Raphoe Demesne

48 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Raphoe Demesne, from 49 m² to 264,668 m² (26.47 ha, 65.4 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary. 28 neighbouring parcels touch it.

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

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

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

• 3 Jun 2026Conditional

  (1) DEMOLITION OF EXISTING DWELLING HOUSE CONSTRUCTED WITH DEFECTIVE CONCRETE BLOCKWORK AND CONSTRUCTION OF A REPLACEMENT DWELLING HOUSE AND ASSOCIATED SITE DEVELOPMENT WORKS, (2) CONSTRUCTION OF A DETACHED DOMESTIC GARAGE AND (3) PLACEMENT OF A MOBILE HOME STRUCTURE WITHIN THE SITE TO BE USED AS TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION FOR THE DURATION OF CONSTRUCTION WORKS RELATING TO THE REPLACEMENT DWELLING HOUSE SOUGHT HEREIN

  Permission, 2 homes · Donegal County Council, 2661017

• 15 Apr 2026Conditional

  EXTENSIONS TO THE FRONT AND SIDE OF EXISTING DWELLING HOUSE

  Retention · Donegal County Council, 2660649

• 27 Feb 2026N/a

  (1) CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW 2,240M2 TWO-STOREY SCHOOL BUILDING, CONTAINING: SPECIALIST TEACHING ROOMS FOR SCIENCE, CONSTRUCTION STUDIES, ENGINEERING, ART, AND HOME ECONOMICS; PHYSICAL EDUCATION FACILITIES INCLUDING A PE HALL, FITNESS SUITE, AND CHANGING SUITES; TOILETS, STORES, AND PLANT ROOMS; 2 NO. SPECIAL NEEDS CLASSROOMS AND ASSOCIATED SUPPORT ACCOMMODATION, INCLUDING MULTI-ACTIVITY, PRACTICAL ACTIVITY, AND DAILY LIVING SKILLS, (2) A ROOF MOUNTED PHOTOVOLTAIC PANEL SYSTEM FOR COMPLIANCE WITH PART L OF THE BUILDING REGULATIONS, (3) ALL ASSOCIATED SITE DEVELOPMENT WORKS INCLUDING NEW LANDSCAPING, SECURE PLAY AREA AND SENSORY GARDEN FOR SPECIAL NEEDS, EXTERNAL STEPS TO EXISTING TECHNOLOGY HUB, RELOCATION OF BALL COURTS, INTERCONNECTING PATHWAYS AND ASSOCIATED SITE DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICE INFRASTRUCTURE WORKS, (4) DEMOLITION AND REMOVAL OF THE EXISTING PE HALL AND TWO INDEPENDENT TEMPORARY CLASSROOM UNITS AND (5) MINOR ALTERATIONS TO THE EXISTING 3-STOREY PERMANENT SCHOOL BUILDING INCLUDING THE INTERNAL CONVERSION OF TWO EXISTING SCIENCE LABORATORIES TO GENERAL CLASSROOMS. A NATURA IMPACT STATEMENT (NIS) ACCOMPANIES THIS APPLICATION

