Westcourt Demesne

127 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Westcourt Demesne, from 12 m² to 155,847 m² (15.58 ha, 38.51 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary. 31 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.

• R2Existing Residential (Existing residential)
  Kilkenny City and County Development Plan 2021 (Variation 8B), Kilkenny · 73 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
• C2.1Industrial (Industrial, enterprise, employment)
  Kilkenny City and County Development Plan 2021 (Variation 8B), Kilkenny · 29 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
• M2General Business (City/Town/village Centre, central area)
  Kilkenny City and County Development Plan 2021 (Variation 8B), Kilkenny · 7 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
• P1Agriculture
  Kilkenny City and County Development Plan 2021 (Variation 8B), Kilkenny · 6 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
• G5Open Space/Green Infrastructure (Mixed/general 'green'/recreation/conservation, other)
  Kilkenny City and County Development Plan 2021 (Variation 8B), Kilkenny · 3 parcels The zoning objective in the plan

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

• 25 Aug 2026N/a

  to construct an extension to existing storage unit and associated works

  Permission · Kilkenny County Council, 2660537

• 12 Jan 2026N/a

  to retain existing rear extension and detached garage/shed and all associated site development works at 4 Lower Bridge Street, Callan, Co. Kilkenny R95 W5A0.

  Retention · Kilkenny County Council, 2660021

• 15 Dec 2023Unconditional

  of planning permission 18/841

  Extension of duration · Kilkenny County Council, 23265

• 5 Jun 2023Conditional

  Connection of the detached existing domestic garage to the existing dwelling house and conversion of the garage to a bedroom and all associated elevational and site changes at 30 Westcourt Demesne, Callan. CO. Kilkenny R95 FW02

  Permission · Kilkenny County Council, 2360238

• 19 Feb 2023Refused

  conversion of the existing domestic garage to a studio apartment and all associated elevational and site changes

  Permission, 1 home · Kilkenny County Council, 2360056

• 30 Jan 2019Unconditional

  Extension of Duration of Planning Permission Reference P13/417

  Extension of duration · Kilkenny County Council, 1940

• 20 Dec 2018Conditional

  for in-stream remedial works. The remedial works comprise of the construction of a temporary access road, temporary bridge and the removal of sediment deposits and associated vegetation along the river channel above low water level. It is proposed to replace an existing rock armour headwall with a concrete headwall at an existing pipe outfall. The Planning application is accompanied by a Natura Impact Statement (NIS).

  Permission · Kilkenny County Council, 18841

• 29 Sept 2017Conditional

  pursuant to Amendment No.2 of the Callan Local Area Plan 2009-2020 for the construction of: (A) A cluster of 10 no. terraced semi-detached/detached one and a half-storey housing units with pitched roofs; and (B) All associated site works including shared laundry and covered external circulation spaces. Access to the development is via the existing Westcourt Demesne entrance off the R695. The site is adjacent to the Kings River portion of the River Barrow and River Nore SAC/Natura 2000 site. Westcourt House is on the Kilkenny County Record of Protected Structures (Reference: C393); Westcourt Castle is on the Record of Monuments and Places (Reference; KK026-002); and Westcourt House/ Walled Garden is on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage Survey of Historic Gardens and Designed Landscapes (Reference: KK-67-S-408443). Five of the units are funded under the Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Governments Capital Assistance Scheme. These units as fully-accessible units for supported self-determined living embedded in the existing support structure of Camphill Community, Callan, are integrated with four units of the Lionra Housing Cooper active as part of an inclusive neighbourhood.

  Permission · Kilkenny County Council, 17643

• 26 Sept 2017Conditional

  to the rear of Dunree House, for the construction of an independent, detached, one-storey housing unit with pitched roof and all associated site works. Access to the development is via the existing Dunree House rear garden. The development is funded under the Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government Capital Assistance Scheme for Social Housing as part of inclusive neighbourhoods of fully-accessible units for supported self-determined living embedded in the existing support structure of Camphill Community, Callan

  Permission, 1 home · Kilkenny County Council, 17632

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: River Barrow and River Nore SAC 002162

