Blackcastle Demesne

Blackcastle Demesne is a townland in the civil parish of Donaghmore, barony of Navan Lower, Co. Meath. Its name in Irish is An Caisleán Dubh.

Parcel 5283898

Back to Blackcastle Demesne

Blackcastle DemesneAbbeyland Abbeyland South

50 m

8 parcels are drawn. Click one to see it.© Tailte Éireann, CC BY 4.0

Area: 1,621 m²
Buildings: No building touches it.
Zoning: M2 C1 - Mixed Use (Meath County Development Plan 2021-2027 (As Varied)) The objective
G1 F1 - Open Space (Meath County Development Plan 2021-2027 (As Varied)) The objective
Townland: Blackcastle Demesne

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

Special Area of Conservation: River Boyne and River Blackwater SAC 002299
Special Protection Area: River Boyne and River Blackwater SPA 004232

Recorded monuments around it

This parcel is in the zone of notification of 24 recorded monuments.

ME025-024 Religious house - Augustinian canons
Description
The abbey of St. Mary at Navan may have been founded before the Anglo-Norman settlement of Meath, as an abbot witnesses a charter of 1174-84 and it seems to have been well established by then. It might have been founded on an older church site of Nuachonghail that had been established by St. Fechin in the sixth century (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 399). John de Courcy confirmed the church of St. Mary’s to the Augustinian canons in 1189, and abbots are mentioned sporadically thereafter. In 1450 abbot John Bole obtained indulgences to fund the adornment of the abbey and the following year managed to appropriate the church at Ardbraccan in an effort to restore its finances. He became archbishop of Armagh in 1457 when Peter White succeeded as abbot. In 1488 abbot Richard Nangle was implicated in the Lambert Simnel fiasco but received a pardon. (Cogan 1862-70, 1, 224-9; Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 189-90). At the Suppression in 1539-40 the church was declared to have been parochial from time immemorial, although the buildings were ruinous, including a fortified structure that was integral to the defences of the town. It owned three mills and 140 acres in demesne. They held a castle at Newcastle and 14 named cottiers provided rents and service on the demesne. A further 60 acres were held in demesne at Robinrath. Sixty acres were owned at the unknown manor of Angevylston (Allenstown?), 110 acres at Foghan Hill and 40 acres at Knockamore (Knockumber?). There were smaller individual properties, and they had the profits of the churches of Navan, Ardbrackan, Kilshine, and Liscartan. They also held property in Co. Louth. Although much of this was waste, in terms of land ownership St. Mary’s was one of the wealthiest abbeys in Meath (White 1943, 250-55). The abbey was located N of Navan, between the town and the NW-SE River Blackwater. Although the Visitation Books of bishops Montgomery in 1615 and Ussher in 1622 describe the church in good repair (Ellison 1963, 34) bishop Dopping’s Visitation (1682-5) records the church as in ruins since 1641, although surrounded by a stone wall (Ellison 1972, 10). In 1693 Dopping records the inscriptions of many monuments in the church (Reynell 1888-91). It was transformed into a cavalry barracks subsequently, and Cogan (1862-70, 1, 228) deplores the abuse it suffered at the hands of the military. However, Hickey (1975) avers that carved stones from the graveyard could have been moved to Slane (ME019-021----; ME019-026001-) and some others are in the grounds of St Mary’s Roman Catholic church (ME025-044020-). The font (Roe 1968, 89-91) is now in St Mary's Church of Ireland church (ME025-044009-). No trace of the abbey can now be identified, although its site is known. (Bradley and King 1985, 99-100) Three test-trench (18E0327) by C. Walsh (2018) on the site of the Augustinian abbey identified some walls and paving from the Cavalry barracks established on the site c. 1750 as well as one wall which may have been from the abbey. A further nine trenches (19E0124) were excavated by D. McIlreavy (McIlreavy and Coughlan 2020) in 2019 (excavations.ie 2019:662. This demonstrated that the W edge of the development area was dominated by eighteenth century demolition material from the barracks. Some truncated mortar-bonded and clay-bonded walls and a mortar floor are thought to relate to the barracks, but medieval ceramics were recovered from clay-bonded walls and from under the mortar floor. In total five severely truncated E-W inhumations and many disturbed remains were also recorded. These are likely to be from the formal graveyard associated with the medieval abbey. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of revision: 17 December, 2014 Amended: 29 March 2023 McIlreavy, D. and Coughlan, T. 2020 Archaeological testing Inner Relief Road, Navan, Co. Meath. Licence: 19E0124. Final Unpublished report, Irish Archaeological Consultancy Walsh, C. 2018 Archaeological test excavation of the former Barracks, Kells Road, Navan, County Meath. Licence: 18E0327. Unpublished report, Archaeological Projects
ME025-024001 Tomb - chest tomb
Description
from Bradley and King (1985, 150): Effigy of a bishop. Late 14th / early 15th century. Set against the wall in the courtyard of Slane castle (see: ME019-021----). It depicts a bishop under a broken canopy. He is dressed in a chasuble over a dalmatic and alb with amice around his neck. He has a mitre on his head which rests on a double cushion. He has prominent ears, the right hand is raised in blessing and the damaged left hand would have held the vexillium draped crozier. The lower part of the slab is damaged but his feet probably rested on an animal. Hickey (1975) has pointed out that this effigy and the ‘Apostle Stone’ at St. Erc’s Hermitage (ME019-026001-) were probably from the same tomb and were moved here from St. Mary’s abbey, Navan (ME025-024----), in the late 18th century. Dimensions: H 1.97m; Wth 0.49-0.59m. (Hunt 1974, 214) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 15 July, 2014
ME025-024002 Stone sculpture
Description
From Bradley and King (1985, 142-3): The ‘Apostle Stone’. Late 14th / early 15th century. A large coffin-shaped block of sandstone is a short distance west of St. Erc’s Hermitage (ME019-026----) in Slane. It is carved in relief with six apostles on each of the long sides and a Crucifixion with Mary and John on the broader end. Many of the apostles are damaged so not all can be identified. They are dressed similarly in a tunic and cloak caught over the left arm. Only SS Paul and James are clearly identifiable. Hickey (1975) has shown that this is part of a composite tomb tht includes the effigy of a bishop at Slane Castle (ME019-021----) that were removed from St. Mary’s abbey in Navan (ME025-024----), in the late 18th century. Dims L 1.75m; Wth 0.42-0.52; H 0.44m Date of upload: 15 July, 2014
