Coola

Area

14,080 m² (1.41 ha, 3.48 acres)

Buildings

9 buildings touch it, 465 m² on the ground

Zoning

R3 Consolidation Site (WCC CDP 2021 - 2027 Kilbeggan) The objective
R2 Established Residential (WCC CDP 2021 - 2027 Kilbeggan) The objective
M1 Expanded Settlement Centre (WCC CDP 2021 - 2027 Kilbeggan) The objective
G1 Open Space (WCC CDP 2021 - 2027 Kilbeggan) The objective

Townland

Coola

Planning applications on this parcel

• 8 May 2025Conditional

  EXTENSION OF DURATION for development consisting of site works to facilitate the proposed development to include excavation and general site preparation works, removal of existing foundation on-site, use of existing entrance serving Coola Lawns along with associated access roads and footpaths to facilitate vehicular and pedestrian access, provision of a residential development comprising 36 no. units in total as follows: House type A - 10 No. 1 Bed/2 person apartment units, House type B - 10 No. 2 Bed/4 person duplex units, House type C - 4 No. 3 Bed/5 person semi-detached dwellings, House type D - 4 No. 2 Bed/4 person semi-detached dwellings, House type E - 4 No. 2 Bed/4 person terrace dwellings, House type F - 2 No. 3 Bed/5 person terrace dwellings, House type G - 2 No. 3Bed/5 person terrace dwellings (dual-frontage), provision of associated garden areas and in-curtilage works for each dwelling to include boundary fencing and boundary walls as required, provision of residential communal open space areas to include all hard and soft landscaping works within the site which includes public lighting, public seating, planting works, a children's play area, bicycle storage and boundary treatment, associated site works to facilitate site drainage with provision of an attenuation system, connection to the foul sewer network with upgrade works to the existing foul pumping station, water connections and ESB connections

  Permission, 1 home · Westmeath County Council, 2516

• 24 Jul 2019Conditional

  for development consisting of site works to facilitate the proposed development to include excavation and general site preparation works, removal of existing foundation on-site, use of existing entrance serving Coola Lawns along with associated access roads and footpaths to facilitate vehicular and pedestrian access, provision of a residential development comprising 36 no. units in total as follows: House type A - 10 No. 1 Bed/2 person apartment units, House type B - 10 No. 2 Bed/4 person duplex units, House type C - 4 No. 3 Bed/5 person semi-detached dwellings, House type D - 4 No. 2 Bed/4 person semi-detached dwellings, House type E - 4 No. 2 Bed/4 person terrace dwellings, House type F - 2 No. 3 Bed/5 person terrace dwellings, House type G - 2 No. 3Bed/5 person terrace dwellings (dual-frontage), provision of associated garden areas and in-curtilage works for each dwelling to include boundary fencing and boundary walls as required, provision of residential communal open space areas to include all hard and soft landscaping works within the site which includes public lighting, public seating, planting works, a children's play area, bicycle storage and boundary treatment, associated site works to facilitate site drainage with provision of an attenuation system, connection to the foul sewer network with upgrade works to the existing foul pumping station, water connections and ESB connections

  Permission, 36 homes · Westmeath County Council, 196206

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 7 recorded monuments.

