Ballintober
Ballintober is a townland in the civil parish of Ballintober, barony of Castlereagh, Co. Roscommon. Its name in Irish is Baile an Tobair.
Parcel 697243
- Area
- 666 m²
- Buildings
- 3 buildings touch it. Their footprint covers 234 m².
- Zoning
- No zone of a development plan covers it in the national zoning. Outside zoned towns and villages, the county development plan's rural policies apply.
- Townland
- Ballintober
Planning applications on this parcel
No planning application touches this parcel in the national file, which goes back to 2010.
Source: National Planning Applications, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Applicants are not shown.
Designated sites
No designated site (Special Area of Conservation, Special Protection Area, Natural Heritage Area or proposed one) touches this parcel.
Recorded monuments around it
This parcel is in the zone of notification of 21 recorded monuments.
- RO027-048 Historic town
Description
Ballintober was granted to Richard de Burgh as a manor and a town was probably established after 1235, but it was burnt by Ruarai Mac Cathal O Conchobair in 1315 and by 1333 it was described as waste and the castle ruinous. From this time the castle became a centre of the O'Conor Don, and a settlement continued in its vicinity. Ballintober was burned in 1434, 1487, and 1489, and the town was hardly extant in the 16th century. In 1617 Sir Hugh O'Conor was granted the town and castle, when a weekly market and annual fair began to be held, and the census of 1659 returns a population of 59 (Pender 1939). (Bradley and Dunne 1988a, 21-3) Situated on a S-facing slope overlooking a NW-SE stream, the town was probably defended by earthworks (RO027-048009-), although their course cannot be indicated. The town was located between the castle (RO027-048002-) and the site of the church (RO027-048005-), while the cross-base (RO027-048004-) may have indicated the location where the fairs (RO027-048003-) were held. The remains consist of the castle, and the site of the church (RO027-048005-) with St Bridget's Well (RO027-048006-) nearby, but the base of a cross between them is no longer extant. (Claffey, 1974-5) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 24 August 2010
- RO027-048002 Castle - Anglo-Norman masonry castle
Description
Located at the SE end of a low NW-SE drumlin ridge. Ballintober Castle was built by Richard de Burgh, the second Earl of Ulster known as the Red Earl, c. 1300 (Claffey 1972-3; 1974-5), and it is first mentioned in 1315 when it was captured by Ruaraí O'Conor. It was described in an inquisition of 1333 as surrounded by a stone wall with ruinous buildings, a hall, a chamber, and a kitchen. About 300 acres were worked directly in demesne and there were free tenants in the territory of Síl Mael Ruain, which extended off to the NW (Knox 1903, 59-60). In 1362 Cathal Óg O’Conor seized the castle, and it was retained by one branch or another of the O'Conors throughout the rest of the Middle Ages. Ballintober Castle was recognised as the caput of O’Conor Don after the split with O’Conor Rua in 1381, and it remained in their hands thereafter, apart from occupation or siege by Mac William Burke in 1409, O'Kelly in 1426 and 1434-5, Mac William Burke again in 1466, the earl of Kildare in 1526, and O'Donnell in 1530. In 1571 it was captured by Richard Bingham, President of Connaught, but granted to Hugh O'Conor in 1585 (Bradley and Dunne 1988a, 25). It was captured by Hugh O'Donnell in 1598, and reconstructed in 1627, which probably involved the conversion of the NW angle tower. The castle was confiscated from O’Conor in 1652 but it was restored to Col. Hugh O'Conor in 1677, who died shortly afterwards. By this time the castle was mortgaged, and Hugh was probably the last person to live in it. Ownership was returned to the O’Conor family after 1889, and it is now closed to the public except by appointment. (O'Conor Don 1889; O'Conor, 2007, 199-200). Two recent surveys – remote sensing (Nicholls 2008, 2009) and archaeological, and architectural (Brady 2014; see this web-page: http://www.castlestudiestrust.org/Ballintober-Castle.html) – have transformed our understanding of the castle and what follows is based largely on both. The castle is a keepless castle, i.e. has no single strongly defended residence, and presents now as a subrectangular grass-covered area (dims c. 84m E-W; c. 75m N-S) defined by curtain walls (Wth c. 2m; int. H 2-5m) with an external base-batter. There are