  Permission · Donegal County Council, 2660296

• 16 Feb 2026N/a

  (1) CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW 2,240M2 TWO-STOREY SCHOOL BUILDING, CONTAINING: SPECIALIST TEACHING ROOMS FOR SCIENCE, CONSTRUCTION STUDIES, ENGINEERING, ART, AND HOME ECONOMICS; PHYSICAL EDUCATION FACILITIES INCLUDING A PE HALL, FITNESS SUITE, AND CHANGING SUITES; TOILETS, STORES, AND PLANT ROOMS; 2 NO. SPECIAL NEEDS CLASSROOMS AND ASSOCIATED SUPPORT ACCOMMODATION, INCLUDING MULTI-ACTIVITY, PRACTICAL ACTIVITY, AND DAILY LIVING SKILLS, (2) A ROOF MOUNTED PHOTOVOLTAIC PANEL SYSTEM FOR COMPLIANCE WITH PART L OF THE BUILDING REGULATIONS, (3) ALL ASSOCIATED SITE DEVELOPMENT WORKS INCLUDING NEW LANDSCAPING, SECURE PLAY AREA AND SENSORY GARDEN FOR SPECIAL NEEDS, EXTERNAL STEPS TO EXISTING TECHNOLOGY HUB, RELOCATION OF BALL COURTS, INTERCONNECTING PATHWAYS AND ASSOCIATED SITE DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICE INFRASTRUCTURE WORKS, (4) DEMOLITION AND REMOVAL OF THE EXISTING PE HALL AND TWO INDEPENDENT TEMPORARY CLASSROOM UNITS AND (5) MINOR ALTERATIONS TO THE EXISTING 3-STOREY PERMANENT SCHOOL BUILDING INCLUDING THE INTERNAL CONVERSION OF TWO EXISTING SCIENCE LABORATORIES TO GENERAL CLASSROOMS

  Permission · Donegal County Council, 2660204

• 13 Nov 2025Conditional

  TWO STOREY DETACHED HOUSE AND ALL OTHER ASSOCIATED SITE WORKS

  Retention, 1 home · Donegal County Council, 2561981

• 25 Feb 2025Conditional

  CHANGE OF HOUSE DESIGN FROM THAT PREVIOUSLY GRANTED UNDER PLANNING REG. REF. NO. 24/61130 TO INCLUDE RENOVATIONS, ALTERATIONS AND EXTENSION WORKS TO EXISTING SINGLE STOREY DWELLING COMPRISING OF: (1) PART DEMOLITION OF EXISTING SINGLE STOREY DWELLING, (2) DEMOLITION OF EXISTING INTEGRATED GARAGE AND DETACHED SHED, (3) CARRYING OUT OF EXTENSIVE RENOVATIONS / ALTERATIONS TO REMAINDER OF EXISTING SINGLE STOREY DWELLING, INCLUDING RAISING OF WALLS AND ROOF, AND CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW SINGLE STOREY EXTENSION TO INCLUDE INTEGRATED DOMESTIC GARAGE AND (4) ALL ASSOCIATED SITE DEVELOPMENT WORKS AND SERVICES

  Permission · Donegal County Council, 2560252

• 19 Nov 2024Conditional

  DEMOLITION OF EXISTING CHILDCARE FACILITY DUE TO THE PRESENCE OF DEFECTIVE BLOCKS AND CONSTRUCTION OF REPLACEMENT FACILITY ALONG WITH THE RELOCATION OF EXISTING PORTACABIN WITH CONNECTION TO EXISTING ON SITE SERVICES AND ALL ASSOCIATED SITE WORKS

  Permission · Donegal County Council, 2461878

• 25 Jul 2024Conditional

  RENOVATIONS, ALTERATIONS AND EXTENSION WORKS TO EXISTING SINGLE STOREY DWELLING TO INCLUDE: (1) PART DEMOLITION OF EXISTING SINGLE STOREY DWELLING, (2) DEMOLITION OF EXISTING INTEGRATED GARAGE AND DETACHED SHED, (3) CARRYING OUT OF EXTENSIVE RENOVATIONS / ALTERATIONS TO REMAINDER OF EXISTING SINGLE STOREY DWELLING, TO INCLUDE RAISING OF WALLS AND ROOF, AND CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW EXTENSION (PART SINGLE STOREY, PART TWO STOREY), (4) CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW LINKED CARPORT AND DOMESTIC GARAGE TO THE REAR AND (5) ALL ASSOCIATED SITE DEVELOPMENT WORKS AND SERVICES

  Permission · Donegal County Council, 2461130

• 22 May 2023Conditional

  CONSTRUCTION OF A DWELLING HOUSE, PUMPED CONNECTION INTO FOUL WATER MAINS AND ASSOCIATED SITE DEVELOPMENT WORKS

  Permission, 1 home · Donegal County Council, 2350710

• 1 Mar 2021Conditional

  SINGLE STOREY EXTENSION TO THE SIDE ELEVATION AND RAISED EAVES LEVEL TO FRONT GABLE PROJECTION INCLUDING MINOR ELEVATIONAL AMENDMENTS AND PERMISSION FOR CONSTRUCTION OF A SINGLE STOREY ENTRANCE PORCH TO FRONT ELEVATION AND ASSOCIATED SITE WORKS

