Ballykeeffe

Area

238 m²

Buildings

No building touches it.

Zoning

R1 New Residential (Limerick Development Plan 2022-2028) The objective

Townland

Ballykeeffe

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 11 recorded monuments.

• LI013-009 Historic town
  Description

  The following description of this monument is taken from 'The Urban Archaeological Survey of County Limerick' compiled by John Bradley, Andrew Halpin and Heather A. King (1989a), unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public Works, Dublin. "Mungret is located three miles west of Limerick city on the Foynes road. The name appears to mean 'bog or sedgy morass of the sloping hill'. Mungret was one of the most important Early Christian monasteries in north Munster. Founded, apparently in the sixth century, by St Nessan its abbots are recorded from the middle of the eighth century and this provides a clear indication of its significance by this time (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 42). The monastery was raided on a number of occasions between the tenth and twelfth centuries. In 1152, at the Synod of Kells, it claimed to be recognised as an episcopal seat. This claim was presumably based on its historic role as the principal church of the diocese of Limerick. Its proximity to the town of Limerick, however, meant that it was unable to make good its claim (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 94). It has been suggested that the Augustinian Canons may have established a house here during the twelfth century but documentary evidence is lacking (ibid., 42: Westropp 1904-5, 367-8). At the close of the twelfth century the land of Mungret was granted to St Mary's, Limerick, by Domhnall Mor 0 Briain and subsequently it was to be part of the estates of the bishop of Limerick (MacCaffrey 1907, 34). After the coming of the Normans Mungret functioned as an episcopal manor and was granted the right to hold a weekly market in 1225 (Sweetman 1875-86, no. 1262). A rental of the manor, prepared in 1336, survives in the Black Book of Limerick. It states that the burgesses then rendered £4 10s. annually to the bishops for the land they held (MacCaffrey 1907, 154). Further evidence that the settlement was a borough is provided by an entry in the statute rolls of 3 Edw IV (1463-4) which indicates that the borough had been granted the laws of Breteuil (Berry 1914, 61). The subsequent history of the borough is unknown but it is to be presumed that it shared the same fate as many of the other medieval boroughs in the county by falling prey to the ravages and famines of the mid fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. The medieval borough is likely to have been centred on (and to the north of) the cluster of churches which survive on the south side of the Foynes road. Lewis (1837, ii, 415) reports the presence of "extensive foundations of buildings in the adjoining fields, at a considerable depth beneath the surface, and occasionally discovered by the plough." Compiled by: Denis Power Date of upload: 5 February 2013

• LI013-009001 Church
  Description

  National monument No. 85. A monastery was founded here by Neasán of Mungret (Mungairit) whose feastday fell on the 25th of July (Ó Riain 2011, 514-5). Church described in the Urban Survey (Bradley et. al. 1989, 188-95) as following: 'A simple rectangular church located immediately south of the Foynes road. It measures 12.35m north/south by 6.95m east/west internally. The walls (T 0.9m) are virtually intact; the north and south walls are c. 4.5m high and the east and west gables c. 9-10m high. The church is set on a plinth 18cm wide and up to 45cm high. The quoins are mainly limestone but some are of dressed sandstone. The masonry is coursed limestone rubble. The building cannot be assigned a precise date but is possibly pre-Norman. The east wall has a round headed window, c. 50cm wide and 110-120cm high, splayed, with rounded rear arch. There are no dressed stones but the inner and outer angles of the reveals have roughly dressed sandstone and limestone blocks. Below this is a blocked flat-lintelled doorway, slightly splayed. This is not visible externally as the outer wall face is clearly rebuilt. The north wall is featureless. The south wall seems to have had two windows, both blocked and neither visible externally. Internally the round rear arch of the western window is visible while one splay of the eastern one can be seen. The west wall has a flat lintelled door with inclined sides. There are two lintels; the outer one is a large block of very dark grey limestone roughly dressed and 2.33m long, 40cm high and 52cm thick. The inner one is modern. The outer jambs of the door are large blocks of sandstone and limestone but the inner jambs are modern.' Church described in 1904-5 as following; 'The third and oldest of the churches lies to the north, and is possibly of the tenth century. It measures 41 feet [12.5m] by 23 feet [7m], the walls being nearly 3 feet [0.9m] thick and 14 feet [4.26m] high; the west door has a lintel and inclined jambs; the windows have round heads' (Westropp 1904-5, 368). Compiled by: Denis Power Date of upload: 5 February 2013

