Graystown

42 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Graystown, from 735 m² to 331,329 m² (33.13 ha, 81.87 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary; 26 neighbouring parcels touch it.

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

No zone of a development plan covers Graystown 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.

• 4 Dec 2025N/a

  1) continued use of the existing permitted quarry (planning file ref. no. 04/1356 & ABP PL23.221792) which includes: a block manufacturing facility; a ready-mix concrete plant; a garage and maintenance facility; office facilities; ESB substation; other ancillary plant and infrastructure; 2) the deepening of the existing quarry floor to a finished level of 60 metres above ordnance datum (mOD), remaining entirely within the existing permitted quarry footprint. All within an application area of approximately 36 hectares and for a total period of 34 years (the extraction operational period is for 32 years and a further 2 years for site restoration). The application is accompanied by an Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR)

  Permission · Tipperary County Council, 2561255

• 11 Sept 2025Conditional

  a single storey extension to existing dwelling house, consisting of two bedrooms, bathroom and entrance porch, carry out internal alterations and associated site works on our lands

  Permission · Tipperary County Council, 25193

• 20 Nov 2017Conditional

  New single storey ground & first floor level extensions to existing dwelling, Alterations to existing dwelling, New wastewater treatment system to replace existing septic tank & all associated site works.

  Permission · Tipperary County Council, 17601269

Source: National Planning Applications, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Applicants are not shown.

Designated sites

• Proposed Natural Heritage Area: Laffansbridge 000965

Recorded monuments

• TS054-037 Settlement deserted - medieval
  Description

  The Civil Survey (1654-6) records the proprietor as Henry Laffan of 'Graystowne Esqr. Irish Papist' and makes two separate references to it, 'The Castle and Slate house of Castle John inhabitted, A Stomp of a castle with a brooken bawne unrepaired & inhabited' (Simington 1931, vol. 1, 101) and 'Upon this land standeth a good castle, a slate house wanting repaire with a large bawne & severall cabbins' (ibid, 106). According to Hassett (1990, 24-6) Henry Laffan 'was an official of the Butler Family, acquired considerable property in Co. Tipperary at the beginning of the 14th century. In 1305 he got 120 acres in Graystown from Geruase De Raley. This Henry Laffan was said to be the first of the Laffan Family, whose chief seat was in Graystown from then on. In 1521, Thomas Laffan, Lord of Ballingarry, granted to the Earl of Ormonde, the land of Ballinure. He was probably dead before 1524, in which year James Laffan of Graystown was one of the freeholders of Tipperary, who complained to King Henry VIII of the extortions, coyne and livery levied on them by Sir James Butler of Kiltinan and Sir Edmond Butler of Cahir as dupties of the Earl of Ormonde. James Laffan died in 1607. In 1613, Thomas Laffan of Graystown was a member of Parliament for Tipperary. The proprietor of Graystown and Noan, 3200 acres in 1640, was Henry Laffan of Graystown while Marcus Laffan, his son, apparently held the remainder of the family property in Lurgoe, 640 acres. Henry was dead before 1649, for Marcus was found in Graystown in that year and was a Commissioner for the levying of troops and taxes in Slieveardagh. Marcus was transplanted to Connaught where he was alotted 1184 acres. The Cromwellian grantee of Graystown was Gyles Cooke. He held the title of the area in 1659 and had two hearths there in 1665 (Petty Census Money Records). The Down Survey map of 1655-6 for Graystown depicts a castle, a large rectangular bawn with two free-standing houses inside the bawn (TS054-037001-), three cabins to the north of the castle (TS054-037002-) and a church (TS054-039001-) to the south-east (Clutterbuck 2000, 158). The hearth taxation for 1666-7 recorded 26 hearths in the townland of Graystown (ibid.). Immediately N of the tower house and bawn there is a rectangular field of rock outcrop which is shown on the first ed. OS 6-inch map as a 'Fair Green'. In this field are the grass-covered wall footings of two house sites rectangular in plan located at the N end of this field. These two houses are located side by side and are orienated on a NE-SW axis, the NE end of both houses face onto a possible road which runs down through the field on a N-S axis. To the E of this road opposite the two houses there are two large sub-circular enclosures which may be plots assoicated with the medieval settlement of the area. This green is intersected on its northern perimeter by a modern road running SW-NE, to the N of this road in the adjoining field (dims. 230m N-S; 150m E-W) there are the grass-covered wall footings of a possible bawn and or castle/house with bawn and three other buildings one of rectangular plan in SE corner of the field which appears to be a house with an adjoining building to the N and a third rectangular building in NE quadrant of field. To the N of this cluster of houses there are some small fields and enclosures which may be contemporary with the late medieval settlement. The larger building with bawn is defined by grass-covered wall footings of a house (dims. 10m x 7m) and bawn (dims. 38m x 34m ), the house is located in the NW angle of the bawn and forms the boundary wall on this angle. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 26 August 2011