  Retention · Donegal County Council, 2150340

• 18 Sept 2019N/a

  CONSTRUCTION OF A SINGLE STOREY EXTENSION TO THE REAR OF AN EXISTING COTTAGE, ALL EXTERNAL ELEVATIONAL AMENDMENTS AND ASSOCIATED SITE DEVELOPMENT WORKS

  Retention · Donegal County Council, 1951412

• 8 Jul 2019Conditional

  ALTERATIONS TO THE EXISTING DWELLING WHICH INCLUDE, INCREASED GROUND FLOOR AREA, ADDITION OF FIRST FLOOR ACCOMODATION, ALTERATIONS TO ELEVATIONS, INCLUDING ASSOCIATED SITE WORKS

  Retention · Donegal County Council, 1951034

• 8 Mar 2018Conditional

  ERECTION OF A TEMPORARY PORTACABIN/ACCOMMODATION TO BE USED AS A PRE-SCHOOL ROOM WITH ASSOCIATED ANCILLARY FACILITIES, TOGETHER WITH ALL ASSOCIATED SITE WORKS AND CONNECTION TO EXISTING ON-SITE SERVICES

  Permission · Donegal County Council, 1850346

• 7 Jun 2017Conditional

  (1) CONSTRUCTION OF A GROUND FLOOR EXTENSION TO THE FRONT AND SIDE (2) PERMISSION TO RAISE/AMEND SECTIONS OF THE EXISTING ROOF TO INCORPORATE ADDITIONAL FIRST FLOOR AREA AND (3) MINOR ELEVATIONAL AMENDMENTS/IMPROVEMENTS AND ALL ASSOCIATED SITE WORKS

  Permission · Donegal County Council, 1750882

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 the townland of Raphoe Demesne.

