Balreagh
Townland in the civil parish of Rathconnell, barony of Moyashel And Magheradernon, Co. Westmeath
Parcel 89871
- Area
- 623,503 m² (62.35 ha, 154.07 acres)
- Buildings
- 8 buildings touch it, 1,226 m² on the ground
- Zoning
- No zone of a development plan covers it in the national zoning. Outside zoned towns and villages, the county development plan's rural policies apply.
- Townland
- Balreagh
Planning applications on this parcel
11 Dec 2020Conditional
Planning permission to construct a single storey extension to the south and east facing elevations onto the existing dwelling. Permission is also sought for the decommissioning of the existing septic tank and percolation area and to install a packaged wastewater treatment system and all associated site works
Permission, 1 home · Westmeath County Council, 206352
13 Mar 2020N/a
Construction of a single storey extension (floor area 27.76sq.m) south facing and a two storey extension (floor area 172.24 sq.m) south facing on the existing dwelling. Decommissioning of existing septic tank and percolation area and to install a packaged wastewater treatment system and all associated site works
Permission, 1 home · Westmeath County Council, 206052
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 this parcel.
Recorded monuments around it
This parcel is in the zone of notification of 3 recorded monuments.
- WM013-018 Ringfort - rath
Description
Situated on WNW facing slope of rising ground in undulating grassland. Possible hilltop enclosure (WM013-017---) 130m to SW. Depicted on the 1837 OS Fair Plan map as a small oval shaped earthwork annotated as ‘fort’. This site has been substantially levelled. Now only visible as a circular shaped area defined by a slight scarp (approx. diam. 21m NW-SE; 24m NE-SW). No other features visible. Compiled by: Frank Coyne and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 3 April 2018
- WM013-019 Ringfort - rath
Description
Depicted as an oval shaped earthwork on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map. Cropmark of levelled monument barely visible on Digital Globe aerial photograph taken November 2011. Compiled by: Frank Coyne and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 3 April 2018
- WM013-020 Barrow - bowl-barrow
Description
Monument surveyed in 2015 and described by McGuinness (2015, 43-4) as following: ‘Steep sided mound (Diam. 11.60m N-S x 12m E-W) with gently domed upper surface (Diam. 8m N-S x 7.70m E-W), perhaps originally approximately circular but now angular in appearance, with rounded ‘corners’ on S side where roots of mature trees have held the mound together, and an almost straight line on W side where poaching by animals and slippage have occurred; other erosion is clearly evident on N and S sides, where large chunks have been removed. That the mound has been reshaped at some stage is indicated by the presence of a much eroded dry-walled revetment on SW side, with a surviving length of 1m and maximum height of 0.50m. This walling runs partly under the base of a mature ash tree and might have been added sometime in the last few hundred years to support this large tree at the mound’s edge, where it might otherwise have toppled to SW, although loose stones at base of NW side of mound may indicate that the walling ran around a longer stretch of the perimeter. Mound rises up to 1.70m above ground level where highest on W side. To N and S are traces of a low step or scarp extending up to 6m (N) and 4.20m (S) from base of mound. What appears to be an arc of ditch, 1.80m across and sunk 0.16m below external ground level, runs for 4.30m along base of NE side of mound, but, while the ASI account of 4/5/76 refers to ‘a shallow fosse around the earthwork & a low irregular bank beyond it’ [SMR file], and that of 9/3/70 refers to ‘a shallow trench dug around [the mound] from SE-S-NE’ [SMR file], no clear trace of a ditch is currently visible except at NE; and the ASI fieldworkers were uncertain of this monument’s status as a barrow, one wondering whether ‘The bank and fosse may not be original features’ [SMR file]; presumably this ‘bank’ equates with the low step or scarp visible on the N and S sides of the mound. According to the ASI account of 9/3/70: ‘Some years ago a cross-bar was inserted in this mound and disappeared from view. Locals believe on this account that there is a cave in it.’ Possibly this is a cist. Monument lies immediately W of a field fence running NNW-SSE, which marks the boundary between landholdings and passes over E edge of mound. It is located on a low, gently rounded hill that drops much more steeply down to N than to S; slope on E side is similar to that on W, in neither instance quite so steep as on N side. Three other hilltop-barrows in this townland would be visible but for trees: a mound- or bowl-barrow (WM013-016----) c. 750m to W and two denuded mound-barrows (WM013-003----; WM013-112----) on N side of valley of the Drumhurlin River c.1.2km to N’. See attached profile of monument surveyed and drawn by the ASI. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by David McGuinness. Date of upload: 6 February 2016
Designated sites: National Parks and Wildlife Service. Recorded monuments: Sites and Monuments Record, National Monuments Service. 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).
