Rathlihen

30 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Rathlihen, from 683 m² to 336,417 m² (33.64 ha, 83.13 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 Rathlihen 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.

• 15 Dec 2025Conditional

  a new dwelling house, domestic garage, new site entrance, septic tank and percolation area and all associated site works

  Permission, 1 home · Offaly County Council, 2560644

• 25 Feb 2020Conditional

  THE CONSTRUCTION OF A TWO STOREY DWELLING HOUSE, DOMESTIC GARAGE, WELL, SEPTIC TANK, PERCOLATION AREA, ASSOCIATED SITEWORKS & NEW ENTRANCE

  Permission, 1 home · Offaly County Council, 2054

• 5 Dec 2018Conditional

  ERECTION OF A 3 BAY SLATTED SHED AND ASSOCIATED SITE WORKS

  Permission · Offaly County Council, 18549

• 13 Nov 2018N/a

  ERECTION OF A 3 BAY SLATTED SHED AND ASSOCIATED SITE WORKS

  Permission · Offaly County Council, 18502

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 Rathlihen.

Recorded monuments

• OF024-029 Cairn - wayside cairn
  Description

  Local tradition relates this monument to funerary practises at Rathlihen cemetery (OF024-036001-), when a funeral passed by a stone was placed on this monument which resembled a large cairn (Shaw Rev. 1971, 9). Unable to locate this monument. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 23 May 2011

• OF024-036 Church
  Description

  Site of Ancient Abbey founded by St. Illand in the sixth century (O' Flanagan 1933, vol. 2, 47-8). Located on a slight rise of ground with good extensive views with tower house (OF024-036002-) and motte (OF024-036003-) nearby. Poorly preserved rectangular church (ext. dims. 8.6m N-S; 19m E-W; wall T 0.75m) with a barrel vaulted priests room (ext. dims. 8.15m N-S; 4.4m E-W; wall T 0.8m) added at the W end. Only the wall foundations of the church survive with no architectural features visible. Modern pathway to the S replaced the original enclosure around the church which was discovered during recent renovations to the graveyard. Located in the graveyard wall is a decorated stone with the remains of a single ogee headed niche with hollowed spandrels which originally were a pair possibly the remnants of a decorated aumbry. There is a punch dressed border around this niche. Unfortunately recent local restoration to the church and graveyard has obscured the original remains of the church and possible enclosure. Probable remains of a late medieval church contemporary with the nearby tower house (OF024-036002-). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 23 May 2011

• OF024-036001 Graveyard
  Description

  Site of Ancient Abbey founded by St. Illand in the sixth century (O' Flanagan 1933, vol. 2, 47-8). Located on a slight rise of ground with good extensive views with tower house (OF024-036002-) and motte (OF024-036003-) nearby. Poorly preserved rectangular church (OF024-036----). Modern pathway to the S replaced the original enclosure around the church which was discovered during recent renovations to the graveyard. Located in the graveyard wall is a decorated stone with the remains of a single ogee headed niche with hollowed spandrels which originally were a pair possibly the remnants of a decorated aumbry. There is a punch dressed border around this niche. Unfortunately recent local restoration to the church and graveyard has obscured the original remains of the church and possible enclosure. Probable remains of a late medieval church contemporary with the nearby tower house (OF024-036002-). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 23 May 2011

