Ardshanbally
Ardshanbally is a townland in the civil parish of Adare, barony of Coshma, Co. Limerick. Its name in Irish is Ard an tSeanbhaile.
Parcel 1597686
- Area
- 19,578 m² (1.96 ha, 4.84 acres)
- Buildings
- 3 buildings touch it. Their footprint covers 434 m².
- Zoning
- R2 Existing Residential (Adare Local Area Plan 2024-2030) The objective
P1 Agriculture (Adare Local Area Plan 2024-2030) The objective - Townland
- Ardshanbally
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
- Special Area of Conservation: Lower River Shannon SAC 002165
Recorded monuments around it
This parcel is in the zone of notification of 19 recorded monuments.
- LI021-032001 Historic town
Description
The historic town of Adare was described in the Urban Survey of Limerick (Bradley et. al. 1989, 1-3) as following: 'The picturesque town of Adare is situated approximately eight miles to the south west of Limerick on the main road to Tralee. It lies to the south of the Maigue river and the placename is thought to derive from Ath Dara "the ford of the oaks". There is no evidence for pre-Norman settlement at Adare. The suggestion has been made that the castle (LI021-032003-) was built on the site of a pre-Norman ringfort (Rynne 1964) but recent research indicates that it is more likely that this was in fact an Anglo-Norman ringwork castle. Little is known of the history of Adare under the Anglo-Normans but the impressive series of remains indicate that it was a substantial settlement in the thirteenth century. The settlement received the right to hold a fair in 1226 (Sweetman 1876-85, i, no. 1415) and clear evidence of its incorporated borough status is provided by the grant of murage in 1310 (Ir. Rec. Comm. 1829, 42). The town was attacked and burned in 1376 (ibid., 72) it is likely that its decline in importance dates from that time. The high density of important monuments at Adare indicates that it was a sizeable settlement during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. It subsequently declined, however, to such a degree that locating the site of the borough poses difficulties. In addition, the village was replanned in the nineteenth century by the earls of Dunraven and much of what had survived, in the form of property boundaries, was swept away at that time. The concentration of the parish church, Augustinian friary (LI021-032006-) and Trinitarian abbey (LI021-032008-), south of the river suggests that this was the main centre of settlement but the presence of both the castle and the Franciscan friary (LI021-032007-) on the north bank suggests that settlement may have existed here also. An important aid in determining the position of the medieval settlement is a map showing the layout of the village before it was replanned by the Dunravens. This indicates that Adare Manor demesne grew at the expense of the village and incorporated parts of the medieval borough site within its estate wall. Evidence that Adare was protected by defences is provided by a grant of murage in 1310 (IR. Rec. Comm. 1829, 42) and by reference to the repair of the town walls in 1376 (ibid., 72). There is no surviving trace of these defences nor can their course be outlined. It is possible that they may have consisted of earthen ramparts with timber palisades.' However Dunraven (1865, 295) described earthworks belonging to the medieval settlement of Adare when he wrote that the, 'road from the Market-place to the Spittle-gate, is the present avenue within the Demesne leading from the Town to the new Stables, which are erected near the words Spittle-gate. The Manor House is situated at the bend of the river in P. Creagh's Burgess land. The marks of the old fence or ditch [LI021-032013-], extending from Spittle-gate to Castle Plo[ugh]land, are still plainly visible'. Thomas (1992, 2-3) suggested the most likely location for the medieval settlement was north of the river enclosing the parish church (LI021-032004-), castle (LI021-032003-) and road to the bridge (LI021-032002-). The 1656 Down Survey parish map of Ballingaddy [NLI, MS 718] shows the layout of the medieval town (before the new town planned by the Dunravens in the 19th century) and indicates that the demesne of the 19th century Adare Manor grew at the expense of this town incorporating parts of the medieval borough within its walls (Purcell 2019, 6; Bradley et al. 1989, 3). McCutcheon (1999, Fig. 15, 55-6) identified the line of the town defences forming the eastern boundary of the historic settlement running through the parkland of Adare Manor. Recent archaeological monitoring of ground works carried out at Adare Manor Hotel and Golf Resort between February 2016 and September 2017 under licence number 16E096 by Avril Purcell revealed significant archaeological deposits dating to the medieval period with a concentration of features in the vicinity of the new entrance [ITM 546885/646489] to the hotel and golf resort in April 2017. These features were excavated by Avril Purcell under licence No. 17E0203 from May to August 2017. The results of her excavations were summarised as following; 'The deposits comprised part of a medieval burgage plot extending east from the N21 and small parts to two adjoining plots to the north and south. Neither the street-fronting portions at the western end of the plots nor the rear portions at the eastern end were identified in the excavation. The main plot was defined by a slot trench (which would have supported a timber fence) to the north and south and these trenches were subject to modifications, partial removal and possibly repair during their life. A large number of pits and slot trenches as well as occasional post holes and build-up layers were the main features within the plots. No definitive structural remains were found but tentative remains were identified. In excess of 5,000 finds were recovered from the excavations and work in associated areas of the site, the vast majority of which were medieval in date. The largest volume of material recovered was ceramics; the pottery was largely locally made ware with a small quantity of imported material including Saintonge ware from SW France. A large quantity of roof or peg tiles was recovered, specifically from certain areas. Metal objects in iron (nails and knife blades), copper alloy (finger rings, a buckle, tweezers and thin strips) and lead (a weight and two perforated weights) were recovered as well as a large amount of iron slag. There was a large quantity of animal bone as well as a small number of spindle whorls. A small number of stone objects were also found including hone stones. In 2018 Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) published a lidar survey, undertaken in 2010/11, of the N21 and adjoining land. The survey included the area of the excavation at the entrance to Adare Manor and a large portion of the western side of the historic demesne lands. The survey revealed an extensive pattern of settlement with E-W plots extending from both sides of the N21, remarkably similar in layout to the representation shown on the Down Survey map of 1656. At the eastern end of the settlement a well-defined pair of parallel features extending north towards the River Maigue strongly suggests the presence of a significant defensive bank and ditch. On further analysis this feature is also apparent on a 2005 OSI aerial photograph. The results of the excavation combined with the representation on the TII lidar survey indicate that the 13/14th century town was indeed to the south of the river and continued in this location into the 17th century when it was depicted on the 1656 Down Survey map [NLI, MS 718]. The excavation represents a very small portion of the settlement which given the scale of the deposits recovered appears to have been relatively short lived, extending over just a number of generations' (Purcell 2019, 2). See attached 1656 Down Survey parish map showing the burgage plots of Adare, Courtesy of the National Library of Ireland and Transport Ireland Infrastructure Lidar Image of Adare Compiled and revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 13 January 2019
