Oldabbey
Oldabbey is a townland in the civil parish of Robertstown, barony of Shanid, Co. Limerick. Its name in Irish is Mainistir na gCailleach.
Parcel 3384791
- Area
- 90,903 m² (9.09 ha, 22.46 acres)
- Buildings
- No building touches it.
- Zoning
- No zone of a development plan covers it in the national zoning. Outside zoned towns and villages, the county development plan's rural policies apply.
- Townland
- Oldabbey
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 3 recorded monuments.
- LI019-025 Ringfort - rath
Description
In pasture, atop low hill. Circular area (diam. c. 40m) enclosed by two concentric earthen banks with an intervening fosse (Wth 3m). Inner bank (int. H 0.85m; ext. H 1.95m), heavily masked by overgrowth, is best preserved along N arc. Outer bank (ext. H 1.35m), best preserved along N arc, is externally stone-faced where incorporated into field boundary system W->NE. Gap in outer bank (Wth 10.5m) matched with causeway (Wth 10.5m) across fosse. Interior is completely covered by dense overgrowth. Passageway, depicted running tangentially to SE arc on 1923 OS 6-inch map, has been since removed, and a more recent passage now skirts enclosure W->NNW. According to Westropp, despite its name- 'fort of the dead', there is 'no indication of any burials, nor any tradition about its grim name' (Westropp 1916-7, 34) Compiled by: Denis Power Date of upload: 26 August 2011
- LI019-100001 Church
Description
Westropp (1904-5, 398) recorded the following details about Kilmoylan Church; 'Kilmolan, 1302; Keilmualain, 1410; Kilmolan, 1418; Kilmoylan, 1615. Fabric - A late, plain church on the extreme east edge of its parish. It is 35 feet [10.6m] by 18 feet [5.5m]; the west gable fell 1839 ; the windows are defaced, and the door heavily ivied. It is of hammered stones with a flat lintel resting on corbels (O.S.L., 8, p. 28)'. Church described in 1840 as following; 'The walls are perfect with the exception of the west gable, which fell about two years ago. It is thirty five feet long by eighteen feet in breadth. On the east gable there was a window which is now disfigured. On the south side wall two feet [0.6m] from the west gable there is another window, now also disfigured. The doorway is on this wall seven and a half feet [2.3m] from the west gable; it is disfigured on the inside. On the outside it is five feet eight inches [1.7m] high by two feet nine inches [0.83m]; the centre of the stone (a) has fallen away; the lintel is but three feet [0.9m] long and eight inches [0.2m] in depth, and enters the thickness of the wall one feet [0.3m]. It is formed of hammered stones. The walls of this church are about ten feet [3m] high, two and a half feet [0.8m] in thickness and built of large stones, very irregularly laid, and cemented with lime and sand mortar; they have the appearance of antiquity. There is a large graveyard attached much in use at present' (OSL, 32). See attached sketch of doorway in south wall of church taken from OS letters. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 20 November 2018
- LI019-100002 Graveyard
Description
Kilmoylan church ruins (LI019-100001-) stands in centre of graveyard which consists of a subrectangular-shaped area (approx. dims. 38m N-S x 61m NE-SW) enclosed by post-1700 stone wall with entrance gate at E. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 26 July 2019
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
- No LiDAR survey of the Office of Public Works covers the centre of this parcel.
- 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.
- Area
- 221.6 ha
- 548 acres
- Land parcels
- 31
- registered freehold, median 5,964 m² (0.6 ha, 1.47 acres)
- Zoning
- —
- not in a zoned settlement
- Planning
- 8
- applications since 2010
Land parcels
Registered freehold land, Tailte Éireann
31 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Oldabbey, from 18 m² to 327,394 m² (32.74 ha, 80.9 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.
Zoning
Development plans, national zoning
No zone of a development plan covers Oldabbey 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.
