Ballymore

162 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Ballymore, from 14 m² to 392,056 m² (39.21 ha, 96.88 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary; 31 neighbouring parcels touch it.

• R2Established Residential (Existing residential)
  WCC CDP 2021 - 2027 Ballymore, Westmeath · 90 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
• G1Open Space (Open space, park)
  WCC CDP 2021 - 2027 Ballymore, Westmeath · 3 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
• S3Community, Educational & Institutional (Community facilities)
  WCC CDP 2021 - 2027 Ballymore, Westmeath · 3 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
• M5Mixed Use (Other mix of uses)
  WCC CDP 2021 - 2027 Ballymore, Westmeath · 2 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
• R1Proposed Residential (New/proposed residential)
  WCC CDP 2021 - 2027 Ballymore, Westmeath · 1 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
• S1Community, Educational & Institutional (Education)
  WCC CDP 2021 - 2027 Ballymore, Westmeath · 0 parcels The zoning objective in the plan

Source: Tailte Éireann and the Department of Housing (MyPlan), national zoning, CC BY 4.0.

• 12 Feb 2024Conditional

  (1) RETENTION permission for variations to the two storey dwelling house and site layout as constructed from that originally granted permission on foot of planning permission 08/4211, and (2) all ancillary site services.

  Retention, 1 home · Westmeath County Council, 2460032

• 19 Sept 2023Conditional

  renovation, alteration and extension of existing dwelling, construct garage and discontinue existing septic tank. Permission is also sought to connect to existing public sewer and all associated site works

  Permission, 1 home · Westmeath County Council, 2360309

• 10 Dec 2021Conditional

  to replace a 15m telecommunications monopole with a 21m telecommunications monopole, together with antennas, dishes and associated telecommunications equipment enclosed by security fencing.

  Permission · Westmeath County Council, 21656

• 27 Sept 2021N/a

  The development will consist of the construction of new boundary wire fencing to be located above the existing masonry/plastered wall to the playground area to the front (north wall) and the side (east wall) boundaries of the school. the completed fencing and wall will integrated gates, will be in total 2.4m high. The supporting works will include inter alia:- all associated site preparation, drainage and ancillary site works

  Permission · Westmeath County Council, 21526

• 10 Sept 2021Conditional

  Change of use of existing first floor residential unit into a commercial office servicing the existing retail shop. The application will also include a 52 square meter extension (partially containing new off licence) of the existing ground floor retail shop into the rear of the adjacent public house

  Permission · Westmeath County Council, 21503

• 8 Jul 2021Conditional

  Renovation and alteration of existing dwelling and construction of a two-storey extension to the rear and a single-storey car port to the side. Renovations/alterations to include replacement of UPVC windows to timber type, remedial works to existing chimneys and walls with internal layout changes. Connection to existing public services and all associated site works.

  Permission, 1 home · Westmeath County Council, 21378

• 2 Jun 2021Conditional

  Construction of a single storey toilet accommodation block, located to the rear/side of the school. The supporting works will include inter alia: - all associated site preparations, drainage and ancillary site works

  Permission · Westmeath County Council, 21312

• 16 Mar 2021Conditional

  Construction of one dwelling, garage, connect into existing foul water sewage line, new entrance and private lane onto public road and all associated site works

  Permission, 1 home · Westmeath County Council, 21129

• 3 Mar 2021Conditional

  EXTENSION OF DURATION OF 16/7006; Permission to renovate and alter existing dwelling, to construct a rear extension(106.50sqm) and garage and to demolish existing single storey extension to the rear. Renovations/Alterations to include replacing upvc window at front to timber type, remedial works to existing chimneys insulating internally and slight internal layout changes. Permission is all sought to connect into all existing public services and all associated site works, Protected Structure Ref: 15315002

  Extension of duration · Westmeath County Council, 21104

• 3 Jul 2020Refused

  Construction of one dwelling, garage, connection into existing foul water sewage line, new entrance and private lane onto public road and all associated site works

  Permission, 1 home · Westmeath County Council, 207097

• 3 Apr 2020N/a

  Construction of one dwelling, garage, connection into existing foul water sewage line and all associated site works

  Permission · Westmeath County Council, 207051

• 17 Jan 2019Conditional

  Planning permission to construct a two storey side extension to an existing private dwelling with all associated site works.

  Permission, 1 home · Westmeath County Council, 197007

• 14 Jan 2019Conditional

  To construct a dwelling house, domestic garage and single dwelling treatment system and percolation area and all associated site works

  Permission, 1 home · Westmeath County Council, 197003

• 14 May 2018Refused

  To demolish existing hairdressers and construct two number two bedroom town -houses. The proposed application lies within the curtilage of a protected structure-Reference 15315004. The application will also include the connection to existing public mains and all other minor site-works and drainage

  Permission · Westmeath County Council, 187087

• 21 Mar 2018N/a

  To demolish existing hairdressers and construct two number two bedroom town-houses. The application will also include the connection to existing public mains and all other minor site-works and drainage

  Permission · Westmeath County Council, 187052

• 13 Dec 2017Conditional

  Planning Permission to demolish existing derelict shop and shed and construct a dwelling house and connections to existing public services

  Permission, 1 home · Westmeath County Council, 177223

• 12 Dec 2017Conditional

  Planning Permission for retention of a 15 metre support pole to carry 3 no radio aerials for the Emergency Service Users (Garda, Ambulance and Fire Brigade) previously granted under File Ref 07/4414, together with telecommunications equipment and fencing

  Retention · Westmeath County Council, 177225

• 3 Aug 2017Conditional

  Dwelling house, domestic garage, waste water treatment system with percolation area, new access, bored well and all associated site works

  Permission, 1 home · Westmeath County Council, 177141

• 5 Jul 2017Conditional

  Planning Permission for the construction of a storm tank with a capacity of 45 cubic meter with all associated site works and services at the existing treatment plant

  Permission · Westmeath County Council, 177120

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: Lough Sewdy 000689

Recorded monuments

• WM024-003 Military camp
  Description

  Site of military camp belonging to the Williamite forces is indicated as a circular enclosure on the 1837 edition of the OS 6-inch map but not indicated on the 1910 edition of the OS 6-inch map. It is indicated as 'Site of English Camp' on the OS Fair plan of 1837 where it is indicated as a circular enclosure. The site of this camp was recorded in 1981 when it recorded that 'There is a second site marked as 'site of English camp' from the fair plans a short distance to the NW on the shoulder of a ridge to the W of Belmore Place-a large house. There are no indications of fortifications at this site either' (SMR File). The 17th century bastioned fort (WM024-004001-) of the Jacobite army is 735m to the northeast and the medieval church and graveyard (WM024-005/005001-) are 520m to the east. The village of Ballymore (WM024-179) is 900m to the E and the castle (WM024-182----) or Plary Monastery (WM024-034----) are 800m to the SE. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 11 November 2009

