Aghalacka

Area

7,704 m² (0.77 ha, 1.9 acres)

Buildings

4 buildings touch it. Their footprint covers 137 m².

Zoning

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

Townland

Aghalacka

Planning applications on this parcel

No planning application touches this parcel in the national file, which goes back to 2010.

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

Designated sites

No designated site (Special Area of Conservation, Special Protection Area, Natural Heritage Area or proposed one) touches this parcel.

Recorded monuments around it

This parcel is in the zone of notification of 18 recorded monuments.

• LI011-092001 Historic town
  Description

  The following description of this monument is taken from 'The Urban Archaeological Survey of County Limerick' compiled by John Bradley, Andrew Halpin and Heather A. King (Office of Public Works, 1985). "Askeaton is located on the river Deel in west Limerick just inland from the Shannon estuary on the Limerick to Foynes road. According to Westropp (1903-4, 26-7) the placename is likely to derive from Eas Gephtine, Gephten's Cascade, a waterfall on the River Deel. The natural advantages offered by the site occupied by Askeaton Castle, an easily defensible island, would suggest that this should have been a settlement site from early times. The earliest evidence for a settlement at Askeaton, however, comes from the Book of Rights written c. 1100 which mentions the fort of Geibtine. In 1199 the site was fortified by the Anglo-Normans under William de Burgo and the Annals of Inisfallen record the building of a castle there. Incidental references in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries indicate that Askeaton was a sizeable Anglo-Norman settlement (Westropp 1903-4, 30-1) and as the "town of Inskefty" it contributed 40s to the military subsidy of 1300 in aid of Edward II's wars in Scotland (Mills 1905, 304). This reference suggests that it was an incorporated settlement by this time. It was only in the middle of the fourteenth century. That Askeaton became part of the Desmond lands and they were to hold it as one of their principal residences for two centuries. The Franciscan Friary was founded in 1389 by Gerald, the fourth earl of Desmond, and much of the present castle appears to have been constructed by the ninth earl in the years after 1459. It was the strategic importance of the castle which signalled out Askeaton for special attention during the Elizabethan conquest of Munster. As early as 1569 it had been selected as the residence of the president of Munster. In 1579 and English army under Sir Nicholas Malbie sacked Askeaton and burned the Franciscan Friary but failed to capture the castle. In the following year, however, the castle was captured by Pelham the lord justice. It was not until the early years of the seventeenth century, however, that new settlers began to establish themselves at Askeaton. In 1610 Sir Francis Berkeley offered to wall Askeaton and he was subsequently granted the castle and forty acres of land (Westropp 1903-4, 164). In 1613 the settlement was incorporated and its charter stated that it was to have a corporation consisting of a sovereign and twelve free burgesses. It continued to return two members of parliament until the Union of 1800. Despite this parliamentary status the settlement did not expand and it was to remain a small market town throughout the seventeenth century. It generally appears in records only because of the importance of the castle. Once the castle itself was slighted by Axtell in 1652 and subsequently abandoned the references become even more scarce (Westropp 1903-4, 170-4). The exact location of the medieval settlement is unknown but it is likely that, in common with other such settlements, it was centred on the castle and parish church, in the vicinity of Church Street. The seventeenth century borough appears to have been largely linear with its axis on Main Street. The Quay and the Square probably also date from this time and it is likely that some of the long linear properties along Church Street also date to this time." Compiled by: Denis Power Date of upload: 26 August 2011

• LI011-092002 Bridge
  Description

  The following description of this monument is taken from 'The Urban Archaeological Survey of County Limerick' compiled by John Bradley, Andrew Halpin and Heather A. King (Office of Public Works, 1985). "A view of the bridge in Pacata Hibernia shows six round arches (Westropp 1901-2, 158; 173 and n. 3) and this appears to be substantially the bridge which still survives today crossing the river Deel. It is c. 5Om long and 7.5m wide with parapets (probably modern) c. 1.5m high. It is built of dressed and coursed limestone up to the level of the top of the arches and, above this, of rubble. At present only five arches can be seen on the north. The first, third and fifth from the east have broad segmental arches with dressed limestone voussoirs. The second may have been similar but now has a concrete arch, the fourth is a tall round arch. There are pointed balusters between the first and second and second and third arches on the south." Compiled by: Denis Power Date of upload: 26 August 2011