Recorded monuments

• KK026-002 Castle - unclassified
  Description

  It is likely that there was a castle (KK026-002----), perhaps a tower house and bawn, at Westcourt Demesne. According to Carrigan (1905, vol. 3, 317), ‘Westcourt Castle, of which some traces remain at Westcourt Ho., was the old manor house of Callan. It passed from the descendants of Earl Marshall to the Earl of Ormond in 1391; from the Ormond family to Lord Desart, about 1700; and from Lord Desart to George Agar, Lord Callan, during the second half of the 18th century. Mr. Thomas Shelly believes that this castle of Westcourt was the strong Butler castle of Callan, mentioned in connection with the siege of Callan by the Cromwellians in 1650’. A large house (KK026-023----), which appears to be Westcourt House, is indicated on the Down Survey (1655-6) parish map of ‘A Survey of the Liberties of Callan by George Marshall an exact copy by Dan[ie]l O Brien Surv[eyo]r’ within the 17th-century townland of ‘Whitescourte’ (Hibernia Regnum, courtesy of Trinity College Dublin). This house possibly incorporated the earlier castle. Carrigan notes that, ‘Following the death of the owner, John Galwey, in 1793, ‘Lord Callan threw down the old Westcourt manor Ho. Or Castle, and replaced it by the present handsome mansion known as Westcourt Ho.’ (1905, vol. 3, 318). In c. 1940 there was a catastrophic fire at West Court house and the house was abandoned and later knocked (Ó Drisceoil 2014, 6). Ó Drisceoil noted that the, ‘rubble heap to the west of the walled garden marks the location of the house. Its foundations, perhaps cellars, and related structures probably survive below ground level’ (ibid.). Archaeological excavations (00E0786) in the vicinity of the house in 2000 revealed scorched mortar and slab flooring which were interpreted as possibly associated with the medieval phase of the building (Pollock 2000, 8). Also uncovered was a wall-footing (Wth c. 1.5m) with a batter and an adjacent fosse, which the excavator suggested may have been part of a bawn associated with the medieval castle (Pollock 2002, 185-6). See attached: KK026-002----_01 extract from Down Survey (1655-6) parish map of ‘A Survey of the Liberties of Callan by George Marshall an exact copy by Dan[ie]l O Brien Surv[eyo]r’ (Hib. Reg., courtesy of Trinity College Dublin) KK026-002----_02 plan of the excavations carried out by Pollock (2002, 186). Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 9 May 2022