• WM038-017 Historic town
  Description

  Kilbeggan is situated on the River Brosna in the low-lying countryside of south Westmeath. According to Gwynn and Hadcock (1970, 388) a monastery (WM038-017001-) was founded at Kilbeggan by St Beagán in the sixth or seventh century. The possible boundary ditch of the early Christian monastery at Kilbeggan may have been identified by Earthsound on behalf of ADS Ltd. when carrying out a geophysical survey in 2004 in the field to the W of the Cistercian Abbey (WM038-017007-) (Corcoran 2008, 377). The Urban Survey suggested that 'the church of St Beagán was located in or beside the old graveyard (WM038-017002-) south-west of the town but definite evidence can only be obtained by archaeological excavation' (Bradley et. al. 1985, 104). According to the Urban Survey (Bradley et. al. 1985, 102) the 'early monastery was superseded by a Cistercian monastery (WM038-017007-) c.1150 but the history of Kilbeggan as a town does not begin until the seventeenth century. In 1606 Sir Oliver Lambert was granted a ‘licence to hold a saturday market, and a fair on the feast of st. Michael (29th September), and the next two days, at Kilbeggan, in co. Meath; with courts of pie-powder and all tolls, etc. to said market and fair belonging, at a rent of 5s. per ann.’ (Erck 1846, 267). In the same year he was also granted ‘the site and precinct of the late abbey (WM038-017007-) of the B. V. Mary of Kilbeggan, in M’Geoghogans countrie, with the stone walls of a church and other buildings therein – 3 gardens, and a waste orchard, containing half an acre – a small chapel or church (WM038-017006-) belonging to the town of Kilbeggan, and to the parishioners of said monastery – a close to said monastery adjacent, containing 1a. – 3 messuages, 6 cottages, 60a. arable, standard measure, 16a. pasture, 6a. bog, in the town and fields of Kilbeggan – a water mill (WM038-017008-), near the town of Kilbeggan, upon the river Brassnagh (Brosnagh) – 2 eel-weares (WM038-017010-), 2 mess., 3 closes or cottages, 70a. arable, 30a. pasture and common of bog’ (ibid., 268). The town itself was formally established on the 27th of February in 1613 when it received a charter of incorporation from James I (Irish Record Comm. 1830, 243). The nature of the settlement at Kilbeggan before 1613 is unclear. By 1618 the town of Kilbeggan had grown into a small clustered town consisting of 60 houses with adjoining burgage plots. In this year an inquisition into the estate of the deceased of Oliver Lord Lambart recorded that the town of Kilbeggan contained 60 messuages or dwellings and 60 gardens possibly meaning burgage plots (Anon 1826, 56). In 1620 the king granted Charles Lord Lambart a regrant of the original market licence and granted a new licence for two additional fairs to be held on the 6th of June and 18th October. On the 1656-59 Down Survey map of Moycashel Barony the settlement at Kilbeggan is depicted as a cluster of dwellings without any formal layout with a road running through the settlement connecting Tyrrellspass to Ardnurcher now Horseleap. The bridge (WM038-017004-) at Kilbeggan is depicted on the Down Survey map where the road crosses the River Brosna and a watermill (WM038-017008-) is depicted a short distance to the N of Kilbeggan. The terrier of the 1656-59 Down Survey map of Moycashel Barony recorded that there 'were noe townes of note in it Killbeggan being the best' (NLI Ms. 723-724). The Down Survey map depicts the parish church (WM038-017006-) of Kilbeggan standing to the S of the road running through the village possibly in the area where the C. of I. church now stands. The map also depicts the ruins of the Cistercian Abbey (WM038-017007-) standing on a low hillock to the E of the River Brosna and S of the town and church of Kilbeggan. A tower house type building which may have been the house of Oliver Lord Lambart described by Piers (1981, 84) in 1682 is also depicted standing between the abbey and the parish church close to the E bank of the River Brosna. The rectory of Kilbeggan is referred to in a document of 1589 which also mentions the 'town' of Kilbeggan (16th Rep. Deputy Keeper Public Records Ireland, 97: No. 5322). The town prospered in the early seventeenth century and was granted two additional annual fairs in 1620 (Lewis 1837, ii, 51). In 1682 Piers (1981, 84) described Kilbeggan as ‘a corporation and market town, sending two burgesses to our parliament. This town is seated on the Brosny [Brosna] before described, over which it hath an antient [ancient] bridge (WM038-017004-), but now of late repaired, of lime and stone. Here stood a monastery (WM038-017007-) dedicated to the Virgin Mary, founded anno 1200, and replenished with monks from the Cistercian abbey of Mellifont; of this abby [abbey] remains only the name of the structure, not so much as the rubbish to be seen this day, nor of the house (WM038-017009-) built here by the late lord Lambert before the late war, more than the ruins; for it was burnt in the late war, and is not to this day repaired. In this town stands a church (WM038-017006-) in repair. The present town of Kilbeggan is laid out along a single east-west axis known as Main Street. This expands mid-way along its course to form a rectangular market place, now the Market Square. The burgage plot pattern of the seventeenth century town survives very well to the north and south of the Main Street. These plots have had houses on them since the seventeenth century but there is no visible evidence that any of the present buildings are older than 1700. This may be due in part to the concealment of old features behind modern facades and a careful watch should be maintained for seventeenth century architectural features when buildings along the Main Street are being renovated. There is no documentary evidence to determine whether the town was protected by defences (WM038-017005-) or not but the burgage plots on the north and south sides of Main Street terminate in a continuous wall which could have functioned as the town defences. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 14 April 2014

