Oughtdarra

34 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Oughtdarra, from 13 m² to 369,843 m² (36.98 ha, 91.39 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary; 10 neighbouring parcels touch it.

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

No zone of a development plan covers Oughtdarra 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.

• 14 Dec 2023Conditional

  to demolish section of the existing dwelling at the rear and construct a new replacement extension; (b) construct a new front porch; (c) minor elevational alterations; (d) install new domestic wastewater treatment system; (e) all associated site works and services

  Permission · Clare County Council, 2360544

• 13 Mar 2023Conditional

  and completion of the workshop storage shed, lean to, machinery area & all other associated site and ancillary works on the farmyard

  Retention · Clare County Council, 23156

• 24 Jan 2023Conditional

  of the existing dwelling house as constructed together with ancillary site works

  Retention · Clare County Council, 2334

• 16 Sept 2022Conditional

  of (a) domestic garage and (b) Permission to alter site boundary granted under planning reference P00/573 together with ancillary site works

  Retention · Clare County Council, 22832

• 19 Aug 2022Conditional

  the development will consist of gym/garden room and detached domestic garage ancillary to existing dwelling together with associated site works

  Permission · Clare County Council, 22747

Source: National Planning Applications, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Applicants are not shown.

Designated sites

• Special Area of Conservation: Black Head-Poulsallagh Complex SAC 000020
• Proposed Natural Heritage Area: Black Head-Poulsallagh Complex 000020

Recorded monuments

• CL004-051 Promontory fort - inland
  Description

  On a high limestone SW-facing headland with an equally high cliff 25m to the E, with excellent views from S to NW and within an extensive field system (CL004-027001-). Described by Westropp (1905, 207; 1905, 345) as ‘the great inland promontory fort of Doonaunmore’ with ‘its strange "farbreag" or detached pinnacle near the southern end’ and named ‘Dúnán Mór promontory fort’ on Robinson’s (1977) map. A subrectangular area (176m NE-SW; c. 90m NW-SE), defined across the neck of the headland at NE by a double-faced wall that curves outwards and is most substantial towards the middle (max. Wth 5.4m; H 2.4-2.7m). In general, the facing survives best externally. The N end of this wall is less substantial (Wth 0.8m; int. H 0.8-1.7m; ext. H 1.4-2m). A stone spread (Wth 2.5-4m; H 0.8-1m) defines the SE side of the promontory and at SW and W there are natural cliff edges. Westropp (1905, 346) noted an internal terrace (Wth 0.91m; H 1.5m) and one, if not two, vertical joints on the exterior. The interior rises in a stepped fashion and is c. 10-14m above the outer ground level. A hut site (CL004-051002-) abuts the inside of the NE wall. Several other huts are illustrated along this wall by Westropp (1905, 349) but were no longer clearly visible on inspection in 1998 and are not visible on Digital Globe. A slab wall extends north from the promontory and then turns NW, where c. 150m away it meets a small field system of potential antiquity. A later field wall extends from the promontory fort at NW. Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Lynda McCormack Date of upload: 13 June 2022

• CL004-051002 Hut site
  Description

  In the NNE extent of a promontory fort (CL004-051----). The NE rampart is variously depicted by Westropp (1905, 344, 349) with three hut sites abutting the inner wall or with three hut sites abutting the wall and a fourth smaller hut site located to the SSW. Westropp (1905, 346) notes that ‘inside the wall are traces of hut-enclosures nearly levelled’ and Cunningham (1980, 18) also refers to ‘the remains of houses inside’. On field inspection in 1998, only one hut site (7m NW-SE; 5.5m NE-SW; H 0.5m; T 0.5m) was visible. Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Lynda McCormack Date of upload: 13 June 2022