• WM024-004 Castle - motte and bailey
  Description

  According to the Urban Survey of Westmeath (Bradley et. al. 1985, 65-6), ‘the earliest reference to the castle of ‘Loxeuth’ occurs in 1211-12 (Davies and Quinn 1941, 31) but it is reasonable to assume that the motte dates from c.1187 when Lough Sewdy became the main Westmeath seat of the de Lacys. Confiscated by King John in 1210 the castle was returned to Walter de Lacy in 1215 (Otway Ruthven 1968, 80: Cal. doc. Ire., nos. 596, 612, 718). In the partition of 1332 it went to William Blunt, husband of Margaret, third daughter of Theobald de Verdon. At that time it was stated that the castle had been burnt by the Irish and that there were no buildings on the site (Otway Ruthven 1968, 429). This tends to support Orpen's (1911-20, ii, 81 n. 3) suggestion that the motte was abandoned in favour of a new castle of which the circular tower is a remnant. Nothing further is known of the motte until the seventeenth century. In 1606 the castle was granted to John Wakeman (Erck 1846-52, 268) but it is not certain if this refers to the motte or not. The motte was refortified, however, in the 1640s and in 1693 it was stated that the stones of the chancel of the church were ‘used in Cromwell’s time to build ‘Loxeudy castle’ (Ellison 1975, 11). Writing in 1682 Sir Henry Piers stated that the motte: ‘was divided from the mainland by a graff deep and large, with ramparts of earth and bulwarks: the ditch was so low carried, as to receive three or four foot of the restagnant waters of the lake, over which was by a drawbridge the entry into the fort’ (Piers 1981, 78). In 1690 the motte was refortified by the Jacobites but it was captured in 1691 after a short siege by the Williamites under Ginkel (Murtagh 1974-5, 242-6). The Williamite chaplain, Rev. George Story, described the ‘isthmus’ on which the motte stood as: ‘formerly fortified with a double ditch and within that a stone wall….At the further end, next the broadest part of the lough stood a strong Danish fort now fortified with a ditch twenty foot broad and ten foot deep being also palisaded around’ (Murtagh 1974-5, 244). The motte is situated on a spur of land jutting into Lake Sunderlin and flanked on the east and west by marshy ground. The tip of the spur was adapted to form a large motte and bailey with enclosing bank and ditch. The only land approach is from the south where the motte is protected by a bank and ditch, 7.5m wide, and stone-faced internally. The lake side is defended by a shallow ditch and the bailey. The motte consists of a conical mound rising to a flat oval-shaped top measuring 19m north-south by 15.5m east-west. There are the remains of a raised platform, some 9.5m wide, on the west side. The bailey is situated to the north and is separated from the motte by a shallow ditch some 11m wide. It is crescentic and measures 53 by 25 m. There are masonry fragments on the east edge of the bailey but it is impossible to determine what sort of structure is represented. The east end of the bailey is 1.5m higher on average than the remainder. This is probably the result of seventeenth century refortification works because the raised area is connected to a seventeenth century bank which links the bailey with the lake shore. The seventeenth century fortifications were depicted in 1681 by Story (Murtagh 1974-5, Pl. 16) but only traces of them now survive. On the south side the spur of land was cut off by a deep ditch which was defended internally and externally by banks. All trace of the external bank has vanished but the ditch is present. This ditch was almost certainly water-filled originally as Piers describes it. The ditch was crossed by a causeway defended by a drawbridge of which only some fragments of masonry survive. There were pentangular bastions at the east and west ends of the internal bank and traces of these are present. The motte was protected on the south side by an inner fortification having two rectangular bastions of which no trace survives. The east side of the spur was protected by a low bank while along the west side the ridge was scarped into the marshy ground below. The bailey was defended by a stone faced bank which skirts the lake-shore. Finds of iron slag, cannon balls, musket shot and coins have been made by metal detector users in the peaty soil beside the lake shore immediately east of the bailey. Animal bones have also been found, during drainage, south-east of the motte’. Today the motte and bailey is located on a peninsula surrounded on three sides by Lough Sewdy (Lough Sunderlin) while the west and northwestern side of the motte is defended by wet marshy land. Ballymore was an important seat of the de Lacys before the stone fortress [Castle] was built later (Walsh 1957, 23). According to Orpen Ballymore was 'the principal manor of the de Verdun moiety' (Orpen 2005, 412). In 1315 Robert Bruce reached Ballymore Loughsewdy, the caput of the de Verdun moiety of Meath, where he spent Christmas and afterwards he set fire to the castle as he was leaving Ballymore (Orpen 2005, 522). The motte and bailey is located at the northern end of a earthwork marked 'Camp (Site of)' on the 1910 edition of the OS 6-inch map which indicates the location of a Jacobite bastioned fort (WM024-004001-) indicated on a sketch map of Ballymore from 1691 as 'The Fort of Ballymore' [Story 1693, 318]. This fortification is located at the base of a motte and bailey (WM024-004----) on it southern side and appears to have incorporated the motte as a defensive feature of the bastioned fort. A small circular structure is indicated on top of the motte while two smaller rectangular structures are indicated in the bailey on the northern side of the motte. A church and graveyard (WM004-005----/005001-) are located 275m to the SW of the artillery fort and the village of Ballymore (WM024-179----) is 430m to the south. A circular castle (WM024-034----) is 660m to the south. Described in 1971 as 'The motte is subcircular, high, and steep sided. The top of the motte is uneven and appears to have NE-SW cultivation ridges. There is a wide deep fosse around by the foot of the bailey. There is a massive earthen bank at the outer upper edge of the fosse from E-S-SW. From SW-W-NW the bank has been almost completely removed. From NW-N-E the lunate bailey is attached to the fosse. The sides of the bailey are very high and steep. Not possible to examine fully due to rain. The scarp which is shown extending SSW on the 1910 OS 6-inch map is in part at least a later feature than the motte and bailey' (SMR File). See attached sketch plan showing Ballymore Church (WM024-005----), the 'Fort of Ballymore' (WM024-004001-) with the motte [The Mount] (WM025-004----) standing inside this fortification all of which stands on the banks of Lough Sewdy/Sunderlin c. 1691, taken from Story's An impartial history of the wars of Ireland, with a continuation thereof. Complied by Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 18 August 2014

• WM024-004001 Bastioned fort
  Description

  The earthwork marked 'Camp (Site of)' on the 1910 edition of the OS 6-inch map indicates the location of a Jacobite bastioned fort indicated on a sketch map of Ballymore from 1691 as 'The Fort of Ballymore' (Story 1693, 318). This fortification is located at the base of a motte and bailey (WM024-004----) on it southern side and appears to have incorporated the motte as a defensive feature of the bastioned fort. A small circular structure is indicated on top of the motte while two smaller rectangular structures are indicated in the bailey on the northern side of the motte. A church and graveyard (WM004-005----/005001-) are located 275m to the SW of the artillery fort and the village of Ballymore (WM024-179----) is 430m to the south. A circular castle (WM024-034----) is 660m to the south. This monument is described in 2009 as 'The fort at Ballymore stood near the village of the same name, situated between the main Williamite army and Athlone town. The fort was on a peninsula surrounded on three sides by Lough Sewdy (sometimes also given as Lough Sunderlin) while the west and northwestern side of the fort had a bog as a natural defence. The fort itself consisted in part of a ringfort (WM024-004----) at the peninsula's tip, to which the Jacobites had added a ditch and a palisade. A double ditch, backed by a stone wall and strengthened with a hornwork (an earthwork having a curtain and two half-bastions. Its plan resembles the projecting horns of a bull), a bastion and two retrenchments, stood at the neck of the peninsula. A strong house stood within these defences, while there was also a tower, or castle 400 metres to the east of the lake. The Jacobite garrison in Ballymore consisted of c.1000 men with two cannon, detached from Athlone'(Report on the Battlefield of Ballymore Co. Westmeath 2009, 6). This bastioned fort was captured by Williamite forces in June 1691 when they 'repaired the breaches in Ballymore fort, levelled the batteries and trenches and put the place in a better state of defence than it had been' (Report on the Battlefield of Ballymore Co. Westmeath 2009, 7). The monument today consists of a fort 'located on a ridge of high land which at the time of the Williamite attack was surrounded on three sides by water. At its northern end this ridge is dominated by an Anglo-Norman motte (WM024-004----). The southern end of the ridge displays the remnants of 17th century fortifications, constructed initially in the 1640s and subsequently improved by the Jacobites and the Williamites during the War of the Two Kings. Access to this fortification was gained through a 'drawbridge' at the southern end of the ridge. This was located at the end of a north-south orientated route from the village to the fort running immediately to the east of the church (WM024-005-----). In addition the 'drawbridge' entrance is identifiable as are the most southerly bastions. Of particular interest during the field visit was the identification of features represented on Story's plan of the fort. These included a small spur bastion on the western side of the fort and the probable remains of the most easterly internal bastion on the eastern side. It is unclear if these fortifications represent the fort as it appeared prior to the Williamite attack or of they are wholly or partially indicative of subsequent Williamite improvements'(Report on the Battlefield of Ballymore Co. Westmeath 2009, 9, 11). This bastioned fort was described in June 1691 by George Story, a chaplain in the Williamite army as 'This isthmus had been formerly fortified with a double ditch, and within that a stone wall, and then there stood a pretty strong house, where one widow White lived the year before, when Lieutenant-General Douglas march'd that way to Athlone, who took protection, secured a good flock of sheep and cows in this peninsula whilst he lay encamp'd by the town. At the further end next the broadest part of the lough, stood a strong Danish Fort [WM024-004----] (as this Kingdom is every where full of them) now Fortified with a ditch twenty foot broad and ten foot deep, being also pallisado'd round. Towards the east and north-east, the Lough is so broad, that cannon can do no execution over it; but towards the south-east, ther is a large round hill which overlooks the island, and from whence you may see into all places of it. This place was neglected by us last year, as being so poor in it self, that it could not support a Garrison; but the Irish seeing the natural strength of it, and withal the advantage of disturbing our neighbouring Garrisons from thence, they presently fell to work and fortified it; here they kept a Garrison all Winter, and towards the spring sent that detachment thither which we now found' (Story 1693, 88). According to Story on the 7th of June 1691 'by ten a Clock at night, four Batteries were raised, one below the Hill on the East towards the Lough side, of six Guns, two more of four a piece, towards the church [WM024-005----], and another for four Mortars'(Story 1693, 89). He goes on to states that 'This siege however, was very delightful to our whole Army, who had a view of it from the adjoyning Hill' (Story 1693, 90). The surrender of the bastioned fort on the 8th of June 1691 was recorded by Story who states that 'about twelve a Clock the enemy beat a parley, and hung out a white flag, but the General woould not take notice of it; and our Batteries went on with that success, that two breaches were made, one in the utermost[outermost] Fort next the Town, the other on the Works on the same side within the Island; and the General seem'd resolved to storm the Fort next morning at the coming of the Tin Boats: there were four large Boats however then in the Camp, which were the Fleet prepared last year for Hoard's expedition on the Shannon, and were all winter at Mullingar. These the General ordered to be launched upon the lough, and filled with armed men. By eight of the Clock, the Governor and some of the officers coming out, they surrendered the place at discretion: Upon which Colonel Earl, with eight hundred fire locks, march'd in over the Breach that our Guns had made; and the enemy laying down their arms, were continued Prisoners in the fort all night' (Story 1693, 90-1). After the taking of the Fort on the 10 of June 1691 the Williamite army set about refortifying this fort whichwas recorded by Story who states that 'In the Morning early two hundred men were drawn out to work at the fort, which the General had ordered to be better fortified by a line of Communication from the Out-works to the Danish Fort and other additions towards the water-side; our Men fell to work at first in repairing the Breaches; but were obliged to desist by bad weather; however they levelled all the Batteries and Trenches that we had made against the Fort' (Story 1693, 92). They had finished fortifying the bastioned fort by the 12th when Story records that 'Our Line of Communication was then finished, and we were working upon a Spur, Half-Moon, and Horn-Work, with a good Ditch to cover the Draw-Bridge and Entrance to the Out-Work. There was also a Bastion begun to the Right, towards the Lough, and a large Half-Moon towards the Left, both which command the uttermost[outermost] Work; and the Fort was ordered to be amended by throwing part of it down, and building it a new. A Work was likewise designed along the Lough side to cover those within, that side being open, and none could stir in the Fort but were exposed to Shot from the Hill. A Platform was also designed for eight Guns on the top of the Mount. The same day then guns and three mortars, left at Mullingar, were brought up; and four troopers desert the enemy, who confirm the Report of their being at Athlone with the greatest part of their Army' (Story 1693, 93). See attached sketch plan of village showing Ballymore church (WM024--005----), Ballymore Town (WM024-179----), the 'round castle' (WM024-182----) the 'Fort of Ballymore' (W