Planning applications
Sites that touch the townland, newest first
13 Nov 2025Conditional
construction of a single storey dwelling house with attic conversion, entrance, driveway, septic tank, percolation area and all ancillary site works
Permission, 1 home · Limerick County Council, 2561173
7 Oct 2025N/a
construction of a single storey dwelling house with attic conversion, entrance, driveway, septic tank, percolation area and all ancillary site works
Permission · Limerick County Council, 2561022
27 Mar 2025N/a
the construction of a new domestic garage, the relocation of the percolation area on site and all ancillary site works
Permission · Limerick County Council, 2560253
29 Nov 2022Conditional
The development will consist of permission for a solar farm comprising the construction of PV panels mounted on metal frames, new access tracks, underground cabling, perimeter fencing with CCTV cameras and access gates, installation of 9 transformer containers, a temporary construction compound and all ancillary grid infrastructure and associated works on lands 24.7 hectares located at Ellaha and Mullagh, Co. Limerick. A Natura Impact Statement has been prepared in respect of the application for planning permission
Permission · Limerick County Council, 221258
16 Nov 2021Conditional
construction of a single storey extension to the side of existing dwelling house, detached domestic garage, moving of entrance and all ancillary site works
Permission · Limerick County Council, 211587
13 Apr 2021Conditional
the construction of a slatted shed, roofed cattle crush, silage slab and concrete aprons
Permission · Limerick County Council, 21475
28 Sept 2020Conditional
construction of a two storey dwelling house with detached domestic garage, front boundary entrance walls, installation of mechanical aeration unit with polishing filter system and all associated site works
Permission, 1 home · Limerick County Council, 20971
14 Jan 2019Conditional
a ten year permission for the complete development of a Solar PV Energy development with a total site area of 30.15 hectares, to include, electrical transformer and invertor station modules, Solar PV panels ground mounted on support structures, access roads and internal access roads and internal access tracks, fencing, electrical cabling and ducting, CCTV and other ancillary infrastructure, a temporary site compound area, additional landscaping and habitat enhancement as required and associated site development works located in the townlands of Deelish and Mullagh. The proposed solar farm will be connected to the National Grid via the adjoining Ellaha and Ballinknockane solar farm previously granted planning permission under Limerick city & County Council planning ref 17/1220
Permission · Limerick County Council, 1918
Source: National Planning Applications, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Applicants are not shown.
Nature and heritage
Designated sites and recorded monuments
Designated sites
No designated site (Special Area of Conservation, Special Protection Area, Natural Heritage Area or proposed one) touches the townland of Oldabbey.
Recorded monuments
- LI019-019 Ringfort - rath
Description
In pasture, on gentle S-facing slope. Roughly circular area (29.9m N-S; 26.7m E-W) enclosed by earth-and-stone bank, with external fosse (Wth 2m; D 0.55m) ESE->N. Bank (int. H 0.8m; ext. H 1.7m), best preserved S->NW, lowers at NE (H 0.2m; Wth 5.5m). Field boundary, on rough E-W axis, cuts across fosse along S arc, and incorporates enclosing bank SE->WSW. Remains of a partially removed field boundary crosses fosse at N. Flat interior is covered with nettles and briars. Compiled by: Denis Power Date of upload: 26 August 2011
- LI019-020 Ringfort - rath
Description
In pasture, on gentle W-facing slope. Monument, depicted on 1923 OS 6-inch map as embanked circular enclosure (diam. c. 25m), is now largely covered by dense overgrowth. However, a small stretch of enclosing element is accessible at NE showing site enclosed by an earthen bank (int. H 0.4m; ext. H 1m) with external fosse (Wth 2m; D 0.8m). Compiled by: Denis Power Date of upload: 26 August 2011
- LI019-024 Moated site
Description
In pasture, atop low hill. Roughly rectangular area (47m SE-NW; 29m NE-SW) enclosed by earth and stone bank (int. H 0.35m; ext. H 1.4m) with external fosse (Base Wth. 4m; D 0.2m) ESE->WSW, scarp-edge (ext. H 0.45m) WSW->WNW and field boundary WNW->ESE. Bank is covered with elder and whitethorn trees. Field boundary, meeting in a corner at NNW, is slightly curved NNE->ESE. Interior under pasture with W half sloping down to the NW. Compiled by: Denis Power Date of upload: 26 August 2011