• LI011-092003 Castle - Anglo-Norman masonry castle
  Description

  National monument No. 201. Askeaton is located on the river Deel in west Limerick just inland from the Shannon estuary on the Limerick to Foynes road. According to Westropp (1903-4, 26-7) the placename is likely to derive from Eas Gephtine, Gephten’s Cascade, a waterfall on the River Deel. The natural advantages offered by the site occupied by Askeaton Castle, an easily defensible island, would suggest that this should have been a settlement site from early times. In 1199 the site was fortified by the Anglo-Normans under William de Burgo and the Annals of Inisfallen record the building of a castle there. Incidental references in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries indicate that Askeaton was a sizeable Anglo-Norman settlement (Westropp 1903-4, 30-1) and as the "town of Inskefty" contributed 40s to the military subsidy of 1300 in aid of Edward II’s wars in Scotland (Mills 1905, 304). This reference suggests that it was an incorporated settlement by this time. It was only in the middle of the fourteenth century that Askeaton became part of the Desmond lands and they were to hold it as one of their principal residences for two centuries. It was the strategic importance of the castle which signalled out Askeaton for special attention during the Elizabethan conquest of Munster. As early as 1569 it had been selected as the residence of the President of Munster. In 1579 and English army under Sir Nicholas Malbie sacked Askeaton and burned the Franciscan Friary but failed to capture the castle. In the following year, however, the castle was captured by Pelham the lord justice. It was not until the early years of the seventeenth century, however, that new settlers began to establish themselves at Askeaton. In 1610 Sir Francis Berkeley offered to wall Askeaton and he was subsequently granted the castle and forty acres of land (Westropp 1903-4, 164). In 1613 the settlement was incorporated and its charter stated that it was to have a corporation consisting of a sovereign and twelve free burgesses. It continued to return two members of parliament until the Union of 1800. Despite this parliamentary status the settlement did not expand and it was to remain a small market town throughout the seventeenth century. It generally appears in records only because of the importance of the castle. Once the castle itself was slighted by Axtell in 1652 and subsequently abandoned the references become even more scarce (Westropp 1903-4, 170-4). Castle fabric described in the Urban Survey of County Limerick (Bradley et. al. 1989, 58-74) as following: 'The castle occupies a lozenge shaped island, c. 142m N-S and c. 82m E-W in the river Deel, immediately south of the bridge in the centre of Askeaton and in the townland of Aghalacka. It consists of an outer ward, roughly following the outline of the island, with a centrally positioned inner ward on a limestone outcrop of rock of ovoid plan. On the west perimeter of the outer ward is a fine rectangular hall, originally of 13th century date but heavily altered in the fifteenth century. The inner ward is dominated by the remains of a large sixteenth century house at its north end, while at the south end are the remains of a rectangular tower of thirteenth century date (as are the surviving curtain walls), also modified in the fifteenth century. The masonry is of limestone throughout, and for the most part is roughly coursed rubble. THE OUTER WARD The castle is entered from the bridge by means of a causeway running south from the centre of the bridge, across the river with a large, modern round headed gateway at the south end. This and the house on the west side of the causeway occupy the site of the original gatehouse, which according to the 'Pacata Hibernia' drawing consisted of a large round headed gateway in the curtain wall, with a barbican-like projection on the causeway to the north, fronted by another large round-headed gateway on the bridge. The only surviving