Threecastles

78 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Threecastles, from 8 m² to 309,957 m² (31 ha, 76.59 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary. 25 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 Threecastles 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.

• 22 Sept 2026N/a

  to retain: (A) Existing 3 No. detached storage buildings to residential site, (B) Alterations to site boundaries, (C) Site entrance position, including all associated site works

  Retention · Kilkenny County Council, 2660612

• 7 Aug 2026Conditional

  for new extension to existing dwelling including new garage, to include demolition of existing lean to extension, demolition of existing sheds, revised internal layout, new roof, new windows and doors, decommissioning existing septic tank, install new effluent treatment system and associated site works on lands

  Permission · Kilkenny County Council, 2662

• 14 Apr 2026Refused

  for 3nr modular garden studios consisting of two domestic one bedroom homes and home office for domestic use as constructed and permission for foul drainage system and percolation area and all associated works.

  Retention, 3 homes · Kilkenny County Council, 2660217

• 30 May 2025Conditional

  for construction of a 2173m2 building to include a workshop and ancillary offices at their existing premises. The development will also include the demolition / removal of 05 No. existing outbuildings, new parking area, signage to the façades, and all associated site & ancillary works

  Permission · Kilkenny County Council, 2560313

• 8 May 2025N/a

  for the construction of a 2173m2 building to include a workshop and ancillary offices at their existing premises in Threecastles. The development will also include the demolition / removal of 05 No. existing outbuildings, new parking area, signage to the façades, and all associated site and ancillary works

  Permission · Kilkenny County Council, 2560246

• 29 Sept 2023Conditional

  of domestic garage/store and all associated site works

  Retention · Kilkenny County Council, 2360432

• 24 Oct 2022Refused

  for construction of dwelling house, domestic garage, entrance, foul effluent treatment system and all associated site works

  Outline permission, 1 home · Kilkenny County Council, 22691

• 12 Aug 2021Conditional

  for a proposed new two storey dwelling, proposed vehicular entrance, driveway, connection to public water main, packaged wastewater treatment system with percolation area, stormwater soakaways, landscaping and all associated site works

  Permission, 1 home · Kilkenny County Council, 21691

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

• KK014-025 Settlement cluster
  Description

  On a prominent E-W ridge running along the S bank of the River Nore. The slight elevation gives a commanding view across the Nore valley in all directions and over a crossing point of the river. According to Carrigan (1905, vol. 2, 267) the origin of the medieval name for Threecastles of 'Odagh', which still survives as the name of the parish, derives from the Ui Duach tribe whose lands here where taken by the Anglo-Normans and, 'under the name of the Manor of Odogh, was made part of the Lordship of Leinster, granted to Earl Strongbow by Henry II. It continued in the possession of Strongbow's descendants for the next two centuries, that is, till the death of David of Strabolgi, 13th Earl of Athol, in 1375, when it passed into other hands'. The initial castle erected here was the motte (KK014-025005-). Carrigan (ibid.) states that, the 'Normans made the narrow pass beside the old parish church [KK014-025003-] of Odagh, the strong point of their newly-acquired Manor, by erecting several castles there, and from this circumstance the place became known as Castledowgh (Castle Ui Duach), and in later times as Three Castles'. There are references to the manor of Castledogh in 1381 and 1402 and before 1537 it had passed to the Shortalls of Ballylarkin before being forfeited by them in 1653 (ibid.). In the Calendar of Ormond Deeds (1350-1413) an early 15th-century list of the baronies of Kilkenny and the value of the townland, boroughs etc. therein, includes, the 'Burgagery of Castledoigh', which suggests that Castledoigh had acquired borough status by this date (Curtis 1934, vol. 2, 353). While many medieval boroughs failed in the late 13th and 14th centuries, Empey (1990, 80, 85) mentions the borough of Castledogh (Odagh) as having, 'still some kind of existence in the late sixteenth century'. There is some evidence of the three castles implied in the later name of the settlement. Carrigan (ibid. 268) refers to the residential tower (KK014-025004-) or presbytery adjoining the church as one of the castles and states that, 'another [KK014-025002-] stood 30 or 40 yards to the north, till it was thrown down 90 or 100 years ago, and the present Rectory house erected on the site; the third must have stood somewhere in Mrs. Clarke's yard, close to its ancient "chapel". Though in the latter case the 'chapel' itself may have been a small tower house [KK014-025006-]. The form and extent of the medieval settlement is unknown. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 20 May 2020