• KK026-010009 Castle - motte and bailey
  Description

  On the flat flood plain c. 50m N of Kings River and N of the town of Callan (KK026-010---) which lies immediately S of the river, in pasture. The sides and much of the top of the motte are overgrown with trees, scrub and brambles. There are good views in all directions. The motte was probably built by William Marshall (died 1219), who is credited with founding the town, probably utilising a natural ridge which was augmented. The construction is likely to have been built under the supervision of one of Marshall’s stewards, possibly Geoffry Fitz Robert, who built the motte at Kells (Clutterbuck et al. 2006, 9). Orpen (1909, 319-20) relates that in 1247, ‘the castle and vill, with appurtenances, went with Kilkenny as part of Isabella Marshal’s share, and were granted to her son Richard de Clare, earl of Gloucester and Hertford’. In an extent of the manor of Callan, taken in 1307, ‘upon the death of Joan, Countess of Gloucester and Hertford, when the jurors found that “there was there a castle in which there was a hall constructed of wood, with wooden shingles, a stone chamber, a kitchen, and other wooden chambers”’ (ibid.). The area around the motte appears to have been utilised for gardening by the 16th century, as illustrated in a 1539 lease in the Ormond Deeds, where the Earl of Ormond grants to ‘Rose Hedyn, widow, and Piers Herforde’s children…two messuages [a house with outbuildings and a parcel of land/yard] …said messuages and a garden by the ‘mothe’ [motte] with 17½ acres of arable land’ (Curtis 1937, vol. 4, 181, deed 225). The conditions of the tenure were typically manorial, including the payment of, ‘two ‘ryppen hokes,’ two ‘wotghe’ hens, and give two men to mind the millpond besides serving said mill in all points as their neighbours do’ (ibid.; Clutterbuck et al. 2006, 11-12). In 1577, ‘Robert Swetman, merchant’, was granted, ‘a garden at the ‘mothe’ (Curtis 1941, vol. 5, 286, deed 292). A substantial steep-sided motte (top dims. 39m NW-SE; 20m NE-SW; basal dims. 66m NW-SE; 48m NE-SW; H 9m above bailey; 12m above flood plain) with a bailey (dims. 56m N-S; c. 70-75m N-S) to the E (Clutterbuck et al. 2006, 12). The castle on top of the motte would have been accessed from the bailey. This slightly lower access point has been utilised over the centuries and has become quite eroded (Clutterbuck et al. 2006, 16). The bailey is defined by a much reduced bank (S bank: Wth at top 3m; overall Wth 10m; int. H 0.8m; ext. H to flood plain 4m; N bank Wth at top 3.7m; overall Wth 16.5m; int. H 0.4m; ext. H 0.75m) which is best preserved towards the W end. The N side can be traced as a flattened rise which begins to turn towards the SE just before the field/townland boundary running roughly N-S E of the motte. The house and outbuilding at the W end of Moat Lane appear to have been built on the flattened E bank of the bailey. Immediately W of the motte, 2m from the base, there is a smaller roughly triangular-shaped mound (dims. c. 30m NNE-SSW; c. 40m WNW-ESE; max. H 2.8m) which falls steeply on the E side and slopes gently to the W down to the flood plain. The top of the mound forms a small level area (dims. 2.3m N-S; 2m E-W). This is part of the natural ridge which remained after the motte was constructed. A geophysical and topographical survey of the motte and bailey and surrounding area was carried out in 2002 (Clutterbuck et al. 2006, 7-28). This revealed several anomalies which appear to correspond to medieval buildings on the motte, including a hall (dims. 17m x c. 18.55m) and within the bailey as well as a possible kiln (Wth c. 7m) (KK026-010085-) and furnace (Wth c. 5m) (KK026-010086-) c. 40-50m N of the bailey (ibid. 16-24). (National Monument No. 372) See attached photographs and illustration: KK026-010009-_01 From SE, from bridge over Kings River to SE KK026-010009-_02 From NE with bailey in foreground KK026-010009-_03 View towards ESE from top of motte, with cattle on bailey at base of motte and looking over to the Augustinian friary (KK026-010016-). KK026-010009-_04 N side of the bailey, from W, with levelled bank of bailey curving towards ESB pole KK026-010009-_05 Raised ground indicating W end of N side of bailey where it runs up to the motte from NE KK026-010009-_06 W end of S side of motte from SE with mound immediately W of motte KK026-010009-_07 Mound immediately W of motte from NW KK026-010009-_08 View of motte and bailey from the tower of St Mary's medieval parish church (KK026-010012-) KK026-010009-_09 Interpretative reconstruction plan of geophysical results and historical sources (Clutterbuck, Elliot and Shanahan 2006, 21, fig. 10) Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 26 June 2019

• KK026-010085 Kiln
  Description

  In Callan, c. 30m N of the bailey which lies E of the motte (KK026-010009-). A millrace associated with a watermill (KK026-010021-) runs E-W c. 12m to the N. A geophysical and topographical survey of the motte and bailey and surrounding area was carried out in 2002 (Clutterbuck et al. 2006, 7-28). This revealed several anomalies including a possible kiln (Wth c. 7m) and a possible forge (furnace) (KK026-010086-) c. 20m to the NW (ibid. 12-21, 24). See attached illustration: KK026-010085-_01 Interpretative reconstruction plan of geophysical results and historical sources (Clutterbuck, Elliot and Shanahan 2006, 21, fig. 10) Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 29 June 2022

• KK026-010086 Forge
  Description

  In Callan, c. 40m N of the bailey which lies E of the motte (KK026-010009-). A millrace associated with a watermill (KK026-010021-) runs E-W c. 9m to the N. A geophysical and topographical survey of the motte and bailey and surrounding area was carried out in 2002 (Clutterbuck et al. 2006, 7-28). This revealed several anomalies including a possible furnace (Wth c. 5m), interpreted as a forge, and a possible kiln (KK026-010085-) c. 20m to the SE (ibid. 12-21, 24). See attached illustration: KK026-010086-_01 Interpretative reconstruction plan of geophysical results and historical sources (Clutterbuck, Elliot and Shanahan 2006, 21, fig. 10) Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 29 June 2022