polygonal towers at each angle. The enclosure walls survive almost complete, except the E wall where the original entrance is visible as the foundation of two D-shaped towers located just S of a handball alley, which incorporates the N wall of the N gate tower. The S tower has evidence of a basement level and an external base-batter. Each tower appears to have had two chambers and each tower survives partially to the first floor. The N wall of the castle enclosure had six embrasures, two surviving complete with gun-loops, and has a mural stairs rising to a wall-walk that doesn’t survive, while the W wall has four recognisable embrasures. A gap at the centre of the W wall may be the site of a postern gate with a causeway (Wth of top 6m) outside it. The moat is most pronounced at NW (Wth of top 16.5m; Wth of base 8m; ext. D 3.6m) where the ridge is highest, and only survives visibly on the N, W and S sides. There are D-shaped corner towers at each angle, which are faceted where they project into the moat, but those at the NE and SE angles barely survive above the ground floor, with few visible architectural features. The SW tower survives to the second floor with no vaulting, although it is suggested that it had an elaborate timber-rib ceiling (Brady 2014, 39), and its NE wall is missing. The ground floor (int. dims c. 10m NE-SW; 4.95m NW-SE) has three embrasures with rectangular lights (one with a gun-loop), and a destroyed fireplace. A newel stairs is external to the E angle. The first floor has two embrasures with destroyed windows and a fireplace, while a passage at the N angle leads to a garderobe chamber in the angle between the tower and the curtain wall. The second floor has four destroyed windows and a rebate to support the floor joists. The NW tower was revamped as a tower house of four stories with no vault, and few original features survive, apart, perhaps, from a round-headed embrasure on the SW wall of the second floor. The damaged entrance towards the E angle of the SE side led through a lobby and a pointed doorway to the D-shaped ground floor (int. dims 6.55m NW-SE; 4.9m NE-SW) with an embrasure on each long wall, one with a rectangular light (H 0.75m), and there is probably a blocked embrasure on the NW wall. From the lobby a pointed doorway and passage in the SE wall lead to a newel stairs at the S angle, which accessed the upper floors. At a mezzanine level is a guardroom with a destroyed murder-hole and a rectangular light with a hood-moulding over the main entrance. The stairs to the upper levels is destroyed, but the first floor has a window with a square hood-moulding externally on the SW wall, and a fireplace together with what might have been a doorway to the wall-walk of the N wall in the NE wall. A pointed doorway led from the stairs to the main chamber of the second floor which has two window embrasures with destroyed three-light rectangular windows, that at SW with the elaborate rounded rear-arch. A grand fireplace in the NE wall has the date 1627, an IHS monogram and the inscription ‘CONro’ carved in false relief on an impost. A pointed doorway leads to a chamber in the SE wall, which has a rectangular light with a square hood-moulding. The third floor combines the floor-space of both rooms on lower floors, has a single but smaller rectangular window on each long wall and a three-light rectangular window with a square hood-moulding in the SE wall beneath a gable, while a perfect fireplace beneath a chimney stack is in the NW gable wall. Only the base of the ivy-covered NE tower survives but it is aligned N-S and may be a late addition. Fragments of three windows can be seen at the ground floor while there is evidence of a small fireplace in the E wall of the first floor. The ivy-covered SE tower is aligned NW-SE, is open-backed and has five openings at the ground floor but no dressed stone survives. It may have had a vault over the ground floor. (Brady 2014, 46-7) Resistivity, gradiometry and ground penetrating radar surveys (08R0262) conducted inside and outside the castle by Target Archaeological Geophysics on behalf of the Ballintober Community Group and funded by the Heritage Council during 2008 and 2009 produced exciting results, which are largely at a depth of 0.6-1.6m. Resistivity and gradiometry produced evidence of an L-shaped building (L c. 34m N-S; c. 34m E-W; ext. Wth c. 15m) inside the SW angle and parallel with but c. 10m from the curtain walls. Its N extension is not confirmed by GPR. This