Registered freehold land, Tailte Éireann, CC BY 4.0. A parcel is the land of a title, not an address. The owner's name is in the Land Registry of Tailte Éireann: a copy of the folio can be ordered on landdirect.ie, for a fee.
- Area
- 335.1 ha
- 828 acres
- Land parcels
- 88
- registered freehold, median 4,385 m² (0.44 ha, 1.08 acres)
- Zoning
- —
- not in a zoned settlement
- Planning
- 3
- applications since 2010
Land parcels
Registered freehold land, Tailte Éireann
88 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Balreagh, from 104 m² to 306,759 m² (30.68 ha, 75.8 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary; 43 neighbouring parcels touch it.
Zoning
Development plans, national zoning
No zone of a development plan covers Balreagh 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.
Planning applications
Sites that touch the townland, newest first
18 Feb 2026Conditional
development which will consists of a new single storey sensory room extension to southern end of existing two storey dormer dwelling, inclusive of all ancillary and associated site works.
Permission, 1 home · Westmeath County Council, 2660057
18 Jul 2024Conditional
construction of an agricultural slatted shed (1583.3sqm), cattle crush (20.2sqm) and silage pit (1123.7sqm) and all associated site works at the above address
Permission · Westmeath County Council, 2460256
19 Dec 2017Conditional
construction of 1 no. dwelling house (two storey, 280 sqm), 1 no. domestic garage, wastewater treatment system and polishing filter. Permission is also sought for upgrading existing agricultural gate to facilitate a domestic entrance onto the public roadway and all associated works.
Permission, 1 home · Westmeath County Council, 176360
Source: National Planning Applications, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Applicants are not shown.
Nature and heritage
Designated sites and recorded monuments
Designated sites
No designated site (Special Area of Conservation, Special Protection Area, Natural Heritage Area or proposed one) touches the townland of Balreagh.
Recorded monuments
- WM012-162 Ringfort - unclassified
Description
No surface remains visible. Cropmark of circular shaped enclosure (approx. diam. 60m N-S; 65m E-W) visible on oblique aerial photograph taken in 1968 (CUCAP AVO064). Faint cropmark visible on Digital Globe aerial photograph taken November 2011. Small quarry pit depicted at this location on 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map. Compiled by: Frank Coyne and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 8 March 2018
- WM013-021 Castle - motte
Description
Situated at ENE end of a long narrow ridge orientated ENE-WSW with commanding views of the surrounding countryside. Steep sided circular shaped platform (diam. 23m; H 2-4m) defined by a poorly preserved bank mainly reduced to a scarp, fosse and low external bank. Possible entrance gap at E. A large hollow in the centre of the interior is probably the result of post-1700 quarrying. Appears to be a low truncated motte but could be the remains of a raised rath. See attached profile of monument surveyed and drawn by the ASI. Compiled by: Frank Coyne and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 4 April 2018
- WM013-034 Ringfort - rath
Description
Situated on the SW facing slope of rising ground in grassland with good views in all directions. A sub-circular shaped area (approx. diam. 28m NE-SW) enclosed by a low earthen bank and a shallow external fosse with entrance gap (Wth 1.6m) at E. The bank (max. H 0.75m) is best preserved at N and NE. Traces of cultivation ridges are visible running E-W across the interior. An oval-shaped depression visible in the centre of the interior may be the remains of a hut site (WM013-034001-). See attached profile of monument surveyed and drawn by the ASI. Compiled by: Frank Coyne and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 4 April 2018
- WM013-034001 Hut site
Description
Situated on the SW facing slope of rising ground in grassland with good views in all directions. An oval-shaped depression visible in the centre of a ringfort (WM013-034----) may be the remains of a hut site. Compiled by: Frank Coyne and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 4 April 2018
- WM013-035 Ringfort - rath
Description
Situated on the summit of a fairly large ridge in undulating grassland, with commanding views of the surrounding countryside in all directions. A raised sub-circular shaped area (approx. diam. 30m NW-SE) enclosed by a poorly preserved fragmentary bank and shallow external fosse. Modern gap at WNW, no sign of original entrance feature. In the NW quadrant of the interior are the grass covered outline of a possible rectangular hut site (WM013-035001-). The perimeter of the ringfort has been quarried away at NE & S. See attached profile of monument surveyed and drawn by the ASI. Compiled by: Frank Coyne and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 4 April 2018