- LI019-025 Ringfort - rath
Description
In pasture, atop low hill. Circular area (diam. c. 40m) enclosed by two concentric earthen banks with an intervening fosse (Wth 3m). Inner bank (int. H 0.85m; ext. H 1.95m), heavily masked by overgrowth, is best preserved along N arc. Outer bank (ext. H 1.35m), best preserved along N arc, is externally stone-faced where incorporated into field boundary system W->NE. Gap in outer bank (Wth 10.5m) matched with causeway (Wth 10.5m) across fosse. Interior is completely covered by dense overgrowth. Passageway, depicted running tangentially to SE arc on 1923 OS 6-inch map, has been since removed, and a more recent passage now skirts enclosure W->NNW. According to Westropp, despite its name- 'fort of the dead', there is 'no indication of any burials, nor any tradition about its grim name' (Westropp 1916-7, 34) Compiled by: Denis Power Date of upload: 26 August 2011
- LI019-026001 Settlement deserted - medieval
Description
Possible medieval settlement earthworks associated with 13th century Augustinian nunnery (LI019-026009-) which are visible on oblique aerial photographs taken 20/07/1968 (CUCAP AVS097-8). A series of linear earthworks forming a series of terraces indicative of strip lynchets running across the fields are visible to the N and NW of the nunnery on Digital Globe orthoimages taken 2011-13. Possible medieval settlement and cultivation earthworks associated with medieval settlement and farming belonging to the Augustinian Nunnery. See attached aerial photographs taken 1968 showing earthworks in field to the N and NW of the Augustinian nunnery. Compiled by: Martin Fitzpatrick Date of upload: 14 July 2020
- LI019-026002 Enclosure
Description
In pasture 150m SW of the Augustinian nunnery of Monasternagalliaghduff (LI019-026009-) and 40m NW of Gateway (LI019-026003-), in the grounds of the former Old Abbey House which survives 200m to NE, dovecote (LI019-026004-) orchard and fish pond (LI019-026006-) in field to N. Standing stone (LI019-026011-) 80m to E. Not depicted on any O.S. Maps. Site of an 'old enclosure' described as following; 'Two small old foot-bridges lead by a shaded lane-way from the kitchen to two fields, having a cross-branch of the stream to the east of the first, to which a way also leads past the west side of the garden by other bridges. The more southern field alone gives marks of an old enclosure. The southern field has traces of earthen mounds' (Wardell 1904, 63). No surface remains visible of this 'old enclosure' on Digital Globe orthophotos or Google Earth orthoimagery. Compiled by: Martin Fitzpatrick Date of upload: 14 July 2020
- LI019-026003 Gateway
Description
In pasture 170m SW of the Augustinian nunnery of Monasternagalliaghduff (LI019-026009-) and 40m SE of an enclosure (LI019-026002-), in the grounds of the former Old Abbey House which survives 200m to N, dovecote (LI019-026004-) orchard and fish pond (LI019-026006-) in field to N. Standing stone (LI019-026011-) 65m to NE. Not depicted on any OS Maps. The gateway was described by Westropp as ‘An ancient south gate remains built up in the modern wall. It has roughly built gateway 10 feet [3m] wide on the opening, with a very rude pointed arch and strong piers projecting inwards. To it, says tradition, The Earl of Desmond brought his dying wife, wounded in their escape from Shanid castle, which rises proudly to the south-west on the moated summit of the ridge (Wardell 1904, 63). The overgrown boundary wall in which the gateway is located is visible on Google Earth Orthoimage taken 08/04/2015. See attached location map showing Gate taken from Wardell 1904 Compiled by: Martin Fitzpatrick Date of upload: 14 July 2020
- LI019-026004 Dovecote
Description
In pasture, 100m SW of the Augustinian nunnery of Monasternagalliaghduff (LI019-026009-) and 45m W of a megalithic structure (LI019-026011-), with stream immediately to N. On the grounds of the former Old Abbey House which stands 140m to N, orchard and fish ponds (LI019-026006-) in field to N of dovecote. Ringfort (LI019-028----) 145m to S. Annotated ‘Tower’ on both the 1840 OS 6-inch map and the 1897 OS 25-inch map, where it is depicted as a circular structure (approx. diam. 7m). The dovecote was described by Westropp as ‘the convent pigeon-house. It is an interesting little building, like the base of a round tower. It is circular, and 13 feet 6 inches [4.1m] in internal diameter, shelf to shelf, or 17 feet [5.2m] from