• KK014-025001 Ford
  Description

  There was a fording point over the River Nore, according to Carrigan (1905, vol. 2, 55) it was, 'a little to the north of Three Castles Bridge'. The presence of a fording point would have made this a strategic location for the motte (KK014-025005-) which is located on the prominent ridge immediately S of the river, c. 200m SE of the ford. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 20 May 2020

• KK014-025002 Castle - unclassified
  Description

  On a prominent E-W ridge running along the S bank of the River Nore. The slight elevation gives a commanding view across the Nore valley in all directions and over a crossing point of the river. Carrigan (ibid. 268) refers to a castle which, 'stood 30 or 40 yards to the north [of the medieval church KK014-025003-], till it was thrown down 90 or 100 years ago [c. 1800], and the present Rectory house erected on the site. According to Gibb (1948, 26), the lower storey of the castle forms the cellars of the Rectory. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 20 May 2020

• KK014-025003 Church
  Description

  On a prominent E-W ridge running along the S bank of the River Nore. The slight elevation gives a commanding view across the Nore valley in all directions and over the fording point of the river. The church, orientated E-W, is situated in the N portion of a roughly rectangular graveyard (KK014-0225007-). According to Carrigan (1905, vol. 2, 268) the patron of the church was St Nicholas. The rectangular church (surviving int. L 11.8m; int. Wth 6.05m; wall T 1.5m), is poorly preserved. The E gable has collapsed and a later wall built on the line of the gable. There is a later residential tower or presbytery at the W end. The original W gable of the church has been replaced by the E wall of the residential tower. The church was entered via a pointed doorway (Wth 1.25m) with punch dressing, blocked up, roughly mid-way along the N wall. There is a stoup in the internal face of the N wall, immediately E of the entrance. The church was lit by two flat-headed windows in the S wall, both largely blocked up and by at least one window in the N wall towards the E end. In the 18th/19th the church was reused as a mausoleum for the family at Threecastles House. Carrigan (ibid. 267) describes the church as, 'about 40 ft. [c. 12m] long and 22 ft. [6.7m] wide, the walls being 5 ft. [c. 1.2m] thick, and very strongly built. There are two flat-headed, cut-stone loops in the south side-wall, each 2 ft. 6 in. [0.76m] high and 10 in. [0.26m] wide on the outside; there are two similar loops in the opposite wall. The entrance door, which is in the middle of the north wall, is of cut-stone, round-headed, and 6 ft. [c. 1.8m] high by 3 ft. [c. 0.9m] wide on the outside; it is some feet over the ground, and hence, must have been formerly approached by means of a stairs or steps of wood or stone. The east gable, which fell or was thrown down long ago, has been rebuilt to the height of 10 [c. 3m] or 12 ft. [c. 3.6m]. The OS Letters (1839) mention, 'an old holy water font [stoup] fixed in the wall on the right hand as you go in' and also noted that the E gable had collapsed and had been 'lately built up for some farm purpose' (O'Flanagan ed. 1930, vol. 1 (201). There is a residential tower (KK014-025004-) attached to the W which shares the W wall of the church and is described by Carrigan (ibid.) as, 'the presbytery, a strong castle 35 ft. [c. 10.6m] long, with walls 8 [c. 2.4m] or 9 ft. [c. 2.7m] thick...it is at present about 24 ft. [c. 7.3m] high'. Several medieval graveslab fragments (KK014-025008- to KK014-025012-) have been found in the graveyard, including one (KK014-025009-) which may date from the 13th/14th century. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 20 May 2020

• KK014-025004 Castle - tower house
  Description

  On a prominent E-W ridge running along the S bank of the River Nore. The slight elevation gives a commanding view across the Nore valley in all directions and over the fording point of the river. The residential tower is attached to the W end of a medieval church (KK014-025003-), orientated E-W, which is situated in the N portion of a roughly rectangular graveyard (KK014-0225007-). The W end of the church was rebuilt and is contemporary with the tower which is the same width as the church. A four-storey tower (int. dims. 6m N-S; 5m E-W; S wall T 1.4m) which was entered at the E end of the W wall. The tower and church are not interconnected at ground level. The doorway is protected by a murder-hole over head. There is a vault over the ground-floor chamber, the upper levels are carried on timber floors which rested on corbels. A mural stair rises in the W wall to a spiral stair in the NW angle which gives access to the chambers for the first floor upwards. The steps have been deliberately removed in relatively recent times to prevent access to the upper levels. There is a mural passage in the N wall at first-floor level which gives access to a stair at the E end leading to the wall-walk of the church. There is the exit of a garderobe chute at the N end of the W wall. The upper levels have large windows and fireplaces. When it was visited by the Ordnance Survey in 1839 it was, 'so covered with ivy that the door and windows were quite invisible, but there is a forced doorway in western side' (O'Flanagan ed. 1930, vol. 1 (201). The tower is described by Carrigan (1905, vol. 2, 267-8) Carrigan (ibid.) as, 'the presbytery, a strong castle 35 ft. [c. 10.6m] long, with walls 8 [c. 2.4m] or 9 ft. [c. 2.7m] thick...it is at present about 24 ft. [c. 7.3m] high'. Gibb (1948, 26) mentions that the tower, 'is now used as a barn'. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 20 May 2020