• WM038-017001 Ecclesiastical enclosure
  Description

  Kilbeggan town (WM038-017----) is situated on the River Brosna in the low-lying countryside of south Westmeath. According to Gwynn and Hadcock (1970, 388) a monastery was founded at Kilbeggan by St Beagán in the sixth or seventh century. Its name is derived from Chill Bheagáin, meaning the church of Beagán’s (OS Letters 1837). In 1837 Thomas O’Conor recorded in the Ordnance Survey Letters that ‘the common name prevalent among those who give the monastery its Irish name is mainistir Cill Beacáin [monastery of the church of Beacáin]’. There is no certain mention of this saint’s name in the early martyrologies. According to Ó Riain (2011, 92-3) the church of Kilbeggan may be named after St Beagán of Foithearbh Shinhill, son of Colmán son of Diarmuid, ancestor of the Clann Cholmáin. The patron’s day at Kilbeggan was held on the 24th of July, the eve of the feast of St James. The Urban Survey suggested that 'the church of St Beagán was located in or beside the old graveyard (WM038-017002-) south-west of the town but definite evidence can only be obtained by archaeological excavation' (Bradley et. al. 1985, 104). Swan (1988, 17) suugested that there was evidence of an Early Christian ecclesiastical enclosure in the semi-circular form of the graveyard (WM038-017002-) boundary wall. In 2003 a geophysical survey carried out by GeoArc Ltd uncovered the sub-surface remains of the Cistercian Abbey of Kilbeggan (WM038-017007-) and the findings from this survey suggested that the abbey was 'wrapped around an early medieval monastery, which is still in use as a graveyard (WM038-017002-) (Hayden 2006, 522). In 2004 a geophysical survey carried out by Earthsound on behalf of ADS Ltd revealed the remains of a curving ditch to the W of the Cistercian abbey which may be the remains of an ecclesiastical boundary ditch that was possibly associated with a large cemetery containing approximately 960 burials. Archaeological excavations took place at this cemetery between April and July 2005 by Eoin Corcoran under licence No. 04E1327ext. The summary results of the excavation revealed 'a burial ground with a subrectangular ditched enclosure around it measuring c. 20m by 20m. Approximately 960 burials were excavated from within the enclosure, as well as a substantial amount of disarticulated remains. The majority of the burials were orientated from east to west in simple graves. It appears to have been a community burial ground used over a period of time, as all ages were well represented in the assemblage. Most of the burials intercut each other and phases were difficult to elucidate, given the density of the burials. Some of the burials had finds associated with them, including a bone comb, a double-sided copper alloy comb, a coloured glass bead and a finger ring. Three burials exhibited signs of violent death – two by arrowheads and one by a spearhead, all found in rib cages during excavation. There was evidence for possible structures and metalworking activity within the burial enclosure in the form of several post-holes, possible smithing hearths and the recovery of slag from some deposits. Towards the east of the site portions of a large ditch that would be affected by the proposed development were excavated. This ditch may be part of the enclosing ditch for the Cistercian abbey located to the east of the site. Further analysis of the material removed from the ditch is being carried out in order to establish a date for it. Post-excavation analysis of the remains from this site is ongoing' (Corcoran 2008, 377-8). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 17 April 2014

