Friarstown North

Area

98,643 m² (9.86 ha, 24.38 acres)

Buildings

No building touches it.

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

Friarstown North

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 10 recorded monuments.

• LI013-086 Moated site
  Description

  Situated immediately N of a field boundary on flat ground in gently rolling pasture. The monument, depicted on the 1924 OS 6-inch map as a sub-rectangular area (c. 80m NE-SW; c. 40m N-S) enclosed by a bank and fosse, is now masked by dense scrub vegetation. It is evident as a sub-rectangular area, defined by two banks and an intervening fosse. The interior is enclosed by an earthen bank (int. H 0.15m; Wth 1.4m; ext. H 1.2m) to E and S, that grades to a scarped edge (H 1m) to W and N. This internal bank are two gaps (Wths 1m) in the S side, and two in the N (Wths 3m & 2.5m); one of the latter is a probable entrance. The intervening fosse (Wth 1.45m) is flat-bottomed and uniform all round, apart from in the N side at the location of the possible entrance causeway where the ground level has been built up. At this location there is also a large dump of stones. The external bank (ext. H 0.3m; Wth 2.3m; int. H 1m) is evident on the N, E and W sides. There is a break in this bank at the NW corner. The external bank has been incorporated into the surrounding field boundary system. See attached plan of moated site taken from O'Kelly 1942-3. Compiled by: Denis Power Date of upload: 25 April 2013

• LI013-088 Ringfort - cashel
  Description

  Situated in a field of undulating pasture, on a gentle S-facing slope. The monument is indicated on the 1924 OS 6-inch map as a circular area (diam. c. 15m E-W; c. 15m N-S) enclosed by a bank and fosse. The site is now heavily masked by dense scrub vegetation. It is defined by a scarped edge (Wth 2.5m; H 1m) at NE and by an earth-and-stone bank (int. H 0.7m; Wth 1.1m; ext. H 0.5m) at S. There are traces of an external fosse at N (Wth c. 1.4m; H 0.6m). Compiled by: Denis Power Date of upload: 26 April 2013

• LI013-089 Ceremonial enclosure
  Description

  Situated on a hilltop with parts of the S and W quadrants located in woodland. Sub circular area (112m N-S; 110m NE-SW) defined by a scarped edge (H 1m; Wth 3m - 4.6m) and an outer earthen bank with an intervening fosse. The fosse (Wth 2.2 - 3.1m) is flat-bottomed. The bank (ext. H 0.3 - 1m; Wth 2.2 - 3.1m; int. H 0.2 - 0.4 m) is better defined to SE and SW in the wooded area, where it is of dry-stone construction, suggesting that it has this construction but has been denuded elsewhere. The monument has been truncated to the SE by a cashel (LI013-093----). The interior slopes upwards on all sides towards the summit of the hill. According to Kelly and Condit (1998) this monument is one of two 'best interpreted as henges'; the other is LI013-094002-. Outline of monument visible on oblique aerial photographs (CUCAP AVT001/002/003) taken 20/07/1968. This monument was recently described in the Atlas of Hillforts of Britain and Ireland as following; 'Contour fort positioned on the low-domed summit of an isolated hill, 7.5km S of Limerick City. The hillfort has a total site footprint of 1.5ha. There are panoramic views from the summit. Immediately to the NE is a second hillfort, positioned on a low-domed shoulder of the hill (Atlas No.0683). The enclosing elements comprise a pair of closely set banks with an intervening ditch. The outer bank is likely to be a counterscarp feature. There are no obvious entrance features recorded. No evidence for any internal features on the surface. Extensive plough damage has denuded the enclosing elements. The S and W section of the enclosing features are under forestry. Kelly and Condit (1998, 19) have suggested that this is a large henge monument. However, the commanding position of the monument and the layout of its enclosing elements suggest that it is more likely to be a hillfort. First identified by the Cambridge University Committee for aerial photography. Site visit by Kelly and Condit (1998) who partly recorded the enclosing elements.' (http://hillforts.arch.ox.ac.uk/records/IR0682.html) Compiled by: Denis Power Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 30 January 2020

• LI013-093 Castle - ringwork
  Description

  Situated immediately S of a field boundary on a S-facing slope in woodland bordering rolling pasture. Truncates a henge monument (LI013-089----) to NW. This monument consists of a circular area (diam. 28m E-W; 28m N-S) enclosed by a bank with an external fosse. The bank (int. H 0.3 - 0.5m ; Wth 1.1m; ext. H 0.9 - 1.5m) consists mainly of loose stonework covered by earth and moss, and has been robbed of stone at several locations. In the SSE a dip in the bank (Wth 4m) may represent an entrance. The fosse (Wth 2.45m; H 0.7m) is flat-bottomed and uniform all round; apart from in the SSE at the location of the possible entrance, where it is not evident. A bank (H 0.1m; Wth 1.6m) acting as a field boundary runs N-S across the interior. The interior surface is uneven and slopes down to S. It has been suggested (Kelly and Condit 1998) that this monument may be a ringwork. Compiled by: Denis Power Date of upload: 26 April 2013