• WM024-004002 Road - hollow-way
  Description

  An old roadway which now survives as a hollow-way leading into the 17th century artillery fort (WM024-004001-) is depicted on George Story's sketch map of Ballymore 1691 (Story 1693, 318). The site of a medieval church (WM024-005----) is located 70m to the west, with an Anglo-Norman motte (WM024-004----) located at the northern end of the roadway. A circular castle (WM024-182----) is located 230m to the south of the road while the clustered settlement of Ballymore is located at the southern end of the roadway. Described in 2009 as 'The traces of a 'hollow-way' marking the original route from the village (WM024-178----) to the fort (WM024-004001-) are visible to the north of the church (WM024-005----)'(Report on the Battlefield of Ballymore Co. Westmeath 2009, 11). An aerial photograph of the church and graveyard clearly shows the roadway (WM024-004002-) depicted in Story's 1691 sketch running as a linear feature through the field to the east of the church and graveyard (CUCAP BDU 64). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 10 November 2009

• WM024-004003 House - 16th/17th century
  Description

  A building at the southern end of a bastioned fort (WM024-004001-) may be the site of the 'Strong House' of the 'Widow White' described by George Story in 1691. The earthwork marked 'Camp (Site of)' (WM024-004001-) on the 1910 edition of the OS 6-inch map indicates the location of a Jacobite bastioned fort indicated on a sketch map of Ballymore from 1691 as 'The Fort of Ballymore' (Story 1693, 318). This fortification is located at the base of a motte and bailey (WM024-004----) on it southern side and appears to have incorporated the motte as a defensive feature of the bastioned fort. A small circular structure is indicated on top of the motte while two smaller rectangular structures are indicated in the bailey on the northern side of the motte. A church and graveyard (WM004-005----/005001-) are located 275m to the SW of the artillery fort and the village of Ballymore (WM024-179----) is 430m to the south. A circular castle (WM024-034----) is 660m to the south. The site of this building was recorded in 1983 as 'The site of a building located near the S. end of the 'camp' is indicated on an estate map of 1827 (NLI 16 J 10 (6) ). No trace of this building nor any indication or extent could be discerned on the ground' (SMR File). This building may be the same building as indicated on the 1837 edition of the OS 6-inch map where it is depicted beside the 'Pier of Draw Bridge'. This house or building was described in June 1691 by George Story, a chaplain in the Williamite army as 'This isthmus had been formerly fortified with a double ditch, and within that a stone wall, and then there stood a pretty strong house, where one widow White lived the year before, when Lieutenant-General Douglas march'd that way to Athlone' (Story 1693, 88). Complied by Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 11 November 2009

• WM024-005 Church
  Description

  The early 19th century Church of Ireland church ruins dedicated to St. Owen stands on the site of the medieval nave and chancel church of Ballymore Lough Sewdy which was dedicated to St. Mary. The terrier of the 1656 Down Survey map of Ballymore parish states that 'on the lands of Balllimore stands the ruins of an old abby (WM024-034----) and a ruined church there is also a towne' (NLI MS 723-4). The date at which the parish church changed its dedication to St. Owen is not clear. In 1826 it was recorded that the 'parish church has been lately repaired and enlarged' (Brewer 1826, 247). In 1867 it was recorded that the 'old church was torn down and uprooted, and a Protestant house of worship erected on its site' (Cogan 1867, 493). The church is located 200m north of the village of Ballymore (WM024-178----) and 450m north of a castle (WM024-182----) or Augustiniam priory (WM024-034----). The remains of a 17th century bastioned fort (WM024-004001-) and Anglo-Norman motte (WM024-004----) are 325m and 625m to the northeast. In 1306 the ecclesiastical taxation of Ireland valued the church of ‘Loxeuedi’ [Loughsewdy now called Ballymore, co. Westmeath] at 40 marks yearly (Cal. doc. Ire. 258). In 1423 there is a reference to parish church of St. Mary of Lochseudy (Costello 1909, 60). In 1428 there is a reference to 'the resignation which John Ochaynean has made of his rectory of St. Mary's Loch Seydi [Lough Sewdy], in the diocese of Meath' (Cal. papal letters 9, 20). In 1440 there is a reference to 'Johh Macmurchertaid' who was 'by papal authority to hold another benfice even with chure, the parish church of St. Mary, Lochssydi [Lough Sewdy] alias Ballymore (Villa Magna) in the diocese of Meath, value not exceeding 60 marks sterling, void by the death without the Roman court of Andrew Ochaassy' (Cal papal letters 9, 96). The parish church of Ballymore was united to the bishopric of Meath in 1538 (Gwynn & Hadcock 1970, 160). In 1539 the rectory of Loughseudie is valued at £16 yearly (Costello 1909, 86). In 1545 it was chosen by Henry VIII to be the new cathedral church of the diocese of Meath (18th Report Deputy Keeper Public Records IreIand, 147 no. 6797). It is not known whether the church ever functioned as a cathedral or not but its selection indicates that the church was a prominent one within the diocese (Bradley et. al,. 1985, 68). In 1549 the crown declared, ‘Richard Walshe, late parson of Loughsewdy, attainted’ (Nicholls 1994, 131). In 1593 the crown granted lands to Terence or Tirlagh O Byrne including, ‘Holliwood’s acre in Ballimoore, in said co., parcel of the lands of the church of Ballimoore’ (Nicholls 1994, 223). Church ruins depicted on the 1656 Down Survey map of Ballymore parish (NLI MS 723-4). This church was described in 1691 by George Story as 'A little to the right of the Town [Ballymore] as you go to Athlone, stood a pretty Church upon a rising ground; about a hundred and twenty yards from which there lies a spot of ground about six acres, which is almost an island, by reason of a great Lough to the East, North, and North-East; and on the North-West there is Bogg; a small neck of land running from the Church on the South-West, prevents it from being altogether an island' (Story 1693, 87-8). No surface remains visible of the medieval church of Ballymore. Present remains consist of the ruins of a 19th century Church of Ireland church dedicated to St. Owen which was probably built on the site of an earlier church standing on top of low rise of ground in centre of graveyard (WM024-005001-), with good views in all directions. A small early 17th century mortuary chapel or mausoleum (WM024-005002-) located in E quadrant of graveyard is located 25m E of Church of Ireland ruins. The 19th century ruins were described by the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage as a ‘detached Church of Ireland church, built c.1827, comprising three-bay hall to the east and a three-stage tower on square plan to the west end having crow-stepped parapets and corner pinnacles. Now out of use as roofless’ (www.buildingsofireland.ie). This church was built on the site of the 17th century church built by Bishop Anthony Dopping and his parishioners who rebuilt the chancel of the medieval church of Ballymore. Bishop Doppings visitation book of 1682-5 recorded that the 'church and chancel [as] ruined, chancel stones used in Cromwell's time to build Loxeudy Castle' (Ellison 1975, 11). In 1682 Sir Henry Piers recorded that in Ballymore there ‘is now a church built on the old foundation in repair except only the east end’ (Vallancey 1786, 79). A new church was constructed probably on the site of the medieval church with the aid of the Board of First Fruits in 1827. In 1980 a fragment of an ogee-headed window belonging to the medieval church of Ballymore was recorded lying on the surface of a grave close to the mortuary chapel (SMR File 02/10/1980). The location of this architectural fragment within the graveyard could not be located. An aerial photograph of the church and graveyard (WM024-005001-) clearly shows the roadway (WM024-004002-) depicted in Story's 1691 sketch running as a linear feature through the field to the east of the church and graveyard (CUCAP BDU 64). See attached sketch plan of village showing Ballymore church, Athlone road, a cluster of houses and the 'round castle' (WM024-182----) along with the 'Fort of Ballymore' (WM024-004001-) c. 1691 taken from Story's An impartial history of the wars of Ireland, with a continuation thereof. Compiled by: Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 20 August 2014