• TS054-037001 Bawn
  Description

  On the W edge of a ridge of limestone outcrop which rises gradually to the E. It occupies a defensive position overlooking the Clashawley river valley floor below. It is associated with a 15th-century tower house (TS054-037002-) and a late 16th/early 17th-century house (TS054-037003-). The townland of Graystown appears to have been named for Walter de Grey who possibly acquired the land in the late 13th century, but certainly held it in the early 14th century (Mills 1914, 33). In 1305, de Grey sold Graystown to Gervase de Raley who, in the same year, sold it on to Henry Laffan, a clerk of Edmund Butler (ibid.; White 1932, 94). The transaction is recorded in Latin in the Red Book of Ormond, where Laffan buys one carucate of land, equivalent to approximately 120 acres, for ten pounds of silver.  The tower house, visible today, was built in the second half of the 15th century. One possible candidate for its construction is Thomas Laffan, who in 1483 was recorded as bailiff to the precentor of Cashel Cathredral (O’Donnell 2006, 55). He is probably the same Thomas who in 1521, was referred to as, ‘lord of Ballygroy in county Tipperary’, Ballygroy being a debased version of the Irish, ‘Baile an Ghraeigh’ or Graystown (Curtis 1937, vol. 4, 71, deed 77; https://www.logainm.ie/en/47699). He died c. 1524/5 (O’Donnell 2006, 55). The late 16th/early 17th-century house to the NE of the tower house may have been built by James Laffan ‘of Ballengrey’, and ‘of Grayestown’, who died in 1607, or his son, Thomas Laffan (Curtis 1943, vol. 6, 19, 26, deeds 26, 41; O’Donnell 2006, 54-5). Both were well-established figures in the county, with James serving as Sheriff of County Tipperary in 1585/6 and 1592 and as Sheriff of the Liberty of Tipperary in 1597, and Thomas elected as a Member of Parliament in 1613 (O’Donnell 2006, 54-5). The Civil Survey (1654-6) records Henry Laffan, Thomas’s son, as the proprietor of Graystown in 1640, which had ‘a good castle, a slate house wantinge repaire with a large bawne & severall cabbins' (Simington 1931, vol. 1, 106). The Down Survey map (1655-6) depicts a castle, a large rectangular bawn with two free-standing houses inside, and three cabins to the north of the castle (National Library of Ireland MS 721). Following the Cromwellian confiscations of 1652, the Laffan’s of Graystown were transplanted to Galway (Simington 1970, 93-4). The land was initially granted to Eliah Greene, but by 1659, as recorded in the Census of Ireland, ‘Giles Cooke gent’ was named as the Cromwellian grantee of ‘Graistowne’ (O’Donnell 2006, 54; Pender 2002, 296). The bawn appears to be contemporary with the tower house, which itself formed part of the W wall of the bawn. The bawn is roughly rectangular in shape (dims. 65.4m N-S; c. 54m E-W), with a kink at the NW angle, immediately N of the tower house, where it follows the edge of the rock outcrop. It is composed of roughly coursed limestone rubble with very large 'cyclopean' blocks incorporated in the upper courses of the N face of the bawn (int. H 3m). The N wall is the best-preserved portion, with wall-footings surviving of the E, S and W sides, the E and W stretches ran along the edge of rock outcrop, the W side being particularly sheer. The E side of the bawn is c. 7m from the edge of the present roadway, which runs N-S and has been cut through the bedrock. At the SE angle the wall survives as a curving low grass-covered mound, perhaps indicating a corner turret. The bawn joins up with the SW angle of the tower house, W side of S face, although the masonry of the tower house has collapsed at this point so it is not possible to determine if it is keyed in or abuts it. On the other side the bawn wall runs into the W end of the N wall of the tower house, abutting the tower house near the angle. The wall runs northward from the tower house for c. 2m before turning to the NE for almost 9m, then turns again southward, but this length of wall does not survive. There is an ope (inner embrasure H 1.35m; Wth c. 0.6m) near this angle, the W side splays internally while the E side is straight towards the exterior but splays inwards towards the interior. The W side of the loop is broken out, the straight E side consists of roughly dressed limestone blocks.  The original entrance was towards the western end of the N side. The W jambs of the gateway were incorporated into the NE angle of a late 16th/17th-century house which was built onto the bawn wall. The external lime render of the house runs up to these jambs which consist of large limestone blocks. These are surmounted by an arch, the springers of which survive in the E face of the house. This gate was well blocked, the former opening not being obvious on the external face. A gun loop (Wth 0.06m; H 0.33m) has been built into the blocking, the embrasure (Wth 0.5m; H 0.47m; D 1.1m) is 1.35m above the interior.  It appears that there were attempts to modernise the defences of the bawn in the late 16th century, as evidenced by the introduction of two shot-holes at wall-walk level at the W end of the N wall. These, with their accompanying embrasure, were blocked up when the late 16th/early 17th-century house was built. A new entrance (Wth 2.5m; H at side 2.1m), contemporary with the 16th/early 17th-century house was built towards the E end of the N wall. This entrance had also been arched over and, though the arch has since collapsed, the springer survives on the E side. Masonry from the arch still lies where it fell, with wicker-centring on the underside. The gateway projects at least 1.45m externally beyond the bawn wall and within the projection there is a flat-headed vertical gun loop (H 0.26m; Wth 0.08m) on each side. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