ME025-024003 Graveyard
Description
St Mary's abbey (ME025-024----) was located N of Navan, between the town and the NW-SE River Blackwater. At the Suppression in 1539-40 it was the parish church (White 1943, 250) and continued to act as such. However, by 1693 it was in ruins and Dopping recorded many inscriptions from it (Reynell 1888-91). Later the site was transformed into a cavalry barracks, and Cogan (1862-70, 1, 228) deplores the abuse the graveyard suffered at the hands of the military. No trace of it remains, although the location is generally known. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 19 December, 2014
ME025-024004 Font
Description
The limestone font described by Dopping (1693) as being in St Mary’s abbey (Reynell 1888-91, 463) is now in St Mary’s Church of Ireland church (ME025-044009-) in Navan (Roe 1968, 89-91).
ME025-044 Historic town
Description
Situated on a broad hill in the angle between a W-E section of the Cavan River Blackwater at N and a SE-NW course of the River Boyne at E. At the confluence the Boyne turns E and then NE. Hugh de Lacy had granted the barony of Navan to Jocelyn de Angelo by 1175 and the motte and bailey castle (ME025-023001-) might have been built shortly afterwards as the caput or centre of the fief, perhaps on an ancient burial mound. Such a crucial confluence of two important waterways soon became the focus of a town, and it is possible that the Augustinian abbey of St. Mary’s (ME025-024----) had been established, perhaps on an older church site, before the Anglo-Norman settlement. This was known as Nuachongbhail – New settlement - which was reputedly the site of a church founded by St. Fechin of Fore (WM04-035003-), but the occurrences of the name are later interpolations. The area was originally known as Odhbha with references from 612 (AU) when a battle was fought amongst the Aed Sláine branch of Uí Néill. The mythological Odhbha was a daughter of Milesius, leader of the last of the five mythological invasions of Ireland, and the name would have been applied to her burial mound which could be incorporated in the motte. The Dindshenchas, a ninth to twelfth century collection of lore about places, describes Odhbha as a grave on a ridge, and the name would be applied to the territory. Odhbha is easily corrupted into Novan or Nouan, applied first to the Augustinian abbey (ME025-024----) in its charters after 1170. In Gaelic Odhbha is equally corruptible into Uaimh – cave or grave – an apt description for the original mound and the name used in the few annalistic references. (Ó Murchadha 1992-3) The development of the town is not fully elucidated but its corporate status is first acknowledged in 1462 (Brooks 1933, 223). The town was plundered by O’Neill and O’Donnell in 1539, and in 1543 Parliament imposed a charge on every ploughland in Meath in order to fund the construction of walls for Navan. Although murage at Navan had been collected since the fifteenth century at least, the walling might never have been completed and in 1593 Navan was listed as a market rather than a walled town (Bradley and King 1985, 94-5, 98). The brief description of the town in the Civil Survey (1654-6) mentions Feshings Gate and Sweynes Bridge as well as houses on the north side of Canonrow St outside West Gate as well as houses outside the Dublin Gate (Simington 1940, 222-3). Two castles and four houses, by which stone houses are meant, are specified. The Down Survey (1656-8) barony map depicts the town as an enclosed rectangular area backing onto the River Boyne at NE, with the abbey outside the walls at N and a bridge crossing the Blackwater below it. There was no bridge across the Boyne until c. 1750, but the river may have had a ford as the name Athlumney - Áth Luimnigh – ford of the bare place?, or of the herds (Boylan 1988, 52), for the land on the other side indicates. The medieval town had three streets meeting at the triangular Market Square, with numerous alleys off the principal thoroughfares. From the property boundaries depicted in the 1836 edition of the OS 6-inch map the small extent of the walled town (c. 7 ha) can be outlined and a section of wall (ME025-044003-) survives behind the houses on the S side of Abbey Road while other evidence of it has been found in excavation. Excavations within the town show that there was a high knoll of gravel around the N angle of the town and this area is described as ‘Sandymount’ on the OS 25-inch map of 1908. In other parts of the walled area excavations generally record medieval deposits beneath a deep overburden of post-medieval construction and dumping. Outside the walls medieval properties are being recorded in excavation on the NE side of Canon Row St. in line with the Civil Survey evidence. See the attached image from the Down Survey barony map of Navan (N at left), courtesy of the National Library of Ireland Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 31 March 2023 AU Annals of Ulster Bradley, J. and King, H. A. 1985 Urban archaeological survey – county Meath. Unpublished report commissioned by the OPW, Dublin Brooks, E. St John 1933 A Charter of John de Courcy to the Abbey of Navan. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, 63, 38-45. Ellison, Rev. C.C. 1963 Some Aspects of Navan History. Ríocht na Midhe 3, 1, 33-56. Ó Murchadha, D.n 1992-3 Odhbha and Navan. Ríocht na Mídhe vol. 8, No. 4, 112-23 Simington, R. C. 1940 The Civil Survey AD 1654-1656. vol. V, County of Meath. Dublin, Stationery Office
ME025-044002 Cross - Market cross
Description
