Ballybrennan

26 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Ballybrennan, from 949 m² to 337,019 m² (33.7 ha, 83.28 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary; 32 neighbouring parcels touch it.

No zone of a development plan covers Ballybrennan 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.

• 27 Jun 2022Conditional

  consisting of : Construction of dwelling house, detached garage, installation of septic tank and percolation area and all ancillary site works.

  Permission, 1 home · Westmeath County Council, 22339

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 Ballybrennan.

Recorded monuments

• WM032-055 Flat cemetery
  Description

  The National Museum of Ireland recorded that ‘in August 1940 the first of several burials discovered in a sandpit at Ballybrennan, Co. Westmeath, was reported to the NMI. This grave was a small cist burial (referred to as cist 1 in the original report) that contained the remains of a child of about two years. In February another grave was reported. This was also a small cist (referred to as cist 2 in the original report), containing an inhumation of an adult female (mistakenly reported as an adolescent previously, see Buckley, below, grave 2). Animal bones representing an ox and a pond found in the soil in the vicinity of the cists, but it is not clear whether these can be d associated with either of the cists. Shells of a number of species of common snails we found in cist 2, but their presence there may be fortuitous. There was no pottery found in of these cists. It was reported locally that about twenty years previously an urn had been but had been reburied. These sites, cists 1 and 2, were published by Ellen Prendergast (1945). Subsequently, in January 1946, a third short cist (this report, grave 3) containing an inhumation and a bowl was discovered in the same sandpit on the lands of the Boyd-Rochfort family at Middleton Park, Castletown Geoghegan. The NMI was informed of the find by the Garda Síochána at Castletown Geoghegan. The cist (grave 3) was found in the face of the sandpit at a depth of 0.4m below ground level, approximately 6.5m from where one of the cists (cist 2) was discovered the previous year. Work was suspended on the site pending a visit from the NMI. The site was excavated over two days by Dr Joseph Raftery and Ellen Prendergast. Two years later, in early March 1948, a fourth cist (this report, grave 4) was discovered at Ballybrennan after the collapse of one of the sides of the gravel pit and was investigated by P.J. Hartnett. The human remains from cists 1-2 and grave 3 were examined by Dr R.G. Inkster, Trinity College, Dublin, and the bones from grave 4 were examined by Professor E.J. Keenan, University College, Dublin. This report is based on Prendergast's and Hartnett's respective accounts of their excavations of graves 3 and 4. For the purposes of this report, the human remains from cist 2 and graves 3 and 4 were re-examined by Laureen Buckley. The site was in the townland of Ballybrennan, south Co. Westmeath, just 2km south of Castletown Geoghegan. It is a small esker running east/west, the south side of which was being exploited for sand and gravel. The cists were found at an altitude of 90—100m above sea level. The area around Castletown Geoghegan has produced many early Bronze Age cist burials, such as Conranstown, north of the town, and Benalbit and Derryroe, a few kilometres south of Ballybrennan. In 1989 a number of inhumation burials were also discovered in Ballybrennan’ (Cahill and Sikora 2011, vol. 1, 484-5). According to the National Museum of Ireland that 'over a period of time, burials were discovered as quarrying proceeded at this site. It appears to have been a flat cemetery, but owing to the partial nature of the investigations the f extent of the site is not known. A sample of the cremation from grave 3 was submitted for AMS dating and yielded a d of 3660±40 BP, which calibrates to 2190-1926 BC. A sample from the inhumation v dated to 3650±40 BP, which calibrates to 2140-1914 BC. The dates indicate that t inhumation and cremation are roughly contemporary. Brindley (2007, 244, 246) places t tripartite bowl in stage 2 of the development of the bowl tradition pottery sequence, whicf dated to the period 2080-1980 cal. BC. The burial from grave 4 has not been dated. The bipartite vase is similar to those placed in stage 1 of the vase tradition by Brindley (2007, 184-5), which is dated to 2020/1990-19 cal. BC, suggesting that the site continued in use for some time' (Cahill and Sikora 2011, vol. 1, 490). Date of upload: 13 August 2012

• WM032-056 Enclosure
  Description

  Monument surveyed by ASI in 1979 and described as following; 'The roughly circular area is delimited by an earthen embankment quite defaced on all sides. The embankment and the interior are covered with a thick scrub making inspection very difficult. Outside this embankment but well within the overgrown area is a smaller low embankment. The embankment is gapped in places on the E and SSW. There is no trace of a fosse except in the NE sector and to a lesser extent in the S. No sign of an entrance. The interior slopes from NNE to SSW and there is also a slope from the limit of the inner embankment in a NE direction to the outer embankment. Located on a ridge'(SMR File 06/09/1979). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 18 February 2013