stretch of curtain wall is on the north-west between the entrance causeway and the hall. Elsewhere, modern walls around the perimeter of the island probably follow the line of the curtain walls, but some uncertainty remains regarding the south boundary. A modern east/west wall cuts off a triangular area at the south end of the island, which presumably is the castle garden, noted in a 1583 inquisition and apparently enclosed (Westropp 1903-4, 118-9). Thus it is not clear whether the east/west wall reflects the south boundary of the outer ward, or whether this included the whole island. The outer curtain, where it survives on the north west is of fifteenth or sixteenth century date, as indicated by the presence of gun loops and by its being built onto the north/west corner of the remodelled fifteenth century hall. The wall is up to 5m high internally, with a wall-walk at 3m. Beneath wall-walk level are seven large splayed segmental arched embrasures containing small rectangular 'gun-loops, some with round enlargements at the base. About 20m west of the entrance causeway was a projecting bastion in the wall clearly shown on the 'Pacata Hibernia' drawing; only traces of it survive, and the opening is filled with modern masonry. The parapet of the wall-walk changes at this point; west of the bastion is a crenallated parapet, with splayed gun-loops of various forms in the merlons but east of the bastion is an unbroken parapet with small splayed gun-loops, the outer openings c. 10m square, presumably a later rebuilding. The Hall On the west perimeter of the outer ward is a rectangular, gabled hall of two floors, measuring c. 32m north/south by c. 14m east/west, with a slightly wider (c. 15.5m) section at the south and a projecting square stair turret on the west. The walls are intact, the north and south gables being c. 14.5m high and the east and west walls c. 10m high. The hall consists of a core, probably of c. 13th century date, which was heavily altered in the fifteenth century. The two phases are distinguishable by their masonry, that of the thirteenth century phase being roughly coursed rubble while that of the fifteenth century is dressed ashlar. The first floor level of the rebuilt hall is also somewhat higher than that of the original hall due to the insertion of vaulting over the ground floor while the line of the original gable, c. 4-5m lower than the present gable, is visible in the south wall of the first floor hall. The thirteenth century hall was of two floors, and appears to have consisted at ground floor level, of a central chamber c. 18m north/south by c. 13m east/west externally, with broader (c. 15.5m east/west) sections which project on the east, to the north and south. The central chamber was lit by four pairs of large windows, set opposite each other at intervals of c. 2.5m in the east and west walls; these had flat rear arches and window seats which survive, but the windows themselves were removed in the fifteenth century alterations. In the alterations the external east, west and north walls were refaced with coursed ashlar masonry, and a basal batter, 3.25m high and 60cm wide was added above a plinth 5Ocm high and 12cm wider than the batter. With the exception of the north pair, the windows of the central chamber were replaced by tall rectangular loops with splaying jambs set into the batter; the north pair were replaced by a large rectangular opening, in the east wall and a tall pointed doorway leading to the stair turret in the west wall. The north and south walls of the central chamber were largely refaced, due to the insertion of vaulting in the fifteenth century; the only possible original features visible are a pointed opening, lacking its rear arch at the west end of the south wall and a segmental doorway in the north wall. In the fifteenth century alterations, the central chamber was divided by a wall running between, and partly blocking, the second pair of windows from the south. In the chamber formed to the south of this wall, a poi