The triangular marketplace was where the three principal streets met, and the market is referred to in charters of 1605 and 1679. A fragment of a cross, dated to the late 16th century, originally perhaps from the Market Square and now in the National Museum of Ireland, is described by King (1984, 109) as: Navan 1 National Museum of Ireland No. X1639. This cross has been in the collection of the Royal Irish Academy since 1849 but its original position was probably in the Market Square in Navan. Two other fragments existed in 1862 (Cogan 1862, 1, 229-30). Material: dark grey limestone from Colp. Dims shaft: H 0.45m; 0.22m x 0.21m: tenon: H 0.12m; 0.15m x 0.14m at base; 0.13m x 0.13m at top. A shaft fragment almost square in section decorated in false relief. It has a tenon on top and a small hole in the base. An inscription in Roman lettering on three faces in relief and incision. 1st: A shield with Nangle (quarterly, first and third grandquarter counter quartered, azure three fusils conjoined in fess or) and Dowdall arms impaling Herbert (per pale azure and gules three lions rampant argent a border gobony of the last and sable and a cinquefoil in chief pierced of the second). 2nd: Inscription only; the first two letter are shaped like an hour-glass and wreath. 3rd: A female figure dressed in Elizabethan fashion. 4th: A figure in a loin cloth lying sideways holding an hour-glass, three circular objects, possibly intended as skulls, and a winged head. The inscription is as follows: NANGL / AND HAR / BART /…/PESOT / I O /SVLINVS/ DEANGVLO/ THE FIRST / BARRON OF / THE NOVAN F(…) IS / (…) GIVEN / HIM BY SIR/ HUGHE/DE LACIE/ PHIL/ I PPVS.N/AIQVANDO/BARO DE/NOVAN FO/RVM AC /NVNDINA/. The coat of arms is that of Martin Nangle who died in 1585. The occurrence of a lady in Elizabethan costume confirms a date of c. 1585. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of revision: 16 April, 2015 Amended: 29 March 2023
ME025-044003 Town defences
Description
Although murage at Navan had been collected since 1470 at least (Moore 1893, 59), the walling might never have been completed. After Navan had been plundered by O’Neill and O’Donnell in 1539, the Irish Parliament imposed a charge on every ploughland in Meath in 1543 in order to fund the construction of walls for Navan. The funding drive might not have been completely successful as in 1593 Navan was listed as a market town rather than a walled town (Bradley and King 1985, 94-5, 98). The walls were completed however and were maintained into the eighteenth century. In 1746 an order was made to repair breaches in the town walls which were allowing goods into the weekly markets free of tolls, but by the end of the century widening of the streets removed the town gates at Dublin Gate in 1786, Watergate in 1788 and Trimgate in 1796 (Ellison 1963, 42-6). From the property boundaries depicted on the 1836 edition of the OS 6-inch map the line taken by the town wall can be identified. It describes a rough rectangle backing onto the River Boyne at E. From the SE corner it extended W from the river behind the houses on the N side of Church Hill, turning N to join Trimgate St. c. 50m from its junction with Railway St. From there it continued N towards Abbey Rd through the re-developed shopping area, but turned E while still S of that road, crossed the junction with Watergate St and continued down to the Boyne. A section of the town wall (L 15m; T 0.8m; H c. 5m) with a section of a semi-circular bastion at its W end survives behind the houses on the S side of Abbey Road. The upper part of the wall and tower are probably reconstructed where they are not bonded, although they are bonded at the bottom. Other fragments could survive in the curving N property boundary of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic church. Archaeological testing (E002336) by S. Halliday of a broadband trench through the streets during 2006-7 identified (excavations.ie 2008:973) two N-S walls at the base of Timmon’s Lane, which run parallel with the River Boyne. One wall (Wth 2.4m plus; H 5m plus) consisted of large limestone blocks (max. dims 0.85m x 0.6m; T 0.5m) bonded with mortar. Other evidence of the town wall was recorded (E002905) by E. Corcoran (2007) at Kennedy Road (excavations.ie 2007:1352). The top of a wide ditch (Wth 6.5-6.65m) filled with greyish brown silty clays that had stones and redeposited natural appeared in three trenches on the line of the town wall as well as pits and other features cut into the natural which was close to the surface in one trench. The ditch could either be a defensive ditch or a robber trench to retrieve stones from the wall. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 10 July 2007 Revised: 29 March 2023 Bradley, J. and King, H. A. 1985 Urban archaeological survey – county Meath. Unpublished report commissioned by the OPW, Dublin Corcoran, E. 2007 Report on an Archaeological Assessment at Kennedy Road, Navan, Co. Meath. Licence: E002905. Unpublished report, Archaeological Development Services Ellison, C. C. 1963 Some aspects of Navan history. Ríocht na Mídhe, 3, 1, 33-56. Moore, J. H. 1893-5 Notes on the Town of Navan. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, vol. 123, 55-63; vol. 124, 47-53; vol. 125, 155-62.
ME025-044008 Bridge
Description
Although Navan was at a crucial confluence of the Boyne and the Cavan Blackwater rivers, there appears to have been no bridge across the Boyne at Navan for most of the middle ages. From the thirteenth century the Boyne could be crossed by Babe’s Bridge (ME025-017----) about 3km below the town and later by Kilcarn Bridge (ME025-039----) about 3km upstream from the mid-sixteenth century. The Pollboy Bridge crossed the Blackwater at Navan, perhaps from the foundation of the town as the barony of Navan, which is most of the large territory between Kells and Trim, also extends down the NW bank of the lower Boyne as far as Dunmoe. The name is derived from Poll Buí – Yellow hole (OS Name Book), but it is described as Swyne Bridge in the Civil Survey (1654-6) (Simington 1940, 222). There are no earlier references to the bridge but it is also depicted on the barony map of the Down Survey (1656-8) where it is described as Navan Bridge. However, the present structure is a seven arch stone bridge that was constructed c. 1740. (See: buildingsofireland.ie, accessed on 27/06/2022). The bridge has a level carriageway and seven arches with cut stone voussoirs. The triangular breakwaters upstream and the squared ones downstream are carried to the parapet to provide refuges for pedestrians. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 29 March 2023 Simington, R. C. 1940 The Civil Survey AD 1654-1656. vol. V, County of Meath. Dublin, Stationery Office
ME025-044009 Font (present location)
Description
The limestone font described by Dopping (1693) as being in St Mary’s abbey (ME025-024----) (Reynell 1888-91, 463) is now in St Mary’s Church of Ireland church in Navan. The font is octagonal (dims 0.6m x 0.6m; H 0.37m) with a circular basin (int. diam. 0.5m; D 0.18m) and shallow chamfered under-panels. The octagonal stem appears to be modern but the octagonal base (dims 0.6m x 0.6m; H 0.25m) is original (total H 1.13m). The font has two shields in relief, one with a cross that has the inscription IN HOC SIGNO VINCES 1716 crudely incised in a secondary fashion. The other has the Butler arms, and Roe (1968, 89-91) associates it with James, the 4th Earl of Ormonde, who joined a confraternity at St Mary’s in 1436. The cross (ME025-044010-) is in the graveyard. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of revision: 19 December, 2014