• TS054-037002 Castle - tower house
  Description

  On the W edge of a ridge of limestone outcrop which rises gradually to the E. It occupies a defensive position overlooking the Clashawley river valley below. It has an associated bawn (TS054-037001-) and a later house (TS054-037003-) built partially on and within the bawn. There are the remains of settlement earthworks (TS054-037----) at the base of the outcrop to the N. The townland of Graystown appears to have been named for Walter de Grey who possibly acquired the land in the late 13th century, but certainly held it in the early 14th century (Mills 1914, 33). In 1305, de Grey sold Graystown to Gervase de Raley who, in the same year, sold it on to Henry Laffan, a clerk of Edmund Butler (ibid.; White 1932, 94). The transaction is recorded in Latin in the Red Book of Ormond, where Laffan buys one carucate of land, equivalent to approximately 120 acres, for ten pounds of silver.  One possible candidate for its construction is Thomas Laffan, who in 1483 was recorded as bailiff to the precentor of Cashel Cathredral (O’Donnell 2006, 55). He is probably the same Thomas who in 1521, was referred to as, ‘lord of Ballygroy in county Tipperary’, Ballygroy being a debased version of the Irish, ‘Baile an Ghraeigh’ or Graystown (Curtis 1937, vol. 4, 71, deed 77; https://www.logainm.ie/en/47699). He died c. 1524/5 (O’Donnell 2006, 55). The late 16th/early 17th-century house to the NE of the tower house may have been built by James Laffan ‘of Ballengrey’, and ‘of Grayestown’, who died in 1607, or his son, Thomas Laffan (Curtis 1943, vol. 6, 19, 26, deeds 26, 41; O’Donnell 2006, 54-5). Both were well-established figures in the county, with James serving as Sheriff of County Tipperary in 1585/6 and 1592 and as Sheriff of the Liberty of Tipperary in 1597, and Thomas elected as a Member of Parliament in 1613 (O’Donnell 2006, 54-5). The Civil Survey (1654-6) records Henry Laffan, Thomas’s son, as the proprietor of Graystown in 1640, which had ‘a good castle, a slate house wantinge repaire with a large bawne & severall cabbins' ((Simington 1931, vol. 1, 106). The Down Survey map (1655-6) depicts a castle, a large rectangular bawn with two free-standing houses inside, and three cabins to the north of the castle (National Library of Ireland MS 721). Following the Cromwellian confiscations of 1652, the Laffan’s of Graystown were transplanted to Galway (Simington 1970, 93-4). The land was initially granted to Eliah Greene, but by 1659, as recorded in the Census of Ireland, ‘Giles Cooke gent’ was named as the Cromwellian grantee of ‘Graistowne’ (O’Donnell 2006, 54; Pender 2002, 296). The tower house (ext. dims. 9m x 13m; N, S and E wall T 0.8m, 2.06m and 2.16m respectively), dating to the second half of the 15th century, is built of limestone rubble, roughly coursed, with a gradual, very high, base-batter (H 4m; Wth 0.45m). The S wall has largely collapsed, and at the NW angle only the corbels of a bartizan survive. A second double corbel, immediately E of the bartizan, appear to be all that remains of a machicolation which would have defended the main entrance.  It appears to consist of five stories, four below the stone vault and one above. However, the floor immediately below the vault may not be a complete floor, with only one corbel and beam hole surviving to suggest a floor level but no corresponding survival in the well-preserved wall opposite. This suggests that there may have been a gallery along the W wall.  The tower house was entered through a pointed doorway at the W end of the N wall, with steps up to the door which is raised above the present external ground level of rock outcrop. The doorway has an external, splayed rebate in the double chamfer and punch dressing on the jambs with drafted margins, a yett-hole in the E jamb and another at the apex. On entering the tower house there is a small guard chamber (Wth 0.9m; L 2.1m) to the W, roofed with flat-lintels. Immediately opposite the main doorway there is a broken-out opening, which possibly contained a cross-loop. A second lobby was entered to the E, presumably through a doorway now missing. One or both of these lobbies was likely to be defended from above by a murder-hole, accessed via a trapdoor/s in the wooden floor, no longer extant, of the small chamber above the lobby area. The second lobby leads S, via a collapsed doorway, to the main ground floor chamber, and E, through a pointed doorway to a spiral stair, the stone steps of which have been broken out. The ground-floor chamber was lit by a round-headed single-light in the N and E walls and a broken-out window centrally placed in the S wall. There are also two wall cupboards in the E wall.  The first floor was entered through a pointed doorway from the spiral stairs at the NE angle. It rested on a wooden floor supported by paired corbels on the E and W walls with corresponding beam-holes for the wall-plate. This chamber was lit by a flat-headed single-light in the E and W walls. The S wall has largely collapsed.  The second floor was also entered from the spiral stairs and was carried on a wooden floor. It was lit by a flat-headed single light in the E wall. At the S end of the E wall the jambs of a fireplace survive. At the W end of the N wall a flat-headed doorway gives access to a mural chamber. This floor is roofed by a pointed stone vault. At the N end there is a lower stone vault which supports a passage to a garderobe in the W wall, the exit chute of which can be seen externally. From this passage, at the E end, there is a flat-headed doorway which leads to a narrow mural chamber, built into the haunches of the main vault, running southward in the E wall. As suggested above, it is possible that there was a gallery arrangement on the W wall under the vault. This would explain how the narrow mural chamber, built into the haunches of the main vault in the W wall at this level, was accessed. This mural chamber is not related to the garderobe as it is too far S. The only spaces accessible from the spiral stair at this level are a mural chamber, the uppermost of the chambers above the lobby, and the adjacent and parallel garderobe passage supported on the lower stone vault. Only the N portion of the solar or main floor above the vault survives, but is inaccessible. It was entered via a flat-headed doorway from the spiral stairs. Visible externally is an ogee-headed single-light window at this level at the E end of the N wall. The spiral stairs, which is lit by a number of flat-headed narrow single lights, continues to the now destroyed parapet level. There are three mural chambers in the N wall. The lowest is above the main first-floor chamber and is entered through a flat-headed doorway from the spiral stairs. It is lit by a flat-headed single light in the N and W walls and has a wall cupboard in the S wall. Its wooden floor rests on a S wall offset and corbels on the N wall. Above this a second mural chamber was entered from the main second-floor chamber. Its wooden floor was supported on corbels. Above this the third mural chamber, entered from the spiral stairs, has a wooden floor and a pointed vault and is lit by a small, flat-headed, single light in the W wall. There are loose architectural fragments lying around base of tower house, including a corbel on the E side and other fragments on the W side.  Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

