Esker

62 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Esker, from 29 m² to 89,844 m² (8.98 ha, 22.2 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary. 17 neighbouring parcels touch it.

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

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

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

• 18 Sept 2025Conditional

  for an existing mechanical secondary RBC WWTS system and septic tank along with all ancillary works, planning permission for two proposed tertiary wastewater treatment systems and pump stations along with all ancillary works, within the curtilage of protected structures, being RPS. No. 141, RPS. No. 142 & RPS. No. 143 listed as protected structures

  Retention · Galway County Council, 2561342

• 11 Sept 2025Conditional

  for the following works at existing village buildings located in Esker, within the curtilage of protected structures, being RPS. No. 141, RPS. No 142 and RPS No 143, listed as protected structures in Galway County Councils Development Plan 2022 – 2028. Retention planning permission for an existing 20 cubic metres. Septic Tank along with all ancillary works, planning permission for proposed tertiary wastewater treatment system and pump station along with all ancillary works

  Retention · Galway County Council, 2561292

• 6 Dec 2024Conditional

  to construct a single storey extension to the side of existing dwelling house and replace existing septic tank with treatment plant and percolation area. Gross floor space of proposed works: 90.20 sqm(extension) & 107.90 sqm(house)

  Permission, 1 home · Galway County Council, 2461664

• 3 Nov 2021Refused

  for the construction of a new dwelling house, domestic garage, sewage treatment plant and percolation area, along with all ancillary works. Gross floor space of proposed works: 316 sqm (house) & 40 sqm (house)

  Permission, 1 home · Galway County Council, 212047

• 20 Jun 2019Conditional

  for the construction of new dwelling along with domestic garage, treatment septic tank system and all associated site works. Gross floor space of proposed works: House - 234 sqm, Garage - 50.5 sqm

  Permission, 1 home · Galway County Council, 19930

• 4 Jul 2018Conditional

  of dwelling house and domestic garage as constructed. Gross floor space of work to be retained Dwelling 229.9sqm, Garage 96.9sqm.

  Retention, 1 home · Galway County Council, 18922

• 3 Apr 2017Conditional

  for change of use of an existing prefabricated classroom to a Montessori / Preschool, including all associated works. (Gross floor space of proposed works: 73.2 sqm.)

  Permission · Galway County Council, 17432

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

Designated sites

No designated site (Special Area of Conservation, Special Protection Area, Natural Heritage Area or proposed one) touches the townland of Esker.

Recorded monuments

• GA084-071001 Religious house - unclassified
  Description

  The Archaeological Survey of Ireland (ASI) is in the process of providing information on all monuments on The Historic Environment Viewer (HEV). Currently the information for this record has not been uploaded. To access available information for research purposes please make an appointment in advance with the Archive Unit (open Fridays 10.00 am – 5.00 pm), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, The Custom House, Dublin 1 D01W6XO or email NMarchive@housing.gov.ie.

• GA084-071002 Chapel
  Description

  The Archaeological Survey of Ireland (ASI) is in the process of providing information on all monuments on The Historic Environment Viewer (HEV). Currently the information for this record has not been uploaded. To access available information for research purposes please make an appointment in advance with the Archive Unit (open Fridays 10.00 am – 5.00 pm), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, The Custom House, Dublin 1 D01W6XO or email NMarchive@housing.gov.ie.

• GA096-087 Burial ground
  Description

  The Archaeological Survey of Ireland (ASI) is in the process of providing information on all monuments on The Historic Environment Viewer (HEV). Currently the information for this record has not been uploaded. To access available information for research purposes please make an appointment in advance with the Archive Unit (open Fridays 10.00 am – 5.00 pm), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, The Custom House, Dublin 1 D01W6XO or email NMarchive@housing.gov.ie.

• GA096-088 Chapel
  Description

  The Archaeological Survey of Ireland (ASI) is in the process of providing information on all monuments on The Historic Environment Viewer (HEV). Currently the information for this record has not been uploaded. To access available information for research purposes please make an appointment in advance with the Archive Unit (open Fridays 10.00 am – 5.00 pm), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, The Custom House, Dublin 1 D01W6XO or email NMarchive@housing.gov.ie.