• LI013-009002 Church
  Description

  National monument No. 85. A monastery was founded here by Neasán of Mungret (Mungairit) whose feastday fell on the 25th of July (Ó Riain 2011, 514-5). Mungret Church described in the Urban Survey (Bradley et. al. 1989, 188-95) as following: 'This church is located in a small graveyard east of Church C ("the abbey") (LI013-009005-) and 90m south of Church A (LI013-009005-). It measures 8.6m north/south by 4.1m east/west internally and the masonry consists of large coursed limestone blocks with dressed limestone quoins. It is set on a plinth c. 25cm wide and 15cm high. The east gable is almost intact, c. 6.5m high with a tall splayed very narrow pointed window with limestone jambs and pointed rear arch (?modern). The north and south walls (T 0.85m) were originally c. 3.5m high but are now broken down especially at the west end. The south wall has two tall narrow splayed windows which are missing their arches and rear arches. The west wall has an unsplayed doorway which may be modern. Like Church A the building cannot be assigned a precise date but it is possibly of pre-Norman origin.' Church described in 1904-5 as following; 'The second church lies to the south-east of the last. The east gable and sides remain. It is 14 feet [4.26m] by 12 feet [3.65m], the west end nearly levelled; the east window-slit and two broken south windows remain' (Westropp 1904-5, 368). Compiled by: Denis Power Date of upload: 5 February 2013

• LI013-009003 Graveyard
  Description

  Situated immediately E of a public road, overlooking gently undulating pasture. Pre-Norman church (LI013-009001-) 90m to N, Mungret Abbey Church (LI013-009005-) and graveyard (LI013-009004-) immediately W of public road which forms W boundary of graveyard. Sub-rectangular shaped area (30m NW-SE; 20-30m NE-SW) enclosed by a mortared stone wall (int. H 0.9m; ext. H 1.4m). In the N half of the site is a ruined stone church (LI013-009002-). Several grave plots share the orientation of this church NW-SE, but there are also others which are orientated E-W. The graveyard is still in occasional use. Compiled by: Denis Power Date of upload: 5 February 2013

• LI013-009004 Graveyard
  Description

  Situated on a low rise of ground located three miles west of Limerick city on the Foynes road. Mungret graveyard probably stands on site of monastery founded here by Neasán of Mungret (Mungairit) whose feastday fell on the 25th of July (Ó Riain 2011, 514-5). Pre-Norman church (LI013-009001-) 90m to NNE, small graveyard (LI003-009003-) with pre-Norman church (LI003-009002-) immediately E of public road forming W boundary of graveyard. Long sub-rectangular shaped graveyard (approx. dims. 40m N-S x 120m E-W) enclosed by a post-1700 stone wall with entrance gate at N end of E wall. The E side of the graveyard has been intersected by a public road running roughly N-S. Remains of Mungret Abbey church (LI003-009005-) stands in SE quadrant of graveyard with post-1700 C of I church ruins in W quadrant. Modern graveyard extension on S side. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 30 October 2018