• WM032-057 Inauguration stone
  Description

  A glacial erratic, that was the inauguration stone of the MacGeoghegan clan, known locally as Mac Geoghegan’s Chair (Brewer 1826, 257). Not marked on any edition of the OS 6-inch maps. Situated on rolling pastureland with good views from NE-E-SE, restricted elsewhere by higher ground. Glacial boulder set on shoulder of natural hillock 315m NE of Ballybrennan House' (SMR file). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 06 March 2013

• WM032-058 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  This monument was inspected in 1971 and described as follows: 'On a slight natural rise, surrounded by gently undulating fertile meadow and pasture land. No measurements were taken and the monument was impossible to examine due to the dense cover of vegetation. So far as can be seen this site consists of a steep scarp with very slight remains of an earthen bank on its upper edge and with a narrow shallow fosse at its foot extending in an arc from NE-E-S-SW. Modern fences and banks encroach on the site' (SMR file). Not indicated as an antiquity on the first ed. OS 6-inch map and only partially hachured as a semi-circular scarp on the current ed. OS 6-inch map whihc casts doubt on the antiquity of this possible monument. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 06 March 2013

• WM032-059 Enclosure
  Description

  This monument was inspected in 1971 and described as follows: 'Situated on top of an E-W ridge which is now planted with trees. Surrounded by gently undulating fertile pasture and meadow land. There is no visible trace of an antiquity at this location' (SMR file). Depicted as a roughly square-shaped enclosure on the first ed. OS 6-inch map but not indicated on subsequent editions of the OS 6-inch maps. Site of monument now located inside woodland marked on 25-inch OS map as Rahenathagle Wood. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 06 March 2013

• WM032-060 Ritual site - holy well
  Description

  This monument was inspected in 1981 and described as follows: 'On a low-lying area of rocky outcrop. This well appears to have dried up' (SMR file). Holy well dedicated to St Patrick. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 06 March 2013

• WM032-061 Enclosure
  Description

  This monument was inspected in 1971 and described as follows: 'On top of a prominent hillock with extensive views in all directions. There is no visible trace of an antiquity at this location' (SMR file). Depicted as an irregular-shaped enclosure on the first ed. OS 6-inch map but not indicated on subsequent editions of the OS 6-inch maps. Site of monument is located in centre of a circular woodland plantation that is depicted on subsequent editions of the OS maps. This woodland plantation no longer survives and there are no visible remains of the monument on the 2005 OSI aerial photographs of this area. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 06 March 2013

• WM032-062 Enclosure
  Description

  Aerial photograph (GB91.DM.12) shows the foundations of four small irregular structures, probably hut sites (WM032-062001-/002-/003-/004-) set within a curvilinear enclosure defined by a bank. The low-level earthwork was photographed on 29th of May 1991. The above report has been compiled by Dr. G. F. Barrett and supplied to the Archaeological Survey of Ireland. In 1981 the monument was recorded as consisting of 'the outline of two substantial house sites (WM032-062001-/002-) can be seen on a gentle south facing slope. One site measures approx. 9m by 9m while the second which is sub-rectangular measures 10m approx. by 8m approx.. To the NE is the outline of a possible third house site (WM032-062003-). The house sites are enclosed by old field banks which do not appear to form regular enclosures. There are stony outcrops in the area which could be the remains of other house sites' (SMR file). The S section of this possible curvilinear enclosure is clearly visible on the aerial photograph and is indicated on the revised 25-inch edition of the OS 6-inch map but is not indicated on the 1837 edition of the OS 6-inch map. It is possible that this enclosure represents a post-medieval enclosing of the area of rock outcrop on which the house sites are located. This would explain the curvilinear shape of the field boundary as it was formed by running around the irregular shaped base of rock outcrop on which the house sites are located. On the 1837 edition of the OS 6-inch map a possible lime kiln is indicated 90m to the NNW and a cluster of dwellings indicated as 'Loughtown' are located 230m to the NW. On the revised 25-inch OS 6-inch map these buildings around 'Loughtown' are now indicated as a 'Lodge'. A holy well (WM032-060----) known as Tober Patrick is located 520m to the W. An irregular shaped enclosure (WM032-063----) depicted on the 1837 edition of the OS 6-inch map is located immediately to the N of the house sites in an area now covered with trees. It is possible that these hut sites represent a post-medieval clustered settlement associated with the nearby dwellings indicated as 'Loughtown'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 13 December 2010