• WM024-005001 Graveyard
  Description

  The ruins of a 17th century mausoleum or mortuary chapel (WM024-005002-) stands in the eastern quadrant of a rectangular-shaped graveyard measuring internally 79m NE-SW by 48m N-S which is enclosed by a late 18th or early 19th century stone wall built by the Magan family of Umma More and Togherstown with entrance gate at S. The Church of Ireland church dedicated to St. Owen was built in 1827 on the site of the medieval church (WM024-005----) and stands in the centre of the graveyard. In 1826 it was recorded that 'by that family [Magan] the church-yard has been surrounded by a stone wall, and with a double, and very ornamental, line of elm trees, at present of considerable bulk and height' (Brewer 1826, 247). The medieval church and graveyard are located 200m north of the village of Ballymore (WM024-178----) and 450m north of a castle (WM024-182----) or Augustinian priory (WM024-034----). The remains of a 17th century bastioned fort (WM024-004001-) and Anglo-Norman motte (WM024-004----) are 325m and 625m to the northeast. The graveyard contains memorials dating from the 18th and 19th centuries. An aerial photograph of the church and graveyard clearly shows the roadway (WM024-004002-) depicted in Story's 1691 sketch running as a linear feature through the field to the east of the church and graveyard (CUCAP BDU064). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 20 August 2014

• WM024-005002 Mausoleum
  Description

  The ivy-covered ruins of a small 17th century mausoleum or mortuary chapel belonging to the Magan family of Umma House can be seen standing in the E quadrant of Ballymore graveyard (WM024-005001-). In 1826 it was recorded that in Ballymore graveyard, ‘is a decayed chapel, the antient place of sepulture of the Magan family of Emoe [Umma More] and Togher's town, in this county' (Brewer 1826, 247). In 1867 it was recored there 'is an oratory or mortuary chapel at Ballimore which measures twenty-two feet nine inches [6.9m] by fourteen feet seven inches [4.4m]' (Cogan 1867, 493). Present remains consist of a small rectangular chapel (int. dims. 7m NE-SW 4.45m NW-SE; wall T 0.7m) aligned NE-SW in E quadrant of graveyard. The walls of the chapel are constructed with limestone rubble with undressed alternating quoins. The NE end of the chapel walls are covered in ivy making detailed examination of this end of the building difficult. The SW end of the chapel walls are not covered in ivy. The chapel is entered through a pointed rebated doorway in the SW gable above which are the remains of a niche which originally probably contained the armorial plaque of the Magan family. The remains of a yett hole can be seen on the N side of the doorway which is constructed with punch dressed limestone rebated jambs. Traces of external render can be seen on the surface of the dressed stones of this doorway. The interior of the chapel was lit by a triple light flat headed window of 17th century appearance in the centre of the NE gable. The remains of a hood moulding can be seen above the window on the external face of the NE gable. The bar holes of an iron grill can be seen in the side of the punch dressed mullions of the window. The interior of this window had a twin leaf wooden shutter secured by a draw bar which slotted through a hole incorporated into the stone mullion of the window. A small niche which may have contained a memorial stone or tablet to the Magan family can be seen off centre to the E in the N wall of the chapel. There are no windows in the N or S walls of the chapel. The chapel was described in 1980 as 'in the eastern corner of the graveyard (WM024-005001-) is the ruin of a small rectangular building aligned NE-SW & measuring 8.3m NE-SW by 5.65m NW-SE. The walls remain to their full height with high gables in the end walls. In the SW wall there is a gothic doorway with a rectangular niche above. The niche is now empty, but seems to have been intended to hold a tablet. There is a 3 light window with a flat top & a hood moulding in the NE wall. This ruin appears to be of late 16th or even 17th century in date' (SMR file 02/10/1980). The chapel was recently described by the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage as the remains of a 'single-cell chapel on rectangular plan to the east, built c.1625, having rubble limestone walls, dressed quoins to the corners, a pointed-arched doorcase with cut stone surrounds to the centre of the west gable and triple-light square-headed window to the east gable end, having cut stone mullions, cut stone surrounds and a hoodmoulding over' (www.buikdingsofireland.ie) Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 20 August 2014

• WM024-005003 Children's burial ground
  Description

  The ruins of a 17th century mausoleum or mortuary chapel (WM024-005002-) stands in the eastern quadrant of Ballymore graveyard (WM024-005002-) which is enclosed by a late 18th or early 19th century stone wall built by the Magan family with entrance gate at S. The Church of Ireland church dedicated to St. Owen was built in 1827 on the site of the medieval church (WM024-005----) and stands in the centre of the graveyard. A low circular-depression (dims. c. 18m NW-SE x 9m NE-SW) on the external face of the E wall of the graveyard located off centre to N which according to local information may be the remains of a possible children's burial ground (pers. comm. Grace Corbett). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by Grace Corbet, Archaeologist, National Monuments Service Date of upload: 26 May 2023

• WM024-032 Military camp
  Description

  Site of military camp belonging to the Williamite forces is indicated as a circular enclosure on the 1837 edition of the OS 6-inch map but not indicated on the 1910 edition of the OS 6-inch map. It is indicated as 'Site of English Camp' on the OS Fair plan of 1837 where it is indicated as a circular enclosure. The site of this camp was recorded in 1981 when it recorded that 'The area indicated is in a field to the E of the village of Ballymore, in fairly level land. There are no indications of earthworks or any fortifications in the area. There is a second site marked as 'site of English camp' from the fair plans a short distance to the NW on the shoulder of a ridge to the W of Belmore Place-a large house. There are no indications of fortifications at this site either' (SMR File). The 17th century bastioned fort (WM024-004001-) of the Jacobite army is 560m to the northeast and the medieval church and graveyard (WM024-005----/005001-) are 285m to the northeast. The village of Ballymore (WM024-179----) is 500m to the E and the castle (WM024-182----) or Plary Monastery (WM024-034----) are 435m to the SE. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 11 November 2009

• WM024-033 Standing stone
  Description

  Situated in pasture, c. 15m W of a public road. Annotated ‘Rock’ on the 1837 OS Fair Plan map. Not depicted on the 1837 OS 6-inch or revised 1913 ed. OS 25-inch map. Levelled monument described in 1981 as no surface remains visible. Stone of doubtful antiquity. Compiled by Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien. Date of upload: 12 August 2019