• LI013-094001 Enclosure
  Description

  Situated immediately E of henge (LI013-094002-), on the E slope of a steep hill in rolling pasture with good views from NE to SE. This enclosure was identified from an aerial photography (Bruff 4; 4/3749) as a possible enclosure. The site is now obscured by dense scrub vegetation but a short section of a scarped edge (Wth 5.6m; H 1.1m) is evident at E. Compiled by: Denis Power Date of upload: 27 May 2013

• LI013-094002 Ceremonial enclosure
  Description

  Situated surrounding the summit of Friarstown or Tara Hill (Condit and Kelly 1998) in rolling pasture with good views in all directions. Sub-oval area (c. 165m E-W; 157m N-S) defined by a scarped edge (Wth 6m; H 1.1m) and enclosed by a fosse (Wth 1.5m) and an external bank (int. H 0.1m; Wth 2.5m; ext. H 0.3m). The hill slopes down evenly from the centre towards the scarp apart from in the E where the slope is slightly sheerer. A bank of piled-up rubble lies just outside the external bank in the SSE near to an oval depression which appears to have been quarried, possibly in antiquity. There is a limekiln set into the scarp in the NW and a ramp of stones lies across the fosse immediately to the NE of the limekiln. According to Kelly and Condit (1998) this monument is one of two 'best interpreted as henges'; the other is LI013-089----. Outline of monument visible on oblique aerial photographs (CUCAP AVT001/002/003) taken 20/07/1968. This monument was recently described in the Atlas of Hillforts of Britain and Ireland as following; 'Contour fort situated on the low-domed hill shoulder of an isolated hill, 7.5km S of Limerick City. The hillfort has a total site footprint of 2.1ha. There are extensive views to the N, E and S. Views to the W are blocked by the summit of Friarstown Hill. Immediately to the SW is a second hillfort on the low-domed summit of Friarstown Hill (Atlas No.0682). The enclosing elements comprise a pair of closely set banks with an intervening ditch. The outer bank is probably a counterscarp feature. There are no recorded entrance features. No evidence for any internal features on the surface. Extensive plough damage had denuded the enclosing elements, which survive best to the SE and SW. Kelly and Condit (1998, 19) has suggested that this is a large henge monument. However, the commanding position of the monument and the layout of its enclosing elements suggest that it is more likely a hillfort type monument. First identified by the Cambridge University Committee for aerial photography. Site visit by Kelly and Condit (1998) who partly recorded the enclosing elements.' (http://hillforts.arch.ox.ac.uk/records/IR0683.html) Compiled by: Denis Power Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 30 January 2020

