Ballytoohy More

9 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Ballytoohy More, from 3,112 m² (0.31 ha, 0.77 acres) to 956,815 m² (95.68 ha, 236.43 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary. 4 neighbouring parcels touch it.

Download the townland as DXF, in Irish Transverse Mercator metres, with its boundary, parcels and buildings, or as GeoJSON or KML.

No zone of a development plan covers Ballytoohy More 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.

• 8 Sept 2025N/a

  retention and change of use of lighthouse to guest accommodation, the retention of 2 no. extensions to main residence, the retention and change of use of outbuildings to guest accommodation and the retention and connection of old septic tank to existing effluent treatment unit, together with all ancillary site works and services

  Retention · Mayo County Council, 25377

• 13 Dec 2023Conditional

  Change of use of an existing shed to a single dwelling with an artists studio together with an on site waste treatment unit

  Permission, 1 home · Mayo County Council, 23661

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: Clare Island Cliffs SAC 002243
• Special Protection Area: Clare Island SPA 004136
• Proposed Natural Heritage Area: Clare Island 000477

Recorded monuments

• MA075-005001 Promontory fort - coastal
  Description

  Situated on the N-eastern cliff-bound coast of the island 620m SE of the lighthouse. ‘Doonallia’ is one of three sea stacks and numerous detached rocks that lie close to the outfall of a small stream. However, it differs from the others in that it is still connected to the land by a narrow grassy saddle that incorporates a massive chunk of rock. A very narrow and precipitous path descends from the landward side to this saddle, beyond which a very steep grassy slope ascends to the summit of the promontory, which is over 10m high. A possible promontory fort (MA075-006----) lies c. 50m to SE. The promontory fort is named as ‘Doonallia Isd.’ in Roman script on first edition of Ordnance Survey map (1840): the name is noted by Mac Neill (1913, no. 42, 18) and by Ó Muraíle (1999, 109, 112, 117). The saddle connecting the promontory fort to the mainland is much eroded since Westropp’s time. In his latest account of the site (1914, 325), he described it as a ‘lofty causeway of earth and stones, faced to either side with drystone work, 6 feet [1.8m] wide and often 12 feet high [3.65m]’. Only portions of it now survive, the rest having been eroded into the boulder beach. Nevertheless, it remains as a dry neck of ground even at the spring tides. The summit is of irregular plan and slopes steadily from S to N (NNE–SSW c. 43m): the third edition of Ordnance Survey map (1920) gives its acreage as ‘3 R[oods and] 8 P[erches]’. It varies in width from c. 26m at south-south-western end to c. 6m at the north-north-eastern, narrowing to c. 5m at one point between. The ground is generally level and grassy underfoot (and overgrown with ferns in summer), save for the undulations of the four associated houses (MA075-005002-, MA075-005003-, MA075-005004-, MA075-005005-). Apart from two small isolated grassy tufts (H 0.65m max.) at the extreme south-western (highest) end of the summit, no trace of any enclosing banks survive. The latter are now perched, c. 2m apart, right on the cliff edge and follow an ESE–WNW axis. There is also a possible fragment of bank (L c. 2m, Wth c. 1.2m, H 0.3m) along the western perimeter immediately WNW of one of the houses. These are all that remain of the ‘slight bank of earth and stones round the landward edge’ mentioned by Westropp in 1911 (1911, 21) and described in more detail by him in 1914 (p. 325). See also Casey (1999, 119, Mayo 19); Westropp (1911a passim). The above description is derived from: New Survey of Clare Island. Volume 5: Archaeology. Edited by Paul Gosling, Conleth Manning and John Waddell. (Royal Irish Academy, Dublin. 2007). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Date of upload: 29 November 2018