And 14 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 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 moderately high, moderately low. Parts of the land are made ground and water.
Terrain model: LiDAR of the Office of Public Works, flown in 2011, at 2 m: tile OPW_2703 (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.

Area: 158.9 ha; 393 acres
Land parcels: 838; registered freehold, median 244 m²
Zoning: R2; A1 - Existing Residential
Planning: 71; applications since 2010

Land parcels

Registered freehold land, Tailte Éireann

Blackcastle DemesneAthlumney Abbeyland Batterstown Windtown Ardmulchan Ferganstown and Ballymacon Dunmoe Proudstown Abbeyland South Blackcastle Clonmagaddan Simonstown Donaghmore

1,000 m

902 parcels are drawn. Click one to see it.© Tailte Éireann, CC BY 4.0

838 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Blackcastle Demesne, from 2 m² to 446,654 m² (44.67 ha, 110.37 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary. 64 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

R2A1 - Existing Residential (Existing residential)
Meath County Development Plan 2021-2027 (As Varied), Meath · 672 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
R1A2 - New Residential (New/proposed residential)
Meath County Development Plan 2021-2027 (As Varied), Meath · 103 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
M2C1 - Mixed Use (City/Town/village Centre, central area)
Meath County Development Plan 2021-2027 (As Varied), Meath · 42 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
P5RA - Rural Area (Mixed/general primary sector uses, including 'rural')
Meath County Development Plan 2021-2027 (As Varied), Meath · 38 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
G3H1 - High Amenity (Conservation, amenity or buffer space, corridor/belt, landscape)
Meath County Development Plan 2021-2027 (As Varied), Meath · 8 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
G1F1 - Open Space (Open space, park)
Meath County Development Plan 2021-2027 (As Varied), Meath · 5 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
N2.3TU - Transport and Utilities (Mixed/general water/wastewater uses)
Meath County Development Plan 2021-2027 (As Varied), Meath · 1 parcels The zoning objective in the plan