• KK026-023 House - 17th century
  Description

  It is likely that there was a castle (KK026-002----), perhaps a tower house and bawn, at Westcourt Demesne. According to Carrigan (1905, vol. 3, 317), ‘Westcourt Castle, of which some traces remain at Westcourt Ho., was the old manor house of Callan. It passed from the descendants of Earl Marshall to the Earl of Ormond in 1391; from the Ormond family to Lord Desart, about 1700; and from Lord Desart to George Agar, Lord Callan, during the second half of the 18th century. Mr. Thomas Shelly believes that this castle of Westcourt was the strong Butler castle of Callan, mentioned in connection with the siege of Callan by the Cromwellians in 1650’. A large house (KK026-023----), which appears to be Westcourt House, is indicated on the Down Survey (1655-6) parish map of ‘A Survey of the Liberties of Callan by George Marshall an exact copy by Dan[ie]l O Brien Surv[eyo]r’ within the 17th-century townland of ‘Whitescourte’ (Hibernia Regnum, courtesy of Trinity College Dublin). This house possibly incorporated the earlier castle. Carrigan notes that, ‘Following the death of the owner, John Galwey, in 1793, ‘Lord Callan threw down the old Westcourt manor Ho. Or Castle, and replaced it by the present handsome mansion known as Westcourt Ho.’ (1905, vol. 3, 318). In c. 1940 there was a catastrophic fire at West Court house and the house was abandoned and later knocked (Ó Drisceoil 2014, 6). Ó Drisceoil noted that the, ‘rubble heap to the west of the walled garden marks the location of the house. Its foundations, perhaps cellars, and related structures probably survive below ground level’ (ibid.). Archaeological excavations (00E0786) in the vicinity of the house in 2000 revealed scorched mortar and slab flooring which were interpreted as possibly associated with the medieval phase of the building (Pollock 2000, 8). Also uncovered was a wall-footing (Wth c. 1.5m) with a batter and an adjacent fosse, which the excavator suggested may have been part of a bawn associated with the medieval castle (Pollock 2002, 185-6). See attached: KK026-023----_01 extract from Down Survey (1655-6) parish map of ‘A Survey of the Liberties of Callan by George Marshall an exact copy by Dan[ie]l O Brien Surv[eyo]r’ (Hib. Reg., courtesy of Trinity College Dublin) KK026-023----_02 plan of the excavations carried out by Pollock (2002, 186). Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 11 May 2022

• KK026-038 Fulacht fia
  Description

  The Kings River is located c. 10m to the S. A fulacht fiadh identified during archaeological monitoring in advance of the construction of a bridge abutment for the Callan bypass. The monument was excavated by John Channing in April 1995 (unlicenced monitoring no. 95N0007). When the topsoil was removed a roughly circular area (diam. 10-14m) of fire-cracked stone mixed with charcoal was revealed, with a denser concentration at the centre. Excavation uncovered an oval trough (dims. 2.6m N-S; 1.85m E-W; D 0.5m) in the N sector, with three areas of intense burning to the S and SE of the trough as well as a number of small associated pits or shallow depressions. The excavator noted that in wet periods the trough would have filled with water naturally. There were no artefacts associated with the monument. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 27 March 2023

Architectural heritage

No building of the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage stands in the townland of Westcourt Demesne.

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 Westcourt Demesne, 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.

Terrain model

LiDAR of the Office of Public Works, flown in 2011, at 2 m: tile OPW_3417 (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.

• Westcourt Demesne, Callan8 sales

Name

Westcourt Demesne · Diméin Chúirt an Fhaoitigh

Area

593,104 m² (59.31 ha, 146.56 acres)

Civil parish

Callan, and its townlands

Barony

Callan

Electoral division

Callan Rural, the unit of the census

Census 2022

1,932 people lived in 628 households in the Callan Rural electoral division. 82% of households owned their home. 51% of homes were built since 2001. 6% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 1% were holiday homes.

Neighbouring townlands

Callan North, Callan South, Cornyeal, Earlsland, Haggartsgreen, Molassy, Mullaunglass, Westcourt North, Westcourt South

Placenames

Westcourt Demesne 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.