• MA075-005002 House - indeterminate date
  Description

  Situated within ‘Doonallia’ promontory fort (MA075-005001-): it lies on the landward side at the narrow northern end of the platform, some 19m NNE and downslope from the other huts (MA075-005003-, MA075-005004-, MA075-005005). The house site comprises a small, well-defined subcircular enclosure (NNE–SSW 4.85m, WNW–ESE >3.5m) that sits right on the platform edge. Part of its western side has been eroded away, so what is visible is a roughly U-shaped grassy bank that is fern-clad in summer. The bank survives from N through E and S to WSW and is remarkably regular in profile, being up to 0.65m above the exterior at NE and 0.7m above the interior at S. The interior itself is flat and grassy. No definite trace of an entrance survives: a narrow gap (Wth 0.5m) at ESE is probably the result of trampling. Nothing of note was visible in the section face along the cliff edge at time of visit. This is labelled by Westropp (1911a, 21) as ‘the eastern hut’ (see also Westropp 1914, 325). The above description is derived from: New Survey of Clare Island. Volume 5: Archaeology. Edited by Paul Gosling, Conleth Manning and John Waddell. (Royal Irish Academy, Dublin. 2007). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Date of upload: 29 November 2018

• MA075-005003 Hut site
  Description

  Situated within ‘Doonallia’ promontory fort (MA075-005001-): the most elevated and southerly of the cluster of three houses (MA075-005003-, MA075-005004-, MA075-005005-) located on the landward side at the higher, southern end of the platform. The site comprises a subcircular area (NE–SW 4.3m, NW–SE 4.9m) defined by a fairly well-preserved grassy bank that is mantled in ferns and bluebells in summer. The bank is intact from NW through N to ENE and from E through S to SW. It stands to a maximum height of 0.45m externally at NE and 0.65m internally at S. However, most of the bank has been eroded away from SW through W to NW, where it runs along the platform edge. A number of stones are visible in the exposed section face, but no stratigraphy is evident. A gap (Wth 1.4m) at E, which undoubtedly marks the original entrance, gives access to the interior that is flat and grassy. Westropp (1911a, 21 and 1914, 325) notes only two ‘huts’ in the interior of this fort: these are shown on a sketch of the site made by him c. 1909–10 (Westropp 1911b, 281). ‘The ‘larger hut’ and ‘a larger and more injured site’ he refers to would appear to be this and the two houses MA075-005004-, MA075-005005. The above description is derived from: New Survey of Clare Island. Volume 5: Archaeology. Edited by Paul Gosling, Conleth Manning and John Waddell. (Royal Irish Academy, Dublin. 2007). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Date of upload: 29 November 2018

• MA075-005004 House - indeterminate date
  Description

  Situated within ‘Doonallia’ promontory fort (MA075-005001-), the most northerly of the cluster of three houses (MA075-005003-, MA075-005004-, MA075-005005-) located on the landward side at the higher, southern end of the platform. The site is only 1m NNE of the edge of MA075-005003- and slightly downslope from it. It comprises a substantial but poorly defined house of roughly subrectangular plan (NE–SW 5.5m, NW–SE 4.95m). In general terms, it is defined by a substantial grassy scarp or bank, covered with ferns in summer. There is a wide gap (Wth c. 2m) in the bank from NE to SE with a small tuft/hummock at its centre. From SE to SSE the bank also defines the adjoining house to E (MA075-005005), while from SSE through S to SW it takes the form of an inward scarp up to 1.8m high above the interior. From SW to NW it takes the form of a diminutive bank, before increasing in size from N to NE (H 0.65m internally) where it runs along the cliff edge for a short distance. The interior presents a dished appearance, save for a low enigmatic grassy ridge (L c. 2.4m × Wth 0.8m × H c. 0.2m) that follows an E–W axis across its northern half. The above description is derived from: New Survey of Clare Island. Volume 5: Archaeology. Edited by Paul Gosling, Conleth Manning and John Waddell. (Royal Irish Academy, Dublin. 2007). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Date of upload: 29 November 2018