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

Planning applications

Sites that touch the townland, newest first

18 Aug 2026N/a
the development will consist of the construction of a new singe storey extension to side of existing dwelling 59.3sqm. Works include new extension comprising a bedroom and kitchen extension and all associated site works
Permission · Meath County Council, 2661040
24 Jul 2026Refused
the retention of 3 No. one bedroom, tourism short term stay units with entrance via walkway and steps and associated car parking. This application is for a temporary period of 5 years
Retention · Meath County Council, 2660936
22 Jul 2026Conditional
the development consists of retention permission for the partially complete construction of a replacement single storey dwelling & retention permission for a steel modular dwelling within the revised site boundary to this property. Permission is sought for the completion of the single storey replacement dwelling and all associated site works and services
Retention, 1 home · Meath County Council, 2660922
3 Jul 2026N/a
the development consists of retention permission for the partially complete construction of a replacement single storey dwelling & retention permission for a steel modular dwelling within the revised site boundary to this property. Permission is sought for the completion of the single storey replacement dwelling and all associated site works and services
Retention · Meath County Council, 2660832
18 Jun 2026Conditional
the development will consist of the construction of first floor extension above existing single storey element to the east of the existing dwelling, and all associated site works and landscaping
Permission · Meath County Council, 2660757
21 Feb 2026Conditional
attic conversion with roof windows to front and rear roof allow conversion as non habitable storage space all with associated ancillary works
Permission, 1 home · Meath County Council, 2660203
27 Oct 2025N/a
the development for permission will consist of: • Change of use of the entire ground floor of the property (Block A to street) and 2 no. existing storage units to the rear (Blocks B and C) to new hostel accommodation containing 30 no. bedspaces; • Allocation of 5 no. carparking spaces to the rear of the property consisting of 3no. for the hostel accommodation development and 2 no. spaces for the existing residential apartments to the first floor; • Provision of new windows / doors into existing openings including those subject to retention listed below to ground floor of Blocks A, B and C; • Infilling of 2 no. existing window openings to ground floor of Blocks A and C; • Provision of new windows / doors to Block C); • Provision of 10 no. bicycle parking spaces; • All associated internal, site, landscaping and drainage works. The development for retention consists of: • Retention of existing openings to the north (1 no. door) and south (3 no. windows) of the existing Block A to street; to the west of Block B (1no. window) and south (2no. windows); and to the south of Block C (1no. window);
Permission, 1 home · Meath County Council, 2561154
10 Oct 2025Refused
the retention of 3 No. one bedroom Pod living units with entrance through existing apartment block and associated car parking. This application is for a temporary period of 5 years
Retention · Meath County Council, 2561091
4 Sept 2025Conditional
planning permission for attic conversion with dormer to rear roof to accommodate stairs to allow access to attic conversion to create additional bed ensuite with roof windows to front all with associated ancillary works
Permission · Meath County Council, 2560938
7 Aug 2025Conditional
the development will consist of demolition of existing garage at rear, demolition of existing conservatory at front and side, and demolition of existing extension at rear. Also, to extend and renovate existing dwelling to incorporate new domestic garage, new extension to rear and front of dwelling and to reinstate existing domestic entrance. Also, to install proprietary waste water treatment system, percolation area, and all associated site works
Permission · Meath County Council, 25146
12 Jun 2025Unconditional
NA190100 - change of use of derelict dwelling house to three one bedroom apartments (one unit to each floor). Permission is also sought to demolish existing rear annex and construct a three storey extension to rear to accommodate access stairs to first and second floors, connect to public sewer, surface water and mains water together with all ancillary works on site
Extension of duration · Meath County Council, 25112
21 Mar 2025Conditional
The proposed works consist of: Widen existing entrance and driveway to facilitate additional vehicular parking on site, together with all associated siteworks.
Permission · Meath County Council, 2560284
21 Mar 2025Refused
the construction of 4 No. Apartments (3 No. two bed and 1 No. one bed), car parking, connection to existing services and all ancillary site development works
Permission · Meath County Council, 2549
7 Mar 2025N/a
the construction of 4 No. Apartments (3 No. two bed and 1 No. one bed), car parking, connection to existing services and all ancillary site development works
Permission · Meath County Council, 2542
27 Feb 2025N/a