could be interpreted as the hall (RO027-048016-) that was mentioned in the inquisition of 1333, and it consists of two rows of masonry pillars, which may have formed the core of a largely timber, three-aisled structure. Inside the NE angle and parallel with, but c. 10m from, the curtain walls, a smaller structure (ext. dims c. 12m E-W; c. 9m N-S) is interpreted as a possible church or chapel (RO027-048017-). Its W wall is missing, but it appears to have had external buttresses and an entrance in the N wall. SE of this, towards the castle gateway there may have been a cobbled yard. There is weaker evidence of a third building (RO027-048018-) (dims c. 15m E-W; c. 9m N-S) inside the NW angle under a slight surface platform, and of connecting walls forming an inner court. (Nicholls 2008, 2009) The resistivity and gradiometry surveys (Nicholls 2008) also produced evidence of an enclosure (RO027-048019-) (diam. c. 45m) which probably pre-dates the castle centred on a point inside the E castle wall S of the gateway in the form of a discontinuous fosse feature SW-N. There was also evidence of numerous pits, and of two possible structures inside the perimeter at N defined by foundation trenches. One hut-site (RO027-048020-) is circular (diam. c. 10m), while the rectang
- RO027-048004 Cross - Market cross
Description
Marked on the 1837 and 1929 eds. of the OS 6-inch map, and situated on the W side of the main street, between the castle (RO027-048002-) and the church (RO027-048005-). It does not survive, but is described as small and was probably a late medieval market cross. (Crawford 1907A, 217) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 24 August 2010
- RO027-048005 Church
Description
The parish church of Ballintober is listed as Thorbirbrig in the ecclesiastical taxation of Elphin in 1306 (Cal. doc. Ire., vol. 5, 224). The church is mentioned in 1607, and it became the traditional burial place of the O'Conor Don. It is situated on a low ridge, in a low-lying position on a S-facing slope and it is at the S end of a rectangular graveyard (RO028-048007-) (dims 54m N-S; c. 51m E-W) defined by masonry walls that has been extended to the W. It is a rectangular structure (int. dims c. 16m E-W; 7.3m N-S) defined by the base of the W (H 1.4m), N (H 1.55m) and S (H 1.9m) walls, but much of the original facing and no features apart from a blocked doorway towards the W end of the S wall survive. A rectangular graveslab (RO027-048011-) (L 1.85m; Wth 0.86m) bearing an inscription in relief to John Rorke dated 1609 (M'Donnell 1921-5) is in the interior, and a rectangular graveslab (RO027-048012-) (H 1.5m; Wth 0.88m) which has a raised cross and the inscription 'CC 1634' is built into a tomb in the interior of the church. St Bridget's Well (RO027-048006-) is c. 30m to the SW, and a hollow ash tree (RO027-048013-) (Circumference 3.7m) on a mound (diam. 6m; H 1.2-2m) which has a masonry wall (Wth 0.6m; H 0.8-1.1m) around its base is preserved just outside the W boundary of the graveyard. Archaeological testing (02E0896) c. 100m SE of the graveyard failed to produce any related material (Morahan 2004). Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 24 August 2010
- RO027-048006 Ritual site - holy well
Description
At the bottom of a S-facing slope, c. 30m W of the church (RO027-048005-). This is an oval well (dims 2.2m E-W; 1.05m N-S) recently conserved and surrounded by a path (Wth 1m) and an outer wall (Wth 0.5m; H 0.25m) S-W-N. The stream flows S, and the well is within an eliptical enclosure (dims c. 30m E-W; c. 15m N-S) attached to the S wall of the graveyard (RO027-048007-). Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 24 August 2010
- RO027-048007 Graveyard
Description
Situated on a low ridge, in a low-lying position on a S-facing slope. The church (RO027-048005-) is in a rectangular graveyard (dims 54m N-S; c. 51m E-W) defined by masonry walls and with a curved perimeter at SW, which has been extended to the W. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 24 August 2010
- RO027-048011 Graveslab
Description
In a low-lying position on a S-facing slope within Ballintober church (RO027-048005-). Rectangular graveslab (L 1.85m; Wth 0.86m) bearing an inscription in relief to John Rorke dated 1609. (M'Donnell 1921-5) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 24 August 2010
- RO027-048012 Graveslab
Description