• MA075-005005 House - indeterminate date
  Description

  Situated within ‘Doonallia’ promontory fort (MA075-005001-), the most easterly of the cluster of three houses (MA075-005003-, MA075-005004-, MA075-005005-) situated on the landward side at the higher, southern end of the platform. It is situated immediately to NE and slightly downslope from MA075-005003-. The site comprises a substantial but irregularly defined house of roughly rectangular plan (NNW–SSE c. 4.8m, ENE–WSW c. 5m). It is delimited by a grassy bank of varying width and height. In width, it varies from a narrow bank (Wth 1m) along S to a wide degraded one (Wth 2.5m) at NE. In height too, it varies from a low regular, rounded profile along S side (H 0.35m) to a high but irregular one (H 0.8m internally) along E. A shallow grassed-over pit has been dug into the line of the bank at the south-eastern corner (dia. c. 1.1m, D. 0.15m). A gap in the bank (Wth 1m) about midway along the eastern side probably marks the original entrance. The interior is flat but marshy underfoot and is thronged with rushes. Despite the proximity of the three houses and the ‘sharing’ of a portion of bank between MA075-005004- and the site, their sequence of construction is unclear from surface features alone. The above description is derived from: New Survey of Clare Island. Volume 5: Archaeology. Edited by Paul Gosling, Conleth Manning and John Waddell. (Royal Irish Academy, Dublin. 2007). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Date of upload: 29 November 2018

• MA075-026 Standing stone
  Description

  The monument is situated on a terrace on a generally E-facing slope that overlooks the small valley that opens out on the seashore at Portlea (known locally as ‘Portle’). It stands immediately inside the roadside wall on the western side of the Lighthouse Road and is only 75m from southern boundary of the townland. The surrounding field surface is uneven pasture with clear traces of former cultivation ridges, although the site of the stone itself is fairly level and up to 1m above the adjoining road. Description: It comprises a squat, rectangular block of unhewn conglomerate-like rock (L 1m × Wth 0.7m × H 1.35m max. on its north-western side), its long axis running NNE–SSW. The whole surface, including its roughly flat top, is purplish in colour and speckled with lichens. It does not appear to be deeply bedded in the ground as small exposures of bedrock are visible in the field surface immediately to NW and N. Two other amorphous blocks of similar rock type lie on the roadside verge c. 10–20m to SE, but neither are purposely set. Despite Westropp’s clear description of its location (1911a, 16–17, 19), this standing stone has been recurrently misplaced on the Ordnance Survey maps (see MA085-152----1). The above description is derived from: New Survey of Clare Island. Volume 5: Archaeology. Edited by Paul Gosling, Conleth Manning and John Waddell. (Royal Irish Academy, Dublin. 2007). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Date of upload: 29 November 2018

• MA075-030 Fulacht fia
  Description

  Situated on the southern side of a short, broad, flat- bottomed valley that lies to W of the island’s North Road. The fulacht fia is situated on the southern bank of a small shallow stream that drains towards E. The remains of a possible house (MA075-035----) lie 28.5m to E, also on the stream bank. The southern bank of the stream is defined by an old boundary running E–W, composed of earth and large boulders. This boundary appears to have been deliberately located to channel the stream and may well be partly composed from upcast from it. The boundary is heavily degraded and has been broken through in many places. At a point 65m upstream from the road, a shallow sheep-rubbing in the northern face of the boundary has revealed a mass (NE–SW 1m, T 0.25m) of small heat-fractured stones, along with occasional traces of charcoal. It is unclear whether this deposit is in a secondary or primary position, but the boundary at this point is wider and higher than normal (Wth 2.1m × H 1m). Apart from the latter, no visible surface traces survive. The above description is derived from: New Survey of Clare Island. Volume 5: Archaeology. Edited by Paul Gosling, Conleth Manning and John Waddell. (Royal Irish Academy, Dublin. 2007). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Date of upload: 29 November 2018

• MA075-031 Enclosure
  Description

  Situated on SSW-facing slope overlooking the narrow but flat-bottomed valley that opens out to SE onto the boulder beach at Portly (‘Portlea’ on Ordnance Survey maps). Lassau Wood mantles the opposite slopes of the valley. Plentiful traces of cultivation ridges are visible in the vicinity and an old trackway, running NW from Portly passes within 14m of the monument on its upslope (northern) side. The enclosure consists of a small, roughly circular enclosure (NNW–SSE 11.6m, ENE–WSW 11.3m), in poor condition, which sits on a slight break of slope. It is defined by a broad but poorly defined earth and stone bank that is up to 0.9m high externally at S. This bank has been heavily degraded by later cultivation ridges. From E to SSE much of the bank has been removed, and a number of boulders, a well-defined cultivation ridge and a meandering plot boundary partially occupy its line. No trace of a fosse is visible, even on the upslope (northern) side, nor is there any indication of an entrance, although there are modern gaps in the bank at W, NNW and NE. The interior is mantled in bracken but also displays traces of a number of cultivation ridges running on a NNE–SSW axis. Although tentatively classified here as an enclosure, this monument could also, given its diameter, be read as the remains of a large house site. The above description is derived from: New Survey of Clare Island. Volume 5: Archaeology. Edited by Paul Gosling, Conleth Manning and John Waddell. (Royal Irish Academy, Dublin. 2007). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Date of upload: 29 November 2018