- LI021-032002 Bridge
Description
The historic bridge of Adare was described in the Urban Survey of Limerick (Bradley et. al. 1989, 3) as following: 'According to Lewis (1837, i, 8-9) a bridge of fourteen arches was built here by the 5th earl of Kildare [Desmond?]. The present bridge is of more recent date'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 04 November 2019
- LI021-032003 Castle - Anglo-Norman masonry castle
Description
National monument No. 622. Adare Castle described in the Urban Survey (Bradley et. al. 1989, 3-15) as following: 'Desmond castle is situated on low-lying ground on the north bank of the Maigue river just above Adare bridge. It is in poor condition and is heavily overgrown. It consists of a sub-rectangular enclosure, measuring about 90m E-W by 65m N-S externally, with the north-west corner cut off by a water-filled moat to form a rounded inner ward measuring 33.5m E-W by 31.5m N-S. Both inner and outer wards are surrounded by curtain walls, which are virtually intact, and both are entered through rectangular gatehouses. At the east side of the inner ward is a large square keep of 13th century date, as is much of the curtain wall. Along the south side of the outer ward, fronting the river, is a range of buildings possibly of later medieval date, while much of the outer curtain on the north and east may also be of later medieval date. The masonry of all structures is predominantly of roughly coursed limestone rubble. THE OUTER WARD This is entered through a gatehouse on the west side and consists of an L-shaped space with buildings along the south range. The Gatehouse This is rectangular, measuring 6m E-W by 5m N-S and is about 8.5m high. It has two floors with a parapet above; there is a base batter on the north and west sides. The entrance is a large round arched opening, in the west wall, c. 4m high and 2.3m wide, rising to a height of c. 5.5m behind. Two holes flanking the top of the arch externally may indicate the former presence of a drawbridge; a portcullis groove is present. In the east wall the round arch is c. 5.m high and 3.2m wide. The passage had a timber ceiling, carried on ledges in the north and south walls. At first floor level there are splayed rectangular loops, now blocked, in the east and west walls. Above first floor level is a wall walk with crenelated parapet. South of the gatehouse, on the east side, is a wall c. 3m high which seems to be bonded into the gatehouse. There are no openings in the wall and the ground level of the space between it and the curtain wall to the west is c. 2.50m above ground level of the outer ward. The function of this enclosed space and its exact relation to the gatehouse is unclear. The West Hall Both the curtain wall and the inner wall south of the gatehouse were interrupted by the later insertion of the western-most building of the south range: a rectangular hall-like structure, 20m E-W by 11m N-S, of two floors with wall walk around a gabled roof. The east gable is almost intact, c. 9m high, but with the exception of the N return, the west wall is missing above ground floor level. The north and south walls stand to their full height of 6.5m but most of the parapet above them is missing. The ground floor is entered through a doorway with a modern segmental arch but having its original pivot stone and bar holes. In the south wall are three splayed loops: that on the west is a restoration. Around the base of the north, south and east walls, internally, a more recent facing of masonry, up to c: 1.5m high and 40-50cm thick, has been built on, while the interior is divided into three parts by N-S and E-W partition walls. These are later additions. The first floor was entered, presumably from an external stairs, through a doorway in the north wall directly above the ground floor door; it is also restored. The floor was supported on rafters carried in putlog holes inserted into the north and south walls. In the north wall, east of the doorway, are two large windows. One has lost its mouldings and now has a modern arch but was probably similar to the other which is a twin-light round headed window with elaborate sandstone jambs. Each light is outlined by a bold roll-moulding with a hollow outside and the window is framed at the base by a horizontal roll-moulding which continues across to the other window. However much of the mouldings are modern restorations. Internally both windows have segmental rear arches with chamfered limestone jambs, probably modern. In the east wall is a twin-light round headed window and in the south wall are two more with window seats. All have plain chamfered sandstone jambs -largely restored- and segmental rear arches, of dressed sandstone in the east wall, and of chamfered limestone in the east window in the south wall and of sandstone with a bold roll moulding outlining the arch and sides of the west window in the south wall. In the west wall is a single-light rectangular window with chamfered limestone jambs and segmental rear arch. Above the first floor there was a wall-walk and parapet on each side, but this only survives at the east end, where two rectangular loops flank the east gable. "Water Tower" Projecting south from the West Hall is a rectangular tower, probably originally of three floors with wall-walk above. It seems to be built onto the west hall; its south-west angle has dressed limestone quoins above ground floor level suggesting that the 1st and 2nd floors may be additions. Only the south-west angle stands to its full height of c. 5.50m; the south-east angle is totally missing while the remainder of the east and west walls are 2.5-3.5m high. The tower was entered on the north through an opening in the south wall of the west hall, and the ground floor is lit by splayed rectangular loops in the east and west walls; the east loop has a segmental rear arch but the west loop lacks its rear arch. At the south end of the tower, which projects into the river, is a channel c. lm wide through which the river flows emerging from the west wall through a segmentally arched opening. Above this channel, at first floor level, is a garderobe. The west wall has a splayed, flat lintelled' loop at first floor level and a large window (whose form is obscured by ivy) probably with window seats, at second floor level. On the south wall internally is a ledge c. 30cm wide between 1st and 2nd floor levels. The East Hall Some 14.5m east of the West Hall