In a low-lying position on a S-facing slope within Ballintober church (RO027-048005-). A rectangular slab (H 1.5m; Wth 0.88m) which has a raised cross and the inscription 'CC 1634' is built into a tomb. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 24 August 2010
- RO027-048013 Ritual site - holy tree/bush
Description
On a gentle S-facing slope, just outside the W boundary of the old graveyard (RO027-048007-). A hollow ash tree (Circumference 3.7m) on a mound (diam. 6m; H 1.2-2m) which has a masonry wall (Wth 0.6m; H 0.8-1.1m) around its base. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 24 August 2010
- RO027-048014 Field system
Description
Situated on ground sloping down gently to the E of Ballintober Castle (RO027-048002-). An area of c. 1.5 ha (c. 4 acres) immediately E of the castle was archaeologically tested (05E1312) and revealed elements of a field system including a NNE-SSW field bank (Wth 3.3m; H 0.2m) which was visible before excavation but which was shown to be accompanied by a ditch (Wth 3.5m). Ridge and furrow systems are generally aligned on this bank or other open ditches. Some pits and small cobbled surfaces were also recorded. Secure dating evidence was lacking but it may be late medieval in date, and was thought to extend further E (Read 2008i). Magnetometer and ground penetrating radar surveys (15R0051) conducted during 2015-18 over an extensive area of c. 7 hectares (c. 18 acres) E of the castle demonstrate that much of it (c. 4.5 ha or 11 acres) was divided into small strip fields (dims c. 60m x c. 20m) defined by what are probably ditches or drains, and that many of these plots are aligned end-on to a NW-SE roadway (RO027-048023-). The roadway (Wth 12-14m; recorded L 200m plus) runs SE from the gateway in the E curtain wall of the castle along the S side of a turlough, which is c. 350m from the castle. Away from the roadway the fields are larger. Excavation (15E0232) across the roadway revealed it to be a roughly-paved surface (Wth 4m) with an accompanying drain on one side and a path on the other (Brady et al. 2018, 18-20, 26). At least nine of the fifteen or so identified plots have house sites within them, and constitute a settlement cluster (RO027-048024-) which is part of the town of Ballintober (RO0287-048----). The houses are close to the roadway on the N side but further away from it on the S side. Refinements of the survey process identified what might be hearths within the houses and pits in their vicinity. (Brady et al. 2017, 31-44; 2018, 18-20, 26) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 24 August 2010 Amended: 24 November 2020
And 11 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 10 homes in this area is likely to have high radon levels. Testing a home
- Landslides
- The 1:50,000 map rates the landslide susceptibility here as low.
- Terrain model
- No LiDAR survey of the Office of Public Works covers the centre of this parcel.
- Flooding
- The Office of Public Works publishes its flood maps on floodinfo.ie.
Radon Risk Map of Ireland, Environmental Protection Agency, and Landslide Susceptibility Classification, Geological Survey Ireland, both under CC BY 4.0. LiDAR: contains Irish Public Sector Data (Geological Survey Ireland & the Office of Public Works) licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.
Download this parcel as DXF, in Irish Transverse Mercator metres, with its neighbours and buildings, for a drawing program. GeoJSON, in WGS 84, suits a map, and KML opens in Google Earth.
Registered freehold land, Tailte Éireann, CC BY 4.0. A parcel is the land of a title, not an address. The owner's name is in the Land Registry of Tailte Éireann: a copy of the folio can be ordered on landdirect.ie, for a fee.
- Area
- 23.7 ha
- 58 acres
- Land parcels
- 92
- registered freehold, median 337 m²
- Zoning
- —
- not in a zoned settlement
- Planning
- 6
- applications since 2010
Land parcels
Registered freehold land, Tailte Éireann
92 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Ballintober, from 9 m² to 59,168 m² (5.92 ha, 14.62 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary. 15 neighbouring parcels touch it.
Download the townland as DXF, in Irish Transverse Mercator metres, with its boundary, parcels and buildings, or as GeoJSON or KML.
Zoning
Development plans, national zoning
No zone of a development plan covers Ballintober in the national zoning. Outside zoned towns and villages, the county development plan's rural policies apply to each application.
Source: Tailte Éireann and the Department of Housing (MyPlan), national zoning, CC BY 4.0.