wall to wall; the walls 2 feet 8 inches [0.8m] thick and 10 feet [3m] high to the spring of the domed roof, which is formed by corbelling, with a large circular ope and two external cornices. There is a low square door to the west, 3 feet 7 inches [1.1m] high and 2 feet 10 inches [0.86m] wide. The outer face destroyed. Inside were eight rows of stone recesses for the doves; they are 13 inches [0.33m] deep, and about twenty-eight [0.7m] to each ring. The greater number are now destroyed, probably by cattle, which can enter the structure through a large break in the east. It is 18 feet [5.5m] high in all' (Wardell 1904, 64). The dovecote is clearly visible on Google Earth Orthoimage taken 08/04/2015. See attached section of building and Google Earth orthoimages Compiled by: Martin Fitzpatrick Date of upload: 13 July 2020
- LI019-026005 Designed landscape - tea house
Description
In pasture 40m W of the Augustinian nunnery of Monasternagalliaghduff (LI019-026009-) and immediately W of the Fish-pond (LI019-026006-). Post-1700 summer-house built with medieval fabric of the nunnery standing on SW corner of the walled garden of the Old Abbey House which stands 60m to N. Depicted on the 1840 OS 6-inch map as a rectangular-shaped structure located at the S end of the formal garden of Old Abbey House. Identified by T. J. Westropp as the Summer House [B], he describes significant alteration to the building with a tenant having ‘inserted a doorway removed from the western door of the church, and a tall (but now curtailed) window from the refectory. A third window in the north face was brought from some uncertain location, possibly the “readers recess” in the refectory’(1904, 62). Westropp described the window as having ‘a trefoil head and refers to an ogee-headed light from the domicile that also is inserted into the ‘Summer House’ (ibid.). Google Earth Orthoimage taken 08/04/2015 shows a line of mature trees in the area of structure. See attached location map and photo taken by T. J. Westropp Compiled by: Martin Fitzpatrick Date of upload: 13 July 2020
- LI019-026006 Fish-pond
Description
In pasture 40m W of the Augustinian nunnery of Monasternagalliaghduff (LI019-026009-) and immediately E of the 'Summer House' (LI019-026005-). Depicted on the 1840 OS 6-inch map as a rectangular-shaped pond (approx. L 40m; Wth 10m) located at the S end of the formal garden of Old Abbey House. Described by T. J. Westropp as, ‘A most picturesque old fish-pond, shadowed by fine yews and lime trees, extends along the foot of the modern garden from near the “cellars”. It possibly dates from monastic times’ (Wardell 1904, 64). Google Earth Orthoimage taken 08/04/2015 shows the area heavily overgrown. See attached location map showing fish-pond labelled C and Google Earth orthoimages Compiled by: Martin Fitzpatrick Date of upload: 13 July 2020
- LI019-026007 Burial ground
Description
In pasture 80m NW of the Augustinian nunnery of Monasternagalliaghduff (LI019-026009-) and 15m SE of a cist (LI019-026008-), in the formal grounds of the Old Abbey House. Not Depicted on any OS maps, it was identified as Site G on a plan of the site by T. J. Westropp (Wardell 1904, 52) where he describes the site as following; ‘In 1901 the remains of some fifteen persons were discovered in a plot marked G. They had been buried in clayey and stoney soil at a depth of about two feet [0.6m]. The first skeleton found was buried north and south and in line with the cist (LI019-026008-). It lay on its back, and the size of the bones, which were in their natural order, would seem to indicate that they had belonged to a large man. The skull was in good preservation, but had been cracked by the spade and came to pieces on being much handled. With the exception of a slight decay in the molars, the teeth were perfect, but much ground down. To the south of this skeleton came many bones in no particular order; many of them would seem to have been those of children. It is possible that this portion of the Abbey lands had once been a place of pagan burial’. No surface trace visible on Google Earth Orthoimage taken 08/04/2015. See attached location map showing burial ground labelled G and Google Earth orthoimages Compiled by: Martin Fitzpatrick Date of upload: 13 July 2020
- LI019-026008 Cist
Description