The development will consist of: • Construction of a five storey over split level basement building, with top floor set-back, to provide 25no. short term tourist letting accommodation units consisting of 24no. 1 bedroom and 1no. 2 bedroom units); To include ESB substation, common room, reception and staff facilities at ground floor and common room, gym and plant room at fourth floor level; • To include external terraces at ground floor to the rear serving common room and accommodation units; external balconies at first, second and third floors to the front and rear serving accommodation units; external roof terraces at fourth floor serving common room and gym to the rear / side and serving accommodation units to the front / side at this level; • Split basement level to provide 18no. car spaces accessed through new opening from Distillery Quay apartments basement car park and using the existing ramped entrance off Mill Lane; To include bins store, plant room and 18no. secure bike spaces at basement level; • Externally, works will also include 3 no. on-site street level car parking spaces, 23no. bike spaces and external platform lift to front at street level; steps / footpaths to the front and side; in-ground car park natural ventilation grilles to the front, side and rear; • To include all associated site, landscaping, drainage works and ancillary works necessary to facilitate the development. A Natura Impact Statement (NIS) has been submitted to the planning authority with the application. The Natura Impact Statement will be available for inspection or purchase at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy during office hours at the offices of the Local Authority.
Permission · Meath County Council, 2560189
21 Feb 2025N/a
The development will consist of: • Construction of a five storey over split level basement building, with top floor set-back, to provide 25no. short term tourist letting accommodation units consisting of 24no. 1 bedroom and 1no. 2 bedroom units); To include ESB substation, common room, reception and staff facilities at ground floor and common room, gym and plant room at fourth floor level; • To include external terraces at ground floor to the rear serving common room and accommodation units; external balconies at first, second and third floors to the front and rear serving accommodation units; external roof terraces at fourth floor serving common room and gym to the rear / side and serving accommodation units to the front / side at this level; • Split basement level to provide 18no. car spaces accessed through new opening from Distillery Quay apartments basement car park and using the existing ramped entrance off Mill Lane; To include bins store, plant room and 18no. secure bike spaces at basement level; • Externally, works will also include 3 no. on-site street level car parking spaces, 23no. bike spaces and external platform lift to front at street level; steps / footpaths to the front and side; in-ground car park natural ventilation grilles to the front, side and rear; • To include all associated site, landscaping, drainage works and ancillary works necessary to facilitate the development.
Permission, 1 home · Meath County Council, 2560168
31 Jan 2025N/a
the construction of 4 No. Apartments (3 No. two bed and 1 No. one bed), car parking, connection to existing services and all ancillary site development works
Permission · Meath County Council, 2518
7 May 2024Conditional
the development will consist of converting an existing vacant unit into a 2-bed apt and with all ancillary site works
Permission · Meath County Council, 2460308
22 Apr 2024N/a
the development will consist of converting an existing vacant unit into a 2-bed apt and with all ancillary site works
Permission · Meath County Council, 2460274
23 Feb 2024N/a
the retention of 2 no. one bedroom pod living units with entrance through existing apartment block and associated car parking. This application is for a temporary period of 5 years
Retention, 1 home · Meath County Council, 2472
9 Feb 2024Conditional
planning permission to demolish existing detached domestic garage, to construct two storey side extension to dwelling including attached domestic garage, including all ancillary site works
Permission · Meath County Council, 2446
10 Nov 2023Refused
the development consist of 4 no. additional dwelling units to previously approved development to rear of site (previous planning ref. no. NA190100), being 2no. ground floor one bedroomed apartments, & 2no. two bedroomed duplex townhouses above, in 1no. three storey building, total 7no. units proposed to entire site. Landscaping & boundary treatment, pathways, car parking, & ancillary site services. The above proposed works will be carried out to and within the curtilage of a protected structure ref. no. NT025-101. Significant further information/revised plans submitted on this application
Permission, 4 homes · Meath County Council, 231046
3 Oct 2023Conditional
the upgrading of Condition No. 2 of NT/50045 by increasing child numbers from 38 to 51 to existing creche and childcare facility including the retention of car parking
Permission · Meath County Council, 23942
8 Sept 2023N/a
the upgrading of Condition No. 2 of NT/50045 by increasing child numbers from 38 to 51 to existing creche and childcare facility
Permission · Meath County Council, 23874
21 Jul 2023Conditional
the retention of storage shed and gym
Retention · Meath County Council, 23736