Planning applications
Sites that touch the townland, newest first
26 Feb 2025Conditional
Permission to refurbish derelict house, to include alterations to elevations and construct new front porch and extension to the rear and all ancillary site development works at
Permission, 1 home · Roscommon County Council, 2560069
24 Aug 2023Conditional
Permission to demolish existing dwelling house and construct replacement dwelling house and all ancillary site development works at
Permission, 1 home · Roscommon County Council, 2360075
26 Jul 2023Conditional
Permission for the demolition of existing workshop building and the construction of a new detached dwelling house, together with connection to public services and all associated site works at
Permission, 1 home · Roscommon County Council, 2360023
17 Nov 2022Conditional
Permission to: (1) Modify existing site entrance to existing old schoolhouse building (Protected Structure registered on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage - No. NIAH31815003) and creation of onsite parking area; (2) Demolish existing storage shed to the rear;(3) Construct new community park with associated boundary treatment, walk-ways, landscaping, seating, shelter and play area; (4) Construct multi use games area along with associated perimeter fencing and lighting and associated siteworks at
Permission · Roscommon County Council, 22610
7 Nov 2022N/a
Permission to;(1) Modify existing site entrance to existing old school house building and creation of onsite parking area; (2) Demolish existing storage shed to the rear; (3) Construct new community park with associated boundary treatment, walkways, landscaping planting and play area; (4) Construct multi use games area along with associated permitter fencing and lighting and associated site works at
Permission · Roscommon County Council, 22597
23 Jul 2019N/a
to retain domestic entrance and alterations to boundary wall and all associated site development works at
Retention · Roscommon County Council, 19375
Source: National Planning Applications, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Applicants are not shown.
Nature and heritage
Designated sites and recorded monuments
Designated sites
No designated site (Special Area of Conservation, Special Protection Area, Natural Heritage Area or proposed one) touches the townland of Ballintober.
Recorded monuments
- RO027-048 Historic town
Description
Ballintober was granted to Richard de Burgh as a manor and a town was probably established after 1235, but it was burnt by Ruarai Mac Cathal O Conchobair in 1315 and by 1333 it was described as waste and the castle ruinous. From this time the castle became a centre of the O'Conor Don, and a settlement continued in its vicinity. Ballintober was burned in 1434, 1487, and 1489, and the town was hardly extant in the 16th century. In 1617 Sir Hugh O'Conor was granted the town and castle, when a weekly market and annual fair began to be held, and the census of 1659 returns a population of 59 (Pender 1939). (Bradley and Dunne 1988a, 21-3) Situated on a S-facing slope overlooking a NW-SE stream, the town was probably defended by earthworks (RO027-048009-), although their course cannot be indicated. The town was located between the castle (RO027-048002-) and the site of the church (RO027-048005-), while the cross-base (RO027-048004-) may have indicated the location where the fairs (RO027-048003-) were held. The remains consist of the castle, and the site of the church (RO027-048005-) with St Bridget's Well (RO027-048006-) nearby, but the base of a cross between them is no longer extant. (Claffey, 1974-5) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 24 August 2010
- RO027-048004 Cross - Market cross
Description
Marked on the 1837 and 1929 eds. of the OS 6-inch map, and situated on the W side of the main street, between the castle (RO027-048002-) and the church (RO027-048005-). It does not survive, but is described as small and was probably a late medieval market cross. (Crawford 1907A, 217) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 24 August 2010
- RO027-048005 Church
Description