• WM038-017002 Burial ground
  Description

  Nothing remains today except the disused graveyard located on a knoll 330m south-west of the market square in the town of Kilbeggan (WM038-017----) which probably also marks the site of St Beagán's church (WM038-017001-) (Bradley et. al. 1985, 103-04). The Urban Survey suggested that the church of St Beagán was located in or beside the old graveyard south-west of the town but definite evidence can only be obtained by archaeological excavation (ibid. 104). In 2003 a geophysical survey carried out by GeoArc Ltd revealed the sub-surface footprint of the levelled Cistercian abbey (WM038-017007-) in the field immediately to the W of the graveyard (Hayden 2006, 522). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 14 April 2014

• WM038-017006 Church
  Description

  The 17th century parish church of St. James in the town of Kilbeggan was located near the western limit of the town (WM038-017----). The present ruins of the 18th/19th century C. of I. church standing in the centre of a disused graveyard (WM038-017013-) probably stands on the site of the parish church of Kilbeggan that is listed in the 1606 land grant to Sir Oliver Lambert where it is described as 'a small chapel or church (WM038-017006-) belonging to the town of Kilbeggan, and to the parishioners of said monastery (WM037-017007-)’ (Erck 1846, 268) . According to Lewis (1837, ii, 51) the present C. of I. church ruins were first built in 1764 with a square tower added to the W end of the church in 1818 (Lewis 1837, ii, 19). Today only the W church tower that was built onto an earlier 18th century C. of I. church survives standing above the surface of the surrounding graveyard. It is not clear if this church was built on the site of the medieval church mentioned in 1589 or if a new church was built at this site c. 1613 with the incorporation of the town (Bradley et. al. 1985, 103). It is possible that the medieval parish church of Kilebggan was located in the nearby graveyard (WM038-017002-) to the S of the C. of I. church and that during the 17th century a new church was built where the C. of I. church is located today. In 1682 Piers (1981, 84) described Kilbeggan as ‘a corporation and market town, sending two burgesses to our parliament. This town is seated on the Brosny [Brosna] before described, over which it hath an antient [ancient] bridge, but now of late repaired, of lime and stone. In this town stands a church in repair’. The patron’s day at Kilbeggan was held on the 24th of July, the eve of the feast of St James (Ó Riain 2011, 93). The site of the Cistercian monastery (WM038-107007-) of Kilbeggan and a graveyard (WM038-017002-) lies 190m to the SSW and S respectively. Compiled by: R. Barrett and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 14 April 2014

