Lady's Island

Area

133,557 m² (13.36 ha, 33 acres)

Buildings

5 buildings touch it. Their footprint covers 401 m².

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

Lady's Island

Planning applications on this parcel

• 20 Feb 2019Refused

  PERMISSION FOR 1) THE ERECTION OF A MARIAN GROTTO AND CANDLEABRA AT AN EXISTING

  Permission · Wexford County Council, 20190219

• 6 Feb 2019N/a

  PERMISSION FOR 1) ERECTION OF A MARIAN GROTTO AND CANDLEABRA AT AN EXISTING

  Permission · Wexford County Council, 20190151

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: Lady's Island Lake SAC 000704
• Special Protection Area: Lady's Island Lake SPA 004009
• Proposed Natural Heritage Area: Lady's Island Lake 000704

Recorded monuments around it

This parcel is in the zone of notification of 8 recorded monuments.

• WX053-013001 Church
  Description

  Located towards the N end of what was once a triangular island (max. dims c. 700m N-S; c. 220m E-W at S) with the apex at N in Lady’s Island Lough (dims c. 3.5km NNE-SSW; c. 500m-1.5km E-W), a lake that was called Lough Togher in the 17th century (Hore 1862, 87). Salt water seeps through the bar separating the lake from the sea, and sometimes the bar is breached, so the lough is a semi-salt-water lagoon. The parish church of Lady's Island, which was known as Insula Barry – perhaps a corruption of Insula Mhuire (O’Flanagan 1933, vol. 1, 299) - is within a subcircular or D-shaped graveyard (dims c. 38m NE-SW; 35m NW-SE) defined by masonry walls with straight sides at NE and SE. There is a tradition that Augustinian Canons regulated pilgrimages to a famous shrine here from the 14th century (Grattan Flood 1915, 73; Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 199, 304). A plenary indulgence was granted to pilgrims in the early 17th century (Corish 1987, 223), but Cromwell is said to have destroyed the shrine during the siege of Wexford in 1649 (Murphy c. 1960, 11-12), although there is no corroboration of this (Hore 1925, 22). Nevertheless, the pilgrimage, involving a circuit of the Island, was described by Col. Solomon Richards in 1682 (Hore 1862, 87-8) and continues to this day during August when it is centred on the Feast of the Assumption, on the 15th. See this web-page accessed on 26 February. http://www.ourladysisland.ie/index.php/history Only the W gable (oriented NE-SW; L 6.33m; T 0.8m) with a narrow window and a double bellcote at the apex survives with adjoining portions of the side walls. Archaeological supervision of the conservation of the church walls led to the discovery of four dressed stones, all possibly from the same three-light cusped ogee-headed window that might have been used as the E window of the church (McLoughlin 2020). The church is separated from the mainland by a causeway (WX053-016----) guarded by the tower house and double curtain wall (WX053-014----). Our Lady's Well (WX053-018----), which was part of the pilgrimage route (O'Flanagan 1933, vol. 1, 299), lies c. 500m to the E on the mainland, and there is another holy well (WX053-013003-) c. 70m to the W of the church, on the W shore of the island. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wexford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1996). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 25 March, 2014 Amended: 11 November 2020

• WX053-013002 Graveyard
  Description

  Located towards the N end of what was once a triangular island (max. dims c. 700m N-S; c. 220m E-W at S) with the apex at N in Lady’s Island Lough (dims c. 3.5m NNE-SSW; c. 500m-1.5km E-W), a lake that was called Lough Togher in the 17th century (Hore 1862, 87). Salt water seeps through the bar separating the lake from the sea, and sometimes the bar is breached, so the lough is a semi-salt-water lagoon. The parish church of Lady's Island (WX053-013001-) is within a subcircular or D-shaped graveyard (dims c. 38m NE-SW; 35m NW-SE) defined by masonry walls with straight sides at NE and SE. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 25 March, 2014