is a large rectangular building of one floor, measuring c. 32.25m by 13.9m externally. The west gable stands to its full height of c.9m and is apparently featureless, although heavily overgrown. The south wall stands to full height of c. 4m and. Contains five openings. These are, from east to west: (1) an unsplayed segmental-arched opening, (2) a tall pointed doorway with segmental rear arch (probably modern) and bar-holes in the unsplayed reveals, (3-4) two crude twin-light pointed windows without any dressed jambs, with segmental rear arches; (5) a twin-light cusped ogee-headed window with chamfered limestone jambs and segmental rear arch, which according to Hewson (1897-1900, 44-45) came originally from the parish church. Externally there are three buttresses and angle buttresses at the SE and SW corners. The north wall stands to its full height of c. 4m at the west end, but it is mostly broken down. Near the east end is a parallel-sided doorway, presumably the main entrance with external porch of which only the overgrown footings survive. There are also five external buttresses. The east end of the hall is separated from the rest by a north-south wall and is divided into rectangular chambers lying north and south of a central passage. It is entered from the main chamber of the hall through doorways in the east wall, which lack their arches but have bar-holes in the reveals. All the walls at the east end are now only footings, 1-1m high and overgrown. Dunraven's plan also shows four large internal piers at the west end of the hall, but no trace of these survives. Other Buildings in the South Range Between the east and west halls there are traces of other buildings. Dunraven's plan shows a well and oven against the curtain wall, and traces of east-west crossing walls at the north end of the area between the halls. None of these features are visible at present, but towards the west end of the curtain wall there is a gable lin
- LI021-032004 Church
Description
Adare parish church dedicated to St. Nicholas described in the Urban Survey of County Limerick as following; 'A much modified nave and chancel church, probably originally 13th century. Between the nave and chancel is a gabled crossing wall with bell-cote above, while a later crossing wall was inserted c. 5m from the west end of the nave. The walls are practically intact, although rebuilt in many places. In the chancel (9.5m by 5.25m int.), the east gable is c. 6.25m high and the north and south walls c. 3.25m high; in the nave (22.65m by 7.55m int.) the gables are c. 7.5m high, with the bell-cote rising to c. 10m high, and the north and south walls are c. 4m high. The masonry is of roughly coursed limestone rubble, with undressed quoins, although some sandstone quoins occur in the south-east angles of nave and chancel. The south wall of the nave, the only wall whose base is exposed, has a low (c. 40cms) basal batter. The Chancel In the east wall is a tall (1.63m), narrow (16cm), round headed lancet with chamfered sandstone jambs, a round rear arch and widely splaying embrasure with sloping sill. In the south wall are two broader (27cm and 35cm) lancets, also with chamfered sandstone jambs but having holes for glazing bars. Both have modern arches, the window to the east has a round arch, with its original round rear arch, while that to the west (which may be completely rebuilt) has a flat arch with modern pointed rear arch. Between the windows is a small round-headed door with round rear arch, probably inserted. In the north wall is a pointed lancet with chamfered limestone jambs and segmental rear arch, while to the east the blocked segmental rear arch of another window is visible, but no trace survives externally. The Nave The gabled east wall of the nave has a pointed .arch c. 3m high and 2m wide communicating with the chancel. The bell-cote above has two pointed openings beneath a gable and seems to be contemporary with the east wall. In the south wall, at the east end, is a single-light cusped ogee-headed window with chamfered limestone jambs and flat-lintelled rear arch, below which is a rectangular wall-cupboard. West of this are three large openings, now blocked, two of which have red brick jambs, with a blocked segmental-arched opening, probably a door, between the last two. Further west is a large blocked window with segmental rear arch, under which a modern round headed doorway has been inserted. In the west gable is a tall, splayed rectangular window with undressed jambs, which are probably replacements, and lacking its rear arch. In the north wall, near the west end, some unchamfered sandstone jambs are visible; these derive from a round headed lancet recorded by Hewson (1955, 53-4). Further east are a pointed doorway with modern chamfered limestone jambs and segmental rear arch which may be original, a large blocked rectangular window with flat rear arch, and faint traces of another window at the east end, where the wall is largely rebuilt. A later gabled crossing wall has been inserted c. 5m from the west end of the nave. It has a centrally placed pointed arched opening c. 2m high and 1.3m wide with flat relieving arch above, at ground level. At the north end is a large blocked rectangular opening c. 2.5m above ground level' (Bradley et. al. 1989, 15-17). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 11 December 2018
- LI021-032005 Graveyard
Description
Medieval parish church ruins (LI021-032004-) dedicated to St. Nicholas stands in SW quadrant of graveyard with ruins of medieval chapel (LI021-032011-) in centre. Adare Castle (LI021-032003-) 75m to SSW and Franciscan Abbey (LI021-032007-) 290m to SE. Graveyard consists of a rectangular-shaped area (approx. dims. 71m N-S x 88m E-W) enclosed by a post-1700 stone wall with entrance gate at N. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 26 July 2019
- LI021-032006 Religious house - Augustinian friars
Description
14th century Augustinian Friary described in the Urban Survey of County Limerick (Bradley et. al. 1989, 16-31) as following; 'This was founded by John FitzThomas FitzGerald, 1st earl of Kildare, before 1316 (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 295), and it was endowed with properties in the town. The monastery was suppressed in 1539-40 but there are indications that the friars managed to stay on until c. 1581 (ibid.). The friary is situated on low-lying ground on the south bank of the river Maigue just below Adare bridge and it is now used as the Church of Ireland parish church. The monastic complex was restored by the earl of Dunraven in the last century and consequently the buildings are very well preserved. The complex consists of a church of early fourteenth century date, with a later south aisle and crossing tower. To the north of the church are cloisters with surrounding buildings of which the north range is intact but much of the east and west ranges are missing. At the north-east is the gatehouse, and further north again are remains of the extended east range. The Church This consists of a nave and chancel with a later crossing tower and a south aisle which is probably a late medieval building. The east and west gables of the nave and choir are c. 10.5m high; the east and west gables of the aisle are c. 6.5m