• CL004-053 Enclosure
  Description

  Encompassing the level summit of a high, steep-sided knoll which provides panoramic views over the surrounding upland karstic landscape bordered by the sea at W. This large, solitary knoll forms a strikingly unusual and prominent feature in the landscape, rising from a natural grassy depression towards the S edge of the upland rocky plateaux which stretch to N, and overlooking a broad sweep of undulating grassy lowlands to S. The slopes of the knoll are broken by rock-outcropping which also breaks through in parts around the summit. At its base, the knoll is encircled by dense hazel scrub, which has spread up the N and E slopes. Referred to as ‘the curious, though much levelled, hill-fort of Croaghateeaun’ by Westropp (1905, 207; 1905, 342) who describes ‘a flattened summit surrounded by the foundations of a strong ring-wall’ (int. dims. 18.28m E-W; 16.45m N-S) with walls (Wth 2.43-3.35m) composed of large blocks (L 1.21-1.82m). The enclosure was poorly preserved but with visible foundations and a SSE-facing entrance is described and depicted by Westropp (1905, 345 and 347) as faced with large blocks and ‘widening inward’ (Wth 1-1.82m). The enclosure is referred to as ‘the fairy hill of Croghateeaun (Cruach An tSidheain), crowned by a small but strong fort’ by Cunningham (1980, 18). A rough wall of close-set/contiguous large boulders encircles the roughly circular, flat summit of the knoll. The enclosed space (diam. 15-16m) more or less encompasses the full available space on the summit. On the E arc the wall is set 2-3m in from the break of slope, but at S and NW−N it coincides with the summit edge. At SW−NW the perimeter is defined by a stretch of rock outcropping with a vertical external face. A few large stones protrude from the interior surface, with a block of outcrop in the SE quadrant. There appears to be a gap in the wall at NNW, which may be an original entrance. It faces the more moderately sloping N side of the knoll. The NW side of this slope has a narrow raised spine which provides a natural ramp-like pathway which curves gently down the slope, with rock outcropping and loose stones defining the length of its outer NW face. This appears to be a natural feature, but may have been utilised/modified in the past to serve as a routeway to the summit – it is unclear whether some of the stones along its outer edge might be remnants of walling. The following images have been uploaded: CL004-053----_01.jpg Knoll from NE CL004-053----_02.jpg Knoll from NW CL004-053----_03.jpg Summit of knoll with arc of boulders, from NW CL004-053----_04.jpg Boulders on SE arc CL004-053----_05.jpg Boulders on SE arc CL004-053----_06.png Drawing from Westropp 1905, 347 Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Jane O'Shaughnessy Date of upload: 10 November 2021

• CL004-055001 Ringfort - cashel
  Description

  In a low-lying and sheltered area located 100m to the SW of a vertical rock face and overgrown with whitethorn, hazel and briars and within a multiperiod field system (CL004-027001-). Hachured on the 1915 OS 6-inch map. Listed as ‘enclosure’ in the RMP (1996). Described by Westropp (1905, 345) as ‘a late circular enclosure with a much older-looking semicircular mound inside’. An irregular shaped cashel (est. dims. c. 29m N-S; c. 28 E-W) defined by a wall (int. H 1m; ext. H 1.2m in SE) and a stone spread (T c. 2-2.5m; int. H 1.2m; ext. H 1.2m). The wall is best preserved at NW (L c. 15m; T 0.5m; ext. H 1.4m) but the upper sections are of dubious antiquity. A gap at NE may be for cattle. In the N of the cashel interior, an overgrown rectangular area (est. dims. c. 11m NE-SE; c. 8m NW-SE) is defined by a wall (T 3.9m at S; int. H 1.7m; ext. H 1.7m) which abuts the cashel. A hut site (CL004-055002-) is located c. 35m to the E and an enclosure (CL004-055003-) is located c. 77m to the NE. Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Lynda McCormack Date of upload: 28 September 2022

• CL004-055002 Hut site
  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.

• CL004-055003 Enclosure
  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.

• CL004-056001 Ringfort - cashel
  Description

  On the E-facing slopes of a high crag with views of the Aran Islands and a part of Galway Bay but with otherwise limited views and with a possible megalithic structure (CL004-056002-) located SW of centre. Hachured on the 1915 OS 6-inch map. Listed as ‘enclosure’ in the RMP (1996). Described by Westropp (1905, 346-7) as ‘a little shallow amphitheatre of crag’ ‘called “Tuam an Gaskaigh”; the edge of the depression is fenced at the top by an old wall, 4 feet 6 inches to 5 feet thick, of large, regularly-laid slabs. A slighter wall, nearly levelled, runs straight across the little depression from one end of the crescent wall to the other, forming a D-shaped enclosure, with the curve to the south. In the bottom of the hollow is the "giant's grave." ‘. A subcircular cashel (est. dims. 36m N-S; 30m E-W) defined by a low wall (H 0.5-1.1m; T 0.8-1.1m). The interior of the cashel is lower especially from E to NW and is rocky, especially in the S. On field inspection in 1998 possible huts were visible against the perimeter of the cashel wall at ENE and W and a third potential structure was visible against the perimeter of the cashel wall at NW. Boulders which were visible in the S, aligned NE-SW were potentially the megalithic structure (CL004-056002-) described by Westropp (1905, 347) but were considered of dubious antiquity. Stone walls abut the external perimeter at ESE, SSE, NW and with a lower wall to the N. An enclosure (CL004-055003-) is located c. 85m to the SSE. Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Lynda McCormack Date of upload: 28 September 2022