The 25 most recent of 71 applications.

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

Special Area of Conservation: River Boyne and River Blackwater SAC 002299
Special Protection Area: River Boyne and River Blackwater SPA 004232

Recorded monuments

ME025-044008 Bridge
Description
Although Navan was at a crucial confluence of the Boyne and the Cavan Blackwater rivers, there appears to have been no bridge across the Boyne at Navan for most of the middle ages. From the thirteenth century the Boyne could be crossed by Babe’s Bridge (ME025-017----) about 3km below the town and later by Kilcarn Bridge (ME025-039----) about 3km upstream from the mid-sixteenth century. The Pollboy Bridge crossed the Blackwater at Navan, perhaps from the foundation of the town as the barony of Navan, which is most of the large territory between Kells and Trim, also extends down the NW bank of the lower Boyne as far as Dunmoe. The name is derived from Poll Buí – Yellow hole (OS Name Book), but it is described as Swyne Bridge in the Civil Survey (1654-6) (Simington 1940, 222). There are no earlier references to the bridge but it is also depicted on the barony map of the Down Survey (1656-8) where it is described as Navan Bridge. However, the present structure is a seven arch stone bridge that was constructed c. 1740. (See: buildingsofireland.ie, accessed on 27/06/2022). The bridge has a level carriageway and seven arches with cut stone voussoirs. The triangular breakwaters upstream and the squared ones downstream are carried to the parapet to provide refuges for pedestrians. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 29 March 2023 Simington, R. C. 1940 The Civil Survey AD 1654-1656. vol. V, County of Meath. Dublin, Stationery Office
ME025-044015 Burnt mound
Description
Situated on the N bank of a NW-SE section of the Cavan River Blackwater. Archaeological testing (98E0463) by N. Brady on the S bank of the river uncovered fragments of post-medieval buildings dated by a collection of potsherds, three copper coins and fragment of an inscribed finger-ring dating to the early to mid-seventeenth century for the structures (excavations.ie 1998:498). A deposit beneath the structures yielded a patch of burning with ceramics of a fifteenth century character including a line-impressed floor tile, probably from the adjacent site of St Mary’s abbey (ME025-024----). The post-medieval structures pre-dated the establishment of a cavalry barracks c. 1700. On the N bank of the river and just W of a mill known as Elliot’s Mill a burnt mound was identified in an archaeological section. It consisted of a band (L 4.75m; max. H 0.9m) of broken and burnt stones with grey sand and charcoal interwoven with three lenses of white ash. The layers were set in a natural grey mud with boulders and lay immediately below topsoil with modern debris. It is preserved in situ. (Brady 1999, 44-7) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 29 March 2023 Brady, N. 1999 Archaeological Excavation at Abbeyland South, Archaeological recording at Blackcaslte Demesne, Navan Inner Relief Road. Phase 2A. Licence: 98E0463. Unpublished report, Valerie J. Keeley Archaeological Consultancy.
ME025-044018 Kiln - corn-drying
Description
Situated on the N bank of a NW-SE section of the River Blackwater. Archaeological testing (98E0590) by N. Brady on the N bank of the river identified a corn-drying kiln that was completely excavated by the same archaeologist under the same licence (excavations.ie 1998: 499). A stone-built bowl and a stone-lined flue were cut into boulder clay. It was straddling the townland boundary on the line of the N51 Navan Inner Relief Road.
ME025-048 Flat cemetery
Description
Located on a gentle a SE-facing slope and just above the steep slope down (H c. 10m) to the valley of a SSW-NNE portion of the River Boyne. Its precise location is not known but ploughing in 1990 revealed the capstone of a possible cist which was reported to the National Museum of Ireland. An exploratory excavation (90E0017) by H. Roche for the Museum in 1990 revealed a cemetery (excavationis.ie 1990: 090) which it was not possible for that archaeologist to excavate fully until 1994 under the same licence (excavations.ie 1994:189). The cemetery consists of eight stone cists and two pit burials but there was no evidence of a covering mound. The numbering of features in excavations.ie is not consistent with that in the full report (Roche 1994) which is followed here. Cist 1 (dims 1.35m E-W; 0.75m N-S; D 0.5m) contained the remains of a child in a crouched position with the head at E but with no grave goods. Cist 2 (dims 1.3m x 1m; D 0.45m) had six side-stones but the capstone was missing and it contained the remains of an adult in a crouched position and the base of a poorly preserved pot. Cist 3 (dims 0.76m N-S; 0.57m E-W; D 0.3m) contained the crouched inhumation of a juvenile facing E but with no grave-goods. Cist 4 (dims 0.82m x 0.71m; D 0.52m) had only three side-stones and contained some bones but no grave-goods. Cist 5 was a large cist (dims 1.6m x 1m; D 0.5m) with a large capstone (dims 1.65m x 1.6m; T 0.25m). It had been disturbed by a borrowing animal but held the disarticulated remains of an adult together with a Food Vessel sherd, a worked flint and a polished stone. Cist 6 had been exposed in 1990 but it and the remainder of the features were excavated in 1994. Cist 6 (dims 0.68m x 0.51m; D 0.38m) had no capstone but it contained a substantial cremated deposit. There were no grave-goods but fragments of unburned human bone were found outside it. Cist 7 was a subcircular pit (dims 0.88m x 0.67m; max. D 0.62m) with some side-stones that was covered by a large hog-backed stone (dims 1.15m x 0.76m; H 0.58m). It contained neither a burial nor grave-goods although it had been disturbed and might not constitute a true cist. Cist 8 (dims 0.93m x 0.58m; max. D 0.22m) was constructed of small stones but had also been disturbed and lacked a capstone. It contained a large cremation deposit that had the poorly preserved remains of a tripartite bowl food vessel on top of it and a cremated boar’s tusk and a chert fragment within it. Pit-burial 1 (dims 0.66m x 0.48m; D 0.17m) had small stones lining its base and a poorly preserved food vessel was with the cremation, but only the edge of Pit-burial 2 was within the excavated area. (Roche 1994) See the attached site plan from Roche (1994, fig. 2) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 30 March 2023 Roche, H. 1994 Early Bronze Age Cemetery at Donaghmore, County Meath. Licence: 90E0017. Unpublished report, Author
ME025-061 Excavation - miscellaneous
Description
Situated on a gentle SE-facing slope and just above the crest of a steeper slope down (H c. 12m) to a SW-NE section of the River Boyne, which is c. 100m distant. Works had already started at this S end of the pipe-laying for the Clonmagadden Water Scheme (L c. 2.5km) in June – July 2001, before archaeological monitoring (01E0534) was provided by C. Mullins (2002). The route ran mostly through greenfield areas but a number of features had already been exposed at its S end in Blackcastle in making an access road to a pumping station. An oval pit (dims 1.2m x 0.7m; D 0.1-0.15m) that was filled with oxidized soils had already been truncated and the remains were excavated. Three other similar features were noted within 100m that had been cut by the pipe but other similar features are probably in the surrounding land. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 31 March 2023 Mullins, C. 2002 Monitoring Report of the Clonmagadden Sewerage Extension Scheme. Licence: 01E0534. Unpublished report, Byrne, Mullins & Associates
ME025-074 Enclosure
Description
Situated on a slight rise on a gentle N and E-facing slope. The cropmark of a circular feature (diam. c. 35m) defined by a single fosse is visible on Apple Maps which utilises a survey by Bluesky International conducted during July 2018. The ring-ditch (ME025—075----) is c. 100m to the E. It is also faintly visible on Google Earth (12/07/2013) and was first reported by Ros Ó Maoldúin. See the attached view from Apple Maps Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 9 September 2020
ME025-075 Ring-ditch
Description
Situated at the E edge of a plateau that slopes down gently from the W and at the crest of a steep slope down to a S-N section of the River Boyne, which is c. 125m to the E and c. 15m lower. The cropmark of a small enclosure (int. diam. c. 13m) defined by a single fosse (Wth c. 1-2m) with an entrance (Wth c. 2m) at SW is visible on Apple Maps which utilises a survey conducted by Bluesky International during July 2018. Enclosure (ME025-074----) is c. 100m to the W and the flat cemetery (ME025-048----) is in the vicinity. It was first reported by Ros Ó Maoldúin. See the attached view from Apple Maps Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload; 9 September 2020

