. p.xxix). The importance of the settlement is further emphasised by the grant of an annual eight-day fair, to be held at the castle, by Henry III in 1221 (Cal. doc. Ire., no. 1010). It is noteworthy that the evidence for the early thirteenth century settlement refers mainly to the west bank of the Shannon. The earliest definite evidence for a settlement on the east bank is a reference to the ‘town of Athlone on both sides of the water’ in 1234 (35th Report Deputy Keeper Public Records Ireland, 37). In 1305 there is a reference to ‘the bridge’ between ‘the castle and the town’ which suggests that by this date the main settlement was on the east bank of the river but whether this was the case from the beginnings of the Anglo-Norman settlement is unclear (Cal. justic. Rolls, Ire. Edw. I, 65). The consecration of the church (WM029-042042-) of the Friars Minor of Athlone in 1241 by Albert of Cologne, archbishop of Armagh, suggests that it was not founded until c. 1240 (Ann. Conn.; AFM; Ann. Clon.; ALC). The friary was apparently destroyed in 1567-8 and its site was leased to Andrew Brereton of Monketon, Co. Meath, in 1570 (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 243). A Franciscan residence was re-established in 1626 (Millett 1972-3, 161) and in the late seventeenth century, probably the 1680s, work began on a new friary church (WM029-042001-). This 1680s Franciscan friary church is to be seen on the south side of the town, where it is delimited by the lane at the south end of the graveyard (WM029-042092-), Abbey road and the back of the houses in Lucas Lane. Lee (1974-5, 225) has assembled the evidence for the existence of a medieval hospital (WM029-042033-) outside the walls of Athlone, to the east. The site of the medieval hospital would appear to have been in the vicinity of Sean Costello Street, where Mardyke Street meets Irishtown. Athlone received monies to build a town wall (WM029-042020-) in 1251 and this may indicate that its security was threatened (Cal. doc. Ire., no. 3159). With the accession of Edward I, however, greater attention was paid to strengthening the Anglo-Norman colony and large sums of money were spent on improving the castle defences of Athlone between 1273 and 1279 (Orpen 1907, 270-1; Claffey 1970-1, 57). An indication that the town was still an important seat of English administration comes from a petition of 1289 which notes that on the death of Stephen de