• KK014-025007 Graveyard
  Description

  On a prominent E-W ridge running along the S bank of the River Nore. The slight elevation gives a commanding view across the Nore valley in all directions and over the fording point of the river. The medieval church of Threecastle (Odagh) (KK014-025003-), with its residential tower (KK014-025004-), is situated in the N portion of a roughly rectangular graveyard (dims. c. 55m N-S; c. 35m E-W in the N, tapering to c. 24m in the S). Within the graveyard Carrigan (1905, vol. 2, 268) noted a fragment of a graveslab (KK014-025008-)dated c. 1600 and Buggy (1969, 15) noted a number of graveslab fragments (KK014-025009- to KK014-025012-), including one (KK014-025009-) possibly dating to the 13th/14th century. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 20 May 2020

• KK014-025008 Graveslab
  Description

  In the graveyard at Threecastles (KK014-025007-). Carrigan (1905, vol. 2, 268) noted a fragment of a graveslab, 'of about the year 1600, showing a raised cross and a "Hic jacet Johannes..". Given the date ascribed it is likely that the latin inscription is in Black Letter script. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 20 May 2020

• KK014-025009 Graveslab
  Description

  In the graveyard at Threecastles (KK014-025007-). Buggy (1969, 15) noted, 'the end of an incised floriated cross (in two pieces) which appears to be 13th or 14th century' in date. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 21 May 2020

• KK014-025010 Graveslab
  Description

  In the graveyard at Threecastles (KK014-025007-). Describing the graveslabs, Carrigan (1905, vol. 2, 268) noted, 'two uninscribed ones, with crosses of ancient pattern'. These are possibly the same slabs (KK014-025010- and KK014-025011-) noted by Buggy (1969, 15) as, 'Two pieces of stone with inscribed crosses of ancient pattern are to be seen'. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 21 May 2010

• KK014-025011 Graveslab
  Description

  In the graveyard at Threecastles (KK014-025007-). Describing the graveslabs, Carrigan (1905, vol. 2, 268) noted, 'two uninscribed ones, with crosses of ancient pattern'. These are possibly the same slabs (KK014-025010- and KK014-025011-) noted by Buggy (1969, 15) as, 'Two pieces of stone with inscribed crosses of ancient pattern are to be seen'. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 21 May 2020

• KK014-025012 Graveslab
  Description

  In the graveyard at Threecastles (KK014-025007-). Describing the graveslabs, Buggy (1969, 15) noted, 'a "Cadaver" - a small oblong stone 2' 1" x 1" [c. 0.63m x 0.02m - the latter measurement is probably a typographical error as it is more likely to be 1' or 0.3m] with a perfectly inscribed outline of a skeleton on its face'. This may be from a graveslab or could be from a side or front panel of an altar tomb. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 21 May 2020

• KK014-139 Ring-ditch
  Description

  In tillage. A ring-ditch (diam. c. 20m) identified as a cropmark on aerial photograph (GB91.EQ.07, 20 August 1991). Also visible on this aerial photograph are three other ring-ditches, (KK014-140----; KK014-142----; KK014-141----) which lie c. 50m to the NW, c. 110m to the WNW and c. 240m to the NW respectively. Since the aerial photograph was taken a road (R693) has been built running NW-SE between KK014-139---- and KK14-140----, which are E of the road, and KK014-141---- and KK014-142----, which are W of the road. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly and Dr. Gillian Barrett for the Archaeological Survey of Ireland Date of revised upload: 19 June 2020

• KK014-140 Ring-ditch
  Description

  In tillage. A ring-ditch (diam. c. 15m) identified as a cropmark on aerial photograph (GB91.EQ.07, 20 August 1991). Also visible on this aerial photograph are three other ring-ditches, (KK014-139----; KK014-142----; KK014-141----) which lie c. 50m to the SE, c. 70m to the W and c. 140m to the NW respectively. Since the aerial photograph was taken a road (R693) has been built running NW-SE between KK014-139---- and KK14-140----, which are E of the road, and KK014-141---- and KK014-142----, which are W of the road. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly and Dr. Gillian Barrett for the Archaeological Survey of Ireland Date of revised upload: 19 June 2020