• WM032-062001 House - indeterminate date
  Description

  Aerial photograph (GB91.DM.12) shows the foundations of four small irregular structures, probably hut sites (WM032-062001-/002-/003-/004-) set within a curvilinear enclosure (WM032-062----) defined by a bank. The low-level earthwork was photographed on 29th of May 1991. The above report has been compiled by Dr. G. F. Barrett and supplied to the Archaeological Survey of Ireland. In 1981 the site was recorded as consisting of 'the outline of two substantial house sites (WM032-062001-/002-) can be seen on a gentle south facing slope. One site measures approx. 9m by 9m while the second which is sub-rectangular measures 10m approx. by 8m approx.. To the NE is the outline of a possible third house site (WM032-062003-). The house sites are enclosed by old field banks which do not appear to form regular enclosures. There are stony outcrops in the area which could be the remains of other house sites' (SMR file). The S section of this possible curvilinear enclosure is clearly visible on the aerial photograph and is indicated on the revised 25-inch edition of the OS 6-inch map but is not indicated on the 1837 edition of the OS 6-inch map. It is possible that this enclosure represents a post-medieval enclosing of the area of rock outcrop on which the house sites are located. This would explain the curvilinear shape of the field boundary as it was formed by running around the irregular shaped base of rock outcrop on which the house sites are located. On the 1837 edition of the OS 6-inch map a possible lime kiln is indicated 90m to the NNW and a cluster of dwellings indicated as 'Loughtown' are located 230m to the NW. A holy well (WM032-060----) known as Tober Patrick is located 520m to the W. An irregular shaped enclosure (WM032-063----) depicted on the 1837 edition of the OS 6-inch map is located immediately to the N of the hut sites in an area now covered with trees. It is possible that these hut sites represent a post-medieval clustered settlement associated with the nearby dwellings indicated as 'Loughtown'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 13 December 2010

• WM032-062002 House - indeterminate date
  Description

  Aerial photograph (GB91.DM.12) shows the foundations of four small irregular structures, probably hut sites (WM032-062001-/002-/003-/004-) set within a curvilinear enclosure (WM032-062----) defined by a bank. The low-level earthwork was photographed on 29th of May 1991. The above report has been compiled by Dr. G. F. Barrett and supplied to the Archaeological Survey of Ireland. In 1981 the site was recorded as consisting of 'the outline of two substantial house sites (WM032-062001-/002-) can be seen on a gentle south facing slope. One site measures approx. 9m by 9m while the second which is sub-rectangular measures 10m approx. by 8m approx.. To the NE is the outline of a possible third house site (WM032-062003-). The house sites are enclosed by old field banks which do not appear to form regular enclosures. There are stony outcrops in the area which could be the remains of other house sites' (SMR file). The S section of this possible curvilinear enclosure is clearly visible on the aerial photograph and is indicated on the revised 25-inch edition of the OS 6-inch map but is not indicated on the 1837 edition of the OS 6-inch map. It is possible that this enclosure represents a post-medieval enclosing of the area of rock outcrop on which the house sites are located. This would explain the curvilinear shape of the field boundary as it was formed by running around the irregular shaped base of rock outcrop on which the house sites are located. On the 1837 edition of the OS 6-inch map a possible lime kiln is indicated 90m to the NNW and a cluster of dwellings indicated as 'Loughtown' are located 230m to the NW. A holy well (WM032-060----) known as Tober Patrick is located 520m to the W. An irregular shaped enclosure (WM032-063----) depicted on the 1837 edition of the OS 6-inch map is located immediately to the N of the hut sites in an area now covered with trees. It is possible that these hut sites represent a post-medieval clustered settlement associated with the nearby dwellings indicated as 'Loughtown'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 13 December 2010

• WM032-062003 Hut site
  Description

  Aerial photograph (GB91.DM.12) shows the foundations of four small irregular structures, probably hut sites (WM032-062001-/002-/003-/004-) set within a curvilinear enclosure (WM032-062----) defined by a bank. The low-level earthwork was photographed on 29th of May 1991. The above report has been compiled by Dr. G. F. Barrett and supplied to the Archaeological Survey of Ireland. In 1981 the site was recorded as consisting of 'the outline of two substantial house sites (WM032-062001-/002-) can be seen on a gentle south facing slope. One site measures approx. 9m by 9m while the second which is sub-rectangular measures 10m approx. by 8m approx.. To the NE is the outline of a possible third house site (WM032-062003-). The house sites are enclosed by old field banks which do not appear to form regular enclosures. There are stony outcrops in the area which could be the remains of other house sites' (SMR file). The S section of this possible curvilinear enclosure is clearly visible on the aerial photograph and is indicated on the revised 25-inch edition of the OS 6-inch map but is not indicated on the 1837 edition of the OS 6-inch map. It is possible that this enclosure represents a post-medieval enclosing of the area of rock outcrop on which the house sites are located. This would explain the curvilinear shape of the field boundary as it was formed by running around the irregular shaped base of rock outcrop on which the house sites are located. On the 1837 edition of the OS 6-inch map a possible lime kiln is indicated 90m to the NNW and a cluster of dwellings indicated as 'Loughtown' are located 230m to the NW. A holy well (WM032-060----) known as Tober Patrick is located 520m to the W. An irregular shaped enclosure (WM032-063----) depicted on the 1837 edition of the OS 6-inch map is located immediately to the N of the hut sites in an area now covered with trees. It is possible that these hut sites represent a post-medieval clustered settlement associated with the nearby dwellings indicated as 'Loughtown'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 13 December 2010