• WM029-042001 Religious house - Franciscan friars
  Description

  The Annals of the Four Masters record the founding of the monastery (WM029-042042-) of St. Francis at Athlone by Cathal Crobderg O Conchobhair in 1224 but this date has been rejected by Gwynn and Hadcock (1970, 243) on the basis that the Franciscans did not arrive in Ireland until c.1224-6, when their first house was established at Youghal. The consecration of the church of the Friars Minor of Athlone in 1241 by Albert of Cologne, archbishop of Armagh, suggests that it was not founded until c. 1240 (Ann. Conn.; AFM; Ann. Clon.; ALC). The friary was apparently destroyed in 1567-8 and its site was leased to Andrew Brereton of Monketon, Co. Meath, in 1570 (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 243). A Franciscan residence was re-established in 1626 (Millett 1972-3, 161) and in the late seventeenth century, probably the 1680s, work began on a new friary church (WM029-042001-). This building was never completed because of the fall of James II and the consequent political upheavals (Conlan 1978, 79; Grannell 1978, 52-3). This 1680s Franciscan friary church is to be seen on the north side of the town, where it is delimited by the Abbey lane at the south end of the graveyard (WM029-042092-), Abbey road and Coosan Road and the back of the houses in Lucas Lane. Of the five Early Christian cross-inscribed slabs (WM029-042095-; WM029-042096-; WM029-042097-; WM029-042047-) found in Athlone, four were found in the graveyard (WM029-042092-) of the Franciscan Friary graveyard. The cross-slabs date from the mid-eighth to eleventh centuries (Fanning and Ó hÉailidhe 1980). The present 17th century friary curch and graveyard may stand on the site of the 13th century friary which in turn may have been built on the site of an Early Christian monastery (WM029-042050-). Alternatively the medieval friary may have been located elsewhere within the town of Athlone. Grannell (1978, 13) recorded the tradition that the 13th century Francsican Friary (WM029-042042-) may have been located on the W side of Northgate St., on part of the site of the 19th century Athlone Woollen Mills also known as the 'Shannon Mills' (Murtagh 1994, 9,12). According to the Urban Survey of Westmeath the present 17th century Franciscan friary church and graveyard (WM029-042092-) 'almost certainly lie on the site of a pre-Norman church (WM029-042050-), whose existence is attested by the discovery of early grave slabs and traces of an enclosure. This is to be seen on the south side, where it is delimited by the lane at the south end of the graveyard, Abbey road and the back of the houses in Lucas lane (Bradley et. al. 1985, 44). The present remains consist of a long rectangular friary church (int. dims. 20.9m E-W; 9.4m N-S; wall T 0.92m; H 4.5-5m) aligned east-west which stands in the N quadrant of sub-rectangular shaped graveyard now a town park, which was cleared of its graveslabs in order to provide space for a park during the 1980s. The church was rebuilt as part of the park clean up scheme in the 1980s and the graveslabs were removed from their location and placed around the walls and along both sides of the lane to the south and west of the church. The church was built with roughly coursed limestone rubble with alternating long and short quoins, the building has been robbed of all its dresed jambs around the doorway and window openings. The east wall appears to have been completely rebuilt and the only features are two post-medieval recesses constructed to accomodate wall-memorials. The north wall may have had a door near its west end but the masonry is too badly disfigured to be certain; a narrow round arched opening is situated in the centre of this wall and is flanked by two round arched recesses. The west wall shows signs of large-scale rebuilding and has an inserted flat-headed door of brick. The south wall has a blocked-up door at its west end and three round-arched windows with a slight internal splay. A round-arched recess is present between the first-and-second and second-and-third windows from the east; the westerly example has been filled with a 19th century wall memorial (Bradley et. al. 1985, 44). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 29 November 2013