In pasture 80m NW of the Augustinian nunnery of Monasternagalliaghduff (LI019-026009-) and 15m NE of a burial ground (LI019-026007-), in the formal grounds of the Old Abbey House. Not depicted on any OS maps, it was identified as Site F on a plan drawn by T. J. Westropp (Wardell 1904, 52) where he describes the site as following; ‘in the early “fifties” my uncles uncovered a stone cist containing a clay dish and a skeleton in a crouching position’. No surface trace visible on Google Earth Orthoimage taken 08/04/2015. See attached location map showing cist labelled F and Google Earth orthoimages Compiled by: Martin Fitzpatrick Date of upload: 13 July 2020
- LI019-026009 Religious house - Augustinian nuns
Description
The 13th century Augustinian nunnery of St. Catherine de O'Conyl or ‘Manisternagalliaghduff’, known locally as Old Abbey, stands in the parish of Robertstown, in the medieval barony of Connelloe [O’Conyll] (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 323). The village of Shanagolden lies 2.4km to the W, Shanid Castle (LI019-081001-) lies 4.1km to the SW. Knockpatrick and its church (LI010-058001-) stands 4km to the NW. Monasternagalliaghduff was mistakenly identified with a nunnery (LI032-043002-) in Lough Gur (Fitzgerald and McGregor 1826, 315, 363, 577). The monastery of the Black Nuns was dedicated to St. Catherine for the Canonesses of St. Augustine (Ware 1705, 103; Croker 1833, 103; Dowd 1896, 79). It was founded in the 13th century on lands belonging to John FitzThomas of Connelloe (O'Konyl) who was killed at Callan in 1261. The abbey buildings stand on the S side of the walled garden of the ruins of Oldabbey House in a hollow overlooking a stream to S, with good views of open countryside to E, and views of undulating countryside to S and W. Earthworks of a possible medieval settlement (LI019-026001-) lie in fields to N and W. Fish-pond (LI019-026006-) 20m to WSW, dovecote (LI019-026004-) and gateway (LI019-026003-) of possible monastic precinct wall 100m and 155m to SW respectively. An Inquisition into the lands of the Manor of Shanid which belonged to Thomas FitzMaurice who died in 1298 recorded that ‘wherefrom are subtracted 8s. paid yearly to the Bishop of Limerick for land which his (Thomas') grandfather granted to the nuns of Okonyl, and 26s. 8d. paid to the same Bishop to acquit land of demesne which Sir Thomas held of him there" (Wardell 1904, 43; Cal. doc. Ire. vol. 4, 259). In 1302-06 the papal taxation of the goods of the religious houses in the diocese of Limerick valued 'St. Catherine in O'Conyl' at 40s. 4d. (Cal. doc. Ire. vol. 5, 271). In 1432 Awly Olongsygh [Lynch] was appointed parish priest of the abbey by Pope Martin V who was informed on behalf of James, Earl of Desmond, patron of St. Catherine's, that the prioress and nuns, or several of them, leading a dissolute life, had wasted in lubricity and converted to unlawful uses the goods of the monastery, whose church was parochial, the priest being appointed or removed by the prioress and nuns; that the only remaining nun had married a layman by whom she had offspring so that she had been removed from the monastery by Cornelius, Bishop of Limerick (1400—25), with the consent of the dean and chapter' (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 323-4; Cal. papal letters 1427-47, 400-1). On the 26th September, 1567, Sir Warham St. Leger obtained a lease for twenty-one years of the Abbeys of Adare and Nenagh [Co. Tipperary], together with the site of the monastery of nuns of St. Katherine, called Monaster ne Kayllaghe, County Limerick, with appurtenances, rent £22 17s. 8d. (No. 1143) (Nicholls 1994, 141). Annotated 'M:Negella', the monastery is depicted along with Knockpatrick Church on Jobson’s Map of Munster dated 1589 (TCD MS1209/36). In 1633 the Earl of Cork purchased from sir Charles Coote ‘Monasternegillagh, with two plowlands and the tithes of one of them, and the rectories or parsonages of Robertstown, Donmoylan, Granshawe, and the Island of Aghnes, in the County of Limerick, which Sir Charles this day offers to sell me the inheritance, which is in lease to one John Green at £82. His mts. [sic] rent is about £1 6s. 8d.; it was conveyed by Sir John Jephson and his lady for £800 ster., and Sir Charles' price thereof to me is one thousand pounds, which I paid him" (Wardell 1904, 48-9). About the year 1770 John Greene left Old Abbey, and moved to Letteville, in the County Tipperary. George Hodges, who died in 1788, was succeeded by his cousin, George Morgan, of Foynes Island, ancestor of the present holder (Wardell 1904, 50). The abbey ruins were surveyed and described by Westropp (Wardell 1904, 53-62) in 1875 as following; ‘The remains consist of a large cloister court surrounded by other buildings : a long narrow church projects from