• TS054-037003 House - 16th/17th century
  Description

  On the W edge of limestone ridge, runs roughly NE-SW and the drop, while substantial to valley below, is less steep than that from the tower house (TS054-037002-) which is located immediately to SW.  The house may have been built by James Laffan ‘of Ballengrey’, and ‘of Grayestown’, who died in 1607, or his son, Thomas Laffan (Curtis 1943, vol. 6, 19, 26, deeds 26, 41; O’Donnell 2006, 54-5). Both were well-established figures in the county, with James serving as Sheriff of County Tipperary in 1585/6 and 1592 and as Sheriff of the Liberty of Tipperary in 1597, and Thomas elected as a Member of Parliament in 1613 (O’Donnell 2006, 54-5). The Civil Survey (1654-6) records Henry Laffan, Thomas’s son, as the proprietor of Graystown in 1640, which had ‘a good castle, a slate house wantinge repaire with a large bawne & severall cabbins' ((Simington 1931, vol. 1, 106). The Down Survey map (1655-6) depicts a castle, a large rectangular bawn with two free-standing houses inside, and three cabins to the north of the castle (National Library of Ireland MS 721). Following the Cromwellian confiscations of 1652, the Laffan’s of Graystown were transplanted to Galway (Simington 1970, 93-4). The land was initially granted to Eliah Greene, but by 1659, as recorded in the Census of Ireland, ‘Giles Cooke gent’ was named as the Cromwellian grantee of ‘Graistowne’ (O’Donnell 2006, 54; Pender 2002, 296). A two-storey building (int. dims. Wth 7.1m; L 24.3-26.3m; wall T 1.3m) with attic, aligned N-S, though only the N gable and portion of the return at the NE and NW survive. It is built of limestone rubble, roughly coursed with quoins of roughly cut blocks of limestone on NW angle. The quoins at the NE angle are better executed, cut limestone blocks above the existing bawn wall. Based on the description in the Civil Survey it had a slate roof. All floors of the house were wooden, carried on large joists set into the side walls, with a rebate on the N gable. The N gable was built on top of the existing bawn wall (TS054-037001-) associated with the 16th-century tower house. A blocked-up double gun-loop, formerly at wall-walk level in the bawn, is visible in the external face of the N gable. Internally there are no visible features at ground-floor level. At first-floor level in the N gable there is a central fireplace with only one chamfered limestone surround surviving, there are no other fireplaces in this gable. W of the fireplace there is a window embrasure, though only the lower E jamb of the window survives. At attic level there is a large flat-headed single-light window on either side of the internally projecting chimney. At the NE angle there is a circular bartizan in good condition, resting on a double corbel on the N and E wall and on a single chamfered pyramidal corbel on the angle. Within the wall of the bartizan are four gun loops, simple, small, rectangular slots. The high pitch roof of the house has two coping stones, one on either side of the roof. At the apex there is a square-plan chimney with coping on its internal face. There is a crack up the W side of the N gable, probably were the existing bawn wall was altered to accommodate the house. Only the N end of the W wall survives up to base of attic level, at both ground and first-floor level, near the NW angle, there are remains of a window embrasure. Two projecting gutter-stones show the internal roof line, at the base of a parapet which ran along the W wall. The remainder of the W wall does not survive but has been replaced by a thin wall, built of limestone rubble which has partially collapsed and been rebuilt. A short length of E wall, near the NE angle, survives with evidence of a window embrasure at both ground and first-floor level. The W jambs of a gateway of the pre-existing bawn are built into the N end of this wall, the external lime render of the house runs up to these jambs which are large limestone blocks. These are surmounted by an arch, the springers of which survive in the E face of the house. Dividing the ground and first floor externally there is a string course. This string course terminates above the gate arch. The original gateway of the bawn appears to have been blocked up when the house was built and another entrance was opened further E along the N wall of the bawn. At the SE angle of the house there is a large square-shaped sunken depression (TS054-037020-) which may represent the remains of a walled garden/inner courtyard contemporary with the 17th-century house. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