• WM029-042002 Castle - Anglo-Norman masonry castle
  Description

  National Monument No. 520. Athlone Castle was built as a Royal Castle in 1210 to control an important fording point over the River Shannon which may have had a pre-Norman fortification (WM029-042098-) at this location. The Anglo-Norman stone castle was built on lands originally granted in 1200 to Geoffrey de Constentin who was then granted other lands in Connacht due to the construction of Athlone Castle which became the demesne lands of King John. The king of England then ordered Geoffrey de Constentin to maintain and keep possession of the castle on behalf of the king. In the year 1200 as part of the Anglo-Norman settlement of Connacht, King John of England granted Geoffrey de Costentin, ‘a cantred in Connaught called Tirieghrachbothe’ (Cal. doc. Ire., 22). The castle of Athlone and the western side of Athlone town were located on these lands called ‘Tirieghrachtbothe’. In 1214 shortly after the construction of the Royal Castle of Athlone, King John allowed Geoffrey de Constentin to exchange the lands containing Athlone Castle for the cantred of Trithweth also located in Connacht (Cal. doc. Ire., 92). The lands of Trithweth were described as being located ‘more remote from the castle, and nearer to the Irish’ (Cal. doc. Ire., 257). In this year following a petition submitted by Geoffrey to the Archbishop of Dublin, King John commanded the ‘exchange for the cantred in which the Castle of Athlone is situated, the Archbishop cause Godfrey [Geoffrey] to have another cantred of equal value in the marches’ (Cal. doc. Ire., 81). In 1215, King John granted a mandate to ‘Godfrey [Geoffrey] de Constentin to safely keep the castle of Aslon [Athlone], as he previously kept it’ (Cal. doc. Ire., 95). In 1220 Geoffrey de Constentin was appointed to maintain ‘the custody of the K.’s land and castles in that country, which custody shall be surveyed by counsel of the Archbishop of Dublin, Thomas Fitz Adam, and Richard de Burgh’ (Cal. doc. Ire., 144). The present structure traces its foundation to John de Grey, Bishop of Norwich and Justiciar of Ireland, who commenced construction of Athlone castle in 1210 (ALC; Ann. Clon. sub 1208-9). In this year King John of England, ordered the Bishop to erect three castles in the province of Connacht. The Annals of Loch Cé recorded in the year 1210 that the Bishop of Norwich came along with the forces of Meath and Leinster to Athlone where a ‘bridge (WM029-042004-) was constructed by him across Ath-Luain, and a castle instead of O’Conchobhair’s [O’Conor’s] castle (WM029-042098-)’ (ALC). The following year in 1211 a stone tower (possibly the keep or donjon) collapsed killing Richard de Tuite and eight others (Gilbert 1884, ii, 232, 279) and Orpen (1907, 262-3) has suggested that this disaster might have resulted from the construction of a Keep on top of a motte (WM029-042099-) which had not settled sufficiently to hold the weight. This event was recorded on the Annals of Clonmacnoise in the entry for the year 1210 which stated that the English Bishop who ‘was Deputy, and Richard Tuite founded a stone castle in Athlone, wherein there was a tower of stone built, which soon after fell & killed the said Richard Tuite with eight Englishmen more’ (Ann. Clon.). The stone castle of Athlone was built on monastic lands belonging to the priory (WM029-042003-) of Saints Peter and Paul situated to the south. In 1213 the King of England commanded ‘Henry Archbishop of Dublin to cause the monks of Athlone to have the tenth part of the expenses of the castle in that town, in exchange for their land in which the castle is situated, as the Bishop of Norwich undertook when fortifying the castle’ (Cal. doc. Ire., 80). In 1216, King John commanded the Justiciar of Ireland to exchange with the ‘Prior of Athlone, for the 4 cantreds in the fee of Logseuethy [Lough Sewdy] assigned to the Prior by John Bishop of Norwich in compensation for the site of the K.’s castle of Athlone’ (Cal. doc. Ire., 106-07). The King also commanded the Justiciar to ‘cause competent satisfaction to be given to the Prior touching an exchange for his meadow, his fisheries of 12 marks, and the tithes of the castle’ (Cal. doc. Ire., 107). In 1235 the King of England discovered by inquisition that the ‘monks of Adlon [Athlone] have been wont to receive at the Exchequer, Dublin, an annuity of 10 marks of the vill (WM029-042----), castle, mill (WM029-042056-), and fishery (WM029-042081-) towards Connaught, which John Bishop of Norwich, when [justiciary], constructed in the their land, the K. commands the monks to have this annuity’ (Cal. doc. Ire., 340-1). Work on the castle is sporadically recorded during the thirteenth century, in 1232-4 (35th Rep. Deputy Keeper Public Records Ireland, 37) and 1251 when the King ordered to ‘employ 80 marks of the K.’s money in aid of the inclosure (WM029-042020-) of the K.’s vills of Adlon [Athlone] and Rendun [Rindown, Co. Roscommon], and repair of their castles (Cal. doc. Ire., 469). In 1270-72 the Exchequer paid 5 marks in wages to ‘Nicholas of Gloucester, carpenter of the castle of Athlone’ (Cal. doc. Ire., 150). In 1273-4, the justiciar, Geoffrey de Geneville, spent over £3,500 on various projects including ‘repairs of the castle and houses of Athlone’ (36th Rep. Deputy Keeper Public Records Ireland, 40). In 1276-7 Robert d'Ufford, the succeeding justiciar, spent £2,136 on fortifications and buildings at the castles of Rindown (RO046-004002-), Co. Roscommon and Athlone (36th Rep. Deputy Keeper Public Records Ireland, 35; Cal. doc. Ire., 267) and a further £3,200 in 1278-9 on work at Roscommon (RO039-043001-), Rindown (RO046-004002-) and Athlone castles (36 Rep Deputy Keeper Public Records Ireland, 48). In 1277-78 Robert de Ufford spent money on ‘repairing houses of the castle of Athlone’ (Cal. doc. Ire., 267). In 1281 the Exchequer made a payment to Thomas de Isham ‘for works of the castles of Roscommon, Raundun [Rindown, RO046-004002-] and Athlone’ (Cal. doc. Ire., 406). In 1284 the Exchequer made a payment of £11 13s 4d. to William ‘the carpenter, spent in works of the castle of Athlone’ (Cal. doc. Ire., 541). In 1290 the chief justiciary of Ireland went to ‘the castle of Athlone, and remaining there to treat with the Irish of those parts, to inspect the defects of the works of the castle and bridge (WM029-042004-)’ (Cal. doc. Ire., 326). Between 1286 and 1290 the Exchequer made a payment to ‘Geoffrey Brun, clerk, of £300, to be spent on fortifications of the castles of Roscommon (RO039-043001-), Randown (RO046-004002-), and Athlone, in works of those castles’ (Cal. doc. Ire., 370). It is likely that much of the surviving medieval fabric of the castle, particularly the river wall with its three-quarter-round towers at each angle dates to this period (Orpen 1907, 271; Claffey 1970-1, 57; Leask 1951, 42). Parts of the castle had fallen into neglect by 1305 and repairs were carried out in 1306 by Richard de Exeter, constable of Roscommon castle (38th Rep. Deputy Keeper Public Records Ireland, 103). The Annals of St. Mary's, Dublin, note the burning of the castle and town by Ruaidri O Conchobhar in 1315 but Orpen (1907, 272), using the Irish annals, has suggested that the castle was not captured at this time. Little is known of the castle in the later fourteenth and fifteenth centuries although it is clear that it was frequently in Irish hands until recovered by the Crown in 1537. In this year it was recorded that the ‘castle of Athlone, standing upon a passage betwixt Connaught and these parts, is recovered, which has long been usurped by the Irish’ (Gardiner 1891, 47-85). Thereafter the castle remained in English hands serving as the residence of the Presidents of Connacht after 1569 (Murtagh 1980, 81). In 1547, the Annals recorded that the ‘castle of Athlone was repaired by the English, namely, by William Brabazon, the King's Treasurer in Ireland, and the English and Irish of Meath, in despite of O'Kel