Recorded monuments

• DG070-003003 House - fortified house
  Description

  Bishop's Palace: The Palace was built in 1636-7 by John Leslie, Bishop of Raphoe 1633-61. The foundation stone, a jambstone of the basement window in the E face of the NE tower, is inscribed IO LES--LAEVS EPS RAPOT IMVM POSVIT LAPIDEM 17 MAIII 1636 SVPREMVM 19 AVG 1637 TRANS-LAT SVAE 5°. His family bible contains a more extended record of its erection 'Hoc anna 1636 die Martis, 17 Maiii jacta sunt fundamenta castri Rapo-tensis; completum est aedificium 19 Augusti 1637—Translationis nostrae quinto, cum bono Deo, migravimus in novas aedes Jovis Die, 14 Decembris, 1637'. (Leslie 1885, 283 n.i). It cost some £3,500, but the expense was partly defrayed by leasing church lands in consideration of a grant towards the building of the Palace (Simmington 1937, 120, 121, 123). It was held by the Bishop during the Confederate wars but was taken by Cromwellian forces in 1650 (Leslie 1929, 13; Rowan 1979, 469). It was burned by the Jacobites in 1688 and was subsequently repaired by Bishop Cairncross and his successors (Harris 1739, 277, 281, 283; Beaufort 1787, fol. 15). Dr. William Bisset, shortly after his elevation to the see in 1822, improved the house by re-roofing and slating it and 'added parapet walls and gave it the appearance of a castle by adding minarets' (OS memoirs). The Palace was destroyed by fire in 1838 (Anonymous 1958, 54; Lecky 1905, 106). The ruins of the Bishop's Palace comprise a central, sub-square, four-storey block with four salient-angled bastion-like towers at the corners. The fortified nature of the residence is implicit in Bishop Leslie's own description of it as 'Raphoe Castle' (above) and the defensive character of the building is further reinforced by its prominent siting; it is protected on the N, W and S sides by steep slopes. The remains testify to many building periods and alterations, though it is possible to identify much of the original 17th century structure. Bishop Leslie's work was built in roughly-coursed rubble laid in mortar; the overground basement of the NE and SE towers preserves the original rectangular cut-stone windows with sinkings for two vertical iron bars. The upper storeys of the Palace may have had similar larger windows but at some stage, probably in the 18th century, they were removed and larger timber -framed windows inserted in their place. The original fortified house was four storeys high including basement and gabled storey; the double outlines of the latter are visible in the N and S walls. The towers, whose salient-angled walls are set back at third-storey level to square form, may not have been much higher than the present string course. The gables were subsequently truncated, the intervening spaces built up and the E and W walls raised to accommodate semi-circular windows. These windows were later enlarged to their present rectangular shape by Bishop Bisset when he added the string course with its mock machicolation on the W wall and the crenellated parapet and corner turrets with dummy cross-shaped loops on the towers. The building was partly divided by a short cross-wall which houses the fireplaces. The large kitchen fireplace in the basement has an adjoin-ing oven. The surviving N stop-chamfered jambs in the E face of the upper three storeys of the cross-wall indicate that each floor had been fitted with a large fireplace in the 17th century; these were subsequently blocked up and smaller brick-lined fireplaces inserted. The short stretch of cross-wall on the N has been completely modified and altered on the upper storeys. The main entrance to the Palace was on the first floor in the centre of the E wall; it was protected by a gun-loop beside it on the N. The Gibbsian surround is a secondary 18th century insertion and the original 17th century doorway may well be that which has been rebuilt in the N wall of the basement. It has chamfered jambs and lintel — and only a central section of the hollow-chamfered hood-mould survives; the remainder has been purposefully broken probably to facilitate harling. The lintel is carved with an escutcheon bearing the Leslie arms and is surmounted by a mitre; these are undoubtedly the arms of Bishop John Leslie. There are a number of gun-loops (some blocked--up) in the basement entrances to the salient-angled towers, which together with others in the towers at basement and first-floor level, provided flanking fire along the main walls of the house; the NW and SW towers have opposing gun-loops at second-floor level. The basement of the SW tower is cross-vaulted in brick; the earlier windows and loops were accordingly blocked up. When the Palace was built, the towers were fitted with fireplaces on the upper three storeys; these have been modified and altered at a later period. The entrance passages to the NW and SE towers preserve the original lintels which were sup-ported on wooden beams (now missing). The entrance passages to the NE tower have brick arches and those to the SW tower are brick-vaulted; that at second-storey level of the latter has fallen. The W face of the NE tower has been dressed at third-floor level to accommodate roof flashing, and bond-holes in the NW corner of the tower, and in the N wall to the W of basement doorway, indicate the limit of a later addition; no other visible trace of this building survives. There was a secondary hallway or porch built about the Gibbsian door at first-floor level (see photo in Lecky 1905, 47). Little now remains to indicate its existence except a few bond-holes and the moulded fragments of the pointed front door which now block the basement entrance passage to the NW tower. There are three armoiral plaques (DG070-003009-/010-/011-) built into the E side of the Palace; one in the N wall of the SE tower, the second in the S wall of the NE tower and the third (the Leslie Coat of Arms) in the E face of the latter tower. Beaufort noted a fourth armorial plaque (DG070-003012-) when he visited the Palace in 1787 (1787, fol. 17); it is probably that which is now in the front garden of a house in William Street in Raphoe. The above description was derived from the 'Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. A description of the field antiquities of the County from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century.' Compiled by: Brian Lacey with Eamon Cody, Claire Cotter, Judy Cuppage, Noel Dunne, Vincent Hurley, Celie O'Rahilly, Paul Walsh and Seán Ó Nualláin (Lifford: Donegal County Council, 1983). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Date of upload/revision: 15 December 2011