high. A low (c. 50cms) basal batter occurs on the north wall of the nave and chancel and on the south walls of the chancel and aisle while the east walls of the chancel and aisle have a partly battered, plinth topped by a filleted roll moulding. The east wall of the chancel and the south wall of the aisle have set-back buttresses, with a plinth, similar to the east wall, at each angle; the west wall of the nave has angle buttresses without a plinth. The walls are plastered internally. The east wall of the chancel has a large five light window with intersecting tracery and a pointed rear arch with hollow chamfered limestone jambs. Externally the reveals have two engaged filleted shafts with rounded moulded capitals and there is a pointed hood mould. The window is badly cut and slightly skewed off the vertical: The south wall has four windows, each with intersecting tracery and pointed rear arches with hollow chamfered limestone jambs. That to the east end is a two-light, the others are three light windows although the west light of the western window is blocked by the crossing tower. Below these, at ground floor level, are a piscina and a three-bay sedilia between the piers of the crossing tower. 'The mouldings of the piscina and sedilia at the east end are identical, both have pointed trefoild headed arches with three-roll mouldings of which the central one is filleted, rising from round shafts with round, moulded capitals and bases. The sedilia also has a hood mould of two rolls, the outer one is filleted, which the piscina does not have. The other sedilia, between the tower piers, has pointed arches with chamfered jambs of two orders rising from polygonal shafts with polygonal bases and moulded capitals. The north wall has two conjoined wall tombs at the east end. Both have large three centred recesses with double hollow chamfered jambs of limestone and pyramidal basal stops above which is an ogee-headed canopy with foliate finial, flanked by buttress-shafts with crocketed finials. An identical tomb occurs in the north wall of the nave, just west of the tower while another tomb in the south wall of the south aisle, at the east end, is of similar style although its recess is round arched and the finial of its canopy is of more elaborate foliate character. The top of the buttress shafts are plain (possibly unfinished). All tombs have plain limestone slabs and none is inscribed or decorated. West of these conjoined tombs is a round headed doorway with chamfered limestone jambs in two orders and a pointed rear arch with chamfered jambs, which communicated originally with the east range, but now with the modern vestry. The door itself is supposed to have been removed from the parish church of St. Nicholas. Above the door is a blocked rectangular window with chamfered limestone jambs, apparently part of a squint and further west is another taller blocked rectangular window with chamfered limestone jambs which apparently: 'opened into a cavity in the thickness of the wall which would appear to have communicated with a door between the cloisters and sacristy. The cloister wall appears to have been breached at this point and repaired'. Within the piers of the tower is a pointed door with chamfered limestone jambs of two orders and segmental rear arch with chamfered limestone jambs leading from the cloister to the church. The south wall of the NAVE consists of an arcade of three [originally four--the two east arches and intervening pier were removed and the space is now spanned by a single large arch] tall (c. 5.5m) pointed arches communicating with the south aisle. The eastern respond of the east arch has chamfered limestone corners which are not on the other piers. The upper 2.5m of the west gable appears to be rebuilt and there are angle buttresses c. 5m high at each end externally. The west door is pointed, c. 2.5m high with chamfered limestone jambs of two orders with pyramidal stops (clearly contemporary with doors in cloister) and segmental rear arches with hollow chamfered limestone jambs. Above the door externally is a row of three corbels at a height of c. 4m, and a string course at a height of 4.5m. Above this is a triple light window with intersecting tracery and pointed rear arch with hollow chamfered limestone jambs with pyramidal/conical basal stops and sloping sill. The north wall is featureless apart from the wall tomb at the east end and above this, immediately west of the tower, is a twin-light pointed trefoil headed window with chamfered limestone jambs and segmental rear arch (partly blocked by the tower) with hollow chamfered limestone jambs and pyramidal stops. The east gable of the SOUTH AISLE is c. 10m high with a plinth at the base and a decorative cornice at 5.75m above ground and a set-back buttress at the SE angle externally. The lower 1.7m of masonry above ground is ashlar with rubble above. The east window is a large four-light window with intersecting tracery (the mullions have pyramidal stops), a pointed hood moulding with foliate stops and a pointed rear arch which has a limestone soffit arch of polygonal section, each face with hollow chamfering, springing from polygonal moulded capitals held by angels. The south wall is 6.5m with basal batter c. 50cms high, a decorative cornice at 5.75m above ground, and set-back buttresses at each end. There are two triple-light windows with intersecting tracery (the mullions having pyramidal stops) and pointed rear arches with soffit arches of chamfered limestone. Near the west end is a large modern pointed door with modern porch outside. The west wall has twin-light window with flamboyant tracery in chamfered limestone (the mullions having pyramidal stops) and a large splayed embrasure with pointed rear arch in dressed limestone slabs with soffit arch of chamfered limestone. The crossing TOWER is roughly square with six floors, a wall-walk and stepped battlements, c. 9.5m in overall height. The masonry is coursed limestone rubble with dressed limestone quoins. The tower was clearly inserted between nave and chancel and rises on four rectangular piers linked by tall (c. 5.5m) pointed arches with chamfered limestone quoins; over the crossing is a quadripartite vault with chamfered limestone ribs. The first floor was reached from the south ambulatory of the cloister at 1st floor level; a flat lintelled door in the north wall of the church, and a short curved stairs, leads to a flat-lintelled door with segmental relieving arch in the north wall of the tower. The first floor chamber is almost square, 3.3m N/S and 3.2m E/W internally, which leaves a space c. 2m wide between the walls of t
- LI021-032007 Religious house - Franciscan friars
Description