• WM029-042003 Religious house - Cluniac monks
  Description

  The priory of Athlone appears to have been known by several names including the priory of Saints Peter and Paul, the monastery de Innocentia and the priory of St. Peter and Benedict. This priory was the only Cluniac house in Ireland which according to tradition was founded by Tulough O’Conor, King of Connacht in 1150 (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 110). The priory was referred to as the monastery ‘de Innocentia’ in 1280 (Cal. doc. Ire., 351) and again in 1391 when a letter was sent to the ‘prior of the monastery of St. Peter, Athlone (de Innocentia)’ (Cal. papal letters 1362-1404, 417). The priory was also known as the monastery of St. Peter and Benedict as recorded by Sir James Ware in 1626 (Gilbert 2012, civ-cv). Some discussion surrounds the date of its foundation. In the late 17th century Alemand recorded that this abbey was founded in 1150 and was dedicated to St. Peter and St. Benedict on the basis of the writings of the monastic historian Gaspar Jongelin (Stevens and Moll 1722, 196). Gaspar Jongelin based his dating on the writings of Sir James Ware who in 1626 compiled a table of the foundation dates of the Cistercian monasteries in Ireland (Gilbert 2012, civ-cv). Sir James Ware recorded in his table of Cistercian foundation dates, that the abbey of Athlone was founded in 1150 (ibid., 220). There is no mention in either source that this monastery was founded under the patronage of Turlough O’Conor, king of Connacht. Gwynn and Hadcock (1970, 110) question the reliability of the tradition that it was founded c.1150 by Toirrdelbach Ua Conchobair [Turlough O’Conor], king of Connacht, pointing to the confusion of Athlone with the Cistercian monastery of “Benedictio Dei” [God’s Blessing] at Kilbeggan, which was founded in 1150. Conlan (1980, 74-5) argues the view that it was founded by Toirrdelbach [Turlough] c.1150 on the basis that a Cluniac foundation is unlikely to date any later because the Cluniac Order was rapidly eclipsed in Ireland by the Cistercians after that date. The abbey was clearly in existence before the building of Athlone Castle (WM029-042002-) in 1210 because the priory received compensation in the year 1214 for the land on which the castle was built. In this year, King John commanded Henry de Loundres, Archbishop of Dublin, to pay compensation to the ‘monks of Athlone’ as their lands had been taken for the construction of Athlone Castle. In this year the crown papers recorded that the monks of Athlone were to ‘have the tenth part of the expenses of the castle in that town, in exchange for their land in which the castle is situated, as the Bishop of Norwich [John de Grey] undertook when fortifying that castle’ (Cal. doc. Ire., 80). In 1235, crown documents recorded that ‘the monks of Adlon [Athlone] have been wont to receive at the Exchequer, Dublin, an annuity of 10 marks for the vill (WM029-042----), castle (WM029-042002-), mill (WM029-042056-) and fishery (WM029-042081-) towards Connaught, which John [de Grey] Bishop of Norwich, when [justiciary], constructed in their land, the K. commands the justiciary to cause the monks to have this annuity’ (Cal. doc. Ire., 341). In the year 1280 there is a reference in crown papers to ‘Brother Gilbert, a monk de Innocentia (St. Peters) near Athlone’ (Cal. doc. Ire., 351). In 1284 King Edward I, commanded the justiciary of Ireland ‘not to injure the Prior and convent of St. Peter of Athlone regarding the pool which they were wont anciently to have. The justiciary had constructed 2 mills (WM029-042056-) upon the pool for the K.’s use, and the prior and convent had consequently taken nothing in the pool’ (Cal. doc. Ire., 564). In 1290 the treasurer of Ireland paid ‘Gilbert, monk of Athlone, 40s. of silver for the losses which the monks had sustained for 3 years in their pools of Athlone by the construction of the K.’s mills (WM029-042056-) there’ (Cal. doc. Ire., 325). In 1290 a second payment was made to ‘Gilbert, monk of Athlone, for 10 marks of the K.’s yearly alms granted to the Prior and convent of St. Peter of Athlone’ (Cal. doc. Ire., 325). In 1362 William O’Tumulty was elected prior, apparently the first native Irishman to obtain the position (Grattan-Flood 1913, 54) but it is noteworthy that every subsequent prior seems to have been of Irish blood (Conlan 1980, 77-80). In 1428 a papal indulgence was granted to ‘penitents who on the feast of SS. Peter and Paul [June 29], from the first to the second vespers, visit and give alms for the repair and conservation of the church of the Benedictine monastery of SS. Peter and Paul de Innocentia near Atholoyn [Athlone], in the diocese of Elphin, which is threatened with ruin on account of the wars which have afflicted those parts’ (Cal. papal letters 1427-47, 22). There is no formal record of the dissolution of the priory but Conlan (1980, 80) feels it was probably suppressed by Sir William Brabazon, vice-treasurer of Ireland and constable of Athlone Castle after 1547 (Bradley et. al. 1985, 47). The priory was joined to the castle as an estate and it was generally held by the vice-treasurers of Ireland until 1569 when it was assigned to the presidents of Connacht (Murtagh 1994, 91). Between 1569-70 the priory church was converted into a government storehouse and the conventual buildings of the priory were converted into a dwelling house for Sir Edward Fytton, President of Connacht (Grattan-Flood 1913, 56). In 1572, when Athlone was burned by James FitzMaurice FitzGerald and the sons of the Earl of Clanricard, the priory church was in use as a store. In 1572 the Lord President of Connacht wrote to the Lord Deputy, stating that ‘the rebels, with Scots, have burnt Athlone wholly to the ground. The steeple of the Abbey, where the store is, was well defended’ (Cal. S. P. Ire. 1509-73, 477). John Crofton also wrote in the same year to the Lord Deputy stating that the rebels and Scots have burnt Athlone, and the body of the church, where he had his malt, biscuit, and beer, and all his brewing and baking vessels which are consumed’ (Cal. S. P. Ire. 1509-73, 477). In 1584 the Crown granted a 21 year lease to George Alexander of the ‘site of the priory of St. Benedict of Cistercian monks of Athlone, co. Roscommon, the demesne lands, a mill in the tenure of O’Fallon, lands in Clonnalve, 7 weirs in the river Shennen, with the tithes thereof, the tithes of the rectory of Athlone, extending to Athlone and Duffer, the tithes of the rectories of Dromyne, Kiltome, Kinerboy and Kilmyan, Taghoe alias S. John Baptist, Aleake, Teaghfratrane, Teaghane Dyserte, Camnaghe, Ratharrowe, Assafraghe, Kilsalen, Kyllaghamba, and Kilcrowlen, co. Roscommon, and all other possessions of the priory. To hold for 21 years. Rent, £60 1s 9d.’ (Nicholls 1994, vol. II, 611). In 1606-07 a survey of the Crown lands and tithes which were leased by the King to people in Ireland, included a lease between the King and George Alexander of the ‘Cistercian monastery of St. Benedict, of Athlone’ (Cal. S. P. Ire., 69). This presumably is to be equated with the Cluniac house because there is no evidence for a Cistercian monastery in Athlone and the reference to St Benedict explained on the basis that the Cluniac monks were Benedictines (Bradley et. al. 1985, 48). In 1670s the priory buildings and its lands passed into the ownership of Richard Jones, first earl of Ranelagh (Conlan 1980, 82). In 1759 the Ranelagh estate passed into the ownership of the Incorporated Society for the promotion of Protestant Schools in Ireland (ibid.). A church building depicted on the site of the priory on the first edition OS 6-inch map was built in 1804 (Murtagh 1994, 10). This church was demolished in the mid 19th century and replaced by a coach factory in 1856 that was then converted into a saw mills (ibid., 12). The saw mills was demolished and replaced by St. Peter and Paul’s national school built in 1934 which now stands on the site of the Cluniac priory that is depicted