• LI013-009005 Church
  Description

  National monument No. 85. A monastery was founded here by Neasán of Mungret (Mungairit) whose feastday fell on the 25th of July (Ó Riain 2011, 514-5). Mungret Church described in the Urban Survey (Bradley et. al. 1989, 188-95) as following: 'Situated in a graveyard (LI013-009004-) in Dromdarrig townland, this consists of a chancel, nave and residential tower at the west end. The chancel is of thirteenth century date, the residential tower is of fifteenth century date but the date of the nave cannot be determined. Leask (1933) terms this building "the abbey" but as there is no evidence for the existence of an abbey at Mungret in the thirteenth century, it seems more correct to regard it as the parish church of the medieval borough. Lewis (1837, ii, 415) states that there was a tower and gateway some 300 yards to the east of the graveyard but it is unclear whether this was part of the ecclesiastical complex or not. The north and south walls of the CHANCEL appear to have been refaced in the fifteenth century and the east wall alone retains its original thickness. The gable is c. 7.5m high and is built of roughly coursed rubble limestone. The north and south walls have been thickened by the addition of some 5O-60cm to their external face and are built of roughly dressed and coursed limestone masonry with a basal batter c. 1.5m high externally. They are c. 4-5m high internally with a later parapet on average some 5O-70cm high but surviving up to 1.5m in places. Drainage chutes project externally. The east window is a pointed twin-light with chamfered and rebated jambs of red and brown sandstone, splayed internally and having a pointed rear arch with chamfered sandstone jambs while the embrasure itself is outlined with sandstone jambs. The mullions are of modern limestone. The north wall has a small round headed splayed window with limestone jambs (blocked by later external thickening) which lacks its rear arch. The west end of the wall has additional thickening to accommodate a mural stairs rising to a gallery or loft over the west end of the choir. The stairs were originally entered from the nave through a flat lintelled door in the north east internal angle; this is now blocked and the stair well (stairs missing) is now entered through a large opening in the north wall of the choir. The stairs are lit at gallery level by a small rectangular loop in the external north wall. The gallery is entered from the stairs through a rectangular door with dressed limestone jambs in the north wall opposite this in the south wall at gallery level another opening led to a mural chamber in the west end of the south wall (similarly thickened externally). This has a garderobe at the west end and is lit by large and small rectangular loops in the external south wall. The south wall has a trefoil headed piscina with chamfered sandstone jambs and sill (missing its bowl) and four splayed lancet-like windows which are blocked by later external facing. The first from the east had a pointed rear arch; the second was a single light with pointed rear arch and sandstone jambs; the third was a twin-light window with shouldered head and chamfered limestone jambs set within a rectangular opening with dressed limestone jambs in the external wall face and a lintelled rear arch. The fourth has a narrow pointed light with limestone jambs, now blocked. The cross-wall, c. 8m high, is gabled with the coping stones of the original chancel still visible. It was subsequently widened when the north and south walls were thickened. At ground level there are three voussoirs for a doorway most of which has been replaced by a large unsplayed opening c. 4-5m high. The masonry of the NAVE consists of roughly coursed rubble limestone with limestone quoins (three are sandstone). The north and south walls are c. 3.5m high and the east and apart from the large modern opening already mentioned, and it seems to be largely rebuilt. The north wall has a tall parallel sided door, missing its arch but with a segmental rear arch, roughly centrally placed. Three-quarter round limestone shafts, c. 1.5m high on the external angles of the reveals are apparently inserted, and not in their original position. East of the door is a narrow rectangular window/loop with undressed limestone jambs, splayed with flat lintelled rear arch. The south wall has a large rectangular door, now blocked, with a relieving arch above, roughly centrally placed with a window to either side. That on the east is rectangular, with limestone jambs (undressed) and is splayed with flat lintelled rear arch. That to the west is now blocked, but another splayed loop, missing its arch and rear arch has been inserted above; this appears to be contemporary with the loft over the west end of the nave and connected with the residence to the west. The RESIDENTIAL TOWER is a gabled building of two floors, oriented north-south, with a belfry some 12.5m high on the north. The south gable is 7m high and the west wall c. 4m high. The masonry is roughly dressed and coursed limestone with dressed limestone quoins. It is entered by two doors at its east end. At the north end of the west wall of the nave is a flat lintelled door with dressed limestone jambs giving access from the nave, while the other door, now blocked, is located in the external south wall of the nave. It is also flat lintelled and has chamfered limestone jambs with pyramidal stops and an angled flat lintelled embrasure in the south-east angle of the residence. The east wall also has, at ground level, a flat lintelled recess with inclined sides, possibly a blocked west door of nave(?). Base of one side has a chamfered limestone jamb, possibly inserted. The north wall has a small rectangular splayed loop with chamfered limestone jambs and flat rear arch. The south wall has a small rectangular splayed window with shouldered head and chamfered limestone jambs and flat lintelled rear arch. There is also a blocked unsplayed embrasure with flat lintelled rear arch, probably a blocked window or door, although there is no sign of it externally. The west wall has a small recess and a blocked unsplayed embrasure with flat lintelled rear arch, probably a blocked window, though not visible externally. The first floor was supported on corbels in the north and south walls and put-logs in the west wall (none visible in the east wall). The west and east walls have tall flat lintelled doors, now blocked. The north and south walls have splayed rectangular windows with chamfered limestone jambs and flat lintelled rear arch. There is a chimney flue in the east wall at a high level although it is not clear where the fireplace was. The belfry is a narrow tower, c. 12.5m high of four floors with parapet above. The masonry is roughly dressed coursed limestone with large dressed limestone quoins and a cavetto string course between the 2nd and 3rd and 3rd and 4th floors externally. It is entered through the door in the embrasure in the north-east angle of the residence. A straight stairs rise to a small flat lintelled chamber c. 2m above ground level lit by a small splayed rectangular loop in the north wall. The first floor was apparently entered only from outside the church through a flat lintelled door with dressed limestone jambs in the east wall although there is a possible blocked door in the south wall leading to the first floor of the residence. The second, third and fourth floors were apparently of timber supported on ledges in the internal walls and communication was presumably by internal ladders. The second floor is featureless. The third floor has a large rectangular opening with dressed limestone jambs, now blocked, in each wall. The fourth floor has rectangular windows with chamfered limestone jambs in each wall, those in the south and west walls are damaged and there appears to have been a parapet above.' Compiled by: Denis Power Date of upload: 5 February 2013