• CL004-056002 Megalithic structure
  Description

  Within a cashel (CL004-056001-) and described by Westropp (1905, 347) as located ‘In the bottom of the hollow’ …’A north slab enclosure, nearly square, two north slabs leaving a gap between them; a large block to each side, and four in a row to the south; the space measures 6 feet 8 inches north and south, but the sides are now disturbed.’. Referred to by Westropp as ‘Tuam’ and depicted as within the cashel on his plan (1905, 344). On field inspection in 1998 there was no trace of a megalithic structure. A rough alignment of stones orientated NE-SW was visible within the cashel but was considered of dubious antiquity. In the NW extent of the cashel a natural hollow may be the hollow which is referred to by Westropp (1905, 347) as the location of the ‘giant’s grave’. An enclosure (CL004-055003-) is located c. 85m to the SSE. Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Lynda McCormack Date of upload: 28 September 2022

• CL004-057001 Church
  Description

  In a sheltered hollow overlooked by higher ground on all sides. Indicated and named ‘Oughtdarra Church (in ruins)’ with associated graveyard (CL004-057002-) on the 1842 and 1915 OS 6-inch maps. Described by O’Donovan (1839) as ‘another small Church in the Townland of Oghtdara’ (Comber 1997, 103). Described by Westropp (1900, 135) as poorly preserved with ‘a few feet of the walls’ remaining ‘in a graveyard’ and with the founder unknown ‘Possibly the "Wafferig," of 1302, and the Owghtory, of 1584’. Later described by Westropp (1905, 343) as a ‘little ruined oratory’ attributed to ‘Sionnach macDara’ (int. dims. L 11.1m; Wth 5.6m; H 2.5m) with masonry of a ‘late type’ and a S door with ‘a bold chamfer’. Referred to by Cunningham (1980, 17) as a ruined church (Wth 6m; L 12m) ‘sited in a seven acre walled enclosure, part of which is now locally called the Orchard. Cunningham also notes that ‘As bones were constantly turning up, the owners of the land, the Kellehers, ceased tilling’ (ibid.). Described by Swinfen (1992, 127-8) with a shed in one corner constructed from reused stone and dedicated to ‘St Sionach Mac Dara, who lived in the sixth century’. Swinfen also notes that ‘the derivation of Oughtdara from St MacDara is thought to be doubtful’ (ibid.). The overgrown church (L 12m; Wth 5.1-6.5m) is orientated E-W with walls (T 0.73m) of roughly coursed and dressed rubble. The N wall is best preserved (L 5m; H 2.3m) but nothing of the E wall remains. A section of the S wall (L 2m; int. H 2.75m; ext. H 2.65m) remains where it forms a corner with the W wall (L 2m; H 1.4m). A large stoup (L 0.47m; Wth 0.33m; H 0.25m) is located on the low remains of the S wall and the basin in the centre is semicircular (L 0.25m; Wth 0.2m; D 0.1m). This would originally have projected from the church wall and was mistakenly referred to as a bullaun (Swinfen 1992). A holy well (CL004-057003-) mentioned by Westropp was not in evidence on inspection in 1998 nor was a souterrain (CL004-057004-) apparently located c. 30m to the SSW. Portion of the graveyard became a children's burial ground (CL004-057006-). The following image has been uploaded: CL004-057001-_01.jpg View of stoup (from Swinfen 1992) Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Lynda McCormack Date of upload: 5 October 2022

• CL004-057002 Graveyard
  Description

  In a sheltered hollow overlooked by higher ground on all sides. Indicated as an irregular area (c. 38m N-S; c. 20m E-W) and named ‘Grave Yard’ on the 1842 OS 6-inch map with a church (CL004-057001-) within and named ‘Grave Yard (Disused)’ on the 1915 ed. No evidence of the graveyard or the boundary indicated on the OS maps was noted on field inspection in 1998. Described by Westropp (1900, 135) as a poorly preserved church ‘in a graveyard’. The southern portion of the graveyard as marked on the 1842 map was used as a children’s burial ground (CL004-057006-). Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Lynda McCormack Date of upload: 5 October 2022

• CL004-057004 Souterrain
  Description

  A souterrain ‘said to be 30yds SSW of church’ is noted on the SMR file (‘OPW files, Sheet 4’). On field inspection in 1998 the souterrain was not visible. Warren (1892, 445-6) references a letter of 1780 published in the ‘Saunders News-letter’ from ‘Burren, in the county of Clare’, describing an underground stone-cut burial chamber or crypt with an undated memorial stone ‘near the Abbey of St Daragh’. It is unclear if this is the location in question of if it is to this that the OPW note refers. Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Lynda McCormack Date of upload: 10 October 2022