• LI011-092004 Church
  Description

  St. Mary's medieval parish church in Askeaton was described in The Urban Survey of County Limerick as following; 'The remains of the medieval church are located at the east end of the town, off Church St. to the south. They are situated at the east end of the modern Church of Ireland and well have the same around the south chamber. The third floor consist of the east gable and returns of the north and south walls of the chancel, probably of thirteenth century date with a belfry tower built onto the north. The Chancel The east gable, c. 11.8m wide externally and c. 6.5m high and the returns of the north and south walls, c. 11m long and 4.5m high, survive but are heavily overgrown. The masonry is roughly coursed limestone rubble, and there are traces of plaster internally. In the east wall was a tall splayed window, probably twin-light as it is 1.28m in width, with pointed arch; most of the jambs are missing but those surviving are of limestone, chamfered and rebated in thirteenth century fashion. At the west ends of the north and south walls are the east splays of windows with pointed rear arches, possibly lancets; the south wall also has a blocked window, described by Westropp (1904, 115) as 'a trefoil light within an ogee-headed moulding' i.e. an ogee-headed window with double cusps. This has a segmental rear arch, but it is now so overgrown externally that it is impossible to say whether the jambs are still in position. In the north wall is an unsplayed, round headed doorway leading into the tower. The Tower This tower of two, if not three floors, was built onto the north side of the chancel at a later date. It is c.10.7m square externally and c.10m high. The masonry is roughly coursed limestone rubble, with a strong basal batter 1.5m- 1.75m high on the west, north and east sides. Inside the round headed door on the north wall of the chancel is a taller and wider unsplayed doorway, with traces of plank centering, in the south wall of the tower. The ground floor is lit by rectangular loops, splayed externally as well as internally in the west, north and east walls. The first floor has large unsplayed openings, probably windows, but possibly doorways, in the south/ east and west walls; that in the west wall is round headed and now blocked while those in the south and east walls are rectangular. The walls at this possible second floor level are c.1.5m high and featureless with battlements of uncertain date above over an internal ledge. On the west a modern bell-cote has been erected over the battlements. A view in "Pacata Hibernia" shows a two aisled building with tower at the end of the north aisle' (Bradley et. al. 1985, 74-6). Westropp gives the following details on Askeaton Church; ‘A parish in Connello Lower. The fort of Gephthine, ante 900 (Book of Rights). Easgepthine Castle built 1199 (Ann. Innisfallen). Inniasc(ifty) church, near Tomdeely, 1201. Records are very numerous (R.S.A.I, xxxiii., pp. 25, 153, 239) under the names of Iniskifty, Iniskesty, Hinkesny, Hinckescy, Imkesti, Innesci, Tnyskyfty, Hinksti, &c. Bishop Hubert granted the church to Keynsham, c. 1223 (B.B.L., li.). The heirs of Ric. de Clare held it, 1319 (Plea Rolls); Maurice Earl of Desmond held it, 1349 (Close R.), and his descendants made it their chief residence. The church is named Ynyskyftyn, 1302; Asketten, or Ascetiny, 1410; Inskefti, 1418; Atheskettin, 1551 (Fiant, 961); Ennisketten, 1591 (Valor). Fabric - The church is alleged to have been built by the Templars, 1291. The belfry is square below and octagonal above; the east end of the chancel is standing. There was in 1834 a transept, or aisle, opening out of the church by two arches. Monuments and burial-places of the Taylors, of Ballynort and Hollypark, 1728 ; Westropps, of Ballysteen, 1741; Hewsons; Rose, 1755, &c’ (Westropp 1904-5, 392-3). Compiled by: Denis Power Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 4 October 2018

• LI011-092005 Graveyard
  Description

  19th century C of I church and medieval church ruins (LI011-092004-) dedicated to St. Mary stands in NE quadrant of Askeaton graveyard which consists of a sub-rectangular-shaped area (approx. dims. 87m N-S x 65m 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

