Garrynamann Lower

21 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Garrynamann Lower, from 536 m² to 220,906 m² (22.09 ha, 54.59 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary. 12 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 Garrynamann Lower 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.

• 18 Sept 2026N/a

  for development. The development will consist of the extension of the Kells Village Loop Walk through the construction of a 30m long ramped section of boardwalk on the mill tail race island, a 10m span pedestrian bridge over the mill tail race, a new path along the north bank of the Kings River, removal of substructure associated with unfinished development of 4nr. houses, fencing and all associated site works. A Natura Impact Statement has been prepared and submitted to the Planning Authority with the application

  Permission · Kilkenny County Council, 2660604

• 4 Jun 2024Conditional

  permission for a swimming pool ancillary building and (b) permission for retention for two stone gate piers and all associated site works

  Retention · Kilkenny County Council, 2471

• 11 Jan 2024Refused

  permission is sought for the following works a) standalone swimming pool ancillary building b) retention of two stone gate piers and all associated siteworks

  Retention · Kilkenny County Council, 2460017

• 25 Feb 2022Unconditional

  Extension of Duration of Planning Permission Reference P16/523

  Extension of duration · Kilkenny County Council, 22114

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 Barrow and River Nore SAC 002162
• Special Protection Area: River Nore SPA 004233

Recorded monuments

• KK027-016 Ringfort - unclassified
  Description

  A stream flows N-S c. 200m to the W, it flows into the Kings River which is c. 260m to the S. Indicated on the 1st (1839) ed. OS 6-inch map as a roughly circular enclosure (diam. c. 30m) enclosed by an outer concentric enclosure (overall diam. c. 60m), planted with trees. It is similarly shown on the 1948 revision. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 27 March 2023

• KK027-029001 Castle - motte and bailey
  Description

  On top of a glacial deposit on a flat island with Kings River c. 80m to N-NE and a steam which flows from Kings River to the W and runs 20m S of the motte and bailey before rejoining Kings River to the SE. The bailey is raised above the island, which is probably liable to flood. The ground around the base of the bailey was formerly marshy but has been reclaimed (Ó Drisceoil 2006, 262). There are good views E and W along valley floor, but otherwise the view is impeded by rising ground to N and S of the rivers. The motte was probably built by Geoffrey FitzRoberts in 1192-3 when he founded the town of Kells and would have been well positioned to control the river crossing (Empey 1984, 36). Defence does not appear to be the primary concern for this motte, though it is constructed on an island and is surrounded by marshland, rather it was to form the caput or focus for FitzRobert’s settlement. As Empey (ibid.) points out, ‘the availability of suitable sufficient arable land for demesne lands, the proximity of a river for the manorial mill, seigniorial fishing rights, and communications’ would all have been important considerations which were fulfilled by this siting. The motte is mentioned in two early 13th-century charters, where it is referred to as a ‘castelli’. In the charter c. 1204-06 to the Augustinian Priory (TS027-029004-), which lies c. 500m to the SE, FitzRobert grants the canons all the fisheries between his mill and the gate of the castle or motte. In the town charter of Kells, c. 1211-12, probably by Geoffery’s son William, he grants the burgesses of Kells common pasture of the small island around the castle of Kells, as far as, ‘fossatum gardini mei et castelli mei’, which translates as either a fosse or earthwork around his garden, meaning bailey, and his castle (Carrigan 1905, vol. 4, 53; Empey 1984, 36-7). The OS Letters (O’Flanagan 1930, vol. 2, 70-71) describe the motte as being, ‘about thirty two feet [9.75m] in diameter at the top and sixty feet [c. 18m] above the level of the fields’. Orpen (1909, 328) gives a more realistic height of 30 feet [9m] for the motte and also notes that, 'the existence of a fosse can be traced outside [the bailey] in places'. The motte occupies the E side of the bailey. Most of the motte was destroyed in the 1980s. Only a portion of the NE (top dims. 6m x 9m; surviving H above bailey 1.2m) and smaller portion of the SE (max. top dim. c. 5m) survives, which suggests the original total top diameter was c. 15m. The mound was built on top of an existing glacial deposit of gravel (H 6m) by heaping up mixed subsoil and gravels (H 5m) on top of the original soil level (Barry et al. 1984, 161), giving an overall height of 11m. It was a classic pudding-bowl shape, with steep sides and a flat top (see photograph in Orpen 1909, 325). The bailey extends westward from the motte, running from the SW quadrant of the motte and presumably from the N-NW quadrant, though this area has been levelled. The bailey is formed by a raised platform defined by scarp (H 1.85m; Wth 3-5.2m) from W-N. The SE and SW perimeters of the bailey are defined by a later bawn wall (KK027-029003-). It is possible that the outer defences of the motte extended eastward and that these were cut through by the public road. Immediately E of the pubic road there are the remains of a mound, possibly an outer bank (dims. top 8m E-W; c. 40m N-S; H 1.9m above the road; 4.5m above ext. to W). Buildings are indicated adjacent to the road on the N side of this mound on both the 1st and 2nd ed. 6-inch OS maps and this area is currently occupied by a Scout’s Hall. A bank (L 38m) runs southeastward from the SE side of the mound. The ground level within the bailey slopes to the NW and is undulating. The edge in the NE quadrant has been destroyed, probably when the T-plan church was built. National Monument No. 626 Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 15 November 2017