15th century Franciscan Friary described in the Urban Survey of County Limerick (Bradley et. al. 1989, 32-6) as following; 'The friary of St Michael the Archangel was founded by Thomas FitzGerald, earl of Kildare in 1464 (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 242). It was suppressed in 1539-40 although the friars appear to have stayed on until c. 1580 (ibid.). In 1595 it was granted to Sir Henry Wallop. The friary is located to the east of Desmond Castle (LI021-032003-), on the present Adare Manor Golf Course, overlooking the river Maigue to the south. It consists of a nave and chancel church with crossing tower, a south transept with western aisle, the east, west and north range of the cloister, and some auxiliary buildings to the north. The Church This consists of a long narrow nave and chancel divided by a tower of contemporary date, and with a south transept, also apparently contemporary, opening off the nave. The walls of the CHANCEL are intact. The east gable is 9m high and it has a four-light pointed window with switch-line tracery, having chamfered jambs, grooves for glass and bar-holes, with a hollow chamfered hood moulding and pointed rear arch with chamfered jambs and pyramidal stops. Above a ledge over this window is a small rectangular window. Externally there are stepped angle buttresses, and a batter c. 2m high. To the north of the window internally is a large, tapering chamfered corbel shaft, presumably the base for a statue. The south wall is 5.25m high, and battered externally (c. 2m) with four twin-light pointed windows, with chamfered jambs, glazing grooves and bar holes and segmental rear arches having dressed jambs to the arches. The eastern window has hollow spandrels and a square hollow-chamfered hood mould. Below the window, internally at the east end are two tomb niches with a sedilia in between. The sedilia and the tomb to the east were clearly inserted as a unit, while the tomb to the west may also be contemporary. The sedilia consists of three pointed arches above a chamfered mensa; the jambs of the arches are hollow chamfered, with a continuous hollow chamfered hood-mould above and they rest on engaged demi-octagonal columns with moulded capitals and bases. The sedilia is framed by the shafts of the adjacent tombs, with a hollow chamfered moulding running above it between the shafts. The tomb niche to the east is round arched, with hollow chamfered jambs ending in pyramidal stops above a chamfered mensa, and hollow chamfered ogee-headed hood mould with foliated pinnacle above. It. is flanked by engaged square shafts, that to the east with crocketed pinnacle and moulded base. In the rear wall of the east tomb is a round headed piscina with demi-octagonal bowl and chamfered jambs, ending in pyramidal stops, on which are traces of wall paint. One red rose is visible on the" chamfer of the arch. The adjacent jambs of the east tomb and sedilia are cut from a single stone. Below each tomb and sedilia at ground level are the tops of arches. The tomb niche to the west has a three centred arch with hollow chamfered jambs ending in pyramidal stops above a chamfered mensa, with ogee-headed, hollow chamfered hood-mould above missing its pinnacle. It is flanked by engaged shafts with crocketed pinnacles and moulded bases. At the west end of the wall are a row of four corbels at the level of the base of the windows. The north wall is 5.25m high and has a single twin-light rectangular window with chamfered jambs and flat lintelled rear arch at the west end. At east end are three conjoined tomb niches, clearly inserted simultaneously, as adjacent jambs are carved from single blocks of stone. All three have three centred arches with hollow chamfered mouldings above a chamfered mensa, and with ogee-headed hollow chamfered hood moulds with foliated finials above and are flanked by engaged shafts with crocketed pinnacles and moulded bases. The pinnacles of the hood moulds differ slightly. Below each tomb niche at ground level, can be seen the top of an arch. West of the tombs is a pointed door with chamfered jambs, ending in pyramidal stops, leading to the east range of the cloister. The Tower This has five floors with parapet and stepped battlements above. It is c. 17m in overall height. The tower rests on four rectangular piers with dressed quoins. Pointed arches c. 6.5m high occur on the east and west while the arches on the north and south are c. 4.5m high. The arch on the north is round and that on the south. is pointed. The north arch has been lowered and a segmental arch c. 2.5m high put in subsequently with a pointed door with chamfered jambs leading to the cloister. In the east face of the northwest pier is a blocked rectangular door which led to stairs rising to a chamber above the south ambulatory of the cloister. In the south wall is a rectangular window with chamfered jambs and flat lintelled rear arch, below which, internally, is a recess with chamfered sill sloping externally and a sloping opening in the base of rear wall. There is no vault above ground floor. In the west face of the north east pier is a stoup with pointed chamfered arch and carved basin. Externally the gables of the nave and chancel can be seen in the wall of the tower with small rectangular windows below. The south wall has a rectangular window with chamfered jambs and flat lintelled rear arch while there is a sloping opening in the north wall. The floor is supported on ledges but it is not clear where access from the ground floor was; it was probably reached by a wooden stairs. Access to all subsequent floors was probably by internal ladders. The south wall has a small rectangular window with chamfered jambs while the other walls are featureless. The third floor is supported on corbels in the east and west walls which also have small rectangular windows. The north and south walls have larger twin-light rectangular windows with chamfered jambs and flat lintelled rear arches. Corbels in the east and west walls probably supported the roof. The parapet has stepped battlements. The Nave The north and south walls stand to a height of 5.25m and the west wall is intact at 8.5m. It was it from the north by two twin-light rectangular windows close to the east end and a third close to the west end. The west gable has three graduated lights with a conjoined hollow-chamfered hood mould, while the south wall has a pointed door close to the west end. The south transept and west aisle of the transept are entered through three pointed arches c. 4m high which have chamfered jambs and soffit ribs'. See attached plan of friary taken from Leask 1960, 98 Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 4 November 2019
- LI021-032008 Religious house - Trinitarians
Description
Trinitarian abbey in the town of Adare described in the Urban Survey of Limerick (Bradley et. al. 1989, 36-9) as following: 'This monastery appears to have been founded by Geoffrey de Marisco before 1226 (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 217). In the taxation of 1302-6 it was valued at 40s. It was dissolved in 1539 and in 1595 it was granted to Sir Henry Wallop (ibid.). In 1811 it was reconstructed by the earl of Dunraven for use as the Roman Catholic parish church. The surviving remains consist of parts of the south wall of the church, a crossing tower and parts of the N range of claustral buildings. These have been greatly modified; most of the doors and windows are modern and the masonry is generally roughly coursed limestone rubble. There is a refurbished dovecot at the extreme north west corner of the church grounds. The Church This may have been a cruciform building with crossing tower although the existence of a south transept is not certain (Hewson 1897-1900, 30). The north wall has been removed and the modern Catholic church has been built onto the north