Architectural heritage

Pollboy Bridge, bridge, 1720–1760 · Regional interest
Description
Seven arch roughly dressed stone bridge, c.1740, over the Blackwater River. Flattened cutwaters down-stream and 'V' cutwaters up-stream which carry up into the parapet walls to provide refuges of similar profile. Round arches with dressed stone voussoirs and centring stones through vault, ashlar voussoirs to downstream elevation.
Mill (water), 1845–1855 · Regional interest
Description
Ruins of detached seven-bay three-storey mill building, with 1853 date plaque, and retaining cast-iron wheel. Destroyed by fire c.1995. Various concrete and corrugated sheeted extensions added between c.1920 and 1980, which are still part occupied. Double-pitched roofs, natural slate and corrugated fibre cement with Perspex roof lights. Coursed rubble limestone walls, concrete blockwork, corrugated iron, inscription on date stone difficult to read - "..Morgan...April 1853". Brick dressings in original mill - all glazing and window joinery destroyed.
Mill (water), 1800–1840 · Regional interest
Description
Detached L-plan three-storey water mill, c.1820, with remains of sluice and cast-iron mill wheel. Double-pitched and hipped roof, natural slates and corrugated iron sheeting. Projecting eaves course, brick chimney. Exposed coursed rubble limestone walls. Ashlar limestone surrounds to two segmental-headed large door opes - both blocked up, segmental-headed window opes - river front with timber fixed lights. Projecting rubble stone wall and west end with brick segment arch to opening with wheels of cast-iron mill wheel within.
House, 1780–1820 · Regional interest
Description
Corner-sited detached three-bay two-storey over basement house, c.1800, with round-headed rusticated stone doorcase. Openings refitted and cantilevered outshoot toilet added to side. Now in use as flats. Double-pitched roof, rendered stacks, fibre cement slates, uPVC gutters, deal fascia. Nap rendered and painted façade, rough dash rendered sides and rear, rounded arris at corner of Mill Lane. Concrete cills, ground floor window opes possibly enlarged, patent reveals, deal casement windows, round-headed Gibbsian stone doorcase with carved architrave, sheet glass fanlight and replacement door.
Blackcastle House, gates/railings/walls, 1840–1870 · Regional interest
Description
Pair of ashlar limestone gate piers, c.1850, with coping stones and cast-iron gates double gates. Accesses Blackcastle Estate. Boundary wall adjoining of coursed rubble stone with inset timber matchboard gate with ashlar reveals and lintels.
Flower Hill National School, school, 1885–1890 · Regional interest
Description
Detached five-bay single-storey former national school, built 1887, with brick dressings, decorative timber barge boards, pointed window openings, leaded lights and entrance porch. Now in use as women's refuge. Double-pitched roof, red brick chimney stacks, natural slates, cast-iron ogee gutters, decorative clay ridge tiles, decorative timber barge boards. Rusticated snecked limestone with brick dressings including quoins, eaves course and hooded window surrounds, inscribed granite date stone. Pointed window openings, leaded windows with coloured glass. Cast-iron railings, on low snecked limestone wall to frontage.
House, 1810–1840 · Regional interest
Description
End-of-terrace three-bay three-storey house, c.1820, with round-headed stone doorcase. Double-pitched roof, artificial slates, uPVC gutters, cast-iron downpipe, rendered chimney stacks. Rendered ruled and lined walls, exposed rubble stone work with brick dressings to window openings - rear. Painted stone cills, single pane deal sash windows, round-headed door opening with carved stone doorcase consisting of archivolt, keystone, lintel, fluted blocks and architrave, sheet glass fanlight, modern hardwood panelled door.
House, 1820–1850 · Regional interest
Description
End-of-terrace three-bay two-storey house, c.1830, with four-bay single-storey rear extension. Refurbished c.1880. Monumental masons yard at rear. Double-pitched roof, Tegral slates, brick chimney stacks, deal fascia, corrugated iron - rear extension. Rendered ruled and lined walls, painted, rough cast rendered to rear, raised quoins. Painted stone cills, iron cill guard, single pane deal sash windows, square-headed door opening with overlight and 1880's panelled door with 1880's cast-iron door furniture. Enclosed yard at rear, corrugated iron workshop to rear of yard.
Blackcastle House, house, 1820–1830 · Regional interest
Description
Detached six-bay two-storey house, built 1828, with Greek Doric portico. Breakfront to river elevation. Rear wings possibly earlier. Burnt 1987. Now derelict. Formerly hipped and double-pitched roof with stone eaves entablature with date plinth block, corniced ashlar chimneys with clayware pots. Rendered ruled and lined walls with brick and dressed squared uncoursed rubble stone structure. Large window openings with stone cills.

Ground and risks

Radon, landslides, flooding

Radon: At the centre of the townland of Blackcastle Demesne, 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 moderately high, moderately low, low, partly inferred. Parts of the land are made ground and water.
Terrain model: LiDAR of the Office of Public Works, flown in 2011, at 2 m: tile OPW_2742 (ZIP).
Flooding: The Office of Public Works publishes its flood maps on floodinfo.ie.

Homes sold

Property Price Register

Blackcastle Demesne, Slane Road20 sales
Blackcastle Demesne, Navan13 sales

The townland

Name: Blackcastle Demesne · An Caisleán Dubh
Area: 1,588,802 m² (158.88 ha, 392.6 acres)
Civil parish: Donaghmore, and its townlands
Barony: Navan Lower
Electoral division: Navan Rural, the unit of the census
Census 2022: 31,940 people lived in 10,373 households in the Navan Rural electoral division. 70% of households owned their home. 48% of homes were built since 2001. 4% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 0% were holiday homes.
Neighbouring townlands: Abbeyland, Abbeyland South, Ardmulchan, Athlumney, Blackcastle, Donaghmore, Dunmoe, Ferganstown and Ballymacon, Townparks
Placenames: Blackcastle Demesne on logainm.ie, the Placenames Database of Ireland

Townlands, civil parishes, baronies and electoral divisions, National Statutory Boundaries, Tailte Éireann, CC BY 4.0. Census 2022, Small Area Population Statistics by electoral division, Central Statistics Office, CC BY 4.0. A townland is the smallest land division of Ireland, and the unit of a rural address. Old registers such as the 1901 and 1911 censuses file it under its civil parish and barony.