• WX053-013003 Ritual site - holy well
  Description

  This well is not marked on the 1839 ed. of the OS 6-inch map and is not mentioned by John O’Donovan writing c. 1840 (O’Flanagan 1933), so it may be a modern feature created for the pilgrimage. The well is cut into the natural scarp (H c. 1m), which is now stone-clad at this point, forming the W side of Lady's Island. The stone-lined well is rectangular (dims 0.6m x 0.7m) with a lintel (L 0.8m; T 0.1m) across the opening (H over the water 0.25m). On top of the lintel is a trough (ext. dims 0.5m x 0.42m; int. dims 0.4m x 0.35m; D 0.1m) made of coarse cement. The trough is set on its side with offerings placed in it. The burnt mound (WX053-061----) was found in the vicinity of the well. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 25 March, 2014

• WX053-014001 Castle - tower house
  Description

  According to Lewis (1837, 347) and John O’Donovan writing c. 1840 (O’Flanagan 1933, 229) Lady’s Island was the fief of Milo de Lamporte in 1195, and when his son, Rudolph, departed for the Crusades, Rudolph left the manor to the Church if he did not return, which he didn’t, but there is no corroboration for this. Brooks (1943, 117-9) identifies Ballifistlan in the foundation charter of Ferns Abbey c. 1158 (Hore 1900-11, vol. 6, 180) with Ballycushlane and Lady’s Island parish. In 1247 Walter Purcell held Ballyfistlan by a quarter of a knight’s fee from the Valence estate and in 1324 it was held by John Maunsel, while the heir of William Sandull had it c. 1425 (Brooks 1943, 117-8). When he died in 1617 William Browne of Mulrankin (WX047-031----) was leasing the manor of Ballyfistelbane consisting of three carucates (townlands), a mill and a castle. William’s son and heir, Patrick, also held Ballyfistelbane, and land in Noartowne (Eardownes), Ballycuslan and Lady’s Island is recorded (ibid). According to the Book of Survey and Distribution (1660s) William Browne, presumably Patrick’s son, owned the whole of Lady’s Island parish c. 1640 (Simington 1953, 305). The castle is situated at the N end of what was once a triangular island (max. dims c. 700m N-S; c. 220m E-W at S) with the apex at N in Lady’s Island Lough (dims c. 3.5km NNE-SSW; c. 500m-1.5km E-W), a lake that was called Lough Togher in the 17th century (Hore 1862, 87). Salt water seeps through the bar separating the lake from the sea and the bar is sometimes breached, so the lough is a semi-salt water lagoon. The castle controls access to the church (WX053-013001-) along the causeway (WX053-016----) from the lake-shore c. 100m to the N. This is a rectangular tower house (ext. dims 9.15m NW-SE; 8.68m NE-SW) of five floors with a base-batter and good quoins, and it survives to the wall-walk. A raised and enclosed platform with an altar has been built against the NE wall, obscuring some features. The original entrance with a pointed arch of uncut stone that is now blocked is towards the E end of the SW wall, and is protected inside by a murder-hole. A secondary entrance at the W end of the SW wall is also blocked and is probably broken out from an antechamber that has a light in the NW wall covering the area just N of the gatehouse. There are three bar-holes through the wall just N of this light to secure a gate, but the plan was changed and the gatehouse is attached further S so this feature is now redundant. The ground-floor chamber (int. dims 7.1m NW-SE; 3.5m NE-SW) has embrasures with lights in the NW (double-splayed), NE (slit) and SE (blocked) walls and corbels in the SE and NW walls to support the ceiling. A garderobe chute is broken out in the E angle. A mural stairs rises in the SW wall to a lintelled doorway (Wth 0.7m; H 1.68) at the centre of the SW wall to the first floor under the vault, which has slit windows on the SE and NW walls and traces of wicker-centring in the vault. An antechamber (int. dims 1.87m NE-SW; 1.25m NW-SE) at the S angle has a light on the SE wall and controls the murder-hole over the entrance lobby. The stairs continue in the SW wall to the second floor (int. dims 6.65m