• KK027-029002 Castle - unclassified
  Description

  On top of a glacial deposit on a flat island with Kings River c. 80m to N-NE and a steam which flows from Kings River to the W and runs 20m S of the motte and bailey (KK027-029001-) before rejoining Kings River to the SE. The bailey is raised above the island, which is probably liable to flood. The ground around the base of the bailey was formerly marshy but has been reclaimed (Ó Drisceoil 2006, 262). There are good views E and W along valley floor, but otherwise the view is impeded by rising ground to N and S of the rivers. The bawn follows the perimeter of an earlier bailey which adjoins a motte (KK027-029001-). The motte and bailey was probably built by Geoffrey FitzRoberts in 1192-3 when he founded the town of Kells (Empey 1984, 36). Early 13th-century references to the ‘castelli’ at Kells are likely to relate to the castle on the motte which was probably timber (ibid, 36-7). An inquisition of 1621 mentions the ‘fortilagium’ of Kells which may relate to the bawn (ibid., 37). The FitzRobert lordship ended c. 1308-1312, passing to a succession of absentee lords in the 14th century, including le Poers, Berminghams and Prestons and then in the 15th century to Thomas Butler, prior of Kilmainham and his heirs and in the 16th and 17th centuries to the Viscounts Mountgarret (ibid.). The ground level within the bailey/bawn slopes to the NW and is undulating, with a number of low mounds and hollows. There is no visible trace at ground level within the bawn of a masonry castle (KK027-029002-), which may have been built contemporaneously with the bawn. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 16 November 2017

• KK027-029003 Bawn
  Description

  On top of a glacial deposit on a flat island with Kings River c. 80m to N-NE and a steam which flows from Kings River to the W and runs 20m S of the motte and bailey (KK027-029001-) before rejoining Kings River to the SE. The bailey is raised above the island, which is probably liable to flood. The ground around the base of the bailey was formerly marshy but has been reclaimed (Ó Drisceoil 2006, 262). There are good views E and W along valley floor, but otherwise the view is impeded by rising ground to N and S of the rivers. The bawn follows the perimeter of an earlier bailey which adjoins a motte. The motte and bailey was probably built by Geoffrey FitzRoberts in 1192-3 when he founded the town of Kells (Empey 1984, 36). Early 13th-century references to the ‘castelli’ at Kells are likely to relate to the castle on the motte which was probably timber (ibid, 36-7). An inquisition of 1621 mentions the ‘fortilagium’ of Kells which may relate to the bawn (ibid., 37). The FitzRobert lordship ended c. 1308-1312, passing to a succession of absentee lords in the 14th century, including le Poers, Berminghams and Prestons and then in the 15th century to Thomas Butler, prior of Kilmainham and his heirs and in the 16th and 17th centuries to the Viscounts Mountgarret (ibid.). The bailey extends westward from the motte, running from the SW quadrant of the motte and presumably from the N-NW quadrant, though this area has been levelled. The bailey is formed by a raised platform defined by scarp (H 1.85m; Wth 3-5.2m) from W-N. The SE and SW perimeters of the bailey are defined by a later bawn wall. The bawn wall (H 4-5m; Wth 0.85-0.9m), built of roughly coursed limestone rubble, survives in two lengths. The section in the SE quadrant runs WNW-ESE (L 8.4m) before turning ENE-WSW (L 11.5m), the remaining length of wall between this wall and the motte is a more modern wall. There is a gap of 21m between the SE and SW section of wall. The SW wall changes direction several times to follow the perimeter of the bailey. The most southerly section (L 11.7m) incorporates the gable of a later building. This gable projects externally (L 1.63m) from the bawn wall and is not keyed into the bawn wall which appears to have been broken out to accommodate the building. An opening has been broken through the gable at ground-floor level. At first-floor level there are three narrow loops (H c. 1m; Wth 0.8-0.9m) within slightly splayed embrasures. The first-floor was vaulted over, though only the lower portion of the vault survives spring from the side walls (L 0.9m surviving internally). This building may be that referred to on the 1st ed. 6-inch OS map as 'Site of Gaol'. At a distance of 1.7m E of this building the bawn wall turns NW-SE (L14.5m) before turning N-S (L 5.2m). The wall is broken off at after this point. In the short section of N-S wall at this angle a crude broken out doorway had been broken through. There are put-log holes all along the wall, visible both internally and externally. The ground level within the bailey/bawn slopes to the NW and is undulating. There is no visible trace at ground within the bawn of a masonry castle (KK027-029002-), which may have been built contemporaneously with the bawn. The edge in the NE quadrant has been destroyed, probably when the T-plan church was built. The wall which currently runs along the NE quadrant is relatively modern Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 16 November 2017