the centre of the eastern face ; it is flanked by two small apartments opening into the cloister, that to the south of the church being evidently a sacristy. The refectory (with a long, low, projecting building, extending southward to the stream, and probably a kitchen) lies along the south wall of the court. To the west is a massive structure with buttresses, and at least three vaulted rooms underneath. It is older than the adjacent walls of the cloister, which embody its buttresses. The church and cloister walls are of one piece, and, though the refectory gables are only bonded at the top, the windows are of the same age as the church, early thirteenth century. Some rebuilding and considerable alteration and mutilation of portions of the church took place late in the fifteenth century. To this period belong its north doorway and east window. The sacristy, commonly called " the Black Hag's Cell,', is also an after-thought, and not bonded into the church; the south window is of late and bad design. The sacristy closes an older doorway in the western wall. The kitchen, though rude and plain, is also late, abutting against the refectory in awkward contiguity with an early window. A small structure, possibly a garderobe, projects near its south-eastern angle. The orchard and garden of Old Abbey House probably correspond to ancient enclosures. The old fish-pond remains in the latter. Another walled field, nearly surrounded by two little streams, seems of conventual origin; and, to the south of it, old earthworks and an ancient gateway with the curious circular pigeon-house mark the limit of the ancient precinct. Abbey Church The Church, like some of the other parts of the building, is "off the square." It is 82 feet [25m] long to the south, 83 feet [25m] to the north, and is 18 feet 6 inches [5.6m] wide to the east, and 17 feet 11 inches [5.4m] to the west. Buttresses project from each face of the angles at the east end; they seem of the fifteenth century, and embody older cut stones. The present east window is inserted in the arch of a larger and older window, and has the remains of two ambries under the sill. It has a slight external hood-moulding, and had two simple chamfered shafts, plainly interlacing overhead, without heading pieces or cusps. The shafts and tracery have disappeared; but the framework is intact, and shows slot holes for metal frames, both in the sides and sills. The stonework shows late dressing with toothed and pick chisels; the splay (and that of the second window in the south wall) were turned over planks. The holes for a long bar remain inside the window-shafts to either side of the splay. The south wall, going from the east, retains the following features: A window with a round splay, the light (which is partly built up) has a pointed head, and is recessed and chamfered, being of the same type as the window opposite to it in the north wall, and, in fact, save for its shortness, identical with the remaining window-light of the refectory and that removed from it, and now in the garden-house. This type is very common in the monasteries and churches built by the Normans or under English masons from 1180 to about 1230, and is found with round heads, but in other respects identical design, through the eleventh and early twelfth century. Below its sill are a small piscina with a quatrefoil basin, neatly moulded side shafts with capitals and bases, and an unusually flat trefoil arch, suggesting by its crooked and cramped appearance that the original head was replaced in later times. This was probably done when the upper part of the church walls was rebuilt, the recesses deprived of their arches, and in one case of their capitals, and the side windows lowered to their present stumpy proportions, perhaps in the late fifteenth century. Next we find a tall round-headed recess, probably once containing a picture. It has moulded capitals, bases, and sill,
- LI019-026010 Anomalous stone group
Description
In pasture 80m E of the Augustinian nunnery of Monasternagalliaghduff (LI019-026009-), within the demesne of the Old Abbey House, which lies 130m to NW. Not depicted on the 1840 OS 6-inch map or the 1897 OS 25-inch map. Described by Westropp in 1902 as following; ‘There is said to have been a “ring” or group of pillars about 5ft [1.5m] high in the field to the east of the orchard’ (Wardell 1904, 64). It appears the monument no longer survived at the time of writing and there are surface remains visible. Cropmarks visible in the field to the E of the walled orchard on Google Earth orthoimage taken 20/10/2010 may be the remains of the levelld 'ring' of upright stones. Compiled by: Martin Fitzpatrick Date of upload: 13 July 2020