• OF024-036002 Castle - tower house
  Description

  Located to the E of a medieval church (OF024-036----) are the poorly preserved remains of a Tower house which is difficult to examine. From the remains it appears that the site had a ground plan of rectangular shape which was divided into two areas of which the cross wall can still be seen. The external dimensions of the castle measured approx. 10m N-S by 17m E-W with a possible bawn wall attached to the E side of the castle. The castle walls measured 1.5m thick and had a pronounced base batter. O' Molloy castle (Shaw 1971, 47-8). Site of Ancient Abbey founded by St. Illand in the sixth century (O' Flanagan 1933, vol. 2, 47-8). Located on a slight rise of ground with good extensive views with a motte (OF024-036003-) nearby. Poorly preserved rectangular church (OF024-036----). Modern pathway to the S replaced the original enclosure around the church which was discovered during recent renovations to the graveyard. Located in the graveyard wall is a decorated stone with the remains of a single ogee headed niche with hollowed spandrels which originally were a pair possibly the remnants of a decorated aumbry. There is a punch dressed border around this niche. Unfortunately recent local restoration to the church and graveyard has obscured the original remains of the church and possible enclosure. Probable remains of a late medieval church contemporary with the nearby tower house (OF024-036002-). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 23 May 2011 This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 3/1986).

• OF024-036003 Castle - motte and bailey
  Description

  Located on a slight rise in undulating countryside with a medieval church (OF024-036----) to the N and poorly preserved tower house (OF024-036002-) to the E. Roughly circular conical shaped mound (max. diam 30m at base; c. 10m top diam ; H 4 - 5m) with remains of an enclosing fosse (max. Wth 3m) and outer bank except at W where there is a raised rectangular area (30m N-S by 35m E-W) defined by a poorly preserved scarp, probable bailey area. There is a hollow depression on the top of the motte and the top soil has been removed from the S side of the motte. (Cooke 1875, 230; O' Flanagan 1933, vol. 2, 47-8; Shaw 1971, 7-10) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 23 May 2011 This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 3/1986).

• OF024-036006 Fulacht fia
  Description

  Two barely discernible grass covered spreads of burnt material in flat pasture, along N bank of stream with archaeological complex (OF024-036----) to the N. Probably the site of two levelled fulachta fiadh. Present remains consist of a poorly preserved horseshoe shaped mound (6m N-S by 3m E-W; H 0.5m) of burnt material. The second fulacht fiadh located to the E consists of a low mound (8m WSW-ESE; 4m NNW-SSE; H 0.5m) with shallow depression running N-S across mound. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 23 May 2011 This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 3/1986).

• OF024-036007 Barrow - ring-barrow
  Description

  Located a short distance to the SE of nearby castle (SMR OF024-036002-) in flat pasture land. Poorly preserved slightly raised circular area (diam. 4m) enclosed by low barely visible bank. No other features visible. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 23 May 2011 This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 3/1986).

• OF024-040001 Ritual site - holy well
  Description

  Modernised and still venerated holy well with gabled stone structure built over the well with a plaque with the inscription NVBM over the opening. On top of the gabled structure there is a statue of the Blessed Virgin with the child Jesus in her arms. There is a flight of steps leading down to the well. A passage leads from the roadside to the flight of steps, either side of which there are 3 inscribed stone slabs. Well is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin and the annual pattern day is held on the 8th of September (Shaw Rev. 1971, 71-2). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 23 May 2011

• OF024-040002 Standing stone
  Description

  No evidence of any standing stone beside the holy well (OF024-040001-) (Shaw Rev. 1971, 71-2). Described by Rev. Shaw as 'At the entrance to the well is a standing stone with a hole in it, known as a 'swearing stone'. In ancient times, contracts were made binding by the two people concerned joining hands through the hole and thereby invoking a curse on themselves it they broke their word - a custom which is said to be of pagan origin. This stone came originally from Luganiska' (Shaw Rev. 1971, 72). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 23 May 2011

Architectural heritage

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

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 Rathlihen, 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

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

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 Rathlihen with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Offaly.

Name

Rathlihen · Ráth Lithean

Area

1,593,748 m² (159.37 ha, 393.82 acres)

Civil parish

Killoughy, and its townlands

Barony

Ballyboy

Electoral division

Killooly, the unit of the census

Census 2022

271 people lived in 92 households in the Killooly electoral division. 92% of households owned their home. 33% of homes were built since 2001. 14% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 1% were holiday homes.

Neighbouring townlands

Carrigeen, Garbally, Killooly, Lowerton Beg, Lowerton More, Rathmurragh

Placenames

Rathlihen 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.