• GA096-174 Ritual site - holy well
  Description

  In a slight hollow in grassland, c. 500m SE of the Redemptorist Abbey of Esker. This natural spring well is known locally as ‘Dominic’s Well’. Little is known of its origin (Anon. 1982, 23), though it may date to the arrival of the Dominicans in Esker following the destruction of their priory (GA084-001014-) in Athenry in 1652 by Cromwellian soldiers (Pochin-Mould, 132). On inspection in October 1989, the well was covered by a modern concrete round-arched canopy and opened to the W. At the apex of the canopy a protruding keystone, with a Latin cross carved in relief, was dated 1930. A concrete stile was built in front of the well and immediately on its W side there was a large stone trough. The stile appeared to have formed the entrance to a small enclosure defined by a post and wire fence around the well. A concrete stand for a pump was also visible. Further works have since been carried out at the well and its environs and it is now a place pilgrimage for holy water in January (Nugent 2015, 38). Compiled by: Galway Archaeological Survey, UCG and Anne-Julie Lafaye 1. Coleman, A. 1902. The ancient Dominican foundations in Ireland. Dundalk. William Tempest. 2. Nugent, L. 2015.‘Preserving an ancient practice: Farmer’s pilgrimage to blessing of the waters at St Dominic’s holy well at Esker’, Connacht Tribune (January 16,2015), 38. (Available at: https://connachttribune.ie/preserving-an-ancient-practice-at-st-dominics-holy-well-185/, accessed 18 January 2023). 3. Pochin-Mould, D. 1957 . The Irish Dominicans: The Friars Preachers in the History of Catholic Ireland. Date of upload: 28 March 2023

• GA096-177001 Cross-slab (present location)
  Description

  Incorporated into the Stations of the Cross along a woodland walk in the grounds of St Patrick's Redemptorist Monastery (GA084-071001-) at Esker, Athenry. This cross-slab is incorporated into the 14th Station. It has a deeply cut V-sectioned border all around it and it bears a ringed cross of three lines with plain straight ended terminals. Compiled by: Olive Alcock Date of upload: 17 February 2023

• GA096-177002 Cross-slab (present location)
  Description

  Incorporated into the Stations of the Cross along a woodland walk in the grounds of St Patrick's Redemptorist Monastery (GA084-071001-) at Esker, Athenry. This cross-slab (H c. 0.55m; Wth c. 0.35m) is cemented into the surround of the 12th Station. It bears a faint cross - only the W half of the head and the terminals at the base are are barely visible. The cross is a ringed one of three lines and the left terminal is plain and straight ended. Two circular terminals are visible at the base. The slab, which is possibly of early medieval date, is reputed to have been taken from Clonmacnoise, Co. Offaly to Esker at the turn of the 20th century (SMR file); see OF005-023698- for possible original location. Compiled by: Olive Alcock Date of upload: 17 February 2023 SMR file - Sites and monuments record files in the National Monuments Service, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

• GA096-177003 Architectural fragment
  Description

  The Archaeological Survey of Ireland (ASI) is in the process of providing information on all monuments on The Historic Environment Viewer (HEV). Currently the information for this record has not been uploaded. To access available information for research purposes please make an appointment in advance with the Archive Unit (open Fridays 10.00 am – 5.00 pm), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, The Custom House, Dublin 1 D01W6XO or email NMarchive@housing.gov.ie.

• GA096-177004 Architectural feature
  Description

  The Archaeological Survey of Ireland (ASI) is in the process of providing information on all monuments on The Historic Environment Viewer (HEV). Currently the information for this record has not been uploaded. To access available information for research purposes please make an appointment in advance with the Archive Unit (open Fridays 10.00 am – 5.00 pm), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, The Custom House, Dublin 1 D01W6XO or email NMarchive@housing.gov.ie.

• GA096-177005 Architectural fragment
  Description

  The Archaeological Survey of Ireland (ASI) is in the process of providing information on all monuments on The Historic Environment Viewer (HEV). Currently the information for this record has not been uploaded. To access available information for research purposes please make an appointment in advance with the Archive Unit (open Fridays 10.00 am – 5.00 pm), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, The Custom House, Dublin 1 D01W6XO or email NMarchive@housing.gov.ie.

