Ballyadams

76 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Ballyadams, from 218 m² to 481,794 m² (48.18 ha, 119.05 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary. 43 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 Ballyadams 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.

• 12 Oct 2021Conditional

  retain extensions to existing dwelling as constructed, and associated site work

  Retention, 1 home · Laois County Council, 21699

• 29 Jul 2021Conditional

  construct a dwelling house, domestic garage, waste water treatment system, percolation area, new splayed entrance and associated site works

  Permission, 2 homes · Laois County Council, 21539

• 15 Oct 2020Conditional

  to construct extensions to the front of existing dwelling house, alterations and renovations to same dwelling and all associated site works.

  Permission, 1 home · Laois County Council, 20531

• 30 May 2017Conditional

  renovate existing dwelling and construct extension to same. permission to install waste water treatment system, percolation are, new bored well, new splayed entrance and associated site works ay Lower Ballyadams, via athy, Co. Laois

  Permission, 1 home · Laois County Council, 17272

• 24 Feb 2017Conditional

  retain domestic garage/store as constructed and associated site work

  Retention, 1 home · Laois County Council, 17102

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 Ballyadams.

Recorded monuments

• LA019-028001 Castle - tower house
  Description

  A six-storey high late medieval structure (dims. 10.7m N-S) with rounded towers at SW and NW angles between which is an imposing entrance way. Large rectangular seventeenth-century three-storey fortified house (LA019-028002-) attached to E side. The entrance way is recessed with a round segmental arch over the recess, while the doorway has a two-centred arch over it. Spanning the area between the towers, flush with their outer faces and just below the uppermost storey is another segmental arch which forms a machicolation over the entrance below. There is also a murder- hole at first-floor level over the doorway. Garderobe chamber and chute in NE angle and stairwell in NW tower. Most of the window opes are plain but some are ogee headed with two lights, while the uppermost ones have hood mouldings. Marked on the Down Survey and on the 1563 map of Laois and Offaly. In gently undulating countryside in arable land. Constructed in the reign of Henry VII by Adam O'More. It was taken by the Geraldines in the rebellion of Silken Thomas. In 1546 the Lord Justice with the Earl of Desmond came with their armies to Laois. Ballyadams was given to John Bowen (O'Byrne 1856, 74; Comerford 1886, 125-6). A six-storey tower house with tower at NW angle. Entrance way is recessed with round headed two centered segmented arch overhead. Rectangular ope carried by the squinch which spans the gap between the angle towers immediately over arch. Murder hole at first floor level over doorway and main staircase is in the N tower. Chamber with barrel vault at first floor level in South tower and a large garderobe chute, rectangular in shape in NE angle. A late seventeenth century fortified house,three storeys high is attached to the original tower at the E and S. Visited and surveyed by Michael Moore on the 30 May 1994 and described as situated on the W edge of a plain which stretches off to E and N. Land rises to a hill immediately to W and there is a gentle rise to the S. The services tower is in an excellent condition but the house is in very poor condition. This is a three storey medieval house with a service tower offset to W and N. The services tower is six storeys high and contains an imposing entrance, defensive features and garderobes while the house was devoted exclusively to living and was much altered probably in the eighteenth century by the insertion of large windows. The house (ext. dims. 19.95m N-S; 11.42m E-W; wall T 1.5m) is composed of roughly coursed limestone mortared walls. There is no base batter and no dressed quoins. The line of a gate is built into the S wall off centre to E indicating that their may have been some sort of a bawn wall to S of castle. The only original features associated with the house are a narrow window with limestone surrounds at E end of S wall and blocked