• DG070-003004 Round tower
  Description

  There was formerly a round tower at Raphoe. It was demolished by Bishop John Leslie when he built his palace in 1636-7 (Wood 1937, 304-5). It can be inferred from a reference to it in John Lynch's De Praesulibus Hibernicis (O'Doherty, ed. I, 1944, 243) that the bishop's palace occupies the site of this tower (Ó Gallachair 1973, 323 also Barrow 1979, 74-75). The above description was derived from the 'Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. A description of the field antiquities of the County from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century.' Compiled by: Brian Lacey with Eamon Cody, Claire Cotter, Judy Cuppage, Noel Dunne, Vincent Hurley, Celie O'Rahilly, Paul Walsh and Seán Ó Nualláin (Lifford: Donegal County Council, 1983). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Date of upload: 22 September 2008

• DG070-003009 Armorial plaque
  Description

  There are three armorial plaques (DG070-003009-/010-/011-) built into the E side of the Palace (DG070-003003-); one in the N wall of the SE tower, the second in the S wall of the NE tower and the third (the Leslie Coat of Arms) in the E face of the latter tower. Beaufort noted a fourth armorial plaque (DG070-003012-) when he visited the Palace in 1787 (1787, fol. 17); it is probably that which is now in the front garden of a house in William Street in Raphoe. The above description was derived from the 'Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. A description of the field antiquities of the County from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century.' Compiled by: Brian Lacey with Eamon Cody, Claire Cotter, Judy Cuppage, Noel Dunne, Vincent Hurley, Celie O'Rahilly, Paul Walsh and Seán Ó Nualláin (Lifford: Donegal County Council, 1983). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Date of upload/revision: 15 December 2011

• DG070-003010 Armorial plaque
  Description

  There are three armorial plaques (DG070-003009-/010-/011-) built into the E side of the Palace (DG070-003003-); one in the N wall of the SE tower, the second in the S wall of the NE tower and the third (the Leslie Coat of Arms) in the E face of the latter tower. Beaufort noted a fourth armorial plaque (DG070-003012-) when he visited the Palace in 1787 (1787, fol. 17); it is probably that which is now in the front garden of a house in William Street in Raphoe. The above description was derived from the 'Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. A description of the field antiquities of the County from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century.' Compiled by: Brian Lacey with Eamon Cody, Claire Cotter, Judy Cuppage, Noel Dunne, Vincent Hurley, Celie O'Rahilly, Paul Walsh and Seán Ó Nualláin (Lifford: Donegal County Council, 1983). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Date of upload/revision: 15 December 2011

• DG070-003011 Armorial plaque
  Description

  There are three armorial plaques (DG070-003009-/010-/011-) built into the E side of the Palace (DG070-003003-); one in the N wall of the SE tower, the second in the S wall of the NE tower and the third (the Leslie Coat of Arms) in the E face of the latter tower. Beaufort noted a fourth armorial plaque (DG070-003012-) when he visited the Palace in 1787 (1787, fol. 17); it is probably that which is now in the front garden of a house in William Street in Raphoe. The above description was derived from the 'Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. A description of the field antiquities of the County from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century.' Compiled by: Brian Lacey with Eamon Cody, Claire Cotter, Judy Cuppage, Noel Dunne, Vincent Hurley, Celie O'Rahilly, Paul Walsh and Seán Ó Nualláin (Lifford: Donegal County Council, 1983). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Date of upload/revision: 15 December 2011

• DG070-003012 Armorial plaque
  Description

  There are three armorial plaques (DG070-003009-/010-/011-) built into the E side of the Palace (DG070-003003-); one in the N wall of the SE tower, the second in the S wall of the NE tower and the third (the Leslie Coat of Arms) in the E face of the latter tower. Beaufort noted a fourth armorial plaque (DG070-003012-) when he visited the Palace in 1787 (1787, fol. 17); it is probably that which is now in the front garden of a house in William Street in Raphoe. The above description was derived from the 'Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. A description of the field antiquities of the County from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century.' Compiled by: Brian Lacey with Eamon Cody, Claire Cotter, Judy Cuppage, Noel Dunne, Vincent Hurley, Celie O'Rahilly, Paul Walsh and Seán Ó Nualláin (Lifford: Donegal County Council, 1983). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Date of upload/revision: 15 December 2011