side of the medieval nave and chancel. The latter now serve as a south aisle for the modern church. Part of the south wall appears to be the only original part of the medieval building and this contains the only original window which is a cusped twin-light pointed window with elongated quatrefoil above the lights. Below the window there is a contemporary ogee-headed piscina. Three other recesses in this wall hold a round arched recess, a modern twin-light window and the modern doorway. According to Hewson (1897-190, 30) the original west wall of the nave stood c.3.Sm east of the present west wall and contained a triple light window with intersecting tracery. He also noted that the south wall had stepped battlements with projecting dripstones but these were removed and replaced in the 19th century. Hewson (ibid, 29) states that the east window of the chancel was 'of three lights … of the early pointed type'. The east wall stood 50cm west of the present east wall. The rectangular crossing tower consists of one floor and wall-walk above the crossing with a projecting turret on the south east. The tower rises on large plain rectangular piers and is covered by a quadripartite vault. Tall pointed arches, c.7.5m high, open to the east and west, and c. 6.5m high on the north and south. The south arch is blocked and has a twin-light window similar to that in the south wall of the nave. The main chamber of the tower is approached via a spiral stairs in the north-west pier. It is lit by a tall rectangular window and a splayed rectangular loop in the north wall. There is an ogee-headed window and a loop in the west wall, a rectangular window with window seats in the south wall and a rectangular window and loop in the east wall. Rectangular doorways at the south ends of the east and west walls give access to spiral stairs descending to mural chambers with pointed vaults in' the east and west walls just below the level of the vault. The spiral stairs descending to the mural chamber on the east also communicates with a small chamber in the projecting turret on the south east angle. This rectangular room is lit by a splayed rectangular loop in the south wall: it also has a garderobe and a door leading to another chamber above. This room is lit by two splayed loops in the south wall and one each in the east and north walls. The battlemented wall walk of the tower is reached via mural stairs in the north wall and the tower has raised turrets at each angle. The Cloister Dunraven's plan (fig. 7) appears to indicate that part of the north and east ranges survived but the building of the modern church has destroyed the east range. The north and south walls of the north range seem to be incorporated into the modern school buildings with a small tower at the east end and a larger tower at the west end of the range. The east tower is now of two floors although it may have had three floors originally as there is a row of corbels above traces of a vault over the ground floor. The original stairs was in the west wall and the first floor has a barrel vault with wattle centering. The west tower has three floors with a possible loft above, but it is greatly altered internally. The first floor had two rooms with pointed vaults and there are small wall chambers between the ground and first floor and between the first and second levels. The second floor has a large single chamber lit by a single-light rectangular window with. segmental rear arch and wattle centering in the south wall, and by an ogee headed window in the north wall'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 04 November 2019
- LI021-032009 Gatehouse
Description
Medieval gatehouse known as 'Kilmallock Gatehouse' described in the Urban Survey of County Limerick (Bradley et. al. 1989, 39-40) as following; "A single wall of roughly coursed limestone rubble, 6.55m long, 1.55m thick and 3.5m high running north-south is situated on Adare Manor Golf course directly north of and overlooking the Desmond castle (LI021-032003-) and west of St. Nicholas' Church (LI021-032004-). There is a basal batter c. 50cms high at the north and south ends. On the internal west face which is mostly covered in ivy there are traces of a barrell vault c. 3m high and the wall face is set back by 32cms 1.60m from the north end. According to Harbison it was adorned with the Geraldine arms (1970, 145). If this building was a gatehouse it is possible that it may have formed part of the town defences. In the absence of excavation, however, and of any knowledge of the actual outline of the town defences, it is impossible to be definite about this'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 04 November 2019
- LI021-032010 Castle - tower house
Description
Medieval tower house described in the Urban Survey of County Limerick (Bradley et. al. 1989, 40-40-1) as following; 'The east wall and the north and south returns of a two-storied structure stand on low-lying ground in Adare Manor Demesne just east of the main road between the village and the Maigue. It measures 3.88m north/south and 3.30m east/west and is 6.5m high. The masonry is roughly coursed limestone rubble with roughly dressed limestone quoins. The walls are very slightly battered throughout. The ground floor consists of an east/west chamber with pointed barrel vault and traces of wattle centering. In the east wall is a small splayed rectangular loop with flat lintelled rear arch. At the west end are the foundations of a possible west wall although it seems to abut the north and south walls and also projects beyond the south wall. There are also the foundations of another wall continuous with the north wall but projecting beyond the west wall. There is a mural cavity in the north wall c. 1m above ground level. The first floor is lined with pigeon holes but this appears to be secondary usage as there are traces of a blocked rectangular loop in the east wall'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 04 November 2019
And 9 more.
Architectural heritage
- The Rectory, rectory/glebe/vicarage/curate's house, 1890–1910 · Regional interest
Description
Detached U-plan two-bay three-storey rectory, built c. 1900, with single-bay single-storey canted bay windows to ground floor, front (south) elevation and box bay window to ground floor east elevation. Single-bay two-storey return to rear (north) with flat-roofed block to north. Lean-to to rear, east bay. Hipped slate roofs with overhanging eaves, render eaves course, ridge tiles and decorative rendered chimneystacks. Rendered walls. Camber-headed openings to first floor with replacement uPVC windows and render sill course. Square-headed openings to ground floor and to bay windows with replacement uPVC windows and continuous render sill course. Camber-headed door opening with timber panelled half-glazed double-leaf doors and overlight, approached by cut stone steps.
Designated sites: National Parks and Wildlife Service. Recorded monuments: Sites and Monuments Record, National Monuments Service. Buildings: National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Works at or in relation to a recorded monument need two months' written notice to the National Monuments Service (National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994, section 12).