• WM024-034 Religious house - Augustinian canons
  Description

  There are doubts about the Ordnance Survey designation of this monument which records that these buildings marked the site of 'Plary Monastery' which was an Augustinian priory of the non conventual order dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary (Costello 1909, 82) and known as 'Clary alias Loughsewdy'. In 1682 Sir Henry Piers recorded that the Priory of Ballymore was located on the same site as the nunnery (WM024-181----) of Lough Sewdy which would place the priory in a different location to the site marked on the OS 6-inch map. The abbey building is depicted on the 1656 Down Survey map of Ballymore parish (NLI MS 723-4) where it is shown located on the E side of the River which runs S from Lough Sewdy. On the 1656 Down Survey map of Rathconrath barony the 'ruinous abby' is depicted standing inside a D-shaped enclosure or field boundary on the E side of the river (NLI MS 723-4). On this map of Rathconrath barony a large building is shown standing in the field to the W of the river which corresponds with the upstanding building today. If the 1656 Down Survey is correct the monastery was located in the adjoining fields to the SE of the current location. If the monastery was located to the E of the river then the ruins at 'Plary Monastery' would represent the probable remains of Lough Sewdy Castle (WM024-182----). The terrier of the 1656 Down Survey map of Ballymore parish states that 'on the lands of Balllimore stands the ruins of an old abby and a ruined church (WM034-005----) there is also a towne (WM034-179----)' (NLI MS 723-4). The Urban Survey of Westmeath (Bradley et. al. 1985, 69) concluded that the remains of the buildings marked in this field as 'Plary Monastery' were in fact the remains of a stone castle (WM024-182---) which had been mistakenly identified by the Ordnance Survey as the site of the Augustinian Priory of Plary/Lough Sewdy. These masonry remains probably represents the building depicted on the 1656 Down Survey map of Rathconrath barony. According to the Urban Survey of Westmeath (Bradley et. al. 1985, 68-9) the founder and date of the foundation of this monastery are unknown but Gwynn and Hadcock (1970, 153) suggest that it was established about the middle of the thirteenth century. In 1306 the ecclesiastical taxation of Ireland valued the ‘Temporalities de Cary’ as worth 30s a year (Cal. doc. Ire., 258). Gwynn & Hadcock (1970, 153) stated that there 'was a priory of Cistercian nuns here (WM024-181----) and about a half a mile from it a priory of Augustinian canons. The latter seems to have been small, with only a few canons who possibly acted as chaplains to the nuns, and it may have been connected with Tristernagh priory, which had land in Loughsewdy in the mid-thirteenth century. Gerald or Thomas, son of Nicholas Lord of Kerry, who died 1324, was prior. The mon.[astery] was burned by Cathal Og O'Conor in 1363 and by the O'Kelly family in 1394. In 1395 there is a reference in the Calendar of Papal Letters to the 'Augustinian prior and convent of Dristenach [Tristernagh] and in the similar gift of the Augustinian prioress and convent of Lochsed[Loughsewdy], in the diocese of Meath' (Cal. papal letters 4, 513). In 1508 there is a reference to William O’Daly, Prior of St. Mary’s, Loughseudy, of the order of Regular Canons of St. Austin (Costello 1909, 104). On 8 Oct. 1540, they reported from statements of the late prior, Thomas Tuyt, that there was a ruinous church, and a small stone belfry on the 1-acre site, while the possessions included 9 carucates and 3 q[ua]r[ter]s. with the tithes of 11 rectories. In 1541 the crown granted Thomas Tuite, ‘late prior of B.V.M. of Loughsewdy; of a pension of £4, issuing out of the rectories of S. Patrick of Mymor and Clonkyshe’ (Nicholls 1994, 25). In 1542 a 21 year lease was issued to Walter Tirrell, a Dublin merchant ‘of the site of the priory of loghsewde’ (Nicholls 1994, 37). In 1542/3 the crown granted ‘Hugh Dale, conventual person of the late priory of the B.V.M. of Loghsewde; of a pension of 26s 8d. out of the possessions of the priory’ (Nicholls 1994, 39). In 1545 three churches of Tristernagh were appropriated to the newly created cathedral of Loghsewdy or Ballymore. In 1542 the 'abbey' had a church with belfry, a dormitory, hall, three chambers, kitchen and two stables. A lease to Francis Shaen in 1593 includes the priory of Clare (r. Plare), al. Loughseaudy [Lough Sewdy], val. £18' (Gwynn & Hadcock 1970, 160). In 1597 the crown regranted an 86 year lease to Francis Shaen of Ballymore Loughsewdy ‘of the site of the priory of the B. V. M. of Clary alias Loughsewdy’ (Nicholls 1994, 300). In 1612/13 King James I granted Sir Francis Shane ‘the late monastery or priory of the B. V. Mary of Clarie otherwise Loghsewdy, with all the site thereof, a church and steeple, with other buildings, containing 1a of the great country measure, and a large garden near the said site, Clonibane, 1 plowland, containing 120a of the great measure; Farrenecrosse otherwise Crosse-lands, 4 plowlands, with the tithes thereof’ (Cal. pat. rolls Ire., Jas I, 244). In 1682 Sir Henry Piers described the priory as ‘adjoining to this town is the old dissolved monastery of Plary; here was formerly both a friary and nunnery (WM024-181----), but in separated buildings, both of the Cistercian order; the land hereunto belonging are said to belong to the bishop of Meath, yet are witholden from the see, either by the adventurer, or the Lord Netterville' (Vallancey 1786, 79-80). According to the Urban Survey of Westmeath (Bradley et. al. 1985, 69) the 'site marked on the Ordnance Survey maps as Plary is the one pointed out to O'Donovan in 1837 but there are difficulties in the identification. The surviving remains seem to be those of a castle (WM024-182----) rather than a monastery and O'Donovan was troubled by this because he remarks that 'though it presents all the appearances of a strong military tower, [it] is insisted on by tradition to be a part of the monastery of 'Plary' (Walsh 1957, 16)'. Described in 2009 as 'Directly south of the village of Ballymore and Lough Sewdy is the small ruined tower held as a Jacobite outpost. It represents the surviving ruins of Plary Monastery as marked on the 1837 and 1910 editions of the OS 6-inch map. A newly built housing estate has encroached somewhat on the visual aspect of this site, although the tower itself remains greenfield'.(Report on the Battlefield of Ballymore Co. Westmeath 2009, 10). The site of a medieval church (WM024-005----) is located 446m to the north, while a 17th century bastioned fort (WM024-004001-) and an Anglo-Norman motte (WM024-004----) are located 700m and 985m to the north respectively. The clustered settlement of Ballymore (WM024-179----) is located 210m to the north. In 1598 Brian O'Rorke destroyed Ballymore Castle and its fortifications when he had wasted the country from the borders of Annaly to Mullingar and then westwards to Ballymore (Butler 1942, 73). It is not clear if these ruins represent the remains of an Augustinian priory or the remains of a castle as it is depicted on George Story's sketch map of Ballymore 1691 as 'The round Castle' where it is illustrated as a circular shaped castle with the ruins of a structure immediately to the east of the circular castle (Story 1693, 318). According to Story in 1691 the 'a Serjeant and fifteen men being in an old Castle nigh a quarter of a mile to the south-west of the Fort [WM024-004001-), after all hopes of being relieved, was cut off; the Serjeant fired upon some of our men and killed one or two, for which, as soon as the Castle was surrendered, he was hanged, (Story 1693, 88-9). Although these remains are indicated as 'Plary Monastery (in Ruins)' on the ordnance survey 6-inch map this designation appears to be a mistake and are in fact the remains of a circular tower house. No ecclesiastical buildings are indicated in this area on George Story's sketch map of Ballymore

