Churchclara

32 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Churchclara, from 223 m² to 455,682 m² (45.57 ha, 112.6 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary. 38 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 Churchclara 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.

• 31 Mar 2026N/a

  for the development of a 38kV underground grid connection and all ancillary works at this site situated at: Kilderry and adjoining townlands of Scart, Ballynamona, Rathgarvan (or Clifden), Churchclara, Clarabricken, Clara Upper, Clara, Kilmagar, Feathallagh and Ballysallagh Co. Kilkenny. The proposed development will consist of:- i. National grid connection in the form of a 38kV underground electrical cable and all associated infrastructure including electrical and communication ducting. The proposed grid connection is c. 8.54km in length, located within the public road (L6657, L6662, L6656, L2616, L6735 and R712) and within the permitted Kilderry Solar Farm (Pl. Ref. No. 2360382). The purpose of the proposed grid connection is to transmit electricity from the permitted Kilderry Solar Farm to the existing Kilkenny 110kV substation; ii. All associated ancillary site development works including joint bays and communication chambers. The planning application is accompanied by a Natura Impact Statement (NIS). The NIS assesses both the construction and operation of the Proposed Development, as well as integral elements of the wider project infrastructure, comprising the permitted Kilderry Solar Farm (Pl. Ref. 23/60382) which consists of the construction and operation of a solar photovoltaic (PV) farm located in the townland of Kilderry, Co. Kilkenny and all associated works. This development is covered by the provisions of the Renewable Energy Directive III (Directive (EU) 2023/2413) and it is important to note that the planning application may be subject to section 34D of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. When a notice issues in accordance with section 34D(b), the provisions of article 26A of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 to 2025 shall apply.

  Permission · Kilkenny County Council, 2660186

• 7 May 2024Refused

  for development. The development will consist of: (i) All works (within County Kilkenny) associated with the connection of the proposed Seskin Wind Farm to the national electricity grid, via underground 38kV electrical cabling within the public road corridor to the existing Kilkenny 110kV substation; (ii) Provision of 16 no. joint bays, communication chambers and earth sheath links along the underground electrical cabling route; (iii) Reinstatement of the road and track surfaces above cabling trench along existing roads and tracks; (iv) Carriageway strengthening works at ‘Black Bridge’ on the L1835 / L3037 (Protected Structure RPS Ref. D84); (v) A new temporary access road off the N78 to the L30372 in the townlands of Cloneen, Co. Kilkenny to facilitate the delivery of turbine components and other abnormal loads; (vi) All ancillary apparatus and site development works above and below ground.

  Permission · Kilkenny County Council, 2460210

• 25 Aug 2023Conditional

  Kilderry Solar Farm Ltd. seeks a 10 year planning permission with an operational lifetime of 40 years from the date of commissioning for the development of a ground mounted solar array as well as national grid connection and all ancillary works in the townland of Kilderry, and adjoining townlands of and adjoining town lands of Scart, Ballynamona, Rathgarvan (or Clifden), Churchclara, Clarabricken, Clara Upper, Clara, Kilmagar, Feathallagh and Ballysallagh, Co. Kilkenny. The proposed development comprises the following: i. Up to 200,000 sq.m of solar PV panels up to 2.6m in height mounted on metal frames complete with c. 370 string inverters mounted to the rear of the panels; ii. Up to 16 no. Transformer Stations; iii. 38kV Substation compound including 1 no. customer control room (29.25 sq.m), 1 no. ESB control room(22.75 sq.m.) 1 no. switch gear room (29.25 sq.m.) and 1 no. spare room (21.55 sq.m.), 1 no. 38kV cable bay, 1 no. lightning mast (18m in height), 1 no. telecoms pole (11m in height), perimeter palisade fencing (2.6m in height), 7 no. lighting poles (c.3.2m in height) and associated electrical infrastructure; iv. Proposed new entrance from the Johnswell Road (L2616-9) for construction and operational access to the site; v. 2 no. temporary construction compounds for the duration of the construction phase of the project; vi. Internal tracks, site landscaping and drainage works, internal site cabling, security fencing, CCTV and all associated ancillary site development works; vii. National grid connection in the form of an underground 38 kV electrical cable (c. 8.5km in length located in the public road) from the proposed 38kV substation to the existing Kilkenny 110kV substation via the townlands of Scart, Ballynamona, Rathgarvan (or Clifden), Churchclara, Clarabricken, Clara Upper, Clara, Kilmagar, Feathallagh, Ballysallagh and Kilderry. The planning application is accompanied by a Natura Impact Statement