• WM029-042004 Bridge
  Description

  The present town of Athlone developed around the Anglo-Norman stone castle (WM029-042002-) and medieval bridge which offered a crossing point over the River Shannon connecting the medieval kingdom of Connacht to the kingdom of Meath. In 1682 Sir Henry Piers described the siting of the town and bridge when he wrote that Athlone town was situated 'on both banks of the Shannon. The part on this side [east] the river was better built. The other part [west] together with the king's castle (WM029-042002-) situated on the western banks, is in the county of Roscommon, both parts united into one town, by a very strong, high-raised and well-built bridge' (Vallancey 1786, 85). There appears to have been a sequence of bridges built over the River Shannon possibly at the same location which may have been located close to a natural fording point over the river since prehistoric times. In the year 994 the Annals of Clonmacnoise records that Maelsechlainn [king of Mide] and Cathal O’Connor [king of Connacht] ‘made a bridge at Athlone over the Synan’ (Ann. Clon., 165). It has been suggested that this reference to a bridge may be describing the construction of a ford instead (Murtagh 1994, 12). In the year 1001 the Annals of Ulster recorded that the ‘causeway of Ath-Luain [was made] by Maelsechlainn (high king of Ireland), and by Cathal son of Conchobar’ (AU, 509). This causeway may have been a wooden bridge built on the site of the fording point over the River Shannon. At least six bridges were built over the River Shannon at Athlone between the years 1120 and 1159. The first of these, built in 1120 by Toirrdealbach Ua Conchobhar [Turlough O'Conor], was destroyed in 1125. The second bridge was built in 1129 together with a protecting castle. A third bridge was constructed by Toirrdealbach in 1132. In 1133 both bridge and castle were destroyed and a fourth bridge was built in 1140 and lasted until 1153 when it was destroyed by Maelsechlainn, king of Mide. This was replaced by a new bridge (the fifth) in 1155 but destroyed in the same year. A sixth bridge was constructed in 1159 but it was destroyed in 1162. Around the year 1210 the Anglo-Normans commenced construction of the stone castle (WM029-042002-) of Athlone and the adjoining bridge which connected the castle located on the W side of the River Shannon to the Anglo-Norman settlement on the E side of the river. In 1210 a bridge was built by John de Grey, Bishop of Norwich who was the justiciar of Ireland and who was also responsible for the construction of the stone castle (WM029-042002-) at Athlone. In this year the annals recorded the arrival of the Bishop of Norwich, who came to Athlone where 'a bridge (WM029-042004-) was constructed by him across Ath-Luain, and a castle (WM029-042002-) instead of O'Conchobhair's castle (WM029-042098-)' (ALC). Work is again recorded at the bridge in 1232-4 when masonry work was suspended on the ward of Rindown castle (RO046-004002-), Co. Roscommon. In 1233 in order to permit the completion of the bridge at Athlone. Whether this work involved the completion of de Grey's bridge, begun twenty years earlier, or the construction of a new bridge, is unclear but it suggests that the bridge was of stone. In this year the state papers recorded that the ‘justiciary of Ireland notifies that the bridge of Athlone can be completed for 80 marks, 30 marks to be employed on carriage, and 50 marks on works. As it would be advantageous to Ireland that this bridge should be finished, the K. commands the treasurer to pay the money out of the K.’s treasure, the masonry work of the ward of the castle of Reindown (Rinndown, Co. Roscommon) to be suspended’ (Cal. doc. Ire., 304). A stone bridge is specifically referred to in the accounts of the justiciar, Geoffrey de Geneville for 1274-5 but again it is unclear whether this represents the rebuilding of the old bridge destroyed in 1272 or its replacement by an entirely new one. In 1290 John FitzThomas, Archbishop of Dublin, keeper of Ireland led an army against the K.’s enemies of Offaly and Leys [Laois]. During this campaign he heard of news on the feast of the Apostles Philip and James [May 6, 1290] ‘that the Irish had transgressed against the peace at Athlone, and that the bridge of Athlone was falling; he then prepared himself and went to those parts. The expenses thereof begin on Saturday aforesaid as appears by accounts, and he was 9 days in going, remaining, and returning’ (Cal. doc. Ire., 273). In the same year there is a receipt for payment of the expenses of ‘John Archbishop of Dublin, holding the place of chief justiciary of Ireland, in going to the castle of Athlone, and remaining there to treat with the Irish of those parts, to inspect the defects of the works of the castle and bridge, and to expedite public affairs there’ (Cal. doc. Ire., 326). By 1305 the bridge was again in need of repair. In this year the crown recorded that it ‘is agreed also that the houses of the King’s Castle (WM029-042002-) of Athlon[e], which are much ruined and broken, and the bridge between the castle and the town (WM029-042----) there, be repaired out of the issues of the county of Connacht, in a competent manner. Therefore let a writ be made to the Sheriff of Connacht directing him to pay to Ric.[hard] de Oxon’ sheriff of Roscommon, 20 marks. And let Ricard sheriff of Roscommon receive said money and spend it in repair of said houses and bridge, by advice of Ric. de Exon’ justice, by the hands of lawful workmen’(Cal. justic. Rolls, Ire. Edw. I, 65). A year later in 1306 Richard de Exeter, constable of Roscommon castle, received payment for 'making a bridge at Athlone with a gate at the end thereof', presumably at the western end. This is the last record of the Anglo-Norman bridge and its subsequent fate is unknown (Bradley et. al. 1985, 30). The 13th century Anglo-Norman stone bridge presumably fell into disrepair over the centuries and was replaced by a new stone bridge in the 16th century. In 1557 the Lord Deputy, Sir Henry Sidney, ordered a new stone bridge to be built and although it suffered much at the hands of both sides in the sieges of 1690-1 it survived until 1844 when the present bridge was constructed 50m to the N of it. In 1557 a new bridge was built but despite a letter of 1567 which claimed that all Connacht had been tamed by the building of the bridge (Cal. S.P. Ire., 346). Piers writing in 1682, described it as 'a very strong, high raised and well-built bridge, in the middle whereof stands a fair monument with some figures well cut in marble, together with Queen Elizabeth's scutheon of arms and some inscriptions declaring the time and the founders of the building. This bridge, tho’ the arches thereof be wide and large, causeth the river, which here is very deep, to rise and swell backwards, so that under it the river hath a great fall, which giveth an advantageous situation to several undershaft mills (WM029-042079-; WM029-042080-; WM029-042100-) at each end of the bridge. One tower on the corner of the castle (WM029-042002-) wall is so advantageously seated that it commandeth the whole bridge, which nevertheless hath a great drawbridge on that end'. The presence of mills dates to at least 1578 when Edmund O'Fallone of Athlone was leased two watermills which he himself had built on the bridge. According to Joly (1881, 18) the bridge had nine arches and was 360 feet [110m] in length with a maximum of 14 feet [4.25m] in width. Sidney's bridge stood about 50m downstream of the modern bridge just S of the castle, linking Bridge Street on the E with Main Street on the W. It is perhaps a reasonable assumption that the twelfth century bridges occupied this site also but this remains to be definitely established. The 16th century stone bridge was ornamented with a series of plaques which were removed prior to its demolition in 1844 and are now preserved in the National Museum of Ireland. In all thirteen plaques