- LI019-026011 Standing stone
Description
In pasture, 90m SW of the Augustinian nunnery of Monasternagalliaghduff (LI019-026009-) and 45m E of the dovecote (LI019-026004-), in the formal grounds of the Old Abbey House ruins which stand 170m to N. Not depicted on any OS maps. Possible standing stone described by Westropp as following; ‘In the field next to the Pigeon House [LI019-026004-] is a stone 3 feet 6 inches [1m] high and three feet [0.9m] by two feet [0.6m] wide’. No surface remains visible on Google Earth orthoimage taken 08/04/2015. See attached location map Compiled by: Martin Fitzpatrick Date of upload: 13 July 2020
- LI019-026012 Graveslab
Description
Medieval graveslab decorated with a fleur-de-lys cross located against the inner face of the N wall of the abbey church of the 13th century Augustinian nunnery (LI019-026009-). Described by Westropp (Wardell 1904, 58) as following; 'A curious little tombstone leans against this wall, a solid block, 13½ inches [0.35m] to 9¼ inches [0.22m] broad, and about 30 inches [0.76m] high, adorned by a delicately incised Latin cross with round bosses and concave curves at the intersection of the arms'. See attached drawing of graveslab by Westropp 1902 Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 24 July 2020
- LI019-027 Ringfort - rath
Description
In pasture, on gentle E-facing slope. Circular area (diam. c. 35m) enclosed by earthen bank with an external fosse (Wth 1.3m; D 1.15m). Bank (int. H 2.1m; ext. H 2.5m), very heavily masked by overgrowth, is only accessible at NW. Collapsed dry-stone wall (H 0.35m) runs along outer edge of fosse which is littered with loose stone derived from wall. Interior is completely covered by dense overgrowth. Compiled by: Denis Power Date of upload: 26 August 2011
- LI019-028 Ringfort - cashel
Description
In pasture, on gentle NE-facing slope. Roughly-circular area (27.8m N-S; 30m E-W) defined by scarped edge (H 0.5m; Wth 2.65m) best preserved E->SE. Uneven interior, under pasture, with depression (0.7m N-S x 0.75m E-W; D 0.35m) in NE quadrant. (Wardell describes this as a cashel- see file for ref) Compiled by: Denis Power Date of upload: 26 August 2011
- LI019-029 Ringfort - rath
Description
In pasture, on gentle NE-facing slope. Oval area (29m N-S; 23.7m E-W) enclosed by earth-and-stone bank, with external fosse (Wth 1.6m; D 0.7m) E->NW. Enclosing element is truncated by field boundary NW->E. Bank (int. H 1m; ext. H 1.5m), best preserved at WSW, has remains of stone-facing on inside face. Fosse is crossed by a causeway (Wth 2m) at W, but not matched by break in bank. Level interior is under pasture. Compiled by: Denis Power Date of upload: 26 August 2011
- LI019-233 Enclosure
Description
In area of waste adjacent to quarry. Oval area (24m N-S; 34m E-W) enclosed by earth-and-stone bank (int. H 0.45m; ext. H 0.7m). Bank best preserved W->NW (ext. H 1.65m) with external stone-facing SW->NE. Interior has been extensively quarried out to a depth of c. 2m. Field boundaries abut enclosure at SW and NE. Compiled by: Denis Power Date of upload: 26 August 2011
Architectural heritage
No building of the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage stands in the townland of Oldabbey.
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, landslides, flooding
- Radon
- At the centre of the townland of Oldabbey, 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, partly inferred.
- Terrain model
- No LiDAR survey of the Office of Public Works covers the centre of the townland of Oldabbey.
- 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.
Homes sold
Property Price Register
No address of the register names Oldabbey with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Limerick.
The townland
- Name
- Oldabbey · Mainistir na gCailleach
- Area
- 2,216,298 m² (221.63 ha, 547.66 acres)
- Civil parish
- Robertstown, and its townlands
- Barony
- Shanid
- Electoral division
- Shanid, the unit of the census
- Census 2022
- 542 people lived in 208 households in the Shanid electoral division. 92% of households owned their home. 31% of homes were built since 2001. 9% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 1% were holiday homes.
- Neighbouring townlands
- Clashganniff, Deelish, Ellaha, Kilcosgrave, Kilmoylan, Knockardnacorlan, Monavaha, Mullagh, Stokesfield, Tiermore
- Placenames
- Oldabbey 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.