  Permission · Kilkenny County Council, 2360382

• 28 Jul 2023Conditional

  for Demolition of part of existing lounge bar, restaurant, toilets and storage area. Upgrading works to foul effluent treatment system. Construction of new boundaries to property. The remaining property to retain its existing residential use, Reroofing of storage area and all ancillary site works the former Fox and Goose property

  Permission · Kilkenny County Council, 2360346

• 9 May 2023Conditional

  a) Permission to construct agricultural shed to accommodate milking parlour, dairy, handling facilities, and underground slatted storage tank. b) Permission to construct roofed extension to existing agricultural shed to accommodate feed area and underground slatted storage tanks. c) Permission to construct silage pit. d) Permission to upgrade farm entrance. e) Permission to erect Meal Bin and all associated site works

  Permission · Kilkenny County Council, 2360183

• 26 Nov 2020Conditional

  to (a) construct a single storey extension to the side of existing dwelling and (b) to make alterations to the front façade of the existing dwelling together with all other associated site works

  Permission · Kilkenny County Council, 20821

• 13 Mar 2020Conditional

  to convert single storey dwelling to a dormer style dwelling with addition of front porch and associated internal alterations

  Permission · Kilkenny County Council, 20156

• 26 Feb 2020N/a

  to convert single storey dwelling to a dormer style dwelling with addition of front porch and associated internal alterations

  Permission · Kilkenny County Council, 20117

• 26 Feb 2019Conditional

  for the construction of a milking parlour, storage and office, roofed collecting yard, meal bin and underground slurry storage tank and all associated site works

  Permission · Kilkenny County Council, 19104

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 the townland of Churchclara.

Recorded monuments

• KK020-017001 Church
  Description

  On the lower reaches of a hill with good views to the E-SE, centrally placed within a roughly rectangular graveyard (KK020-017002-). The church is indicated on the Down Survey (1655-6) barony map of Gowran and on the parish map of Churchclara (Hibernia Regnum, courtesy of Trinity College Dublin; NLI MS720). The terrier accompanying the parish map describes, ‘There standes on Church Claragh the walls of a decayed Church’ (NLI MS720). The church, dedicated to St Colmán Cláraig (died 749), later became the chancel of a larger parish church (Ó Carragáin 2010, 307). According to Carrigan (1905, vol. 3, 353), ‘In the year 1230 half of the rectory or church of Clara was granted to the Canons Regular of St. John’s Abbey, Kilkenny, by Peter, Bishop of Ossory; the vicariate of the parish was granted to the same Canons by William, also Bishop of Ossory, in 1315’. The church consists of a nave (int. dims. 11.5m E-W x 7.2m N-S) and chancel (int. dims. 6.1m E-W x 4.3m N-S). The chancel is constructed of coursed blocks of limestone while the nave is of roughly coursed limestone rubble. The chancel is an early pre-Romanesque church with E gable in antae. It has a square aumbry, at the E end of the S wall. Two red sandstone ogham stones have been incorporated into the church, one (KK020-017003-), was reused as the sill when the chamfered round-headed E window was inserted in the late 12th/early 13th century, replacing the original window (Ó Carragáin 2010, 158, fig. 166). Carrigan (ibid. 354) noted a partially broken out chamfered window (Wth c. 0.26m; H c.1m) in the S wall of the chancel. The other ogham stone (KK020-017010-) was built into the base of the N wall of the nave, immediately E of the centrally placed N doorway. This chamfered doorway (H 1.35m) is partially broken out, though an arch-stone and E jambstones survive. Carrigan (ibid. 353) mentions a breach in the opposite wall which may also have contained a doorway. The W gable has two large cracks running down the wall and only a portion of the apex survives. Carrigan (ibid.) noted four corbels at the W end of the nave which would have supported a gallery. Masonry at the W end of the both the N and S walls of the nave has been robbed, with a breach in the latter wall. Traces of a cross-wall (H 0.5m; T 0.9m), dividing the nave and chancel, are visible projecting from the inner face of the N wall. Modern buttresses have been added to the external faces of the N and S walls, including at the junction of the nave and chancel on the S side. Within the interior there is a lot of collapsed masonry, including some architectural fragments. There are also several 19th-century memorials including headstones and an altar tomb. Within the graveyard is portion of a shaft from a font (KK020-017004-). Also associated with this church are a 13th/14th-century graveslab (KK020-017005-) and two bullaun stones (KK020-017007-; KK020-017009-). A holy well (KK020-017006-) is located c. 65m to the NW. See attached: KK020-017001- extract from Down Survey (1655-6) barony map of Gowran (Hib. Reg., courtesy of Trinity College Dublin Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 18 November 2020