Architectural heritage

• Old Royal School, school, 1730–1740 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached seven-bay three-storey former school, built c. 1737 and altered c. 1800, comprising central five-bay three-storey block with advanced single-bay three-storey blocks to either end of the front elevation (south), two-storey service block to the west, and with various single-, two-storey and three-storey additions and returns to the north and to the west. Originally a two-storey block with additional floor added to central block and advanced wings c. 1800. Now used as dormitory and living accommodation for Royal and Prior Secondary Comprehensive School. Hipped artificial slate roofs to main blocks having projecting cut stone eave course, cast-iron rainwater goods, and with two cut stone chimneystacks having cut stone stringcourses. Ruled-and-lined smooth rendered walls over projecting smooth rendered plinth. Roughcast rendered and smooth rendered walls to rear additions. Square-headed window openings to central block having cut stone sills and replacement windows. Venetian window openings to front elevations (south) of projecting wings at ground floor level having continuous cut stone sills, ashlar sandstone surrounds and mullions, cut stone cornices over outer openings, cut stone architraved surround over central round-headed opening; tripartite square-headed window openings over at second floor level having ashlar surrounds and mullions, continuous stone sills, and with replacement fittings. Some graffiti in window surrounds dating from c. 1833. Central square-headed doorway to the front elevation of main block having timber panelled door with bolection mouldings, brass door furniture, square-headed overlight with spider’s web motif, and with cut stone architraved surround. Flight of cut stone steps with cut stone threshold to entrance. Adjoining three-bay two-storey service block to west having artificial slate roof (fibre cement) tiled roof, cast-iron rainwater goods, roughcast rendered walls, and with depressed segmental-headed carriage-arch to west end. Attached four-bay two-storey service block to rear (north) with hipped slate roof, roughcast rendered walls and square-headed openings with modern timber casement windows. Attached single-bay three-storey modern extension to rear with flat roof, cement-rendered wall and modern windows. Set back from road in own grounds to the north-east of the centre of Raphoe and to the east of St. Eunan’s Church of Ireland church (see 40833001). Tarmacadam forecourt, lawns and gardens to the front (south), tarmacadam yards with rubble stone walls to the rear (north). Gateway to the south-west corner of site comprising a pair of smooth rendered gate piers (on square-plan) having pyramidal coping and with a pair of wrought-iron gates. Rendered boundary walls to road-frontage to the west. Modern school building located to the east.

• Church of Ireland Bishop’s Palace, bishop's palace, 1690–1700 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached five-bay three-storey over basement (four storey over basement to north) former bishop’s palace, built c. 1636-37 and altered c. 1695, c. 1740 and c. 1822, having full-height salient towers (on square-plan) to each of the four corners having bartizan projections to parapets of outer corners towers to the north-east and south-east towers having corbelled cut sandstone bases. Now ruinous and out of use (since being burnt in fire in c. 1838). Originally a lower building with upper storey or stories added c. 1740. Crenellated brick parapets in brick with cut stone copings over (some now missing). Red brick chimneystack with remains of roughcast lime render over to the inner face of tower to the south-west. Rubble stone walls with remains of roughcast lime render with limewash over (visible in sections) to exterior. Tooled cut stone (sandstone?) cornice stringcourse to towers above second floor level and to north elevation of main body of building above second floor level. Cut stone stringcourse to base of parapet. Blind cut stone cross loop motifs to parapets of towers; cut stone loops to bartizan towers. Cut stone armorial plaques (see RMP (DG070-003009-/010-/011-) to three of the salient angled towers; foundation stone (a jamb stone) to basement window to the east face of the tower to the north-east inscribed ‘IO LES--LAEVS EPS RAPOT IMVM POSVIT LAPIDEM 17 MAIII 1636 SVPREMVM 19 AVG 1637 TRANS-LAT SVAE 5°’. Square-headed window openings with some surviving cut stone sills; window fittings now gone. Loop and cross loop openings to central bays to some elevations. Gun loops to towers at basement level and to inner faces of towers at first floor level, some now blocked. Square-headed doorway to the east elevation, added c. 1740, having cut stone Gibbsian block-and-start surround with architraves, cut stone Gibbsian keystone, and with cut stone triangular pediment over. Square-headed doorway to the north elevation at basement level with cut stone surround with chamfered jambs and lintel. Brick construction to interior at basement level; brick-lined fireplace at basement level; cross vaulted brick construction to tower to the south-west; brick arches to entrance passage to the north-east tower. Set back from road in elevated site to the east\south-east of the Diamond, Raphoe, and to the south-east of associated Church of Ireland cathedral (see 40833001). Gateway (see 40833033) and former gate lodge (see 40833050) to the north.