• WM024-179 Settlement deserted - medieval
  Description

  In 1606 King James I granted John Wakeman ‘the castle (WM034-182----) of Balleemore-Loughsewdie, and 4 carucates of land adjoining, of which the town of Balleemore-Loughsewdie is parcel, and all the islands, fishings, mills, and weirs thereon-a Wednesday market, and a fair on the 4th, 5th, and 6th Oct. at Balleemore-Loughsewdie’ (Cal. pat. rolls Ire., Jas I, 90). The terrier of the 1656 Down Survey map of Ballymore parish states that 'on the lands of Balllimore stands the ruins of an old abby (WM024-034----) and a ruined church (WM034-005----) there is also a towne' (NLI MS 723-4). This clustered settlement of Ballymore was located N and S of the old Athlone-Dublin road, to the S of the medieval church (WM024-005----) and N of Plary monastery (WM024-034----) as depicted on the 1656 Down Survey maps of Ballymore parish and Rathconrath barony (NLI MS 723-4). This clustered settlement is also depicted on George Story's sketch map of Ballymore 1691 where it is shown as a linear settlement of houses arranged on either side of the Athlone-Dublin road located between the church (WM024-005----) and the cross-roads at the eastern end of the village, with the 'Round Castle' (WM024-182----) to the S (Story 1693, 318). The site of a medieval church (WM024-005----) is located 200m to the north, while a 17th century bastioned fort (WM024-004001-) and an Anglo-Norman motte (WM024-004----) are located 430m and 750m to the north respectively. A circular castle (WM024-182---) is located 200m to the south of the clustered settlement. In 1682 Sir Henry Piers described Ballymore as a ‘market town having two fairs in the year, seated on the west side of Lough-Seudy [Sewdy]’ (Vallancey 1786, 79-80). In 1691 the town of Ballymore was described as ‘a small village upon the Great Road between Mullingar and Athlone, being ten miles distant from each other. The place has always been very poor, and had only two or three Houses of Entertainment in it, the rest being all Irish Cabbins, to the number of a hundred or thereabouts, (though now there is neither House nor Cabbin standing). A little to the right of the Town as you go to Athlone, stood a pretty Church (WM024-005----) upon a rising ground’ (Story 1693, 87). This linear settlement was located either side of the Dublin-Athlone road at the E end of the present village of Ballymore. The houses of this village wee located on either side of the road between the medieval church (WM024-005----) an the cross-roads at the E end of the village. A cluster of narrow linear house plots on the N side of the Dublin-Athlone Road at the E end of the village which are depicted on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map may represent some of the house plots shown on the 1691 sketch plan of the village. There are no crop marks visible of possible settlement earthworks on aerial photographs of the present village. No medieval houses or any houses of pre-1700 date have been identified standing on either side of the present Dublin-Athlone Road at the E end of the village of Ballymore. In 1691 it was recorded that the houses of Balllymore were of poor quality and that by this time there were no houses or cabins standing in the village of Ballymore. The Urban Survey of Westmeath (Bradley et. al. 1985, 63-4) recorded that ‘the borough of Ballymore Lough Sewdy, now called simply Ballymore, is situated on a low 300 feet rise between the high ground around the Hill of Uisneach, on the east, and the basin of Lough Ree to the west, roughly midway between Mullingar and Athlone, in south-west Westmeath. A story in the Dinnsheanchas explains the name as Loch Seimhdidhe [Seimhdí], Semtell’s lake, after the warrior Semtell who drowned while bathing there (Walsh 1957, 331). Ballymore means simply large town’ but the precise date when it came into use is not known although it was evidently so-called by the fifteenth century because it is referred to as ‘Lochside alias de villa magna’ in 1432, and as ‘Baile Mór Locha Seimdighe’ in 1450 (Walsh 1950, 330-1). The earliest evidence of settlement in the vicinity of the medieval borough is in the Early Historic period when there was an important crannog (WM024-002----) on the lake. In 1033 Murchadh Ua Mael Sechlainn was slain on the ‘island’ of Loch Seimdidhe (AFM). In 1131 it was plundered by Conchobar Ua Briain (ALC, AFM) and in 1159 Ruaidri Ua Conchobair, King of Connacht, marched to Loch Seimhdidhe, dragging eight galleys overland and plundered ‘Inis Enain’ (presumably the actual name of the crannog), killing most of its people. The death of Aedh Slaine at Loch Seimdidhe in 600 (AFM) may indicate that the crannog was in use at this time but it is difficult to know whether such an early date may be relied on or not. It has been suggested that a monastery was established here c.700 but the suggestion lacks supporting evidence (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 374). After 1172 Lough Sewdy became part of Hugh de Lacy's Liberty of Meath. De Lacy kept Lough Sewdy for himself and after the destruction of the castle of Killare (WM024-053----) in 1187 it became the principal seigneurial manor (WM024-004----) of Westmeath (Orpen 1911-20, ii, 81; Graham 1980, 45). A substantial settlement (WM024-179----) seems to have developed fairly quickly. In 1204 Walter de Lacy was granted a fair at ‘Lochseveth’ (Cal. doc. Ire., No. 229) and the settlement acquired borough status before c.1235 when a burgage is referred to (Mac Niocaill 1977, 54-6). A convent of Cistercian nuns (WM024-181----) was established and a priory of Augustinian canons (WM024-034----) c.1250. After Walter de Lacy's death in 1241 Lough Sewdy passed to John de Verdon through his wife Margery who was de Lacy's granddaughter (Otway-Ruthven 1968, 411). The castle of Lough Sewdy (WM024-004----) now became the caput or centre of the de Verdon section of Meath just as Trim castle became the caput of the De Geneville area (Orpen 1911-20, iv, 174). In 1284 Theobald de Verdon received a grant of markets and fairs on his demesne manors, including Lough Sewdy (Cal. doc Ire. ii, Nos. 2303-4). In 1332 after the partition of the lands of Theobald de Verdun the manor of Lough Sewdy, including the profits and tolls of its hundred court and burgess returns was divided between de Lacy's four daughters and their husbands (Otway Ruthven 1968, 416, 421-37). In common with much of the Anglo-Norman colony in Ireland, Lough Sewdy experienced severe upheavals in the fourteenth century when it appears to have fallen into Irish hands. In 1315, having spent Christmas there, Edward Bruce burned the manor (Gilbert 1884 ii, 347) and in 1338-9 it was stated that the lands of Thomas de Furnival at Lough Sewdy, ‘are burned by the Irish and lie waste and uncultivated for want of tenants, and because no Englishman dared to live there on account of the Irish’ (47th Report Deputy Keeper Public Records Ireland, 31). This seems to have remained the case for the rest of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. Two late fifteenth century documents describe the impoverished circumstances of the Augustinian priory (WM024-034----), which presumably reflects the state of the settlement as a whole during this period. In this respect it is surely significant that the convent of Cistercian nuns (WM024-181----) was abandoned about 1470. In 1540 the jurors appointed to make an extent of the priory of Lough Sewdy could not approach the neighbourhood ‘for fear of the Irish’ (White 1943, 284, 280). In 1545 Henry VIII planned to make the parish church (WM024-005----) of Lough Sewdy into the cathedral church of the diocese of Meath and this suggests some degree of effective English control at that date. In 1561 Shane O'Rono was pardoned for burning the town (11th Report Deputy Keeper Public Records Ireland 71: No. 365) and in 1566 both the town and ‘abbey’ were leased to Thomas le Strange (11th Report Deputy Keeper Public Records Ireland 128: No. 883, 128: No. 882). In 1606 King James