lights in the N and S walls. These lights are blocked by the N-S internal cross wall (wall T 1.05m) which divided the ground floor into two chambers. Remains of vaulting over W chamber still visible at springing level in NW angle of ground floor and evidence of vaulting over E chamber visible over N end of ground floor chamber. There are three inserted windows in the E wall and two in the W wall. There is an inserted brick fireplace in the N wall of the W chamber. The cross wall is a later inserted feature. The ceiling was originally supported on offsets on all walls except the N. A modern structure is attached to the E wall but there is one corbel here indicating that there may have been a lean-to structure. The entrance to the service tower is now 1.15m wide and 2.9m high but was originally 1.5m wide. It is protected by a murder hole which covers the ground immediately outside the entrance from the overhang of the first floor. Inside the entrance passage (Wth 1.1m; L 2.5m) a lintelled doorway on the S gives access to the ground floor of the S tower which is a D-shaped room with vaulted roof. There is a rectangular hole in the floor which gives access to an oubliette or prison below and consists of a small rectangular vaulted room which also has direct access into the main house by a lintelled doorway. The main entrance passage enters the house by an inner doorway which has a flat arch and which is now blocked. The entrance passage has a plastered barrel vaulted roof running E-W. On the n side of the entrance passage three steps lead down to a corbelled chamber with one large light, one cupboard and an inserted ledge where a wooden bench had sat into the wall and was plastered over. Between this room and the entrance passage the mural stairs starts lighted by large windows with limestone surrounds that leads up to the first floor. First floor level the stairs gives access to a barrel vaulted chamber over the entrance passage off this chamber to the S there is a small D-shaped barrel vaulted room in the service tower with an inserted brick fireplace in the SW wall. No visible access from this tower directly into main part of house but this access may have been blocked up. The entrance to the first floor chamber of the house is via a doorway off the stairs and located off centre to N in the W wall. Evidence of a garderobe chute in NW angle at junction of service tower and main block of house at first floor level possibly accessed of lobby area off stairs at first floor level. Possible original fireplace off centre to W in N wall. There are two large recesses in the S wall that may have accommodated two fireplaces but they are completely destroyed now. There are two corbels in the W wall which supported the ceiling over the first floor. Second floor accessed off spiral stairs in circular service tower In NW angle which also gives access to garderobe chute off centre to W in N wall of antechamber from which main chamber is accessed. This main chamber has a large flue that projects externally from the N wall in the centre of the N wall and had a wooden ceiling carried on offsets in the side walls. Large broken out recess in the centre of the S wall, windows inserted in the E and W walls. Brick fireplace in SW wall of SW service tower at second floor level. Third floor accessed via spiral stairs in NW service tower, Brick fireplace in SW service tower at this level and access to garderobe off spiral stairs in E wall of stairs. Access to main chamber now blocked up and not visible. Fourth Floor service tower similar in layout to the thrid floor with ogee-headed windows visible in S face of SW service tower, fireplace in SW face of SW angle tower, garderobe accessed off main chamber of service tower at this level, private living sleeping quarters of the people who built the castle. Fifth floor service tower gives access to wall walk over castle via doorway in E wall of SW tower of service block, also mural steps in S wall of this service tower gives access to a small turret or lookout tower over S wall of SW angle tower above wall walk level. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Laois' (Dublin Stationery Office, 1995) compiled by P. David Sweetman, Olive Alcock and Bernie Moran. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 17 December 2007