• TS054-037004 House - 17th century
  Description

  Immediately N of the tower house (TS054-037002-), house (TS054-037003-) and bawn (TS054-037001-) there is a rectangular field of rock outcrop which is shown on the first ed. OS 6-inch map as a 'Fair Green'. In this field are the grass-covered wall-footings of at least four possible houses (TS054-037004-; TS054-037005-; TS054-037018- and TS054-037019-) with central road (TS054-037009-) and two enclosures (TS054-037007-; TS054-037008-). Rectangular house (int. dims. 21.50m x 5.85m) at N end of the field, orientated E-W and defined by the grass-covered wall-footings (1.2m; int. H 0.5m; ext. H 0.2m), gap (Wth 1m) in bank at S and a second gap (Wth 1.2m) at N. Evidence of the wall-footings of a cross-wall which divides the long house into two rooms. The larger E room and the smaller W room, the cross-wall is located 15.3m in from the E wall. Immediately to the S of this house there is a smaller house (TS054-037005-). N of this field the fair green continued but was intersected by a modern road running SW-NE. The field to the N appears to be a continuation of the settlement with a castle (TS054-037010-); bawn (TS054-037011-) and two associated buildings (TS054-037-012-; TS054-037013-) and a house (TS054-037014-) and bawn (TS054-037015-) and two associated buildings (TS054-037016-; TS054-037017-). Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 26 August 2011

• TS054-037005 House - 17th century
  Description

  Immediately N of the tower house (TS054-037002-), house (TS054-037003-) and bawn (TS054-037001-) there is a rectangular field of rock outcrop which is shown on the first ed. OS 6-inch map as a 'Fair Green'. In this field are the grass-covered wall-footings of at least four possible houses (TS054-037004-; TS054-037005-; TS054-037018- and TS054-037019-) with central road (TS054-037009-) and two enclosures (TS054-037007-; TS054-037008-). Large rectangular house 2m to N. N of this field the fair green continued but was intersected by a modern road running SW-NE. The field to the N appears to be a continuation of the settlement with a castle (TS054-037010-); bawn (TS054-037011-) and two associated buildings (TS054-037-012-; TS054-037013-) and a house (TS054-037014-) and bawn (TS054-037015-) and two associated buildings (TS054-037016-; TS054-037017-). Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 26 August 2011

• TS054-037007 Enclosure
  Description

  Immediately N of the tower house (TS054-037002-), house (TS054-037003-) and bawn (TS054-037001-) there is a rectangular field of rock outcrop which is shown on the first ed. OS 6-inch map as a 'Fair Green'. In this field are the grass-covered wall-footings of at least four possible houses (TS054-037004-; TS054-037005-; TS054-037018- and TS054-037019-) with central road (TS054-037009-) and to the E of the latter there are two large sub-circular enclosures (TS054-037007-; TS054-037008-) which may represent settlement plots. The former enclosure (int. dims. 19.25m N-S x 15.9m E-W) is located to the N of an enclosure (TS054-037008-) and directly opposite a long rectangular house (TS054-037004-) and is defined by a poorly preserved earth and stone bank (Wth 1.1m; int. H 0.4m ; ext. H 0.2m). May have been an enclosure accompanying a house of which no surface remains are visible. The two enclosures are located 15m apart and both appear to be plots associated with late medieval rectangular houses fronting onto a road running N-S through the field. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 26 August 2011

• TS054-037008 Enclosure
  Description

  Immediately N of the tower house (TS054-037002-), house (TS054-037003-) and bawn (TS054-037001-) there is a rectangular field of rock outcrop which is shown on the first ed. OS 6-inch map as a 'Fair Green'. In this field are the grass-covered wall-footings of at least four possible houses (TS054-037004-; TS054-037005-; TS054-037018- and TS054-037019-) with central road (TS054-037009-) and to the E of the latter there are two large sub-circular enclosures (TS054-037007-; TS054-037008-) which may represent settlement plots. The latter enclosure (int. dims. 39m N-S x 20m E-W) is located 15m to the S of an enclosure (TS054-037007-) and is defined by a poorly preserved earth and stone bank (base Wth 2.4m; top Wth 1.2m; int. H 0.65m; ext. H 0.4m). Possible rectangular house (TS054-037018-) located in S quadrant of enclosure. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 26 August 2011