• WM024-182 Castle - tower house
  Description

  This building represents the remains of 'The round Castle' depicted on a sketch plan of the village of Ballymore dating from 1691 (Story 1693, 88). The Ordnance Survey map incorrectly identifies the present ruins of a castle as that of 'Plary Monastery' (WM024-034----) which was located in the field to the E of the river and 150m SE of the castle ruins. The precise site of the monastery to the E of the river has not been identified but it was located in the fields adjoining the river to the E. On the 1656 Down Survey map of Rathconrath barony a 'ruinous abby' (WM024-034----) is depicted standing inside a D-shaped enclosure or field boundary on the E side of the river (NLI MS 723-4). On this map of Rathconrath barony a large building or castle is shown standing in the field to the W of the river which corresponds with the upstanding remains of the castle. In 1606 King James I granted John Wakeman ‘the castle (WM034-182----) of Balleemore-Loughsewdie, and 4 carucates of land adjoining, of which the town of Balleemore-Loughsewdie is parcel, and all the islands, fishings, mills, and weirs thereon-a Wednesday market, and a fair on the 4th, 5th, and 6th Oct. at Balleemore-Loughsewdie’ (Cal. pat. Rolls Jas. I, 90). The ruins of a 15th/16th century circular tower (int. diam. 3.8m; wall T 2.3m) standing two storeys high but originally taller with wall footings of an adjoining building and possible bawn (WM024-182001-) can be seen standing on top of a low rise of ground with good views in all directions. Medieval settlement (WM024-179----) of Ballymore with medieval church (WM024-005---) and graveyard (WM024-005001-) 175m and 450m to N respectively. Site of ‘Plary Monastery’ (WM024-034----) in field c. 150-200m to E. In 1691 this building was described as 'an old Castle nigh a quarter of a Mile [400m] to the South-West of the Fort (WM024-004001-)' (Story 1693, 88). Present remains consist of a circular tower standing two storeys high the walls of which was constructed with coursed rubble limestone rising from a low protruding foundation plinth (H 0.35m; Wth 0.27m), the walls are straight sided with no evidence of a base batter visible. The circular-shaped ground floor of the tower was entered through a broken out doorway (Wth 1.7m) at SSE, with remains of a drawbar slot (dims. 0.12m x 0.12m) visible in W face of doorway opening. Directly inside the entrance to the W are the remains of a mural stairs (Wth 0.77m) which gives access to the upper floors of the tower. The ground floor of the tower is covered by a stone vaulted roof (H 1.8m) rising from E-W with two rectangular openings visible in the underside of the vaulted roof just inside the entrance to this chamber. The nib holes for the supporting timber centring of the vault can be seen just below the springing of the arch in the E face. The ground floor is lit by two slit opes which are set into two different embrasures with different arches and set at different heights. The slit ope in the N wall is intact externally and is faced with undressed rubble which is set into a pointed arched embrasure (int. Wth 0.86m; H 1.15m) set high (H 1.9m) above the floor of the chamber. The external face of the second slit ope located in the W face of the ground floor no longer survives. This slit ope is set into a flat headed embrasure (Wth 0.69m; H 1.15m) which is set at a different height (H 1m) above the surface of the ground floor compared to the embrasure in the N face. There is no evidence of any window in the E face of the ground floor chamber. The poorly preserved first floor is accessed off the mural stairs which continues to rise above the first floor to give access to a destroyed second floor or wall walk level. At first floor level there are the remains of a broken out window embrasure visible in the E face and a possible broken out embrasure in the S face. A wall cupboard or niche is visible in the W face of the first floor chamber. The mural stairs is lit by a series of flat headed slit opes now visible as broken out openings. Traces of wicker centring can be seen on the underside of the roof of the mural stairs indicating a late medieval date for this stairs and presumably for the circular tower. The masonry of the external E face of the tower has been torn away where the walls of an adjoining building was attached. The S (H 1m; L 6.65m; wall T 0.9m) and E (H 0.6m; L 4.5m) walls of this adjoining building can be seen to the E of the upstanding tower. There are no visible remains of the N wall of this adjoining building. This building appears to have been one storey high as there are the remains of broken out window visible at first floor level in the E wall of the circular tower. The grass covered wall footings of a possible bawn (dims. c. 22m E-W) can be seen to the S (L 22m; wall T 0.8m; H 0.3m) and E (L 4.65m) of the tower and adjoining building. A gap (Wth 1.9m) in the S wall of this possible bawn may represent the entrance or gateway into the bawn of the castle. There is no evidence for the wall footings of the bawn on the N or W side of the circular tower. The Urban Survey of Westmeath (Bradley et. al. 1985, 66-7) recorded the following: 'The function of this building has not been fully established. Identified on the O.S. map as Plary Monastery (WM024-034----) (i.e. the Augustinian priory of St. Mary) the remains have none of the features of a religious house. The earliest clear reference to the structure is in 1690, during the siege of Ballymore, when it is described simply as a 'round stone castle' (Murtagh 1974-5, 244). The identification with Plary Monastery is based on a local tradition recorded by O'Donovan in 1837 but his letter suggests that he was not entirely convinced: 'no remains of any buildings are visible except one small round castle, which, though it presents all the appearances of a strong military tower, it insisted upon by tradition to be part of the monastery of Plary' (Walsh 1957, 16). If this local tradition was correct it is all the more surprising that Woods, a resident of Ballymore, should have described the building as 'Ballymore Castle' in his Annals of Westmeath, published in 1907 (Woods 1907, 197). Architecturally the structure is difficult to date. It was badly slighted in the 1690 siege and lacks diagnostic architectural features. The circular plan and the wall thickness are consistent with a late twelfth or early thirteenth century donjon but the small arrow loops on the ground floor are more typical of the fifteenth century. There is no evidence that these loops are insertions and this suggests that the the structure is late medieval and is best interpreted as a round tower house. For whom it was built, an Irish lord or a religious house, can only be determined by excavation. The remains consist of a ruined drum tower and footings. The tower has a base batter and was probably storeyed originally but only two floors now survive. It is built of roughly coursed masonry. The walls are 2.15m thick on average and the internal diameter is 3.9m. The tower is entered at ground floor level from the south through a large hole lacking any splay or jambs. It opens into a round chamber with a pointed barrell vault. Two arrow loops open to the north and north-west: these have flat lintelled rear arches and are deeply splayed internally. The angle of the roof vault appears to have necessitated the thickening of the north wall internally and the insertion of a round arch over the north arrow loop. Close to the door there are two holes in the roof. The first floor is reached by a mural stairs on the west of the entrance. The stair is barrel vaulted and lit by narrow rectangular windows with internal splay. The floor is filled with the debris from the collapsed upper parts of the tower. The internal wall faces are lacking but it probably had a large window in both the south and east walls. The stair appears to have continued

• WM024-182001 Bawn
  Description

  The ruins of a 15th/16th century circular tower (WM024-182----) standing two storeys high but originally taller with wall footings of an adjoining building and possible bawncan be seen standing on top of a low rise of ground with good views in all directions. Medieval settlement (WM024-179----) of Ballymore with medieval church (WM024-005---) and graveyard (WM024-005001-) 175m and 450m to N respectively. Site of ‘Plary Monastery’ (WM024-034----) in field c. 150-200m to E. Present remains consist of a circular tower standing two storeys high the walls of which was constructed with coursed rubble limestone rising from a low protruding foundation plinth. The masonry of the external E face of the tower has been torn away where the walls of an adjoining building was attached. The S (H 1m; L 6.65m; wall T 0.9m) and E (H 0.6m; L 4.5m) walls of this adjoining building can be seen to the E of the upstanding tower. There are no visible remains of the N wall of this adjoining building. This building appears to have been one storey high as there are the remains of broken out window visible at first floor level in the E wall of the circular tower. The grass covered wall footings of a possible bawn (dims. c. 22m E-W) can be seen to the S (L 22m; wall T 0.8m; H 0.3m) and E (L 4.65m) of the tower and adjoining building. A gap (Wth 1.9m) in the S wall of this possible bawn may represent the entrance or gateway into the bawn of the castle. There is no evidence for the wall footings of the bawn on the N or W side of the circular tower. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 28 August 2014

Architectural heritage

• Belmore Place, farmyard complex, 1840–1860 · Regional interest
  Description

  Complex of single and two-storey farm outbuildings arranged around a central courtyard, built c.1850. Previously associated with Belmore Place (now demolished). Hipped natural slate roofs with projecting eaves courses, cast-iron rainwater goods and with a brick chimneystack to the centre of the east facing range. Constructed of coursed rubble limestone construction with red brick dressing to the openings. Shallow segmental-headed window openings with cut stone sills and three-over-three pane timber sliding sash windows to ground floor openings and oculus openings with fixed timber casement windows to first floor. Square-headed doorcases with brick dressings, timber sheeted doors and with three-paned overlights. Square-headed carriage arch with timber sheeted double doors to the north range. corrugated metal shed to the northeast side of complex. Set back from road to the north of the site of Belmore Place and at the end of a fame lane. Located to the north of Ballymore with rubble limestone boundary walls and wrought-iron gates to the east.

• House, 1850–1870 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached three-bay two-storey former house, built c.1860. Formerly in use as a Garda Station, c.1928 - 1990. Now derelict. Hipped natural slate roof with two brick chimneystacks to the centre and cast-iron rainwater goods. Smooth rendered walls with square-headed window openings with four two-over-two pane timber sliding sash windows and one uPVC window to the front elevation (south). Cut stone sills throughout. Square-headed door opening to the centre with modern glazed timber door, glazed surrounds/side lights and with a plain overlight above. Set back from road in own grounds towards the west end of Ballymore. Front garden enclosed by rendered boundary walls having rendered gate piers supporting a mild steel entrance gate.