• WM032-062004 Hut site
  Description

  Aerial photograph (GB91.DM.12) shows the foundations of four small irregular structures, probably hut sites (WM032-062001-/002-/003-/004-) set within a curvilinear enclosure (WM032-062----) defined by a bank. The low-level earthwork was photographed on 29th of May 1991. The above report has been compiled by Dr. G. F. Barrett and supplied to the Archaeological Survey of Ireland. The fourth levelled hut site appears to be rectangular in outline and is only visible on the aerial photograph (GB91.DM.12) as a cropmark. The S section of this possible curvilinear enclosure is clearly visible on the aerial photograph and is indicated on the revised 25-inch edition of the OS 6-inch map but is not indicated on the 1837 edition of the OS 6-inch map. It is possible that this enclosure represents a post-medieval enclosing of the area of rock outcrop on which the house sites are located. This would explain the curvilinear shape of the field boundary as it was formed by running around the irregular shaped base of rock outcrop on which the house sites are located. On the 1837 edition of the OS 6-inch map a possible lime kiln is indicated 90m to the NNW and a cluster of dwellings indicated as 'Loughtown' are located 230m to the NW. A holy well (WM032-060----) known as Tober Patrick is located 520m to the W. An irregular shaped enclosure (WM032-063----) depicted on the 1837 edition of the OS 6-inch map is located immediately to the N of the hut sites in an area now covered with trees. It is possible that these hut sites represent a post-medieval clustered settlement associated with the nearby dwellings indicated as 'Loughtown'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 13 December 2010

• WM032-063 Enclosure
  Description

  This monument was recorded in 1981 as consisting of 'an area of gently rising ground. No trace of an enclosure to be seen now' (SMR file). On the 1837 edition of the OS 6-inch map an irregular shaped area is indicated not as an antiquity but as an enclosure defined by a dotted line. This may indicate that the enclosure was a natural or geological feature, possibly an area of quarrying rather than an archaeological feature. The 1837 edition of the OS 6-inch map shows a lime kiln 70m to the east of this possible enclosure. It is possible that this area may have been quarried in order to supply stone for the nearby lime kiln. This is an area of rock outcrop which today is covered in trees which are indicated on the revised edition of the OS 25-inch map. A cluster of four possible house sites (WM032-062/001/002/003/004-) are located immediately to the S of the enclosure. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 13 December 2010

• WM032-113 Burial ground
  Description

  The files of the National Museum of Ireland records that the discovery of human remains at Ballybrennan, Co. Westmeath in October 1989 was reported to the NMI (Cahill & Sikora 2011, vol. 2, 518-9). The discovery was investigated by Vincent Hurley of the Archaeological Survey Office, OPW, (at that time based in Mullingar) at the request of the NMI. The burials were inhumations which were laid lengthwise, lying roughly east/west. At least six and possibly up to twelve individual burials had been disturbed. There was no indication of stone lining or pits but it was clear that each burial had been placed individually, side by side. There were no associated finds. The presence of a holy well name Tober Patrick (WM032-060) was noted a short distance (160m) to the north-east. There was no known tradition of a church or burial ground locally. The landowner agreed to cover the burials and not ot disturb them further. Some human remains (1989:57) were collected and acquired by the NMI (NMI File).

Architectural heritage

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

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).

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

Name

Ballybrennan

Area

1,682,336 m² (168.23 ha, 415.71 acres)

Civil parish

Castletownkindalen, and its townlands

Barony

Moycashel

Electoral division

Middleton, the unit of the census

Neighbouring townlands

Clonsingle, Cloonagh, Keelbeg, Kilbalraherd, Kilhugh, Killinlahan, Lissakilly

Placenames

Ballybrennan on logainm.ie, the Placenames Database of Ireland

Townlands, civil parishes, baronies and electoral divisions, National Statutory Boundaries, Tailte Éireann, 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.