• KK027-029014 Water mill - vertical-wheeled
  Description

  Carrigan (1905, vol. 4, 54) refers to a grant of 1346 of the, ‘Barony and Lordship of Kenlis, which belonged to Eustace le Poer, are granted by the King to [Lord] Walter de Bermingham’, which includes the manor of Kells, including one water mill. Empey (1984, 37) suggests that, ‘There can be little doubt that the castle mill occupied the site of the present mill about 100 meters north-east of the motte’. This mill could be the water mill, or a least at the location, depicted in a late 18th-century sketch by Vallancy, copied by Beranger (Harbison 1991, 86 and opposite). It is shown as a simple single-storey thatched building, viewed from the W, with a large off-centre door, a small window at eaves level at the mill-wheel end to the S and a possible second window at the opposite end, though this is obscured by a hill (ibid.). A flour mill is shown at this location on the 1st (1839) ed. OS 6-inch map and it is annotated as a ‘Corn Mill’ on the 1948 revision. The present mill occupying the site is that shown on the OS maps and consists of a three-storey four-bay limestone rubble building with a slated roof and mill-wheel on the S gable. Across the mill race, to the S, is a two-story two-bay miller’s house, also of limestone rubble and slated roof. See attached: KK027-029014-_01 From Harbison 1991, opposite 86 - a late 18th-century sketch by Vallancy, copied by Beranger Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 12 June 2023

Architectural heritage

• Mill (water), 1780–1785 · Regional interest
  Description

  Flour mill complex, established 1782, including:(i) Detached four-bay three-storey rubble stone flour mill possibly incorporating fabric of earlier mill, 1204-6, with two-bay single-storey projecting bay to left ground floor, single-bay three-storey return to north-east leading to single-bay two-storey return block with attic to east, and two-bay two-storey lean-to infill mill manager's house to south-east. In use as corn mill, 1948. Part refenestrated, pre-1969. Restored, 1997, to accommodate use as heritage centre. Pitched slate roofs (lean-to to mill manager's house) with clay ridge tiles, red brick Running bond chimney stacks, rooflights, and iron rainwater goods on rendered squared rubble stone eaves. Random rubble stone walls with waterwheel to side (south) elevation over mill race, square apertures to eaves level, and dressed rubble stone buttress to return block. Square-headed window openings with no sills, red brick voussoirs, and three-over-six timber sash windows having some replacement timber casement windows, pre-1969, to mill manager's house. Square-headed door opening to first floor with red brick voussoirs, and timber boarded door having overlight. Square-headed door opening to mill manager's house under gabled slate canopy on timber brackets with glazed timber panelled door. Interior with timber boarded floors on timber beams supported on timber posts retaining iron mechanisms to each floor. Set back from road in own grounds with gravel forecourt, and mill race to south having random rubble stone retaining walls.(ii) Detached two-bay two-storey rubble stone flax mill, built 1782, to south. Closed, 1966. In residential use, post-1966. Renovated, 1997, to accommodate use as offices. Pitched slate roof with clay ridge tiles, and iron rainwater goods on rendered squared rubble stone eaves. Random rubble stone walls. Square-headed window openings with no sills, red brick voussoirs, and timber casement windows. Square-headed door opening with cut-stone step, red brick voussoirs, and timber boarded door.