• CL004-057006 Children's burial ground
  Description

  In a sheltered hollow overlooked by higher ground on all sides. Many low rough stone gravemarkers lie S of Oughtdarra Church (CL004-057001-) within the graveyard (CL004-057002-). In 1905 Westropp (1905, 343) noted that ‘only children under seven years of age are buried in the little graveyard’. Described by Cunningham (1980, 16) as in use until recently as a burial place for unbaptised children and those under seven years of age. Compiled by: Mary Tunney Date of upload: 10 October 2022

• CL004-057007 Ecclesiastical enclosure
  Description

  Curving field boundaries around Oughtdarra church (CL004-057001-) on the OS 25-inch and 1915 OS 6-inch maps may indicate a former ecclesiastical enclosure. A portion from SSE to N (chord c. 63m) some 33m W of the church is still extant as a boundary and is visible on Digital Globe. Cunningham (1980, 16) also described Oughtdarra church (CL004-057001-) as sited within a seven-acre walled enclosure, part of which was locally called the Orchard. That enclosure (c. 237m E-W; c. 123m N-S) is depicted on the OS 1840 map and may represent later boundaries around the site. Compiled by: Mary Tunney Date of upload: 10 October 2022

• CL004-064 Ringfort - cashel
  Description

  On flat ground with higher rocky ground to the E and SE with good views of the sea and lower ground to the W. Indicated on the 1915 OS 6-inch map. Described by Westropp (1905, 349) as ‘an irregular bawn, with two low "posts" of about 5 feet apart’. A roughly square cashel (27m NW-SE; 25m NE-SW) defined by a collapsed and poorly preserved drystone wall which is best preserved at E where the outer wall is visible (Wth 2m; int. H 1.8m; ext. H 1.6m). The cashel is defined at SW by a bank of stone and earth which is overgrown with briars and between WNW and NNE it is defined by a low stony bank which forms a broad spread (Wth c. 5m). In the interior there are rocky areas towards the centre and in the S. The fields to the N and E have been reclaimed and material has been piled on and near the edge of the cashel at the N and E. On inspection in 1998 there were no ‘posts’ visible. Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Lynda McCormack Date of upload: 30 November 2022

• CL004-123 Ritual site - holy well
  Description

  On an upland karstic plateau, towards the S end of in a narrow ‘valley’ between rising rocky slopes, and within an extensive field system (CL004-027001-). According to local tradition, this is a holy well (pers. comm. Pat McNamara, Dereen West, Fanore). The well is enclosed within a subrectangular enclosure (ext. 2.7m E−W; 2.2m N−S) defined by a drystone wall (Wth 0.4-0.5m; H 0.65m) built of 4-5 courses of large limestone slabs and stones, with a narrow entrance gap (Wth 0.25-0.3m) at the S end of the W wall. The E wall is built against a rising bedrock scarp. A limestone block rests on top of the enclosing wall at NE; a solution hollow on the upper surface of this stone contains a number of coins (votive offers). The well interior was dry and grassed-over on the day of visit. The following images have been uploaded: CL004-123----_01.jpg View from W CL004-123----_02.jpg View from E CL004-123----_03.jpg View from NE with stone containing coins CL004-123----_04.jpg Stone with coins Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Jane O'Shaughnessy Date of upload: 10 November 2021

• CL004-124 Hut site
  Description

  On a W-facing slope on Knockauns Mountain and within an extensive field system (CL004-027001-). A circular hut site (diam. c. 9m) defined by a grassed-over stone wall and visible on OSi Aerial Premium (2012-2018) orthophotographs and reported to the National Monuments Service by Ros Ó Maoldúin. Contemporary field walls adjacent to the N may have formed a larger enclosure. Compiled by: Mary Tunney Date of upload: 13 June 2022

Architectural heritage

No building of the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage stands in the townland of Oughtdarra.

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 5 homes in this area is likely to have high radon levels. Testing a home

Landslides

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

Terrain model

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

Flooding

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

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

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

Name

Oughtdarra · Ucht Dara

Area

1,175,865 m² (117.59 ha, 290.56 acres)

Civil parish

Killilagh, and its townlands

Barony

Corcomroe

Electoral division

Cloghaun, the unit of the census

Census 2022

Cloghaun electoral division: 201 people in 73 households; 86% of households own their home; 39% of homes were built since 2001; 21% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 18% were holiday homes.

Neighbouring townlands

Ballynahown, Ballynalackan, Ballyryan, Carrownycleary, Crumlin

Placenames

Oughtdarra 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.