• KK020-017002 Graveyard
  Description

  On the lower reaches of a hill with good views to the E-SE, enclosing a centrally placed medieval church (KK020-017001-). A public road runs N-S along the W side of the graveyard. The 1st (1839) ed. OS 6-inch map shows an irregular dashed line surrounding the church which suggests that the graveyard was not enclosed at this stage. By the 1900 revision of the OS 6-inch map the graveyard wall has been built and remains as it is today, with the entrance from the road on the W side consisting of an iron gate between stone piers and a stile immediately to the N. A rectangular area (dims. 50m E-W x 31m N-S) enclosed by a stone wall with roughly cut, slightly projecting, coping stones. On top of the S boundary wall is an architectural fragment (dims. 05m x 0.27m) chamfered and smoothly dressed on two faces. All gravestones date from the 18th-century and later, with several architectural fragments employed as grave-markers. In the SW corner of the graveyard there is portion of a shaft from a font (KK020-017004-). Also at the W end of the church there is a 13th/14th-century graveslab (KK020-017005-). Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 18 November 2020

• KK020-017003 Ogham stone
  Description

  Within a pre-Romanesque church (KK020-017001-), which was later extended westward, the original church becoming the chancel. This ogham stone, first noted in 1869 (Anon. 1868-9, 281-2; Macalister 1945, 33-4, no. 28), was reused as a sill for a round-headed window which was inserted in the E gable in the late 12th/early 13th century, replacing the original window (Ó Carragáin 2010, 158, fig. 166). It is a long rectangular block of red sandstone (dims. 1.55m x 0.22m) with seven closely set incised strokes visible on its lower edge at S end. Macalister (ibid.) read the inscription as TASEGAGNI [MAQ]I MUCOI MACORBO. McManus (1997, 67) could only be certain of ...MUC... MAC... . A second ogham stone (KK020-017010-) was discovered in the 1970s, built into the base of the N wall of the nave (Manning and Moore 1997, 370-372). Compiled by: Jean Farrelly and Nora White Date of revised upload: 18 November 2020

• KK020-017004 Font
  Description

  In the SW portion of the graveyard (KK020-017002-) enclosing the medieval church of Clara (KK020-017001-), close to the S boundary wall. A portion of the shaft of a font consisting of a large block of polished limestone (H 0.35m, diam. 0.4m) subcircular in plan with semi-circular roll-mollings at each of its four corners. There has been some damage to these mouldings. A drainage hole (diam. 0.11m) runs through its centre of the shaft. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 18 November 2020

• KK020-017005 Graveslab
  Description

  Within Clara church (KK020-017001-) or graveyard (KK020-017002-). According to Carrigan (1905, vol.l 3, 355), ‘At the west end of the church is a fragment, 4 ft. long, of a small coffin-shaped slab with incised cross. The narrow end is missing, as well as the upper corner at the right side of the cross. There are two incised Lombardic inscriptions along the sides, one beginning at the top, and continued along under the right arm of the cross; the other commencing at the foot, and continued along under the left arm. Of the former inscription all that remains is: HIC JACET THMS SCOR… Translation – Here lies Thomas Scor[thals]. The other inscription is: [HIC JACE]T THMS SERTHALS FI. SIMOND. Translation – Here lies Thomas fitz Simon Serthals. These are the oldest Shortall inscriptions we have. They date from the 13th century, and may be presumed to commemorate members of the Shortall family of Upper Clara’. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 17 November 2020