• Catholic Church of the Most Holy Redeemer, church/chapel, 1840–1880 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached Roman Catholic church in a Tudor-Gothic style, built c.1845, with later Early English Gothic style alterations c.1870. Comprises six-bay nave with an attached three-stage tower on square-plan to north with slated pyramidal roof, flanked to east and west by advanced gable-fronted bays containing main entrances. Single-storey flat-roofed sacristy to rear (south) and single-bay single-storey entrance porch to east side of nave. Detached Roman Catholic church in a Tudor-Gothic style, built c.1845, with later Early English Gothic style alterations c.1870. Entrance façade (north) comprises a three-stage tower (on square-plan) to the centre having a slated pyramidal roof over, flanked to the east and the west by advanced gable-fronted bays containing the main entrances. Six-bay side elevations to the nave (south). Single-storey flat-roofed sacristy to rear (south) and single-bay single-storey entrance porch to east side of nave. Pitched natural slate roof with decorative ridge tiles and cast-iron rainwater goods. Cut stone Celtic cross finial above chancel gable. Front section (north) built of rubble limestone with ashlar trim and detailing. Roughcast rendered walls to nave with ashlar trim, including continuous sill course and three ashlar limestone pinnacled buttresses to east and west. Roughcast rendered sacristy to rear. Pointed-arched openings to nave with multi-paned timber casement windows and with hoodmouldings over, four-light window with Geometric tracery to chancel gable with pointed-segmental-headed blind niche above. Triple-light window with Decorated Gothic tracery to second stage of tower with paired lancet windows below and paired lancet openings above to belfry. Pointed-arched entrances with timber panelled doors to advanced bays on either side of tower (east and west) with wheel/rose windows above, set in pointed-arched recesses. Paired lancets above to advanced gables. Tudor-arched doorcase to sacristy (south). Interesting interior with timber Gothic rib-vaulted roof, decorative plasterwork and a collection of mid-to-late-nineteenth century memorials, the earliest dating to 1841. Set back from line of road in own grounds with tarmacadam forecourt to north and graveyard to east and west. Gateway to north comprising pair of limestone ashlar piers on square-plan with ashlar coping and cast-iron gates, flanked by similarly-styled pedestrian entrances and sections of low rendered walling with cut limestone coping and decorative cast-iron railings over. Located to the west end of Ballymore Village.

• Cunningham, house, 1800–1820 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached five-bay two-storey house, built c.1810, having a later shopfront inserted to the eastern end of main façade (north), c.1900. Hipped artificial slate roof with two central rendered chimneystacks and uPVC rainwater goods. Modern extension to the rear elevation (south) having rendered walls and pitched roof. Rendered pebbledashed walls over smooth rendered plinth course. Square-headed window openings with cut stone sills and replacement windows. Central round-headed doorway with timber panelled door and a spoked/radial fanlight over. Traditional timber shopfront,c.1900, comprising a central square-headed doorcase with timber sheeted double-doors and overlight, flanked by square-headed fixed pane display windows (east and west) over rendered stallrisers and with timber pilasters supporting timber fascia board over having applied raised lettering. Road-fronted at a corner site towards the centre of Ballymore.

• Post box, 1880–1901 · Regional interest
  Description

  Wall-mounted cast-iron post box, c.1890, with 'VR' royal cipher, raised crown motif and. Set into wall of corner-sited building (15315006) to the centre of Ballymore.

• House, 1850–1870 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached five-bay two-storey house, built c.1860, having a single-bay entrance porch to the centre of the front elevation (south). Now out of use. Pitched corrugated metal roof with rendered chimneystacks and cast-iron rainwater goods. Roughcast rendered walls over smooth rendered plinth course. Square-headed window openings with cut stone sills and timber sliding-sash windows. Square-headed opening to the front face of porch (south) having a timber door flanked to either side by segmental-headed side lights. Set back from road to the north side of the main road through Ballymore having a grass verge to the front (south).

• Water pump, 1860–1900 · Regional interest
  Description

  Freestanding cast-iron water pump, erected c.1880, comprising banded cylindrical shaft with fluted head having fluted spout, ‘cow tail’ curvilinear handle, and fluted ogee-dome cap with finial over. Enclosed by a cut stone plinth wall with rendered coping over. Located on village green to the north side of the main road running through Ballymore.

• Saint Owen's Church (Ballymore), church/chapel, 1820–1830 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached Church of Ireland church, built c.1827, comprising three-bay hall to the east and a three-stage tower on square plan to the west end having crow-stepped parapets and corner pinnacles. Now out of use as roofless. Pitched roof, now collapsed/removed, having raised cut stone verges to either gable end and a projecting cut stone eaves course. Constructed of coursed rubble limestone with flush dressed limestone quoins to the corners and with cut limestone trim, including a date plaque and string courses to the tower. Pointed arched window openings to the south side of nave having chamfered cut limestone sills, chamfered cut limestone dressings and a cut limestone hoodmoulding over. Window fittings now gone. Blank wall to the north side of nave with a chimneystack to the centre. Triple-light pointed-arched window opening to the chancel gable (east) having cut stone intersecting tracery, chamfered cut limestone surround and with a cut limestone hoodmoulding. Pointed-arched doorway to the south face of tower having chamfered cut limestone surrounds and a cut stone hoodmoulding over. Door now blocked. Square-headed opening over to the second stage of tower having chamfered cut limestone surround with timber louvers. Pointed-arched openings to belfry having chamfered limestone surrounds and a hoodmoulding over. Church is set back from road to the north side of Ballymore, surrounded by a rubble limestone wall on rectilinear plan. Main entrance gates to the south having a pair of cut limestone gate piers on square-plan (with cut stone coping over) supporting a pair of cast-iron gates. Churchyard contains graveyard with mainly nineteenth century grave markers. Remains of single-cell chapel on rectangular plan to the east, built c.1625, having rubble limestone walls, dressed quoins to the corners, a pointed-arched doorcase with cut stone surrounds to the centre of the west gable and triple-light square-headed window to the east gable end, having cut stone mullions, cut stone surrounds and a hoodmoulding over.

• Belmore Place, gates/railings/walls, 1840–1880 · Regional interest
  Description

  Entrance gates, erected c.1860, comprising a pair of dressed limestone gate piers (on square-plan having chamfered plinth to base and recessed coping over) supporting a pair of cast-iron gates to fleur-de-lis finials. Gateway flanked to either side (north and south) by sections of rubble limestone walling. Gates now give access to house, built c.1900. Located to the north side of Ballymore along approach avenue serving St. Owen’s Church of Ireland church.

• House, 1790–1810 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached three-bay two-storey house, built c.1800, having a single-bay single-storey extension to the south gable end. Pitched natural slate roof having rendered chimneystacks with terracotta chimney pots over to either gable end (north and south). Roughcast rendered walls over smooth rendered plinth course. Square-headed window openings having smooth rendered surrounds, stone sills and six-over-six pane timber sliding sash windows. Two-over-two pane timber sash window to extension to the south end. Round-headed doorcase to the centre of the main façade (south) of the main house having a cut stone architraved surround with cut stone blocks to the base and a replacement timber door with a plain fanlight over. House fronts directly onto approach avenue serving St. Owen’s Church (15315010) to the north. Rubble limestone boundary wall to the south and a wrought-iron gate to the south end of the extension give access to the rear (west).

• House, 1800–1860 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached three-bay single-storey vernacular house, built c.1830, having a single-storey return to the rear (north) and a slightly projecting single-bay entrance porch offset to the east side of the centre of the main façade (south). Steeply pitched corrugated metal roof, formerly thatched, having raised rendered verges to either gable end (east and west) and a central rendered chimneystack. Roughcast rendered walls over smooth rendered plinth course. Smooth rendered finish to projecting porch with decorative rendered cornice over. Square-headed window openings, irregularly spaced, having rendered reveals, cut stone sills and two-over-two pane timber sliding sash windows. Square-headed doorcase to the front face of porch having timber sheeted half-doors. Road-fronted to the east end of Ballymore. Gateway to the west gable end, comprising a pair of roughcast rendered gate piers (on square-plan) supporting wrought-iron double gates gives access to the rear (north). The wrought-iron gates to the west side add to this composition and complete the setting.

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 Ballymore with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Westmeath.

Name

Ballymore · An Baile Mór

Area

2,727,662 m² (272.77 ha, 674.02 acres)

Civil parish

Ballymore, and its townlands

Barony

Rathconrath

Electoral division

Ballymore, the unit of the census

Neighbouring townlands

Carricknagower, Clonybane, Glebe, Lugacaha, Milltown, Mullaghcloe, Newtown, Snimnagorta

Placenames

Ballymore 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.