• Kells Bridge, bridge, 1500–1658 · Regional interest
  Description

  Nine-arch (west) or five-arch (east) hump back road bridge over river, extant 1658. Widened, post-1788, producing present composition. Part creeper- or ivy-covered wall (west) centred on triangular cutwaters to piers having overgrown shallow pyramidal capping with overgrown coping to parapet; part creeper- or ivy-covered wall (east) centred on triangular cutwaters to piers having lichen-spotted pyramidal capping with overgrown coping to parapets. Series of nine round arches (west) with lichen-spotted voussoirs. Pair of round arches (east) centred on series of three elliptical arches with lichen-spotted voussoirs centred on lichen-spotted keystones. Sited spanning Kings River with unkempt banks to river.

• Mill Cottage, house, 1765–1785 · Regional interest
  Description

  Attached four-bay single-storey thatched mill owner's cottage, c.1775, originally detached with entrance windbreak. In private residential use, post-1965. Refenestrated, pre-1994. Reroofed, post-1994. Hipped and pitched roof with replacement reed thatch, post-1994, in English style having rope work to ridge, and rendered chimney stack. Painted rendered, ruled and lined walls over random rubble stone construction. Square-headed window openings with cut-stone sills (some with flush or no sills), and replacement one-over-one timber sash windows, pre-1994. Square-headed door opening with replacement tongue-and-groove timber panelled door, post-1994. Set back from line of road with timber fence to perimeter of site.

• Unknown, 1865–1885 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached two-bay single-storey building, c.1875, with single-bay single-storey projecting lower end bay to left, and two-bay single-storey recessed end bay to right. Renovated. Now in residential use. Pitched slate roofs with clay ridge tiles, and iron rainwater goods on squared rubble stone eaves. Random rubble stone walls. Square-headed window openings with cut-stone sills, dressed stone lintels, and replacement timber casement windows. Square-headed slit-style aperture to recessed end bay with fittings not discerned. Square-headed door openings (including to recessed end bay) with timber lintels, and replacement tongue-and-groove timber panelled doors. Set back from line of road with random rubble stone boundary wall having wrought iron double gates.

• House, 1865–1885 · Regional interest
  Description

  Attached three-bay two-storey house, c.1875, on a corner site with single-bay two-storey lower end bay to right (probably accommodating outbuilding). Extensively renovated. Pitched roofs with replacement slate, clay ridge tiles, red brick Running bond chimney stacks, rendered coping, rooflight to rear (north-east) pitch, and iron rainwater goods on rendered rubble stone eaves having iron ties. Random rubble stone walls originally rendered with render removed retaining fragments to side (north-west) elevation having iron tie plates to first floor. Square-headed window openings with cut-limestone sills, rendered surrounds over red brick dressings including voussoirs, replacement six-over-six (ground floor) and three-over-six (first floor) timber sash windows. Square-headed door opening with rendered surround, and replacement tongue-and-groove timber panelled door. Square-headed door opening to end bay with lintel, and timber door. Set back from line of road on a corner site with timber fence to perimeter of site.

• Water pump, 1865–1885 · Regional interest
  Description

  Freestanding cast-iron waterpump, c.1875, comprising banded cylindrical shaft with moulded necking, fluted cylindrical head having fluted detailing to spout, 'cow tail' curvilinear handle with finial, and capping now missing. Now disused. Road fronted on concrete plinth.

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 Garrynamann Lower, 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, low, partly inferred.

Terrain model

No LiDAR survey of the Office of Public Works covers the centre of the townland of Garrynamann Lower.

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 Garrynamann Lower with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Kilkenny.

Name

Garrynamann Lower · Garraí na Meann Íochtarach

Area

772,736 m² (77.27 ha, 190.95 acres)

Civil parish

Kells, and its townlands

Barony

Kells

Electoral division

Kells, the unit of the census

Census 2022

681 people lived in 230 households in the Kells electoral division. 85% of households owned their home. 40% of homes were built since 2001. 9% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 3% were holiday homes.

Neighbouring townlands

Garranstan, Garrynamann Upper, Goodwinsgarden, Kells, Kellsborough, Killinny

Placenames

Garrynamann Lower 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.