• KK020-017006 Ritual site - holy well
  Description

  In a marshy hollow, c. 33m E of stream running roughly N-S. Clara church (KK020-017001-) and graveyard (KK020-017002-) are located c. 65m to the SE. Described by Carrigan (1905, vol. 3, 356) as, ‘a fine holy well, known as “St. Colman’s Well”’. The nearby church was also dedicated to St Colman whose feast day is on the 16th of October. A spring enclosed on three sides by stone walls (H 0.75m) and covered by a large flagstone (T 0.1m). Enclosing walls (area 1.2m x 0.95m) were repaired in the 1950s. Formerly dedicated to St. Colman and venerated on the 16th of October. When visited in 1994 the well, which was overgrown with vegetation, was being used for domestic purposes. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 18 November 2020

• KK020-017007 Bullaun stone
  Description

  In grounds of Churchclara House, c. 150m WSW of Clara church (KK020-017001-) and graveyard (KK020-017002-). Carrigan (1905, vol. 3, 355-6) relates a story that the bullaun, 'was carried from the churchyard to its present position, about a century ago, by a strong man named Wawtear O'Keeffe, who, after perforning the feat, gave expression to the wish that, if another, as strong as he, every again appeared on the scene, he should carry the font back to its old place in the graveyard'. An irregular limestone boulder (max. dims. 0.7m x 0.47m) with a circular basin (diam. 0.26m; D 0.03m) placed off-centre. Another bullaun (KK020-017009-) is incorporated in the stone wall along the roadside c. 70m NW of the church. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 18 November 2020

• KK020-017008 Architectural fragment
  Description

  A graveyard (KK020-017002-) enclosing the medieval church of Clara (KK020-017001-). An architectural fragment (dims. 0.55m x 0.27m), chamfered on two edges, rests on the graveyard wall. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 18 November 2020

• KK020-017009 Bullaun stone
  Description

  Located c. 70m N of Clara church (KK020-017001-) and graveyard (KK020-017002-). Incorporated into the lower courses of a field boundary with external stone facing, on the E side of road. An irregularly shaped limestone block (max. dims. 0.4m x 0.35m; max. H 0.25m) with shallow, circular basin (diam. 0.16m). Another bullaun (KK020-017007-) from the graveyard is currently located in the grounds of the farmhouse to the SW. In 1893 it was noted that, 'In the ditch of the roadway may been seen the heel-stones of the gateway of the former entrance to the church precincts, one of them still in situ' (Anon. 1893, 233). This may refer to a spudstone and could be the stone with the depression in the field boundary which was more recently interpreted as a bullaun. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 18 November 2020

• KK020-017010 Ogham stone
  Description

  One of two red sandstone ogham stones incorporated into the fabric of Clara medieval church (KK020-017001-). The first of these (KK020-017003-) functions as an inserted sill of the window in the E gable. This second stone (dims. 1.14m x 0.23m), discovered in the 1970s (Manning and Moore 1997, 370-372), is situated just above present ground level in the external face of the N wall of the nave, immediately E of the N doorway and in a horizontal position. The inscription was read by Manning and Moore (ibid) as G[E]LAGN[I] [A]V[I] ... . Compiled by: Nora White Date of upload: 28 April 2016

Architectural heritage

No building of the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage stands in the townland of Churchclara.

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 Churchclara, 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

LiDAR of the Office of Public Works, flown in 2011, at 2 m: tile OPW_2225 (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.

No address of the register names Churchclara with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Kilkenny.

Name

Churchclara · Clárach an Teampaill

Area

1,358,267 m² (135.83 ha, 335.64 acres)

Civil parish

Clara, and its townlands

Barony

Gowran

Electoral division

Clara, the unit of the census

Census 2022

756 people lived in 205 households in the Clara electoral division. 88% of households owned their home. 28% of homes were built since 2001. 5% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 1% were holiday homes.

Neighbouring townlands

Ballynamona, Baunmore, Clarabricken, Coneygar, Kingsland, Rathgarvan or Clifden, Scart

Placenames

Churchclara 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.