NW-SE; 4.67m NE-SW) over the vault, but the head of the stairs is destroyed. This floor has a fireplace (Wth 1.48m; D 0.63m), missing its lintel, and a destroyed window embrasure in the NE wall. There is a lintelled garderobe chamber (int. dims 2.45m NE-SW; 0.85m NW-SE; H 1.95m) with a light in the SE wall at the E angle, and an antechamber (int. dims 2.3m NE-SW; 0.96m NW-SE; H 1.95m) with a light in the SW wall at the S angle. The SW wall has no certain original features but there are two inserted or widened windows. At the W end of the SW wall a doorway (Wth 0.78m; H 2.45m) leads to the first floor of the gatehouse while at the centre of the NW wall is a large arched embrasure (Wth 3.3m; H 2.45m; D 0.77m) with a slit window. The ceiling of the second floor is supported on corbels (H 2.4m) in the NE and SW walls. A newel stairs at the W angle leads to the third floor entered by a lintelled doorway (Wth 0.65; H 1.92m) from the stairs. This floor has an embrasure on each wall, with an inserted window on the N wall, a damaged light in the E wall, a light in the S wall and a damaged embrasure on the W wall. There is a garderobe chamber at the E angle and from the top of the stairs a lintelled doorway (Wth 0.65m; H 1.92m) leads to the destroyed battlements of the gatehouse. The ceiling of this floor is supported on corbels in the NE and SW walls. From the head of the newel stairs a mural stairs rises in the NW wall to a central lintelled doorway (Wth 0.58m; H 1.7m) that accesses the fourth floor. This floor has simple slit windows on the NE, SE and SW walls, and there are corbels for the ceiling in the NE and SW walls. The stairs continue in the NW wall, beginning to spiral at the N angle, where it emerges on the destroyed wall-walk. The gatehouse (ext. dims. 5.9m NW-SE; 3.2m NE-SW) is offset to the S and W of the W angle of the tower house. The entrance passage (Wth 2.45m), with a segmental arch at SW and a pointed arch at NE is protected by a murder-hole inside the NE arch. The gate is secured by a single draw-bar socket, with the remains of a timber beam in place. The murder-hole is controlled from the first floor, which is a lintelled chamber (int. dims 4.1m NW-SE; 1.5m NE-SW; H 2.65m), accessed from the second floor of the tower house. The parapet is destroyed, but it was accessed from a doorway at the third floor of the tower house. A wall runs NW from the gatehouse (surviving L c. 6m) and SE from the tower house (surviving L c. 13m; max. H 3.3m), effectively securing the whole island. About 50m NE of the tower house, at the apex of the island is a single tower (WX053-015----) that has tilted severely to the N and almost collapsed. This feature (ext. dims 5.1m NW-SE; 3.6m NE-SW) has a base-batter on the NE and NW walls, and the remains of the doorway is c. 2m above ground level on the SE side with the tie-stones of a wall beneath it. The ground floor has a garderobe chute on the NW wall that emerges on the outer face of the wall 2m below, and the only other ground floor feature is a cross-loop on the NE wall commanding the causeway (WX053-016----) that connected the island with the mainland, c. 90m distant. This was known as the togher (road), and provided the name Lough Togher to the lake. The first floor of the tower was supported on corbels in the NE wall, and presumably on the destroyed SW wall. It has two slit windows on the NE wall with a NW-SE barrel-vault rising over them. A photograph from c. 1900 in the Lawrence Collection in NLI (LROY 04780) shows a wall, perhaps not original, running NW from the tower, effectively creating a bawn between the tower and the tower house (WX053-014001-). Archaeological monitoring (22E0011) by C. Moriarty of works in a small area (dims c. 13m x c. 8m) immediately to the SE and within the bawn produced no related material (excavations.ie 2022:002). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wexford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1996). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of revision: 25 March 2014 Amended: 13 December 2022