• TS054-037009 Road - road/trackway
  Description

  Immediately N of the tower house (TS054-037002-), house (TS054-037003-) and bawn (TS054-037001-) there is a rectangular field of rock outcrop which is shown on the first ed. OS 6-inch map as a 'Fair Green'. In this field are the grass-covered wall-footings of at least four possible houses (TS054-037004-; TS054-037005-; TS054-037018- and TS054-037019-). Running through the field from the NE corner there is a linear feature which probably represents the remains of a roadway (Wth 3.4m; L 120m) which leads up to the N gateway of the bawn wall (TS054-037001-). The houses in this field appear to be built on either side of and to be respecting the roadway. To the E of the roadway are two large sub-circular enclosures (TS054-037007-; TS054-037007-) which may represent settlement plots. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 26 August 2011

• TS054-037010 Building
  Description

  Two fields to the N of Graystown castle (TS054-037002-) there are the grass-covered wall-footings of a rectangular tower with wall-footings of a bawn (TS054-037011-) to E and house (TS054-037014-) with bawn (TS054-037015-) and two buildings to E (TS054-037016-; TS054-037017-). Situated in grassland atop low rise of rock outcrop with good views in all directions and deserted medieval settlement (TS054-037----) in field to S. Rectangular tower (ext. dims. approx. 7.7m NW-SE x 6.5m SW-NE) reduced to grass-covered wall-footings (wall T approx. 1m; H 1.5m) with bawn (TS054-037011-) attached to N and E angles of structure. Immediately to NW of tower there are the grass-covered wall-footings of a possible building (TS054-037012-) running NW-SE and up against external face of bawn wall and against the inner face of the SE wall there is another possible building (TS054-037013-). Possible remains of a tower house with bawn or castle with bawn. This is not mentioned in the Civil Survey and it is not depicted on the Down Survey maps of 1665/6 suggesting that the buildings post date the midddle of the 17th century (Clutterbuck 2000, 166). If this is the date for the settlement it would post date the tower house and may represent a late-17th century settlement of the area possibly by Cromwellian settlers after the tower house had been abandoned. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 26 August 2011

• TS054-037011 Bawn
  Description

  Two fields to the N of Graystown castle (TS054-037002-) there are the grass-covered wall-footings of a rectangular tower with wall-footings of a bawn (TS054-037011-) to E and house (TS054-037014-) with bawn (TS054-037015-) and two buildings to E (TS054-037016-; TS054-037017-). Situated in grassland atop low rise of rock outcrop with good views in all directions and deserted medieval settlement (TS054-037----) in field to S. Bawn (int. dims. 40m NE-SW x 37m NW-SE) defined by the grass-covered wall-footings (wall T 1-1.3m; H 0.7m) attached to N and E angles of tower with castle (TS054-037010-) in the NE angle. Immediately to NW of castle there are the grass-covered wall-footings of a possible building (TS054-037012-) running NW-SE and up against external face of bawn wall and against the inner face of the SE wall there is another possible building (TS054-037013-). Possible remains of a tower house with bawn or castle with bawn. Immediately to the NE there is a second adjoining bawn (TS054-037015-) and house (TS054-037014-) defined by an earthen bank. This secondary bawn and house are constructed with earthen banks and appear to have been built differently and perhaps later in date than the adjoining castle and bawn. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 26 August 2011

• TS054-037012 Building
  Description

  In grassland on low rise of rock outcrop with good views in all directions and deserted medieval settlement (TS054-037----) in field to S. Two fields to the N of Graystown castle (TS054-037002-) there are the grass-covered wall-footings of a rectangular tower (TS054-037010-) with wall-footings of a bawn (TS054-037011-) to E and house (TS054-037014-) with bawn (TS054-037015-) and two buildings to E (TS054-037016-; TS054-037017-). Immediately to NW of W angle of the bawn (TS054-037011-) there are the grass-covered wall-footings of a possible building (ext. dims. approx. 9.3m NW-SE x 8.1m NE-SW) orienated NW-SE which appears to be built up against the external face of the bawn wall and the outer face of the NW wall of the castle (TS054-037010-). Possibly a later building built up against the outer W angle of the bawn or as an extension to the NW wall of the castle. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 26 August 2011

• TS054-037013 Building
  Description

  In grassland on low rise of rock outcrop with good views in all directions and deserted medieval settlement (TS054-037----) in field to S. Two fields to the N of Graystown castle (TS054-037002-) there are the grass-covered wall-footings of a rectangular tower (TS054-037010-) with wall-footings of a bawn (TS054-037011-) to E and house (TS054-037014-) with bawn (TS054-037015-) and two buildings to E (TS054-037016-; TS054-037017-). Inside the bawn (TS054-037011-) there are the grass-covered wall-footings of a possible building (approx. dims. 5.4m NE-SW x 6.5m NW-SE) built up against inner face of bawn wall off centre to S along SE side near S angle. Possible building inside bawn associated with castle and bawn. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 26 August 2011