• LA019-028002 House - fortified house
  Description

  Marked on the Down Survey and on the 1563 map of Laois and Offaly. In gently undulating countryside in arable land. Constructed in the reign of Henry VII by Adam O'More. It was taken by the Geraldines in the rebellion of Silken Thomas. In 1546 the Lord Justice with the Earl of Desmond came with their armies to Laois. Ballyadams was given to John Bowen (O'Byrne, D 1856, 74; Comerford 1886, 125-6). Large rectangular seventeenth-century three-storey house (ext. dims. 19.5m N-S; 11.42m E-W), built of roughly coursed limestone, attached to E side of tower house (LA019-028001-). Parts of the house are possibly contemporary with the tower house, while others are definitely of a later period. Features include splayed opes, rectangular windows in N wall and possible fireplaces in N and S walls. The only access to the various floor of the house appears to have been from the NW tower of the tower house. Possible evidence of bawn wall (LA019-028003-) at SE. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Laois' (Dublin Stationery Office, 1995) compiled by P. David Sweetman, Olive Alcock and Bernie Moran. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 17 December 2007

• LA019-028003 Bawn
  Description

  Large rectangular seventeenth-century fortified three storey house (LA019-028002-), attached to E side of tower house (LA019-028001-). Parts of the house are possibly contemporary with the tower house, while others are definitely of a later period. Possible evidence of bawn wall (LA019-028003-) at SE. Visited and surveyed by Michael Moore on the 30 May 1994 and described as situated on the W edge of a plain which stretches off to E and N. Land rises to a hill immediately to W and there is a gentle rise to the S. The services tower is in an excellent condition but the house is in very poor condition. This is a three storey medieval house with a service tower offset to W and N. The services tower is six storeys high and contains an imposing entrance, defensive features and garderobes while the house was devoted exclusively to living and was much altered probably in the 18th century by the insertion of large windows. The house (ext. dims. 19.95m N-S; 11.42m E-W; wall T 1.5m) is composed of roughly coursed limestone mortared walls. There is no base batter and no dressed quoins. The line of a gate is built into the S wall off centre to E indicating that their may have been some sort of a bawn wall to S of castle (LA019-028001-). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 17 December 2007

• LA019-029001 Enclosure
  Description

  Cropmark of subcircular enclosure and linear features (LA019-029002-) visible on aerial photograph (CUCAP, BGN 69). No visible surface remains. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Laois' (Dublin Stationery Office, 1995) compiled by P. David Sweetman, Olive Alcock and Bernie Moran. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 17 December 2007

• LA019-029002 Linear earthwork
  Description

  Cropmark of linear features visible on aerial photograph (CUCAP, BGN 69) to SW of enclosure site (LA019-029001-), and cutting it at SE and NNW. No visible surface remains. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Laois' (Dublin Stationery Office, 1995) compiled by P. David Sweetman, Olive Alcock and Bernie Moran. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 17 December 2007

• LA019-031001 Church
  Description

  At the S side of Ballyadams hill are the remains of a nave and chancel church that was dismantled circa 1826. Capt. Wm. Bowen of Castle Carra, Co. Mayo, bequeathed in 1594 twenty nobles towards the building and repairing of the church. Originally known as Kilmackeady, the church of MacAedh (O'Hanlon and O'Leary 1907, vol. 1, 182). A medieval limestone-built church (L c. 19.6m, wall T c. 0.9m) with a nave (Wth c. 5.3m) and chancel (Wth c. 5.6m). Entrance in S wall, probably not original. Opes in N and S walls and in W gable. Within church is an altar-tomb (LA019-031003-), erected in 1631 to Robert Bowen and his wife Alice Harpole by their son. Its S face depicts an arcade of four rounded arches containing four figures, two female, two male, in seventeenth-century costume with an incised inscription above them. The effigies of Robert Bowen and his wife were originally on the covering slab of the tomb but these are now destroyed (JKAS 1912, 21-2). Above the altar-tomb is a mural tablet and above this an armorial panel. A late medieval limestone slab (L c. 2m, Wth c. 0.8m) with the effigy of Walter Harpole, Dean of Leighlin 1587-1597, carved in low relief, lies in SE corner of chancel. Numerous uninscribed grave-markers visible in the surrounding subrectangular graveyard (LA019-031002-). Site revisited by Caimin O'Brien on the 01 May 2007 - present remains consist of a long rectangular nave (int. dims. 10.4m E-W; 5.6m N-S) and chancel (int. dims. 7.1m E-W; 5.6m N-S) church (ext. dims. 20m E-W; 7.2m N-S; wall T 0.8m) covered in ivy which obscures examination of the building. Small aumbry or niche located in S wall near the SE angle of the chancel with single light window located off centre to the E in the S wall providing light for the chancel. Immediately below this window and niche is the late sixteenth century effigial graveslab of Walter Harpole, Dean of Leighlin. Directly opposite this graveslab in the N wall of the chancel there is a seventeenth century sarcophagus and wall memoiral dedicated to Robert Bowen and his wife Alice Harpole, dated 1631 (O'Flanagan 1933, vol. 2, 2). Described in 1838 in the OS Letters as an old church measuring 'about sixty six feet long and eighteetn broad. It consists of a nave and choir. The choir is twenty two feet in length. In this choir there is a monument to Robert Bowen and Allis Harpole, 1631, over which stood the figure of a mail clad warrior, now broken to pieces' (O'Flanagan 1933, vol. 2, 2). According to O'Hanlon this church was previously known as Kilmackeady which may have meant the 'Church of MacAedh' (O'Hanlon and O'Leary 1907, vol. 1, 182). According to O'Hanlon 'The country traditions, regarding the cruelties practised by this family, against the native Irish, have caused this tomb to be pulled asunder, within the last century, and now its former characteristics are scarcely distinguishable. On the entablature were the Bowen's arms quartered with those of the Hartpole, and the crest is composed of those representing Bowen and Harpole; that is a helmet for the former, and a hart or stag for the latter. On the sarcophagus lay the effigies of Robert Bowen Esq., and Alice Harpole. Mr. Bowen was dressed in buff armour and morion, and Mrs. Bowen in the close dress of the times. In the front of the sarcophagus, under four distinct niches, were the figures of their four children, that is, Joan Bowen the 2nd, Margaret Bowen, Thomas Bowen the 4th, and Oliver Bowen the 3rd. At the foot end were Sir John Bowen the eldest son, Thela Ellis Bowen, wife to Sir John. At the head were Alles Bowen and six more, with Margaret Bowen the third. The names of all these were carved on the arches over their heads (O'Hanlon and O'Leary 1907, vol. 1, 182-3). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Laois' (Dublin Stationery Office, 1995) compiled by P. David Sweetman, Olive Alcock and Bernie Moran. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 17 December 2007