• KK014-141 Ring-ditch
  Description

  In tillage. A ring-ditch (diam. c. 10m) identified as a cropmark on aerial photograph (GB91.EQ.07, 20 August 1991). Also visible on this aerial photograph are three other ring-ditches, (KK014-139----; KK014-140----; KK014-142----) which lie c. 240m, c. 190m and c. 140m to the SE respectively. Since the aerial photograph was taken a road (R693) has been built running NW-SE between KK014-139---- and KK14-140----, which are E of the road, and KK014-141---- and KK014-142----, which are W of the road. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly and Dr. Gillian Barrett for the Archaeological Survey of Ireland Date of revised upload: 19 June 2020

• KK014-142 Ring-ditch
  Description

  In tillage. A ring-ditch (diam. c. 15m) identified as a cropmark on aerial photographs (GB91.EQ.08, 20 August 1991; ASIAP (19) 1, 2 August 1996). Also visible on an aerial photograph (GB91.EQ.07, 20 August 1991) are three other ring-ditches, (KK014-139----; KK014-140----; KK014-141----) which lie c. 110m to the SE, c. 70m to the E and c. 140m to the NW respectively. Since the aerial photograph was taken a road (R693) has been built running NW-SE between KK014-139---- and KK14-140----, which are E of the road, and KK014-141---- and KK014-142----, which are W of the road. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly and Dr. Gillian Barrett for the Archaeological Survey of Ireland Date of revised upload: 19 June 2020

• KK014-150 Enclosure
  Description

  A roughly circular enclosure (diam. c. 45m) identified as the cropmark of a fosse on an aerial photograph (19 June 2020). There is some natural soil staining within and around the edge of the W quadrant, suggesting the ground is wetter in this area. The N-NE portion of the enclosure has been truncated by scarping along side the public road (R693). See attached aerial photograph by Dan Lenehan. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 22 June 2020

Architectural heritage

• The Old Rectory, rectory/glebe/vicarage/curate's house, 1795–1805 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached two-bay two-storey over raised basement gable-fronted Board of First Fruits glebe house with dormer attic, built 1800, with single-bay two-storey lower entrance end bay to right, and single-bay two-storey recessed lower end bay to left. In use, 1946-7. Now in private residential use. Pitched (gable-fronted) slate roof (hipped roofs to end bays (behind parapet to entrance end bay)) with clay ridge tiles, rendered chimney stacks, slightly sproketed eaves, timber bargeboards to gables, and cast-iron rainwater goods on rendered eaves. Painted rendered walls with rendered parapet to entrance end bay. Square-headed window openings (lunette window opening to gable blocked-up with painted render over) with cut-limestone sills, nine-over-six (ground floor) and three-over-six (first floor) timber sash windows having six-over-six timber sash window to first floor entrance end bay. Round-headed door opening with cut-limestone step over open basement having wrought iron railings, painted cut-stone Gibbsian surround having keystone, and timber panelled door having fanlight. Interior with timber panelled shutters to window openings. Set back from road in own grounds with concealed piers having iron gates.

• Threecastles Bridge, bridge, 1785–1795 · Regional interest
  Description

  Five-arch rubble limestone road bridge over river, dated 1790. Random rubble limestone walls with rubble limestone triangular cut-waters to piers, cut-limestone diamond recesses flanking central arch having cut-limestone surrounds, inscribed cut-limestone date stone/plaque, and squared rubble limestone coping to parapets. Series of five segmental arches with cut-limestone voussoirs having keystones, and squared rubble limestone soffits having remains of render over. Sited spanning River Nore with grass banks to river.

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 Threecastles, about 1 in 10 homes in this area is likely to have high radon levels. Testing a home

Landslides

The 1:50,000 map rates the landslide susceptibility here as moderately low, low, partly inferred.

Terrain model

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

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

Name

Threecastles · Bábhún Ó nDuach

Area

1,857,563 m² (185.76 ha, 459.01 acres)

Civil parish

Odagh, and its townlands

Barony

Crannagh

Electoral division

Odagh, the unit of the census

Census 2022

486 people lived in 161 households in the Odagh electoral division. 90% of households owned their home. 24% of homes were built since 2001. 6% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 1% were holiday homes.

Neighbouring townlands

Ballycarran Little, Ballydaniel, Carrigeen, Killaree, Leugh, Purcellsgarden, Simonsland, Threecastles Demesne

Placenames

Threecastles 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.