- WM013-035001 Hut site
Description
Situated on the summit of a fairly large ridge in undulating grassland, with commanding views of the surrounding countryside in all directions. A rectangular platform (approx. diam. 9,8m NNW-SSE; 7.5m ENE-WSW) enclosed by a low wide bank (Wth 3.7m; H 0.25m) which is open on ENE side appears to be the remains of a hut site in NW quadrant of a ringfort (WM013-035---). Compiled by: Frank Coyne and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 4 April 2018
- WM013-036 Ringfort - rath
Description
Situated on a slight natural rise in gently undulating grassland, with good views to NW. Ringfort (WM013-046---) 160m to SSE. A sub-circular shaped area (approx. diam. 33m N-S; 31m E-W) enclosed by a low earth and stone bank and a wide deep external fosse that is best preserved at SE and NW. There is an entrance gap (Wth 3.4m) at ENE. Several depressions of probable recent origin are visible in the interior, which slopes slightly to the NW. See attached profile of monument surveyed and drawn by the ASI. Compiled by: Frank Coyne and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 9 April 2018
- WM013-037 Castle - motte
Description
Situated at the N end of a natural ridge overlooking steep drop below with commanding views of the surrounding countryside in all directions. Church (WM013-038---) and graveyard (WM013-038001-) 80m to SSE. A low motte or a raised rath consisting of a circular shaped flat-topped mound/platform (approx. diam. 30m NW-SE at base; 20m NE-SW at top) defined by a scarp and enclosed by a shallow fosse and external bank. The top of the mound has a slightly dished appearance (approx. diam. 14m NE-SW) which might be the result of disturbance possibly when the Ordnance Survey trig. station was constructed on top of the mound in the 19th century. The concrete trig. station stands in SSW quadrant of the mound. The fosse is not visible at NE and SE and the outer bank is very low. The mound was created by cutting a ditch across the N end of the natural ridge utilising the natural slope from W-N-NE as a defensive feature. There is evidence for a berm or terracing of the steep slope on the N side of the mound. A slight ramp on the NE side of the mound appears to be of recent origin and is possibly a gap created by livestock. Ridge and furrow cultivation ridges to E of motte are contained within a small roughly rectangular shaped field defined by a low curving earthen bank of uncertain date. Aerial photographs taken between 1968 and 1970 show the earthworks between the motte and the graveyard (CUCAP AVO065-6; CUCAP BDV083-4). See attached profile of monument surveyed and drawn by the ASI. Compiled by: Frank Coyne and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 29 March 2018
- WM013-038 Church
Description
Situated on rising ground with motte (WM013-037---) 80m to W. In the centre of Balreagh graveyard (WM013-038001-) are the grass cover remains of a rectangular church (approx. dims. 8m N-S; 17.3m E-W) of which only the lower three courses survive upstanding. The remains of a doorway were visible in the NE end of the S wall, another doorway at the W end of the N wall and a possible window ope in the E wall. Today none of these features are visible as the walls are now covered in grass and other vegetation. Aerial photographs taken between 1968 and 1970 show cultivation earthworks between the motte and the graveyard (CUCAP AVO065-6; CUCAP BDV083-4). Compiled by: Frank Coyne and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 29 March 2018
- WM013-038001 Graveyard
Description
A graveyard (WM0130038---) with the remains of Balreagh Church (WM013-038---) standing the centre. The graveyard consists of an oval-shaped area (approx. diam. 38m N-S; 47m E-W) enclosed by a slight bank and post 1700 stone wall with entrance gate and stile at E. The presence of an enclosing bank may be the remains of an earlier earthen graveyard enclosure. The interior of the graveyard is now covered with scrub vegetation and rises towards the centre. It contains a number of nineteenth and twentieth century tombstones but is no longer used for burial. Outside the graveyard from NW-N-NE are a series of ridge and furrow cultivation ridges running roughly E-W contained within a sub-rectangular shaped field defined by an earthen bank (approx. area 0.6 hectares). Aerial photographs taken between 1968 and 1970 show cultivation earthworks between the motte and the graveyard (CUCAP AVO065-6; CUCAP BDV083-4). Compiled by: Frank Coyne and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 29 March 2018