Architectural heritage

• Saint Patrick's Redemptorist Monastery, monastery, 1900–1950 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached monastery complex, completed c.1903, comprising main north-west south-east block, former seminary to north-west, completed c.1949, and chapel to south-east. Single-storey ancillary blocks link all buildings. Main block is seven-bay three-storey over basement with pedimented entrance breakfront, having six-bay three-storey return to rear over raised basement, and three-storey flat-roofed wing to east end of rear having flat roof. Seminary is fifteen-bay two-storey with dormer floor, and having slightly projecting gabled bay to centre of façade. Pitched slate roofs to main block and seminary, having decorative terracotta ridge tiles to former, with smooth rendered chimneystacks and cast-iron rainwater goods. Painted pebbledashed walls to front elevations and gables having painted sill courses and render quoins and plinth course, and smooth rendered walls to rear, having render sill courses to main block and rendered sills to seminary. Sculpted statue above front entrance door of main block. Main block has segmental-headed window openings to lower floors having painted rendered block-and-start surrounds with hoods, painted stone sills and replacement uPVC windows, square-headed windows to top floor, with stone sills and replacement uPVC windows. Tudor arch main entrance doorway Order-arch-style surround, label-moulding with decorated spandrels and foliate stops, and timber panelled double-leaf doors with stained-glass overlight having timber Y-tracery. Similar doorway to rear elevation having render hood-moulding with foliate stops and timber panelled door with sidelights and overlight, and accessed by rendered steps and metal railings leading to doorway. Seminary has square-headed replacement uPVC windows, and doorways are round-headed and placed four basy from centre bay and have limestone doorcases with columns and entablature and timber panelled doors. SS Peter and Paul’s Church to west of monastery. Set within its own grounds. Cast-iron gates having cut limestone piers with capping and limestone wall to front boundary.

• Saint Patrick's Redemptorist Monastery, church/chapel, 1840–1845 · Regional interest
  Description

  Freestanding Roman Catholic chapel, built 1844, having four-bay nave elevation, single-bay chancel and three-stage crenellated tower to west gable with crenellations and pinnacles. Cruciform-plan two-storey sacristy to rear of chancel. Pitched slate roof having clay ridge tiles and limestone copings with stone cross finial to east gable and cast-iron rainwater goods. Painted pebbledashed walls having render plinth course, and with render string courses to tower. Buttresses flank one bay of north elevation. Carved limestone plaque above door. Pointed arch window openings to nave and chancel having limestone surrounds and stained-glass windows, Y-tracery to chancel window. Square- and segmental-headed window openings to sacristy having one-over-one pane timber sliding sash windows. Pointed arched louvred openings to second and top stages of tower and oculi to second stage with clock faces. Pointed arch door openings to tower, having cut limestone surround and timber battened door to first floor, approached by ornamental wrought-iron external spiral staircase, timber sheeted door with overlight to ground floor north elevation, doorway to west having carved limestone block-and-start surround, and doorway to south having moulded render surround, latter two having timber battened doors and overlights with Y-tracery. Segmental-headed window opening to west having timber battened door. Interior of church having painted rendered walls with stained-glass windows, carved timber and stained-glass doors and recent timber and plastered ceiling, and carved marble reredos and altar, segmental-headed doorways flanking below paintings. Set within the grounds of Saint Patricks Redemptorist Monastery.

• Saint Patrick's Redemptorist Monastery, gates/railings/walls, 1840–1860 · Regional interest
  Description

  Entrance gateway, erected c.1850, comprising double-leaf decorative cast-iron gates, flanked by cut limestone cruciform-plan gate piers with carved caps and plinths and moulded string courses, flanked by pedestrian gates and square-profile cut limestone piers with string courses and pyramidal caps. Cast- and wrought-iron lanterns to inner piers. Coursed limestone boundary walls having rounded copings. Cut limestone jostle stones inside gates. Located at entrance to Saint Patrick's Redemptorist Monastery.

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

Radon

At the centre of the townland of Esker, 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 water.

Terrain model

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

Flooding

The Office of Public Works publishes its flood maps on floodinfo.ie.

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

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

Name

Esker · An Eiscir

Area

1,064,019 m² (106.4 ha, 262.92 acres)

Civil parish

Kiltullagh, and its townlands

Barony

Athenry

Electoral division

Kiltullagh, the unit of the census

Census 2022

827 people lived in 264 households in the Kiltullagh electoral division. 89% of households owned their home. 42% of homes were built since 2001. 7% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 1% were holiday homes.

Neighbouring townlands

Brusk, Gloves South, Killascaul, Rathgorgin

Placenames

Esker 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.