• LI013-097 Religious house - Franciscan Third Order Regular
  Description

  The friary of St. Francis de Ballynebrahrair (Friarstown) in the parish of Caheravelly was founded some time after 1450 and was dissolved in 1544 (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 267). The friaries of Ballynebraher (with 3 acres, rent 12d.) and Ballyniwillin [Rochestown] were granted to Robert Browne on the 4th of February, 1544 (ibid., 270). The Franciscan friary of the Third Order Regular in the townland of Friarstown (Baile na mBráthar\town of the friars) was described in 1840 as follows; ‘In the Townland of Friarstown are the remains of a religious edifice which the people call “the Abbey”. The walls are perfect. This Abbey is eighty one and a half feet [24.7m] long by nineteen feet [5.8m] in breadth. On the east gable there is a window, the upper part of which is a flat arch on the inside where it (the window) is about eight feet [2.4m] high by five and a half feet [1.67m]. On the inside it is divided into two parts by a mullion each part being round above. On this side it is about eight feet [2.4m] from the ground, four feet ten inches [1.47m] high by two feet [0.6m], each division being in width eight and a half inches [0.2m]. This window is formed of well cut lime stone. On the south side wall, five and a half feet [1.67m] from the east gable, there is another window, the upper part being a flat arch of thin stones on the inside where it is six feet [1.8m] high by five feet four inches [1.62m]. On the outside it is round arched, three feet ten inches [1.16m] high by ten inches [0.25m]and formed of well cut stones. On the same wall, fourteen and a half feet [4.4m] from this, there is another window which was divided into two parts but the mullion is now removed. On the inside it is six feet [1.8m] high by six and a half feet [2m], the upper part consisting of a flat arch of thin stones. Outside it is four feet [1.2m] high by three feet [0.9m], each part being one foot three inches [0.38m] in width and consists of the same cut stones as the preceding. On the west gable there is a window in two parts, each being round at the top. It is about ten feet [3m] from the ground (outside) and about four feet [1.2m] high, each division being about one foot [0.3m] wide. Under this window is the doorway, which on the inside is seven and a half feet [2.3m] high by four and a half feet[1.2m] having above a flat arch of thin stones. The outside is six and a half feet [2m] high by three feet eight inches [1.1m] and is formed of well cut stones, being in the pointed style approaching the round-arched. There is another doorway on the north wall at the distance of twelve feet [3.65m] from the east gable. This doorway is six feet [1.8m] high by two feet two and a half inches [0.76m] and has a round arch consisting (formed) of a single stone on the inside; on the outside it is seven feet [2.1m] high by two feet six and a half inches [0.8m]; it has a flat arch and is formed of hammered stones. The inside is formed of cut stone and, as will be seen by the measurements given here, narrower than the outside. The walls are about thirteen feet [4m] high and are three feet two inches [0.97m] in thickness. Attached to the southern wall of this edifice, near the middle, is a lateral building, the entrance to which from the main building is by a square doorway. This building measures twenty nine feet [8.8m] by seventeen feet four inches [5.3m]. It appears to have been a dwelling house as it contains two fire places and two chimnneys. One of the chimneys is raised on the wall of the Abbey; the other is built in the middle of the gable on the south. On the eastern side of this lateral house, three and a half feet [0.9m] from the Abbey wall, is a window which is arched like those of the building inside and round above on the on outside where it is three feet five inches high [1m] by nine and half inches [0.24m] and formed of cut stone. On the same wall, three feet [0.9m] from the south gable there is another window similarly formed inside, on the outside square and three feet two inches high [0.97m] by nine inches [0.22m]. The walls of this building are about twelve feet [3.65m] high and three feet [0.9m] in thickness. It does not look as old as the Abbey. This Abbey was built in a valley. There are no marks of graves about or near it’ (O’Flanagan 1929 Vol. 2, 147-50). Westropp (1904-5, 48) recorded the following details about Friarstown; 'Ballynabrair, 1410; Gerot Baluff, f. Philip, a rebel, held the house of "S. ffrancisci de Ballynabrair, in Twoh-oreyn, in Paroch de Cahoryvahelly" (1586-1590, undatedInquis. Exchr. Cal., p. 95, No. 54, p. 118); Cnockballenevraher (Perambulation), 1609; Ballynambratharmore (O'Donovan). Fabric - The church is in fair preservation, 81½ feet [24.8m] long, 19 feet [5.8m] wide. The east window has two round-headed lights and a flat splay. In the south wall are a similar one-light window, and a two-light window with the mullion gone. In the west end is a window with two bluntly pointed lights and a door underneath. The north door has a round head of one stone. To the south is a projecting wing, 29 feet [8.8m] by 17 feet 4 inches [5.3m], with two fireplaces and chimneys, and two east windows, one round-headed, one rectangular (O.S.L., 8, p. 147). Mr. Hunt, of Friarstown, early in the last century, removed a slab in this church, and found a large empty earthen crock in a hollow beneath it. The "Abbey" was called Clochnamanah'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 24 November 2021

• LI013-188 Souterrain
  Description

  Situated in the interior of a possible cashel or ringwork (LI013-093----), which itself truncates a henge (LI013-089----), on a S-facing slope in rolling pasture. Bank (H 0.1m; Wth. 1.6m; L 17m) oriented NE-SW, joined to a smaller bank (H 0.2m; Wth. 0.9m; L 6.7m) oriented WNW-ESE.

• LI013-200 Quarry
  Description

  Situated on a S-facing slope in rolling pasture with good views to S, W and E. The monument is heavily obscured by scrub vegetation as well as fallen trees and a large amount of stones and boulders. A curvilinear bank (int. H 0.7m; Wth. 1.2m; ext. H 0.1m) of stones is visible from N to E, immediately N of a depression which is covered by a growth of scrub, and scattered with large stones and boulders. The area appears to have been quarried extensively. This curvilinear bank is probably upcast from post-1700 quarrying as this appears to be the site of a quarry and not the remains of a cashel. This location is depicted as an area of rock outcrop on OS 25-inch map. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 2 March 2020

• LI013-201 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  Situated on a SW-facing slope in rolling pasture c. 30m N of LI013-088. Heavily poached by cattle. Sub-oval area (23.7m E-W; 20.6m N-S) defined by a scarp (Wth. 3.85-4.8m; H 0.6-0.7m) and enclosed by a fosse (Wth. 2.3m; D 0.1m) from ESE to ENE. Traces of an external bank (ext. H 0.4m; Wth. 1.8m; int. H 0.1m) are visible in the SW. The interior slopes gently down to S.

Architectural heritage

No building of the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage stands on this parcel.

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

Ground and risks

Radon

At the centre of this parcel, about 1 in 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.

Terrain model

LiDAR of the Office of Public Works, flown in 2011, at 2 m: tile OPW_954 (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.