The parish church of Ballintober is listed as Thorbirbrig in the ecclesiastical taxation of Elphin in 1306 (Cal. doc. Ire., vol. 5, 224). The church is mentioned in 1607, and it became the traditional burial place of the O'Conor Don. It is situated on a low ridge, in a low-lying position on a S-facing slope and it is at the S end of a rectangular graveyard (RO028-048007-) (dims 54m N-S; c. 51m E-W) defined by masonry walls that has been extended to the W. It is a rectangular structure (int. dims c. 16m E-W; 7.3m N-S) defined by the base of the W (H 1.4m), N (H 1.55m) and S (H 1.9m) walls, but much of the original facing and no features apart from a blocked doorway towards the W end of the S wall survive. A rectangular graveslab (RO027-048011-) (L 1.85m; Wth 0.86m) bearing an inscription in relief to John Rorke dated 1609 (M'Donnell 1921-5) is in the interior, and a rectangular graveslab (RO027-048012-) (H 1.5m; Wth 0.88m) which has a raised cross and the inscription 'CC 1634' is built into a tomb in the interior of the church. St Bridget's Well (RO027-048006-) is c. 30m to the SW, and a hollow ash tree (RO027-048013-) (Circumference 3.7m) on a mound (diam. 6m; H 1.2-2m) which has a masonry wall (Wth 0.6m; H 0.8-1.1m) around its base is preserved just outside the W boundary of the graveyard. Archaeological testing (02E0896) c. 100m SE of the graveyard failed to produce any related material (Morahan 2004). Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 24 August 2010
- RO027-048006 Ritual site - holy well
Description
At the bottom of a S-facing slope, c. 30m W of the church (RO027-048005-). This is an oval well (dims 2.2m E-W; 1.05m N-S) recently conserved and surrounded by a path (Wth 1m) and an outer wall (Wth 0.5m; H 0.25m) S-W-N. The stream flows S, and the well is within an eliptical enclosure (dims c. 30m E-W; c. 15m N-S) attached to the S wall of the graveyard (RO027-048007-). Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 24 August 2010
- RO027-048007 Graveyard
Description
Situated on a low ridge, in a low-lying position on a S-facing slope. The church (RO027-048005-) is in a rectangular graveyard (dims 54m N-S; c. 51m E-W) defined by masonry walls and with a curved perimeter at SW, which has been extended to the W. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 24 August 2010
- RO027-048011 Graveslab
Description
In a low-lying position on a S-facing slope within Ballintober church (RO027-048005-). Rectangular graveslab (L 1.85m; Wth 0.86m) bearing an inscription in relief to John Rorke dated 1609. (M'Donnell 1921-5) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 24 August 2010
- RO027-048012 Graveslab
Description
In a low-lying position on a S-facing slope within Ballintober church (RO027-048005-). A rectangular slab (H 1.5m; Wth 0.88m) which has a raised cross and the inscription 'CC 1634' is built into a tomb. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 24 August 2010
- RO027-048013 Ritual site - holy tree/bush
Description
On a gentle S-facing slope, just outside the W boundary of the old graveyard (RO027-048007-). A hollow ash tree (Circumference 3.7m) on a mound (diam. 6m; H 1.2-2m) which has a masonry wall (Wth 0.6m; H 0.8-1.1m) around its base. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 24 August 2010
- RO027-048014 Field system
Description
Situated on ground sloping down gently to the E of Ballintober Castle (RO027-048002-). An area of c. 1.5 ha (c. 4 acres) immediately E of the castle was archaeologically tested (05E1312) and revealed elements of a field system including a NNE-SSW field bank (Wth 3.3m; H 0.2m) which was visible before excavation but which was shown to be accompanied by a ditch (Wth 3.5m). Ridge and furrow systems are generally aligned on this bank or other open ditches. Some pits and small cobbled surfaces were also recorded. Secure dating evidence was lacking but it may be late medieval in date, and was thought to extend further E (Read 2008i). Magnetometer and ground penetrating radar surveys (15R0051) conducted during 2015-18 over an extensive area of c. 7 hectares (c. 18 acres) E of the castle demonstrate that much of it (c. 4.5 ha or 11 acres) was divided into small strip fields (dims c. 60m x c. 20m) defined by what are probably ditches or drains, and that many of these plots are aligned end-on to a NW-SE roadway (RO027-048023-). The roadway (Wth 12-14m; recorded L 200m plus) runs SE from the gateway in the E curtain wall of the castle along the S side of a turlough, which is c. 350m from the castle. Away from the roadway the fields are larger. Excavation (15E0232) across the roadway revealed it to be a roughly-paved surface (Wth 4m) with an accompanying drain on one side and a path on the other (Brady et al. 2018, 18-20, 26). At least nine of the fifteen or so identified plots have house sites within them, and constitute a settlement cluster (RO027-048024-) which is part of the town of Ballintober (RO0287-048----). The houses are close to the roadway on the N side but further away from it on the S side. Refinements of the survey process identified what might be hearths within the houses and pits in their vicinity. (Brady et al. 2017, 31-44; 2018, 18-20, 26) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 24 August 2010 Amended: 24 November 2020