• MA075-032 Enclosure
  Description

  Situated on a SSE-facing slope only 5m from the cliff edge on eastern coast of the island. The enclosure sits on a fairly level patch of open heath immediately S of a sharp but natural break of slope that is strewn with small boulders. There are traces of ridge and spade cultivation ridges with associated boundaries to S and W. In the immediate vicinity of the monument these follow a ESE–WNW axis and actually tangentially abut the outer face of the enclosure along its southern side. The enclosure is poorly preserved, roughly oval in plan (NE–SW c. 16.8m, NW–SE 14.3m). It is defined by an earth and stone bank, partially overgrown with heather, which is best preserved from WNW to N where it is to 0.9m high internally. Even here, however, its top is much denuded and uneven. Elsewhere, the bank is only poorly preserved and is much degraded, particularly from SW to W, where it is much broken down and possibly partly overlain by the cultivation ridges. Also, from NE to ENE only a jumble of boulders serve to indicate its line. A few well-set slabs in this area may represent the vestiges of an external revetment. There is also a well-set slab on the line of the bank at W, whose long axis is at right angles to the bank. No trace of a fosse is visible nor is there any definite entrance feature. However, there are notable gaps in the bank at NNE, E and W. The interior, mantled by bracken and willow saplings, slopes slightly from W to E. It is very uneven underfoot and a number of large boulders mantled in moss and heather dot its surface. The above description is derived from: New Survey of Clare Island. Volume 5: Archaeology. Edited by Paul Gosling, Conleth Manning and John Waddell. (Royal Irish Academy, Dublin. 2007). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Date of upload: 29 November 2018

• MA075-033 Fulacht fia
  Description

  Situated on the southern bank of a small stream close to the sea cliffs on the north-eastern coast. The fulacht fia lies 150m WSW of ‘Doonallia Fort’ (MA075-005001-) but is not visible from it. Overlooked by higher ground to N on the opposite bank of the stream, the site is situated at the north-eastern foot of a small natural rise in which natural rock is exposed. What is visible is a steep-sided but natural-looking grassy mound (NW mound), mantled in bracken in summer. It measures WNW–ESE c. 3m, NNE–SSW 2.1m and is up to 0.8m in height on NNE side. At its WNW end, in a small patch of disturbed soil, small heat-fractured stones and traces of charcoal are exposed. A number of rounded boulders also protruded from the base of the mound in this area. There are also some traces of burnt stone exposed on a tiny hummock 1.7m to SW of these boulders. Immediately SE of this mound is another of similar character (SE mound). Although larger (NNE–SSW c. 5.5m, WNW–ESE c.4.1m), it is less well defined, fading into the base of the natural rise to W and SW: rock outcrop is exposed here. It is nevertheless up to 1.1m in height along NE side and is well defined from N through E to SSE. A number of small boulders protrude from its base at NNW where it almost touches the north- western mound. While these two mounds do not form any obvious crescent-shape or U-shape in plan, there is an irregularly shaped hollow area between them that opens towards the stream to N. This hollow is flanked on S side by natural rock (H 0.5m) exposed in the face of the natural rise. Edited by Paul Gosling, Conleth Manning and John Waddell. (Royal Irish Academy, Dublin. 2007). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Date of upload: 12 September 2018