• LA019-031002 Graveyard
  Description

  Some uninscribed grave markers visible in graveyard enclosing medieval church (LA019-031001-). All other headstones are post 1700 AD. Sub-rectangular shaped graveyard (int. dims. 52m N-S; 40m E-W) with church in N quadrant. Graveyard contains 18th and 19th century memorials. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Laois' (Dublin Stationery Office, 1995) compiled by P. David Sweetman, Olive Alcock and Bernie Moran. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 17 December 2007

• LA019-031003 Wall monument - effigial
  Description

  In the N wall of Ballyadams Church (LA019-031001-) there is the Bowen monument. Erected in 1631 to Robert Bowen and his wife Alice Harpole by their son. (J.K.A.S. Vol. VII, 21). On it's South face is an arcade of four rounded arches containing four figures, two female two made in C17th costume and over them, on the archivolt faces is incised lettering. JOANE BOWEN YE 2D", 'MARGARET BOWEN', 'THOS. BOWEN YE 4', 'OLIVER BOWEN YE 3' (J.K.A.S. Vol. VII, 21). The spandrels between the arches are decorated with foliage motifs and flowers with the exception of the spandrel on the East end. On the East and West faces are two figures within semi-circular arches with the inscription THE. LA. ELLIS. BOWEN. WIFE TO SIR. S. JOHN BOWEN. THE ELDEST SON OF OLIVER (BOWEN THE 3) AN. (?) MORE THOMAS. BOWEN THE 4 MARGARET BOWEN BOWEN 10 (ANE THE 2) MARGERIE BOWEN. THE 3 ALLES. BOWEN. AN. SIXE. MORE. Originally on the covering slab of the tomb were the effigies of Robert Bowen and his wife. These are now destroyed. (J.K.A.S. Vol V11, 21). Situated above the altar tomb is a mural tablet flanked by two spreading consoles with voluted ends. They are decorated in low relief and bear the following inscription; 'AN. EPITAPH. ON. THE - DEATH. OF ROBERT: BOWEN: ESQUIRE IF TEARES. PREVENT NOT, EVERY READERS EYE MAY. WELL PERCEIVE, THAT IN THIS TOMB DOOTH LIE FRIENDS HOPE. FOES DREAD, WHOSE THRICE VICTORIOUS HAND CAIN'D LOVE, WROUGH. PEACE WITHIN THIS JOYFULL. LAND WHOSE WORTH DOOTH MOUNT ITSELFE ON ANGELS WINGS WHOSE GREAT DESCENT WAS FIRST FROM. ROYALL. KINGS WHOSE NEVER - DYING - VETUES LIVE, FOR WHY WHOSE FAME'S ETERNIZ;D, HE CAN NEVER DY'. Described in 1838 in the OS Letters as an old church measuring 'about sixty six feet long and eighteen broad. It consists of a nave and choir. The choir is twenty two feet in length. In this choir there is a monument to Robert Bowen and Allis Harpole, 1631, over which stood the figure of a mail clad warrior, now broken to pieces' (O'Flanagan 1933, vol. 2, 2). According to O'Hanlon this church was previously known as Kilmackeady which may have meant the 'Church of MacAedh' (O'Hanlon and O'Leary 1907, vol. 1, 182). According to O'Hanlon 'The country traditions, regarding the cruelties practised by this family, against the native Irish, have caused this tomb to be pulled asunder, within the last century, and now its former characteristics are scarcely distinguishable. On the entablature were the Bowen's arms quartered with those of the Hartpole, and the crest is composed of those representing Bowen and Harpole; that is a helmet for the former, and a hart or stag for the latter. On the sarcophagus lay the effigies of Robert Bowen Esq., and Alice Harpole. Mr. Bowen was dressed in buff armour and morion, and Mrs. Bowen in the close dress of the times. In the front of the sarcophagus, under four distinct niches, were the figures of their four children, that is, Joan Bowen the 2nd, Margaret Bowen, Thomas Bowen the 4th, and Oliver Bowen the 3rd. At the foot end were Sir John Bowen the eldest son, Thela Ellis Bowen, wife to Sir John. At the head were Alles Bowen and six more, with Margaret Bowen the third. The names of all these were carved on the arches over their heads (O'Hanlon and O'Leary 1907, vol. 1, 182-3). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Laois' (Dublin Stationery Office, 1995) compiled by P. David Sweetman, Olive Alcock and Bernie Moran. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled by Caimin O'Brien Date of upload/revision: 07 December 2011