- RO027-048015 Excavation - miscellaneous
Description
Archaeological testing (00E0763) c. 20m S of the SW angle of the castle revealed a section of an E-W paved path (L 3.6m E-W; Wth 0.6m) and a pit (diam. c. 1.25m; D 0.5m) (RO027-048015-) (Grant 2003a; 2006), but archaeological testing (00E0762; 02E0310) of adjacent areas further S and W produced no archaeological material (Grant 2003b; 2006; Zajac 2004). Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 24 August 2010
- RO027-048023 Road - road/trackway
Description
Situated on a gentle E-facing slope between Ballintober castle (RO027-048002-) and a turlough c. 350m to the E where a possible crannog (RO027-048025-) has been identified. Magnetometer and ground penetrating radar surveys (15R0051) conducted during 2015-18 over an extensive area of c. 7 hectares (c. 18 acres) demonstrate that a settlement (RO0287-048024-) clustered around a NW-SE roadway (Wth 12-14m; recorded L 200m plus) running SE from the gateway in the E curtain wall of the castle. Excavation (15E0232) across the roadway in 2017 revealed it to be a roughly-paved surface (Wth 4m) with an accompanying drain on the SW side and a path on the other (Brady et al. 2018, 18-20, 26). (Brady et al. 2017, 31-44; Brady 2018) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 24 November 2020
- RO027-048024 Settlement deserted - medieval
Description
Situated on a gentle E-facing slope between Ballintober castle (RO027-048002-) and a turlough c. 350m to the E. Magnetometer and Ground Penetrating Radar surveys (15R0051) conducted during 2015-18 demonstrate that an area of about 4.5 ha (c. 11 acres) was divided into small strip fields (RO027-048014-), and that many of these plots are aligned end-on to a NW-SE roadway (RO027-048023-) running SE from the gateway in the E curtain wall of the castle. At least nine of the fifteen or so identified plots have house sites within them, and constitute a settlement cluster which is part of the town of Ballintober (RO027-048----). The houses are close to the roadway on the N side but further away from it on the S side. Refinements of the survey process can identify what might be hearths within the houses and pits in their vicinity. Excavation (15E0232) across one of the plots in 2018 showed that they were bounded by open ditches (Wth 4m; D 1.6m: Wth 4.75m; D 1.37m) and the house walls were a mix of stones and boulder clay. The house had two hearths separated by a cobbled surface, but artefacts from secure contexts have not yet been analysed. (Brady et al. 2017, 31-44; 2018, 18-20, 26) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 24 November 2020
- RO027-048025 Crannog
Description
Situated in a broad hollow c. 300m E of Ballintober castle (RO027-048002-). The outline of an oval lake (dims c. 600m E-W; c. 250-350m N-S) is depicted on the OS 6-inch editions of 1835 and 1908 as a marshy area liable to flooding. Two oval mounds that are c. 10m apart at the S edge of this turlough were fully surveyed and subjected to magnetometer and ground penetrating radar surveys (15R0051) during 2016-17. The W mound (dims of base c. 20m E-W; c. 10m N-S; H c. 2m) shows evidence of what might be a large hearth (diam. c. 2m) in its interior. The E mound (dims c. 14m E-W; c. 5m N-S; H c. 1m) is less well defined with a hollow on its SW side. From the location at the edge of the turlough it is quite possible that they are the remains of a crannog. (Brady et al. 2017, 40) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 24 November 2020
Architectural heritage
- Graveyard/cemetery, 1620–1640 · Regional interest
Description
Graveyard with interments including mausoleum of O'Conor Don dating to 1634 and a collection of stone grave markers including eighteenth- and nineteenth-centuries examples. No longer in use. Group of eighteenth-century family mausolea to site. Located on site of former church, now gone. Site bounded by random coursed stone wall with cut stone gate piers and wrought-iron gate. Modern graveyard to east. Holy well to site.