- WM013-038002 Ecclesiastical enclosure
Description
Medieval church ruins (WM013-038----) stands in centre of graveyard (WM013-038001-) which contains memorials of post-medieval date. The oval-shaped boundary of the graveyard possibly indicates the presence of an Early Christian ecclesiastical enclosure (Swan 1988, 26). Compiled by: Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 8 October 2015
- WM013-039 Souterrain
Description
Situated on S facing slope of rising ground. Motte (WM013-037---) 150m to SSW, Balreagh church (WM013-038---) and graveyard (WM013-038001-) 160m to S. According to local information a ‘cave’ was uncovered here and later closed up (NMI File). No surface remains visible. Compiled by: Frank Coyne and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 9 April 2018
- WM013-043 Ringfort - rath
Description
Situated on a ridge in grassland, with good views in all directions except to the SE where the site is overlooked by higher ground. Ringfort (WM013-044---)150m to SE. A raised circular shaped area (approx. diam. 34m NW-SE) enclosed by a low bank of earth and stones (Wth 1.2m; H 0.4m) and a shallow external fosse visible from WSW-W-N. The perimeter has been quarried away from NNE-ESE. See attached profile of monument surveyed and drawn by the ASI. Compiled by: Frank Coyne and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 12 March 2018
- WM013-044 Ringfort - rath
Description
Situated on top of a hillock with higher ground to SW, good views in all other directions. Ringfort (WM103-043---) lies 150m to NW, second ringfort (WM013-045---) 200m to SE. Depicted on the 1837 OS Fair Plan map as an oval-shaped enclosure annotated as ‘fort’. This site was levelled around 1966 (OPW Field Report 29/03/1966). All that is visible now is a low rise of ground (approx. diam. 27m NW-SE; 25m NE-SW) defined by a faint scarp. Cropmark of levelled monument visible on Digital Globe aerial photograph taken November 2011. Compiled by: Frank Coyne and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 9 April 2018
- WM013-045 Ringfort - rath
Description
Situated on a slight natural rise of ground in gently undulating grassland, with extensive views of the surrounding countryside. Ringfort (WM013-044---) 215m to NW. A sub-circular shaped area (approx. diam. 30m N-S; 25m E-W) enclosed by a low earthen bank and a shallow external fosse that is only visible at NE, with entrance gap (Wth 2m) at E. The interior rises appreciably towards the centre. Traces of cultivation ridges are visible running across the interior from N-S. Compiled by: Frank Coyne and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 9 April 2018
- WM013-046 Ringfort - rath
Description
Situated on a slight natural rise in gently undulating grassland, overlooked by higher ground on all sides except at NW and SW. Ringfort (WM013-036---) 160m to NNW. This site has been partially levelled at SSE by a roadway running N-S leading to a house located 40m to SSE. All that remains is a circular shaped area (approx. diam. 30m NW-SE; 34m NE-SW) enclosed by a poorly preserved low earthen bank only visible from SW-NW and from NE-SE, elsewhere reduced to a scarp. Traces of cultivation ridges are visible running N-S across the interior. Compiled by: Frank Coyne and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 9 April 2018
- WM013-124 Enclosure - large enclosure
Description
Cropmark of circular-shaped enclosure (approx. diam. 80m) visible on Google earth aerial imagery. See attached image taken from Google Earth aerial photographs taken 18/04/2014 Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by Jean-Charles Caillère Date of upload: 11 September 2019
Designated sites: National Parks and Wildlife Service. Recorded monuments: Sites and Monuments Record, National Monuments Service. 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).
Homes sold
Property Price Register
- Balreagh, Monilea6 sales
The townland
- Name
- Balreagh
- Area
- 3,350,878 m² (335.09 ha, 828.02 acres)
- Civil parish
- Rathconnell, and its townlands
- Barony
- Moyashel And Magheradernon
- Electoral division
- Taghmon, the unit of the census
- Neighbouring townlands
- Clondalever, Clondalever, Clonkill, Downs, Edmondstown, Gigginstown, Jeffrystown, Killynan (cooke), Killynan (pratt), Rathcorbally, Taghmon
- Placenames
- Balreagh 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.