• TS054-037014 House - 17th century
  Description

  In grassland on low rise of rock outcrop with good views in all directions and deserted medieval settlement (TS054-037----) in field to S. Two fields to the N of Graystown castle (TS054-037002-) there are the grass-covered wall-footings of a rectangular tower (TS054-037010-) with wall-footings of a bawn (TS054-037011-) and house (TS054-037014-) with bawn (TS054-037015-) to E. Rectangular house (int. dims. 20.3m NW-SE x 11.4m NE-SW) located in E angle of bawn (TS054-037015-) defined by grass-covered earthen banks (top Wth 1.3m; base Wth 2.5m; int. H 0.15m; ext. H 0.8m). Two buildings (TS054-037016-; TS054-037017-) are located to the NW of the house, built up against the inner face of the NE side of the bawn. One of these buildings is built onto the NW wall of the long rectangular house. This long rectangular building and bawn are indicated by grass-covered earthen banks which have been built differently than the adjoining stone castle and bawn indicating that they may have been built later or had a different social status. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 26 August 2011

• TS054-037015 Bawn
  Description

  In grassland on low rise of rock outcrop with good views in all directions and deserted medieval settlement (TS054-037----) in field to S. Two fields to the N of Graystown castle (TS054-037002-) there are the grass-covered wall-footings of a rectangular tower (TS054-037010-) with wall-footings of a bawn (TS054-037011-). and house (TS054-037014-) with bawn (TS054-037015-) immediately to NE. Bawn (ext. dims. 61m NE-SW x 62m NW-SE) with rectangular house (TS054-037015-) in E angle. Two buildings (TS054-037016-; TS054-037017-) are located to the NW of the house, the former built onto the NW wall of the house and the latter built up against the inner face of the NE side of the bawn, in the N angle. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 26 August 2011

• TS054-037016 Building
  Description

  In grassland on low rise of rock outcrop with good views in all directions and deserted medieval settlement (TS054-037----) in field to S. Two fields to the N of Graystown castle (TS054-037002-) there are the grass-covered wall-footings of a rectangular tower (TS054-037010-) with wall-footings of a bawn (TS054-037011-). and house (TS054-037014-) with bawn (TS054-037015-) immediately to NE and two buildings (TS-54-037016-; TS054-037017-) built up against the inner face of the bawn on the NE side. The former is built onto the NW wall of the long rectangular house (TS054-037014-) and is defined by a low earthen bank (top Wth 1.2m; base Wth 2.7m; int. H 0.2m; ext. H 0.7m) and may have been an extension of the long rectangular house. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 26 August 2011

• TS054-037017 Building
  Description

  In grassland on low rise of rock outcrop with good views in all directions and deserted medieval settlement (TS054-037----) in field to S. Two fields to the N of Graystown castle (TS054-037002-) there are the grass-covered wall-footings of a rectangular tower (TS054-037010-) with wall-footings of a bawn (TS054-037011-). and house (TS054-037014-) with bawn (TS054-037015-) immediately to NE and two buildings (TS-54-037016-; TS054-037017-) built up against the inner face of the bawn on the NE side. The latter is built in the N angle of the bawn and is defined by a low earthen bank (top Wth 1.2m; base Wth 3.5m; int. H 0.5m; ext. H 0.4m) and is orientated on a NE-SW axis. May have been an outhouse or domestic building associated with house and bawn. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 26 August 2011

• TS054-037018 House - 17th century
  Description

  Immediately N of the tower house (TS054-037002-), house (TS054-037003-) and bawn (TS054-037001-) there is a rectangular field of rock outcrop which is shown on the first ed. OS 6-inch map as a 'Fair Green'. In this field are the grass-covered wall-footings of at least four possible houses (TS054-037004-; TS054-037005-; TS054-037018- and TS054-037019-) with central road (TS054-037009-) and to the E of the latter there are two large sub-circular enclosures (TS054-037007-; TS054-037008-) which may represent settlement plots. Within the S quadrant of the latter enclosure there is a rectangular house, defined by a sunken area (int. dims. 6m N-S x 9.45m E-W; D 0.4-0.8m) enclosed by a scarp with adjoining enclosure running off E and W ends of house, possible entrance gap (Wth 1.2m) at SW. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 26 August 2011

• TS054-037019 House - 17th century
  Description

  Immediately N of the tower house (TS054-037002-), house (TS054-037003-) and bawn (TS054-037001-) there is a rectangular field of rock outcrop which is shown on the first ed. OS 6-inch map as a 'Fair Green'. In this field are the grass-covered wall-footings of at least four possible houses (TS054-037004-; TS054-037005-; TS054-037018- and TS054-037019-) with central road (TS054-037009-) and to the E of the latter there are two large sub-circular enclosures (TS054-037007-; TS054-037008-) which may represent settlement plots. At the NE end of the field this house appears as a sunken rectangular area (dims. 7m N-S x 10m E-W; D 0.2m) defined by a scarp. Medieval road (TS054-037009-) immediately to E and two houses (TS054-037004-; TS054-037005-) to S. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 26 August 2011