• LI013-009006 Ritual site - holy well
  Description

  Situated 4.5m E of a field boundary, in flat pasture. The monument is heavily masked by scrub vegetation. The monument is a rectangular depression ( L 3.4m N-S; Wth. 2.6m E-W) much obscured by bramble overgrowth. The first two in a series of steps (L 0.5m; Wth. 0.2m; D 0.3m) are visible in the N edge of the depression descending from N to W. The well has been filled-in with rubble to a depth of c. 0.7m from ground level. The well was archaeologically excavated by Eachtra under licence No. 04E0414 in 2005 but no dating evidence or associated artefacts were recovered. Described in 2005 as following; 'The well was in a dilapidated condition, surviving as a depression filled with loose stones and debris which was heavily overgrown. O’Connor (2003) stated that in the past a low wall had surrounded the well, evidenced by a photograph taken in 1907, but the wall no longer exists. The well is near to the western boundary of a field where a relict pilgrim path had run between Mungret Abbey and Templemungret. A painting called Blind Girl at the Holy Well by the 19th-century artist Frederick Burton, whose father owned land immediately south of Mungret Abbey, was reportedly inspired by Toberpatrick and may provide evidence of the ‘cures’ or traditions associated with the well. The sod was removed back from the well walls in two locations and showed that the original cutting of the well was c. 1m wider than where the walls were built. It appeared that, once the walls had been built, larger limestone was backfilled behind them. Therefore, the well is a roughly square revetted void that contains a smaller subcircular holy well, with internal measurements of 2.4m by 2.8m, on its western base. All stones used in the construction were of local grey sandstone and varied in size. The walls of the holy well survived to varying degrees. The well was cleared to a maximum depth of 1.25m. It was best preserved in the south-western side, where up to seven courses were visible. No artefacts were recovered from the material that was removed from the holy well void. Furthermore, no secure ecofactual evidence was discovered and as a result the date of holy well construction, use and disuse remain unknown. The holy well site probably originates from domestic usage in the medieval period due to its proximity to the ecclesiastical complex, only later to develop into a site with religious significance. Alternatively, it could hold origins earlier than the medieval period, as many such sites held pagan significance long before the coming of Christianity'. Ó Danachair (1955, 214) recorded the following details about this holy well; ‘Toberpatrick on 1840 map. A well about eight feet square and seven feet deep, with a flight of steps leading down to water level. No devotions now. "There are no stations performed here". OSNB. Legends: The well lost its virtues when a woman washed clothes in it'. See attached photo taken in 1954 by Caoimhín Ó Danachair, courtesy of and © National Folklore Collection, UCD. The Photographic Collection, F025.21.00406 accessible online at www.duchas.ie/en/cbeg/31034. Compiled by: Denis Power Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 2 October 2020