Ground and risks
- Radon
- At the centre of this parcel, about 1 in 5 homes in this area is likely to have high radon levels. Testing a home
- Landslides
- The 1:50,000 map rates the landslide susceptibility here as low, partly inferred. Parts of the land are made ground and water.
- Terrain model
- LiDAR of the Office of Public Works, flown in 2011, at 2 m: tile OPW_818 (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.
- Area
- 73 ha
- 180 acres
- Land parcels
- 26
- registered freehold, median 2,983 m² (0.3 ha, 0.74 acres)
- Zoning
- P1
- Agriculture
- Planning
- 4
- applications since 2010
Land parcels
Registered freehold land, Tailte Éireann
26 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Ardshanbally, from 41 m² to 194,981 m² (19.5 ha, 48.18 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary. 5 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.
Zoning
Development plans, national zoning
- P1Agriculture
Adare Local Area Plan 2024-2030, Limerick · 10 parcels The zoning objective in the plan - R2Existing Residential (Existing residential)
Adare Local Area Plan 2024-2030, Limerick · 2 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
Source: Tailte Éireann and the Department of Housing (MyPlan), national zoning, CC BY 4.0.
Planning applications
Sites that touch the townland, newest first
12 Apr 2023Refused
a dwelling house Circa 230 m2, entrance/access from the public roadway, treatment plant and percolation area and all associated site works. The proposed development site is within the curtilage of a protected structure (Ardshanbally House R.PS. Ref. no. 839)
Outline permission · Limerick County Council, 2360222
12 Apr 2023Conditional
the development that consists of: Works to raise the height of the River Maigue Railway Bridge, the former Adare Railway Station platform and associated roadworks and level crossing works. The works shall include: (a) River Maigue Railway Bridge - increase height of existing bridge a protected structure, including alterations to the existing abutments, piers and adjacent existing railway embankments, (b) Former Adare Railway Station Platform - increase the level of part of the existing platform associated with former Adare Railway Station a protected structure, to match new height of the River Maigue Railway Bridge, including provision of retaining wall, timber fencing, security fencing, drainage channel and retention of original copping stones, (c) Road Lift - alterations to existing road L1423, a former canal, to raise the road and railway level crossing to match new level of the River Maigue Railway Bridge, including reconstruction of the road, footpath, kerbs and walls, installation of retaining walls, road restraint system, road drainage and line marking, (d) Railway Embankment - increase height of existing railway embankments to match new level of the River Maigue Railway Bridge and level crossing including installation of retaining walls and alterations to existing railway embankments, (e) Railway Level Crossing - installation of signage, barriers, traffic guidance signage, road traffic lights, line marking, Relocatable Electrical Building and associated fencing, (f) Quay Interface - alterations to existing car park and former Quay a protected structure and car park, including alteration to existing height restriction barriers, provision of new kerbs and footpath, resurfacing of level from road into carpark and installation of new infrastructure for public lighting, line marking and drainage. The River Maigue Railway Bridge is a Protected Structure. This planning application is accompanied by an Environmental Impact Assessment Screening report and a Natura Impact Statement
Permission · Limerick County Council, 23201
18 Oct 2017Conditional
Extension of Permission from Ref No. 13/329 : the modification and extension of existing dwelling house, construction of a garage, installation of a waste water treatment system and percolation area to replace existing septic tank and all associated site development works
Extension of duration · Limerick County Council, 177046
18 May 2017N/a
Extension of Permission from Ref No 13/329 (the modification and extension of existing dwelling house, construction of a garage, installation of a waste water treatment system and percolation area to replace existing septic tank and all associated site development works)
Extension of duration · Limerick County Council, 177021
Source: National Planning Applications, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Applicants are not shown.
Nature and heritage
Designated sites and recorded monuments
Designated sites
- Special Area of Conservation: Lower River Shannon SAC 002165
Recorded monuments
- LI021-010 Ringfort - unclassified
Description
In low-lying undulating pasture, c. 80m SE of River Maigue, an enclosure (LI021-149----) lies 90m to SW and fulacht fia (LI021-173----) lies 210m to NE. Depicted on 1840 ed. OS 6-inch map as a circular shaped area (approx. diam. 30m) enclosed by a bank. Not marked on the 1897 ed. OS 25-inch map which shows the Limerick-Foynes railway line running across the centre of the site of the monument. Possible remains of a section of this monument visible as a raised D-shaped area (dims. 14m N-S; 22m E-W) defined by a scarp (Wth 9.8m; H 1.8m) visible from S-W-N-NE. The railway line truncates the earthwork at W. This earthwork may be a spoil heap from the construction of the railway line and it is not certain if it is the remains of the monument depicted on the 1840 ed. OS 6-inch map. Earthwork visible on Google Earth orthoimage taken 14/02/2020. See attached Google earth orthoimages Compiled by: Fiona Rooney Date of upload: 16 July 2020
- LI021-143 Enclosure
Description
On top of a steep W-facing break of slope, in pasture, 210m E of the River Maigue, with moderate to good views in all directions. Depicted on the 1897 ed. OS 25-inch map as a small, irregular-shaped tree-planted area. Monument identified as a possible enclosure in the Adare Bypass Constraint Study (Ref. 31/A/1). Monument surveyed by the ASI in 2000 and described as a roughly circular-shaped rocky area (diam. 45m) with no definitive enclosing element. The ‘interior’ is planted with mature conifers, most of which have fallen. Possible monument is visible as a roughly circular-shaped tree-planted area at the SE edge of a small coppice, on Digital Globe orthophotos taken 2011-13 or on Google Earth orthoimages taken 28/06/2018. Of doubtful antiquity, probably the remains of a post-1700 tree plantation. See attached Google Earth orthoimage. Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 31 July 2020
- LI021-144 Enclosure
Description