• House, 1880–1900 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached two-bay two-storey house, built c. 1890, having advanced gable-fronted bay to the east end of the front elevation (north) with slightly recessed flat-roofed sections to either side (east and west), single-storey extension to the west end of main body of building, and with two-bay two-storey return to the rear (south). Pitched natural slate roofs to main body of building, gable-fronted bay and return having cast-iron rainwater goods, clay ridge tiles, projecting rendered eaves course and two rendered chimneystacks with clay pots over. Hipped natural slate roof to single-storey block to the west. Ruled-and-lined cement rendered walls. Square-headed window openings to main body of building and return having two-over-two pane timber sliding sash windows; segmental-headed window opening to the gable-fronted bay at first floor level having paired one-over-one pane timber sliding sash windows with central timber mullion; segmental-headed window openings to the west elevation of gable-fronted breakfront having timber sliding sash windows. Majority of sash windows are hornless. Segmental-headed doorway to the gable-fronted bay having timber panelled door with bolection mouldings, overlight with leaded coloured glass, and sidelights over timber panels with bolection mouldings. Stone threshold and step to entrance. Set slightly back from road to the north-east of the centre of Raphoe. Sections of rubble stone boundary walls to either side.

• House, 1780–1820 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached two-storey three-bay house, built, c. 1800. Possibly originally associated with the former bishop’s palace (see 40833005) adjacent to the south-west. Now in use as a house. Steeply pitched hipped graded natural slate roof having blue clay ridge tiles, cast-iron rainwater goods, two central cement rendered chimneystacks to ridge, and slightly overhanging ashlar stone slab eaves course. Roughcast rendered walls over smooth rendered plinth course, and with smooth rendered rusticated block-and-start quoins to the corners. Square-headed window openings with smooth rendered reveals, stone sills, and mostly six-over-six pane timber sliding sash windows with no horns. Replacement timber casement windows to the west end of the front elevation (south) and to the majority of the openings to the rear (north). Central segmental-headed doorway to the south elevation having timber panelled door with lancet heads to top panels, three pane sidelights, and with spider’s web fanlight over. Located in the shadow of the former bishop’s palace (located adjacent to the south-west), and to the east of the centre of Raphoe.

• Unknown, monument, 1790–1800 · Regional interest
  Description

  Inscribed stone feature\monument dated 1797, comprising a stone slab (on square-plan) inscribed to one face. The inscription now indecipherable (on site) apart from date ‘1797’ to lower section. Evidence of concrete bedding to base. Now uprooted/moved and now lies abandoned alongside discarded items of farm equipment adjacent to a Georgian house (see 40833008) and a short distance to the north-east of the former Church of Ireland bishop’s palace (see 40833005). Located within former Raphoe Demesne to the south-east of the Diamond, Raphoe.