• LI011-092006 Religious house - Franciscan friars
  Description

  National monument No. 185. Askeaton Friary described in the Urban Survey (Bradley et. al. 1989, 76-83) as following: 'The first documentary mention of this friary occurs in 1400 when it is referred to as Inysgebryny, i.e. Inis Geightine (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 242). Its founder was probably Gerald, the 4th earl of Desmond. The friary survived the Dissolution and a provincial chapter was held here in 1564. During the Desmond Wars the friary was captured by Nicholas Malby and the friars were expelled. The exact date for this expulsion is unclear but it is variously given as 1579 and 1581 (ibid.). The friary is situated on the east bank of the Deel and it consists of a single aisled fourteenth/fifteenth century church with a fourteenth/fifteenth century cloister to the south flanked by an east and west range. Later fifteenth century additions include a sacristy to the north of the chancel, and a transept with western aisle to the north of the nave. On the south side of the cloister a two-storied refectory was added, oriented N-S, and a later barrel vaulted chamber was added to the west and extends beyond the west range. According to the 'Pacata Hibernia' drawing (Westropp 1903, 240) a large tower was also on the site but no trace of this remains. The insertion of carved stone doorways with Renaissance style decoration suggest repairs or refurbishments in the sixteenth century. The masonry is limestone throughout (Leask 1955-60, iii, 101-2). The church is a a long undifferentiated nave and chancel with side walls and gables intact. It is lit by a five light window in the east wall, three triple-light windows in the south wall of the chancel, one in the west wall and one at the west" end of the north wall, all "with switch line tracery. The east window in the south wall has cusps added to the tracery to give a flame-like effect and a later twin-light cusped window was inserted in the north wall of the nave. A pointed door opens from the chancel to the sacristy on the north which had two floors: the lower one was divided by a partition wall and was probably roofed with a barrel vault. The ground floor was lit by a twin-light window in the east wall and had a wall cupboard and fireplace in the north wall. There was a spiral stairs to the first floor at the west end. The first floor, which is only partly intact, was lit from the east and north by twin-light windows. The transept is entered through two large pointed arches resting on a drum shaped column. It is very ruined but was lit from the east by three twin-light windows - only the south one survives intact - and from the west by three twin-light ogee-headed windows. Much of the east and north walls have fallen and there are large pieces of masonry on the ground to the north east. The transept and aisle are separated by two pointed arches and one rounded arch supported on rectangular piers. The cloister is intact and consists of a pointed arcade of web shaped colonettes in groups of three (Leask 1955-60, iii, 137-8) and retains much of its plaster and wattle centering. The east range is two floored with a long barrel vaulted roof over the ground floor which is lit from the east by three splayed narrow loops with sloping sills. There is an inserted fireplace towards the north end of the wall; the north end of the chamber was cut off to form a small room which has a door opening externally to the east. The first floor, which is reached by spiral stairs on the south, extends over the ground floor chamber and the east ambulatory and was lit from the east by three single-light ogee headed windows and from the west by two single-light and one twin-light window. The south wall has a larger rectangular twin-light window with mullions and transoms and there is a small wall cupboard in the north wall. Covered passages open to the west range over the north and south ambulatories. The west range is also two storeyed. The ground floor has two rooms; the larger one at the northern end has a pointed barrel vault and is lit from the west by three widely splaying windows; the north one is a single-light cusped pointed window, the middle one a rectangular twinlight and the southern one is a single-light rectangular window. The room probably had a loft as there are two corbels in the north wall and a rectangular window looks into the nave just below the barrell vault. The south end of the ground floor (known as the prison), is entered from the south and the floor is at a lower level. It has a small garderobe and a narrow loop to the west. The first floor is a long room also extending over the west ambulatory. It was lit from the west and east by four single light pointed windows. There is another similar window in the north wall with a squint through the eastern splay which provides a view to the altar of the church. Beside this window are traces of mural decoration in the plaster. The south wall has, apart from the stairs on the east side, a tall twin-light ogee-headed window with window seats and a single-light window with wall cupboards in both splays. The refectory to the south is two storeyed; the ground level being c. 1.5m below the ground level of the cloister arcade. Much of the ground floor has been rebuilt but the west wall has a twin-light ogee headed window, a reader's recess flanked by rounded colonettes with moulded capitals and bases which extends to the west from the centre of the wall and a second twin-light window. The first floor was supported on corbels in the east, west and north walls and the room was lit by six or seven small rectangular windows in both east and west walls. There are three windows in the south wall; a large twin-light ogee-headed window flanked by two smaller single-light ogee-headed windows. Two doors open on the north to the south ambulatory. The two floored structure to the west of the south range was added at a later date as it blocks some of the windows of the south range. The ground floor has a pointed barrell vault with traces of wickerwork centering and is lit from the south by a rectangular loop and a gunloop near the east end. There is also a fireplace in the south wall and three wall cupboards in the west wall. The floor above has a long deep pit for a 'necessarium' at the west end and was lit from the south by three windows; two of which have stepped heads. There was a loft above this floor supported on corbels in the north wall and lit by a single light rectangular window which overlooks the south range. Architectural Fragments Over fifty fragments of window mouldings, a roof boss, door mouldings etc. are collected in the chapter house. Panel with St. Francis: A depiction of St. Francis is carved in deep false relief on a respond on the north side of the cloister arcade. Dims: H. 60cm W. 36cm Mural decoration As noted above there is painted decoration on the north wall of the first floor of the west range. In addition there are some consecration crosses in the plaster on the west wall of the first floor of the south range and there is a sun-dial incised on the north wall of the cloister ambulatory.' Compiled by: Denis Power Date of upload: 26 August 2011