On a slight S-facing slope, in pasture, 390m to E of the River Maigue, with good views in all directions, except restricted to W. Not depicted on OS historic mapping. Monument identified as an enclosure in the Adare Bypass Constraint Study(Ref. 51/A/4, p. 62). Monument surveyed by the ASI in 2000 and described as no surface remains visible. Possible monument is not visible on Digital Globe orthophotos taken 2011-13 or on Google Earth orthoimages taken 28/06/2018. See attached Google Earth orthoimage. Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 31 July 2020
- LI021-149 Enclosure
Description
On a slight W-facing slope, in pasture, with moderate to poor views in all directions, 170m E of the River Maigue. Not depicted on OS historic mapping. Ringfort (LI021-010----) 95m to N. Monument identified as an enclosure in the Adare Bypass Constraint Study (Ref. 51/A/5, p. 62). Monument surveyed by the ASI in 2000 and described as no surface remains visible. Monument is not visible on Digital Globe orthophotos taken 2011-13 or on Google Earth orthoimages taken 28/06/2018. See attached Google Earth orthoimage. Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 31 July 2020
- LI021-151001 Enclosure
Description
In low-lying and wet, level pasture with moderate to restricted views, 55m N of the River Maigue. Not depicted on OS historic mapping. Possible enclosure (LI021-151002-) lies 70m to NE. Monument identified as a possible enclosure in the Adare Bypass Constraint Study (Ref. 51/A/2, p. 62). Monument surveyed by the ASI in 2000 and described as no surface remains visible. Monument is not visible on Digital Globe orthophotos taken 2011-13 or on Google Earth orthoimages taken 28/06/2018. See attached Google Earth orthoimage. Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 4 August 2020
- LI021-151002 Enclosure
Description
In low-lying and wet pasture with moderate to restricted views, 95m N of the River Maigue. Not depicted on OS historic mapping. Possible enclosure (LI021-151001-) lies 70m to SW. Monument identified as an enclosure in the Adare Bypass Constraint Study (Ref. 51/A/2, P. 62). Monument surveyed by the ASI in 2000 and described as no surface remains visible. Monument is not visible on Digital Globe orthophotos taken 2011-13 or on Google Earth orthoimages taken 28/06/2018. See attached Google Earth orthoimage. Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 4 August 2020
- LI021-173 Fulacht fia
Description
In low-lying and wet, level pasture with a slight NW-facing slope, 120m SE of the River Maigue, which serves as a townland boundary with Islandea. Enclosure (LI021-143----) lies 70m to NE. Not depicted on OS historic mapping, although area of monument is flanked by a trackway running NW-SE on the 1840 ed. OS 6-inch map. Monument identified as a fulacht fiadh in the Adare Bypass Constraint Study (Ref. 51/A/7, P. 61-2). Monument is visible as a roughly circular-shaped cropmark on Digital Globe orthophotos taken 2011-13 although it is not clearly visible on Google Earth orthoimages taken 28/06/2018. See attached Google Earth orthoimages. Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 10 August 2020
Architectural heritage
- The Rectory, rectory/glebe/vicarage/curate's house, 1890–1910 · Regional interest
Description
Detached U-plan two-bay three-storey rectory, built c. 1900, with single-bay single-storey canted bay windows to ground floor, front (south) elevation and box bay window to ground floor east elevation. Single-bay two-storey return to rear (north) with flat-roofed block to north. Lean-to to rear, east bay. Hipped slate roofs with overhanging eaves, render eaves course, ridge tiles and decorative rendered chimneystacks. Rendered walls. Camber-headed openings to first floor with replacement uPVC windows and render sill course. Square-headed openings to ground floor and to bay windows with replacement uPVC windows and continuous render sill course. Camber-headed door opening with timber panelled half-glazed double-leaf doors and overlight, approached by cut stone steps.
- Ardshanbally House, house, 1910–1930 · Regional interest
Description
Semi-detached three-bay two-storey house, built c. 1920, with gabled projecting bays to east and gabled bay to west. Verandah to front (south) elevation. Gablet to west elevation and conservatory and lean-to extension to west. Pitched slate roofs with cast-iron rainwater goods, timber bargeboards, terracotta ridge tiles and red brick chimneystacks. Hipped roof to verandah, supported by timber posts. Rendered walls. Square-headed openings with replacement uPVC windows and render hoodmouldings. Square-headed door opening with timber panelled door, approached by flight of cut limestone steps
- Shanbally House, house, 1910–1930 · Regional interest
Description
Semi-detached three-bay two-storey house, built c. 1920, with gabled projecting bays to west and gabled bay to east. Verandah to front (south) elevation. Gablet and lean-to to east elevation and conservatory and lean-to extension to west. Pitched slate roofs with cast-iron rainwater goods, timber bargeboards, terracotta ridge tiles and red brick chimneystacks. Hipped roof to verandah, supported by timber posts. Rendered walls. Square-headed openings with replacement uPVC windows and render hoodmouldings. Square-headed door opening with timber panelled door and sidelights and overlights, approached by flight of cut limestone steps.
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, landslides, flooding
- Radon
- At the centre of the townland of Ardshanbally, about 1 in 5 homes in this area is likely to have high radon levels. Testing a home
- Landslides
- The 1:50,000 map rates the landslide susceptibility here as moderately low, low, partly inferred. Parts of the land are made ground and water.
- Terrain model
- LiDAR of the Office of Public Works, flown in 2011, at 2 m: tile OPW_818 (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.
Homes sold
Property Price Register
No address of the register names Ardshanbally with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Limerick.
The townland
- Name
- Ardshanbally · Ard an tSeanbhaile
- Area
- 729,767 m² (72.98 ha, 180.33 acres)
- Civil parish
- Adare, and its townlands
- Barony
- Coshma
- Electoral division
- Adare South, the unit of the census
- Census 2022
- 2,225 people lived in 730 households in the Adare South electoral division. 72% of households owned their home. 30% of homes were built since 2001. 9% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 5% were holiday homes.
- Neighbouring townlands
- Adare, Gortaganniff, Mondellihy
- Placenames
- Ardshanbally 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.