• LA019-031004 Wall monument
  Description

  Above the mural tablet of the wall monument (LA019-031003-), is an armorial panel, with crest and mantling, bounded by two pilasters, tapered and shallowly fluted for c. two thirds of their height, pulvinated over and crowned by a narrow necking and crude ionic capitals. There is an ovolo and scotia moulded cornice braking forward over the pilasters. The shield has the Bowen coat quartered, impaling Harpole also quarted with the inscription in large, low relief letters, in a sunk panel: ROBERT. BOWEN ALLIS: HARPOLE 1631 This plaque has been inserted into the N wall of the chancel at the E end and directly over the Bowen family wall monument (LA019-003-). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Laois' (Dublin Stationery Office, 1995) compiled by P. David Sweetman, Olive Alcock and Bernie Moran. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 07 December 2011

• LA019-031005 Graveslab
  Description

  Found in the SE corner of chancel of the church (LA019-031001-) in 1899 it is a late medieval slab (Wth c. 0.8m, L. c. 2m) constructed of limestone. The low relief effigy is of a cleric,Walter Harpole, Dean of Leighlin 1587-1597. An inscription in low relief around the slab reads; 'HEARE. LYETH. UNDER. THIS STONE. TOO BRETHEREN. ALL. IN. ONE. BRITTIANES. BORN, HARTPOOLS BY NACION HEARE LIVING GOT GREAT COMMENDACION, VALIANT.THOMAS WT. HIS SWOORD. VERTUOUS. WALTER. BY THE WRIT TEN. WOORD'. (J.K.A.S.Vol VII 21, 22, 23). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Laois' (Dublin Stationery Office, 1995) compiled by P. David Sweetman, Olive Alcock and Bernie Moran. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 17 December 2007

Architectural heritage

• Saint Joseph's Catholic Church, church/chapel, 1810–1850 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached Catholic church, c. 1830, on a cruciform plan with sacristy projection and bellcote to gable. Interior renovated, c. 1898.

• Ballyadams House, house, 1850–1880 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached five-bay single-storey house with dormer attic, c. 1865, possibly incorporating fabric of earlier building, with advanced entrance bay and gable. Ballyadams Castle, an early fortified house adjoining a tower house are nearby to east.

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 Ballyadams, 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 high, moderately low, low, partly inferred.

Terrain model

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

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 Ballyadams with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Laois.

Name

Ballyadams · Baile Adaim

Area

2,306,245 m² (230.62 ha, 569.89 acres)

Civil parish

Ballyadams, and its townlands

Barony

Ballyadams

Electoral division

Ballyadams, the unit of the census

Census 2022

437 people lived in 135 households in the Ballyadams electoral division. 90% of households owned their home. 35% of homes were built since 2001. 5% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 3% were holiday homes.

Neighbouring townlands

Cappanafeacle, Fallaghmore, Monascreeban, Parkahoughill, Sronscull

Placenames

Ballyadams 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.