• Church of Ireland Bishop’s Palace, gates/railings/walls, demesne walls/gates/railings, 1700–1830 · Regional interest
  Description

  Gateway associated with the former Church of Ireland Bishop’s Palace (see 40833005), erected c. 1740 or 1822 and possibly containing earlier fabric, comprising a pair of castellated rubble stone gate piers (on polygonal-plan) having crenellated parapet over with projecting cut stone stringcourse to base of parapet and with cut stone coping over, and with a pair of wrought-iron gates with cast-iron finials. Blind rectangular loops to piers having remains of cut sandstone surrounds. Sections of crenellated walling to either side (north and south) with integral segmental-headed pedestrian entrance to the south section having rubble stone voussoirs and wrought-iron gate with cast-iron finials. Former gate lodge (see 40833050) adjacent to the north side of gateway and section of rubble stone walling to the south running perpendicular to gateway. Located to the north of the former bishop’s palace and adjacent to the east of the grounds of St. Eunan’s Church of Ireland Cathedral (see 40833001).

• Victor Holmes and Sons, house, 1820–1885 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached three-storey three-bay house and former constabulary barracks, built c. 1830 and extended and altered c. 1885, having single-bay two-storey extension to east. Now in use as use as a carpet and furniture warehouse and garden centre with modern two-storey flat-roofed extension to rear (south). Pitched natural slate roof with projecting cut stone eaves course, blue clay ridge tiles, cast-iron rainwater goods (gutters supported on wrought-iron brackets) and four cement rendered chimneystacks (one to either gable end and two to the centre). Smooth rendered ruled-and-lined walls with painted block-and start raised quoins to corners and painted plinth to base. Square-headed window openings at first and second floor level having stone sills, and with paired one-over-one pane timber sliding sash windows with central timber mullion. Enlarged square-headed window openings at ground floor level having fixed-pane timber display windows. Enlarged square-headed doorway to centre of main block having modern glazed timber door, and modern sidelights and overlight. Set back from road in own grounds to the north-east of the centre of Raphoe. Tarmacadam forecourt to the north and garden centre to the east having rubble stone boundary wall to road-frontage to north.

• Church of Ireland Bishop's Palace, gate lodge, building misc, 1700–1750 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached four-bay two-storey building or former gate lodge associated with the former Church of Ireland Bishop’s Palace (see 40833005), built c. 1740 and possibly containing earlier fabric. Now out of use. Steeply sloping hipped natural slate or stone roof with cast-iron rainwater goods, projecting stone eaves course and central single large rubble stone chimneystack with stone coping. Limewashed rubble stone walls. Square-headed window openings with stone sills, and with two six-over-three pane timber sliding sash windows and single six-pane timber window and ground floor level, and two six-pane timber casement windows at first floor level. Single square-headed half-dormer window opening and square-headed window openings to the west elevation, now blocked. Blank elevation to the rear (north). Square-headed doorway to the east end of the south elevation having replacement battened timber door. Set back from road adjacent to main entrance gates (see 40833033) to the former Church of Ireland Bishop’s Palace (see 40833005), and at the start of laneway approaching ruins of main building to the south. Aligned at a right-angle to the road-alignment. Rear adjoins grounds of the Royal School (see 40833004) and located to the east of the Diamond to the centre of Raphoe.

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

Radon

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

Landslides

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

Terrain model

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

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.

No address of the register names Raphoe Demesne with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Donegal.

Name

Raphoe Demesne

Area

509,595 m² (50.96 ha, 125.92 acres)

Civil parish

Raphoe, and its townlands

Barony

Raphoe North

Electoral division

Raphoe, the unit of the census

Census 2022

1,521 people lived in 591 households in the Raphoe electoral division. 59% of households owned their home. 33% of homes were built since 2001. 12% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 2% were holiday homes.

Neighbouring townlands

Difflin, Gortaquigley, Magheraboy, Magherahaan, Raphoe Townparks

Placenames

Raphoe Demesne on logainm.ie, the Placenames Database of Ireland

Townlands, civil parishes, baronies and electoral divisions, National Statutory Boundaries, Tailte Éireann, CC BY 4.0. Census 2022, Small Area Population Statistics by electoral division, Central Statistics Office, CC BY 4.0. A townland is the smallest land division of Ireland, and the unit of a rural address. Old registers such as the 1901 and 1911 censuses file it under its civil parish and barony.