• WX053-014002 Gatehouse
  Description

  The gatehouse (ext. dims 5.9m NW-SE; 3.2m NE-SW) is offset to the S and W of the W angle of the tower house (WX053-014001-). The entrance passage (Wth 2.45m), with a segmental arch at SW and a pointed arch at NE, is protected by a murder-hole inside the NE arch. The gate is secured by a single draw-bar socket with the remains of a timber beam in place. The murder-hole is controlled from the first floor, which is a lintelled chamber (int. dims 4.1m NW-SE; 1.5m NE-SW; H 2.65m) accessed by a lintelled doorway (Wth 0.78m; H 2.45m) from the second floor of the tower house. The parapet is destroyed, but it was accessed by a lintelled doorway (Wth 0.65m; H 1.92m) at the third floor of the tower house. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload; 25 March, 2014

• WX053-015 Bawn
  Description

  Situated at the extreme N end of what was once a triangular island (max. dims c. 700m N-S; c. 220m E-W at S) with the apex at N in Lady’s Island Lough (dims c. 3.5km NNE-SSW; c. 500m-1.5km E-W). A wall (surviving L c. 6m) runs NW from the gatehouse (WX053-014002-) and a wall (surviving L c. 13m; max. H 3.3m) runs SE from the tower house (WX053-014001-), effectively securing the whole island to the S. About 50m NE of the tower house, at the apex of the island is a single tower that has tilted severely to the N and almost collapsed. This feature (ext. dims 5.1m NW-SE; 3.6m NE-SW) has a base-batter on the NE and NW walls, and the remains of the doorway is c. 2m above ground level on the SE side with the tie-stones of a wall beneath it. The ground floor has a garderobe chute on the NW wall that emerges on the outer face of the wall 2m below, and the only other ground floor feature is a cross-loop on the NE wall commanding the causeway (WX053-016----) that connected the island with the mainland, c. 90m distant. The causeway was known as the togher (road), and provided the name Lough Togher to the lake (Hore 1862, 87). The first floor of the tower was supported on corbels in the NE wall, and presumably on the destroyed SW wall. It has two slit windows on the NE wall with a barrel vault rising over them. A photograph from c. 1900 in the Lawrence Collection in NLI (LROY 04780) shows a wall, perhaps not original, running NW from the tower, effectively creating a bawn between the tower and the tower house (WX053-014001-) and gatehouse and their associated walls. Archaeological testing (00E0153) by J. Wren outside the surviving wall at its N end produced no related material (excavations. ie 2000:1063). Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 14 April, 2014 Amended: 17/05/2021

• WX053-016 Causeway
  Description

  Lady’s Island was once a triangular island (max. dims c. 700m N-S; c. 220m E-W at S) with the apex at the N end in Lady’s Island Lough (dims c. 3.5km NNE-SSW; c. 500m-1.5km E-W), a lake that was called Lough Togher in the 17th century (Hore 1862, 62, 87). Salt water seeps through the bar separating the lake from the sea and the bar is sometimes breached, so the lake is a semi salt-water lagoon. The causeway connected the mainland with the island and was the only access for pilgrims and others. On the island side the tower house (WX053-014001-) and its attached gatehouse (WX053-014002-) control access to the church (WX053-013001-), but there must have been a gateway associated with the tower on the N side of the bawn (WX053-015----), that is at the S end of the causeway from the lake-shore c. 100m to the N. The nature of the causeway is not known, but it was probably a natural shingle spit. Today it is hidden beneath a grass sward (Wth c. 100m NE-SW), and the shore has extended out to meet the island. When the water-level in the lake is high the causeway can be seen as a raised bank (Wth c. 10m; H c. 0.5-1m) beneath a gravel roadway. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 25 March, 2014

• WX053-061 Burnt mound
  Description

  Situated on the W side of Lady’s Island in the vicinity of the holy well (WX053-013003-). A section of burnt and cracked sandstone and granite stones (L 13m; T c. 0.3-0.4m) was exposed in a trench in 1976 when laying a cable (NMI file). It is not visible in a cereal crop. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wexford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1996). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload/revision: 25 March, 2014

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

The EPA radon map gives no estimate at the centre of this parcel.

Landslides

The 1:50,000 map rates the landslide susceptibility here as low, partly inferred. Parts of the land are water.

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.