• WM029-042005 Memorial stone
  Description

  In National Museum of Ireland. Rectangular. A demi-figure holds a plaque with the letters E.R. and a crown surmounted by scroll-work and knots in relief. It is slightly damaged and the head of the figure is missing. Dims. H 23cm, W 26cm, D 20cm (Bradley et. al. 1985, 31). Compiled by: Rachel Barrett Date of upload: 15 October 2010

• WM029-042006 Inscribed stone
  Description

  In National Museum of Ireland. Rectangular stone with a Tudor rose, and ivy spray. Inscribed in false relief: GEVE TO CESAR THAI W/ IS CESARS AND TO GOD/ THAT WHICHE IS GOIS MAT 22. Dims. H 21cm, W 81cm, D 10cm (Bradley et. al. 1985, 31). Compiled by: Rachel Barrett Date of upload: 04 October 2010

• WM029-042007 Inscribed stone
  Description

  In National Museum of Ireland. Three stone fragments. Incised inscription: GOD SAVE * QWEN ELIZAB. The ornament after 'SAVE' is a Tudor rose. Dims. H 21cm, W 156cm, D 9cm (Bradley et. al. 1985, 31). Compiled by: Rachel Barrett Date of upload: 04 October 2010

• WM029-042008 Inscribed stone
  Description

  In National Museum of Ireland. Worn rectangular panel with a bearded man wearing a long fur-trimmed mantle over a tunic. His right hand holds a ?pleated purse which may be suspended from his neck and his left hand is outstretched holding an animal which looks like a badger but has been described as a rat (Joly 1881, 62-3). It has a very worn inscription: E R/ PETRVS/ LEWYS. Dims. H 67cm, W 49cm (Bradley et. al. 1985, 31-2). Compiled by: Rachel Barrett Date of upload: 04 October 2010

• WM029-042009 Armorial plaque
  Description

  In National Museum of Ireland. Rectangular. Carved in high relief with a male demi-figure in a narrow-waisted armour of lames with cowters at the elbows. He holds a sword in an upright position in his right hand and his left hand rests on his waist and touches the garter which is worn knotted over his left shoulder. The head is missing. Below the figure is a small grotesque head with leavy swags protruding from his ears and held down by chains. On his left side is a coat of arms surrounded by the garter with the legend HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE. The end of the garter rests on a parchment with an ivy spray and the motto INVI/ DIA. NOTI/ OB. Dims. H 62cm, W 86cm (Bradley et. al. 1985, 32). Compiled by: Rachel Barrett Date of upload: 04 October 2010

And 56 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

At the centre of this parcel, about 1 in 10 homes in this area is likely to have high radon levels. Testing a home

Landslides

The 1:50,000 map gives no landslide susceptibility class here. Parts of the land are made ground.

Terrain model

LiDAR of the Office of Public Works, flown in 2011, at 2 m: tile OPW_1578 (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.