• MA075-034 Mass-rock
  Description

  Situated on the summit of a prominent E– W running ridge that decreases in height a series of steps from W to E. While southern flanks of the ridge are of modest proportions, its northern sides are almost vertical in places. The site affords wide views along the eastern coastlands of the island, including clear views of a number of stretches of the Lighthouse Road near Maum and close to the Lighthouse itself. According to Michael Joe O’Malley (RIP) an outcrop of rock on the ridge summit is known as ‘the mass rock’ (Ciara Cullen, pers. comm.). When viewed from S, this outcrop has a table-like appearance, but when viewed from N it blends into the ridge slope that drops away steeply. It is flanked on S by a small but noticeably flat, grassy area. The outcrop itself measures c. 6m on its long axis, which runs E–W and is c. 1.3m wide and c. 1.1m high. Although no traces of any carvings are present, the surface of the outcrop is pitted with erosion lines, some of which do meet at right angles to produce natural cross-like patterns. The above description is derived from: New Survey of Clare Island. Volume 5: Archaeology. Edited by Paul Gosling, Conleth Manning and John Waddell. (Royal Irish Academy, Dublin. 2007). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Date of upload: 4 December 2018

• MA075-035 House - indeterminate date
  Description

  Situated on southern bank of a small stream. The monument lies close to the foot of slope on the southern side of a short but broad, flat-bottomed valley that drains towards E. The island’s North Road (from the harbour to the lighthouse) crosses the valley 37m further downslope to E. A fulacht fia (MA075-030----) lies 28.5m to W. What is visible is a partially sunken area, subrectangular in plan (5m NNE–SSW, c. 5.9m ESE–WNW) that is open towards E. Its southern, western and northern sides are formed by a steep well-defined scarp, only 0.5–0.8m high above the interior along the southern and western sides but up to 2.4m high at one point on its northern side. Its height here is probably supplemented by the presence of an earthen bank that runs along the southern side of the adjacent stream. Little or no trace of its limits are discernible on the eastern (downslope) side, save at SE angle. In fact, there is a wide gap (Wth 2.5m) here in which a number of large boulders lie. A small natural channel, which drains the interior, also exits at this point. Possible traces of a rough boulder revetment to the scarp (H 0.5m) are visible along the western side and at the south-western corner. Save for a few tufts of heather, the ‘floor ’ of the interior is fairly level and measures 3.6m internally on NNE–SSW axis. While the above remains could be read as those of a small quarry pit, its siting and regular shape suggest that it is more likely to be a dwelling space or shelter. The above description is derived from: New Survey of Clare Island. Volume 5: Archaeology. Edited by Paul Gosling, Conleth Manning and John Waddell. (Royal Irish Academy, Dublin. 2007). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Date of upload: 29 November 2018

Architectural heritage

• Clare Island Lighthouse, lighthouse, 1815–1820 · Regional interest
  Description

  Freestanding single-bay two-stage lighthouse, built 1818; extant 1838, on a circular plan. "Restored", 1909. Decommissioned, 1965. Sold, 2008, to accommodate continued private residential use. Now disused. Limewashed granite ashlar battered walls on cut-granite chamfered plinth with cantilevered walkway on cut-granite thumbnail beaded corbels supporting cast-iron "Serpentine" railings centred on lantern on granite ashlar base. Square-headed window openings with cut-granite sills, and cut-granite lintels framing timber casement windows. Set in own grounds with repointed piers to perimeter having shallow pyramidal capping supporting looped wrought iron double gates.

Designated sites: National Parks and Wildlife Service. Recorded monuments: Sites and Monuments Record, National Monuments Service. Buildings: National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Works at or in relation to a recorded monument need two months' written notice to the National Monuments Service (National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994, section 12).

Radon

At the centre of the townland of Ballytoohy More, 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 high, moderately high, moderately low, low, partly inferred.

Terrain model

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

Flooding

The Office of Public Works publishes its flood maps on floodinfo.ie.

Radon Risk Map of Ireland, Environmental Protection Agency, and Landslide Susceptibility Classification, Geological Survey Ireland, both under CC BY 4.0. LiDAR: contains Irish Public Sector Data (Geological Survey Ireland & the Office of Public Works) licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.

No address of the register names Ballytoohy More with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Mayo.

Name

Ballytoohy More · An Baile Thuaidh Mór

Area

1,926,312 m² (192.63 ha, 476 acres)

Civil parish

Kilgeever, and its townlands

Barony

Murrisk

Electoral division

Clare Island, the unit of the census

Census 2022

194 people lived in 71 households in the Clare Island electoral division. 73% of households owned their home. 24% of homes were built since 2001. 23% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 26% were holiday homes.

Neighbouring townlands

Ballytoohy Beg, Lecarrow, Maum

Placenames

Ballytoohy More 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.