• LI013-009007 Excavation - miscellaneous
  Description

  In 1992, as part of an archaeological assessment by Celie 0 Rahilly a single cut was made in which pits, a possible stone feature, charcoal and bone were noted. Owing to their presence, although no datable finds were recovered, the proposed development was relocated and the site back-filled. These features are probably associated with the nearby monastic and urban settlement of Mungret (CO013-009----). http://www.excavations.ie/Pages/Details.php?Year=&County=Limerick&id=3115 Compiled by: Denis Power Date of upload: 5 February 2013

• LI013-009008 Ecclesiastical site
  Description

  The following description of this monument is taken from 'The Urban Archaeological Survey of County Limerick' compiled by John Bradley, Andrew Halpin and Heather A. King (1989a), unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public Works, Dublin. "Mungret is located three miles west of Limerick city on the Foynes road. The name appears to mean 'bog or sedgy morass of the sloping hill'. Mungret was one of the most important Early Christian monasteries in north Munster. Founded, apparently in the sixth century, by St Nessan its abbots are recorded from the middle of the eighth century and this provides a clear indication of its significance by this time (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 42). The monastery was raided on a number of occasions between the tenth and twelfth centuries. In 1152, at the Synod of Kells, it claimed to be recognised as an episcopal seat. This claim was presumably based on its historic role as the principal church of the diocese of Limerick. Its proximity to the town of Limerick, however, meant that it was unable to make good its claim (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 94). It has been suggested that the Augustinian Canons may have established a house here during the twelfth century but documentary evidence is lacking (ibid., 42: Westropp 1904-5, 367-8). At the close of the twelfth century the land of Mungret was granted to St Mary's, Limerick, by Domhnall Mor 0 Briain and subsequently it was to be part of the estates of the bishop of Limerick (MacCaffrey 1907, 34). After the coming of the Normans Mungret functioned as an episcopal manor and was granted the right to hold a weekly market in 1225 (Sweetman 1875-86, no. 1262). A rental of the manor, prepared in 1336, survives in the Black Book of Limerick. It states that the burgesses then rendered £4 10s. annually to the bishops for the land they held (MacCaffrey 1907, 154). Further evidence that the settlement was a borough is provided by an entry in the statute rolls of 3 Edw IV (1463-4) which indicates that the borough had been granted the laws of Breteuil (Berry 1914, 61). The subsequent history of the borough is unknown but it is to be presumed that it shared the same fate as many of the other medieval boroughs in the county by falling prey to the ravages and famines of the mid fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. The medieval borough is likely to have been centred on (and to the north of) the cluster of churches which survive on the south side of the Foynes road. Lewis (1837, ii, 415) reports the presence of "extensive foundations of buildings in the adjoining fields, at a considerable depth beneath the surface, and occasionally discovered by the plough." Compiled by: Denis Power Date of upload: 5 February 2013

• LI013-009009 Bullaun stone
  Description

  In Mungret graveyard (LI013-009004-) immediately S of S wall of church (LI013-009005-) close to SW angle are the remains of an irregular shaped stone (dims. 0.56m x 0.83m x 0.2m) with deep circular-shaped hollow (top diam. 0.22m; base diam. 5m; D 0.15-0.2m) on the edge of the stone. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 30 October 2018

And 1 more.

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 10 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_929 (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.