• TS054-037020 Enclosure
  Description

  On the W edge of a ridge of limestone outcrop which rises gradually to the E. It occupies a defensive position overlooking the Clashawley river valley floor below. Located inside bawn of tower house (TS054-037002-) and immediately adjoining the SE angle of the 17th-century house (TS054-037003-) there is a sunken square-shaped area (dims. 12.5m N-S; 15.1m E-W; D 0.7m) which may represent a walled area/garden or inner courtyard associated with the house. It appears to be aligned with the 17th-century gateway into the bawn (TS054-037001-). Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 26 August 2011

• TS054-039 Church
  Description

  In grassland on high ground known locally as Scornan hill (Clutterbuck 2000, 157) with good views in all directions. A tower house (TS054-037002-), bawn (TS054-037001-) and deserted settlement (TS054-037----) are located 380m to NW. It is listed in the Ecclesiastical Taxation of Ireland 1302-07 as Scornan church and valued at £4 13 shillings (ibid. 317, 285). In 1607 it was one of the possessions of the Archbishop of Cashel and Emly but by 1615 no services were held at Graystown church (ibid.). The remains of the N wall and E gable of a rectangular medieval church (ext. dims. 18m N-S; 7.65m E-W; wall T 0.9m) built with roughly coursed limestone rubble are poorly preserved. The S wall and W gable of the church have been totally levelled. It is located in the S quad. of the sub-rectangular graveyard (TS054-039002-), as indicated on first ed. OS 6-inch map. The sillstone is all that survives of of a destroyed window E of centre in the N wall and a large gap in the centre of the E gable is where the E window was located. Inside the church, rock outcrop protrudes above the surface of the church floor. A spandrel of a single-light, ogee-headed window was found lying on the ground inside the churchagainst the inner face of the S wall, and a possible square-shaped font or stoup was lying on the ground inside the E end. Described in the OS Letters as an 'old Church built of limestone and lime and sand mortar and measured 53 ft 4 inches [16.4m] in length by 20 ft 4 inches [6.2m] in breadth' (O'Flanagan 1930 vol. 2, 175-6), in 1840 the W gable and S wall were not upstanding but there was a pointed limestone doorway at the W end of the N wall (ibid. 176). There is a large gap in the N wall where this doorway was originally located, the cut stone of the doorway now scattered nearby on the ground. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 26 August 2011

• TS054-039001 Graveyard
  Description

  In grassland on high ground known locally as Scornan hill (Clutterbuck 2000, 157) with good views in all directions. Nearby tower house (TS054-037002-), bawn (TS054-037001-) and deserted settlement (TS054-037----) 380m to NW. Church (TS054-039001-) located at S end of sub- rectangular graveyard (approx. dims. 53m N-S x 36m E-W) as indicated on first ed. OS 6-inch map. The graveyard is defined by an earth and stone bank reduced to a low scarp (H 0.5m) visible from SE to E only elsewhere it has been levelled with low rock outcrop protruding above surface of ground immediately around the church which may indicate burial markers. Described in the OS letters as a burial ground but no headstones with inscriptions (O'Flanagan 1930, vol. 2, 176). Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 26 August 2011

• TS054-045 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  In grassland situated on a S-facing slope of rising ground in upland region on N edge of ravine with good views in all directions. Nearby enclosure (TS054-046----) 150m to E. Raised circular area (diam. c. 31m N-S; c. 33m E-W) enclosed by an earth and stone bank (top Wth 2m; base Wth 4.5m; int. H 0.7m; ext. H 1-2m) with traces of an external fosse (base Wth 3m; top Wth 4m; ext. D 0.3m) from W through N to E elsewhere the ravine acting as a defensive feature on these sides. The enclosing bank fully encloses the interior and is well preserved with possible entrance feature at NW (Wth 4m). Impossible to examine monument in detail or take internal dimensions due to dense cover of vegetation. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 26 August 2011

Architectural heritage

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

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

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

Landslides

Susceptibility moderately high, moderately low, low, low (inferred), on the 1:50,000 map.

Terrain model

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

Flooding

The flood maps of the Office of Public Works: floodinfo.ie.

Radon Risk Map of Ireland, Environmental Protection Agency; Landslide Susceptibility Classification, Geological Survey Ireland; both 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.

• Graystown, Killenaule9 sales

Name

Graystown · Baile an Ghraeigh

Area

2,386,396 m² (238.64 ha, 589.69 acres)

Civil parish

Graystown, and its townlands

Barony

Slievardagh

Electoral division

Graystown, the unit of the census

Census 2022

Graystown electoral division: 438 people in 156 households; 91% of households own their home; 17% of homes were built since 2001; 9% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 0% were holiday homes.

Neighbouring townlands

Ballintogher, Buffanagh, Burnchurch, Cathaganstown, Dunguib, Kilboy, Manserghshill, Rathmooley

Placenames

Graystown 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.