- Ballintober National School, school, 1920–1930 · Regional interest
Description
Detached multiple-bay single-storey former national school, built in 1929, with projecting bays flanking central gable-fronted entrance porch. Extension to rear. Now used as a community centre. Pitched slate roof with ridge tiles, eaves brackets, timber barge-boards, cast-iron rainwater goods and brick chimneystacks. Catslide roof to projecting bays. Rendered walls with plaque to gable of porch. Timber sash windows with stone sills. Paired entrances with recessed timber battened doors and limestone steps. Toilet block to east of school. School is set back from the road on its own grounds. Site bounded to front by random coursed stone wall and piers. Pair of wrought-iron gates providing access to farmland to north of school.
- Saint Bride's Catholic Church, church/chapel, 1895–1900 · Regional interest
Description
Detached cruciform gable-fronted Roman Catholic church, built in 1898 and renovated in 1997. Comprising six-bay nave, with chancel to north, sacristy to north-east with toilet block added to sacristy, c.1997. Pitched tiled roofs with replacement terracotta ridge cresting, cut stone and cast-iron finials. Stone coping to gables with bellcote containing date plaque to south-west end. Cast-iron rainwater goods with date '1898' to hopper at north-east corner. Repointed rock-faced random coursed limestone walls. Cut stone round-headed windows with stained-glass and relieving arches. Rose window and round-headed door opening set within round-arched recess of west front. Timber battened double doors with stained glass fanlights and tooled stone surrounds. Single-cell nave with open timber truss roof. Church bounded by concrete brick wall to front and east. Rock-faced cut stone gate piers and cast-iron gates to street. Church is set within its own grounds. Presbytery to north-east accessed through cast-iron gate.
- , 1840–1870 · Regional interest
Description
Freestanding cast-iron water pump, c.1860, now disused. Comprising cylindrical shaft with raised horizontal banding, fluted ogee-domed cap, acorn finial and cow tail style handle. Set back from road in concrete with stone wall to rear.
- Presbytery/parochial/curate's house, 1900–1940 · Regional interest
Description
Detached three-bay two-storey presbytery, built c.1920, with full-height canted bay to south-east surmounted by gable and extension to rear. Pitched tiled roof with terracotta ridge tiles, corbels and timber eaves brackets with cast-iron rainwater goods and yellow brick chimneystacks. Ruled-and-lined render to walls with continuous sill course to first floor windows, string course and plinth. Pebbledashed walls to extension. Replacement uPVC windows with tooled stone sills. Replacement uPVC door, overlight and sidelights, approached by a number of tooled limestone steps. House set back from road on elevated site. Bounded to front by random coursed stone wall. Cut stone piers to front and rear of house. Cast-iron gates to front and side of house.
Designated sites: National Parks and Wildlife Service. Recorded monuments: Sites and Monuments Record, National Monuments Service. Buildings: National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Works at or in relation to a recorded monument need two months' written notice to the National Monuments Service (National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994, section 12).
Ground and risks
Radon, landslides, flooding
- Radon
- At the centre of the townland of Ballintober, 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 low, low, partly inferred.
- Terrain model
- No LiDAR survey of the Office of Public Works covers the centre of the townland of Ballintober.
- Flooding
- The Office of Public Works publishes its flood maps on floodinfo.ie.
Radon Risk Map of Ireland, Environmental Protection Agency, and Landslide Susceptibility Classification, Geological Survey Ireland, both under CC BY 4.0. LiDAR: contains Irish Public Sector Data (Geological Survey Ireland & the Office of Public Works) licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.
Homes sold
Property Price Register
No address of the register names Ballintober with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Roscommon.
The townland
- Name
- Ballintober · Baile an Tobair
- Area
- 236,544 m² (23.65 ha, 58.45 acres)
- Civil parish
- Ballintober, and its townlands
- Barony
- Castlereagh
- Electoral division
- Ballintober, the unit of the census
- Census 2022
- 855 people lived in 317 households in the Ballintober electoral division. 82% of households owned their home. 34% of homes were built since 2001. 19% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 4% were holiday homes.
- Neighbouring townlands
- Ardnamullagh, Ballyfinegan, Rosmeen, Timanagh, Willsgrove
- Placenames
- Ballintober 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.