• LI011-092007 Graveyard
  Description

  Adjoining the Franciscan friary (LI011-092006-) in Askeaton on the SSE side there is a graveyard which consists of a subrectangular-shaped area (approx. dims. 34m N-S x 44m E-W) enclosed by a wall of uncertain antiquity with entrance gate at E. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 26 July 2019

• LI011-092008 Tomb - unclassified
  Description

  The following description of this monument is taken from 'The Urban Archaeological Survey of County Limerick' compiled by John Bradley, Andrew Halpin and Heather A. King (Office of Public Works, 1985). "16th Century fragments of table tomb. A limestone panel, mounted at the east end of the north wall of the chancel is carved in false relief with a bishop. A further two fragments in the chapter house belong to the same tomb. One depicts St Catherine and another saint while the second piece is the upper part of two panels. Dims: A. H. 60cm W. 30cm B. H. 60cm W. 43cm D. 18cm (Hunt 1974, 199.)" Compiled by: Denis Power Date of upload: 26 August 2011

• LI011-092009 Graveslab
  Description

  The following description of this monument is taken from 'The Urban Archaeological Survey of County Limerick' compiled by John Bradley, Andrew Halpin and Heather A. King (Office of Public Works, 1985). "Grave slab. 16th cent. A slightly tapering limestone slab with an incised double cross design of quatrefoils is in the centre of the chancel floor. Dims: L.193 W.63-59 D.12. (Mems Dead viii, 1910-12, 109.)" Compiled by: Denis Power Date of upload: 26 August 2011

• LI011-092010 Graveslab
  Description

  The following description of this monument is taken from 'The Urban Archaeological Survey of County Limerick' compiled by John Bradley, Andrew Halpin and Heather A. King (Office of Public Works, 1985). "Grave slab. 15/16th cent. A tapering limestone slab with a ringed cross on steps flanked by a twisted vine stem and floral patterns is on the south side of the chancel. Dims: L. 191 W. 70-52 D. 15. (Mems Dead viii (1910-12), 109.)" Compiled by: Denis Power Date of upload: 26 August 2011

And 8 more.

Architectural heritage

• The Hellfire Club, house, 1680–1700 · National interest
  Description

  Detached former barracks/tower, erected in 1636-7, having battered walls with cut stone quoins with remains of three-bay mid eighteenth-century house built on top of battered base. Bow to south elevation of house and shallow projecting end-bay to north elevation. House roofless with limestone eaves course. Coursed rubble limestone walls having tolled quoins, brick stringcourse and brick quoins to upper floors. Square-headed door openings to north elevation. Square-headed window opening to bow with brick architrave. Camber-headed window openings to west having brick voussoirs. Round-headed window opening to east elevation with brick surround, flanked by round-headed niches having brick surrounds and continuous brick sill course. Situated within the bailey of Askeaton Castle.

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.

Terrain model

LiDAR of the Office of Public Works, flown in 2011, at 2 m: tile OPW_548 (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.