• WM038-017007 Religious house - Cistercian monks
  Description

  Kilbeggan town (WM038-017----) is situated on the River Brosna in the low-lying countryside of south Westmeath. According to Gwynn and Hadcock (1970, 388) a monastery (WM038-017001-) was founded at Kilbeggan by St Beagán in the sixth or seventh century. The early monastery was superseded by a Cistercian monastery dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. This abbey known as De Benedictio Dei, was founded c.1150 as a daughter house of Mellifont, probably by members of the MacCochlain family (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 137). In 1213 Mael Sechlainn MacCochlain, Lord of Delvin, died on pilgrimage to the abbey and in the same year his sons Ruaidhri and Mael Sechlainn died there (ibid., 137). In 1228 the abbey was made subject to Buildwas Abbey in England but judging by the names of its abbots it seems to have retained an Irish character throughout the Middle Ages (ibid., 137). At the Dissolution the abbey was apparently granted to Owen O Morrain of Multifarnham (Walsh 1957, 274-5) but in 1550 it was in the possession of Francis Digby, alias Ros MacEochacain (Morrin 1861, 233). It passed through various hands until 1606 when it was granted to Sir Oliver Lambert (Erck 1846-52, 267-8). In this year Sir Oliver Lambert was granted ‘the site and precinct of the late abbey of the B. V. Mary of Kilbeggan, in M’Geoghogans countrie, with the stone walls of a church and other buildings therein – 3 gardens, and a waste orchard, containing half an acre – a small chapel or church (WM038-017006-) belonging to the town of Kilbeggan, and to the parishioners of said monastery – a close to said monastery adjacent, containing 1a. – 3 messuages, 6 cottages, 60a. arable, standard measure, 16a. pasture, 6a. bog, in the town and fields of Kilbeggan – a water mill (WM038-017008-), near the town of Kilbeggan, upon the river Brassnagh (Brosnagh) – 2 eel-weares (WM038-017010-), 2 mess., 3 closes or cottages, 70a. arable, 30a. pasture and common of bog’ (ibid., 268). The terrier of the 1656-59 Down Survey map of Moycashel Barony recorded that in Kilbeggan there 'stood a faire Monastery' (NLI Ms. 723-724). In 1682 Piers (1981, 84) recorded that in Kilbeggan there ‘stood a monastery dedicated to the Virgin Mary, founded anno 1200, and replenished with monks from the Cistercian abbey of Mellifont; of this abby [abbey] remains only the name of the structure, not so much as the rubbish to be seen this day, nor of the house built here by the late lord Lambert before the late war, more than the ruins; for it was burnt in the late war, and is not to this day repaired. In this town stands a church (WM038-017006-) in repair’. The Ordnance Survey Letters recorded that the abbey lay immediately north-west of the old burial ground (WM038-017002-) south of the town (WM038-017----). In 2003 the site of the Cistercian abbey was precisely located when a geophysical survey was carried out in an area to the W of the graveyard (WM038-017002-). The geophysical survey carried out by GeoArc Ltd revealed the sub-surface ground plan or footprint of the levelled Cistercian abbey. The abbey appears to have been built around an early medieval monastery (WM038-017001-), which is still in use as a graveyard (WM038-017002-) (Hayden 2006, 522). A resistivity survey of the field to the W of the old graveyard (WM038-017002-) revealed the ground plan of the Cistercian abbey which consisted of a long rectangular church of cruciform plan with cloister and claustral building range to the S of the church. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 17 April 2014

• WM038-017013 Graveyard
  Description

  The 17th century parish church (WM038-107006-) and graveyard of St. James in the town of Kilbeggan was located near the western limit of the town (WM038-017----). The present ruins of the 18th/19th century C. of I. church standing in the centre of a disused graveyard probably stands on the site of the parish church and graveyard of Kilbeggan that is listed in the 1606 land grant to Sir Oliver Lambert where it is described as 'a small chapel or church (WM038-017006-) belonging to the town of Kilbeggan, and to the parishioners of said monastery (WM037-017007-)’ (Erck 1846, 268). The patron’s day at Kilbeggan was held on the 24th of July, the eve of the feast of St James (Ó Riain 2011, 93). The site of the Cistercian monastery (WM038-107007-) of Kilbeggan and a graveyard (WM038-017002-) lies 190m to the SSW and S respectively. The C of I church ruins stands in the N quadrant of a long rectangular shaped graveyard (approx. dims. 95m N-S x 45m E-W) enclosed by a post-1700 stone wall with entrance gate at NE angle. The graveyard contains memorials which mainly date from the post-1700 onwards. A 16th/17th century graveslab (WM038-017014-) belonging to John Nelson was recently unearthed in the E quadrant of the graveyard. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 28 September 2017

• WM038-017014 Graveslab
  Description

  The 17th century parish church (WM038-107006-) and graveyard of St. James in the town of Kilbeggan was located near the western limit of the town (WM038-017----). The present ruins of the 18th/19th century C. of I. church standing in the centre of a disused graveyard (WM038-017013-) probably stands on the site of the parish church and graveyard of Kilbeggan that is listed in the 1606 land grant to Sir Oliver Lambert where it is described as 'a small chapel or church (WM038-017006-) belonging to the town of Kilbeggan, and to the parishioners of said monastery (WM037-017007-)’ (Erck 1846, 268). The patron’s day at Kilbeggan was held on the 24th of July, the eve of the feast of St James (Ó Riain 2011, 93). The site of the Cistercian monastery (WM038-107007-) of Kilbeggan and a graveyard (WM038-017002-) lies 190m to the SSW and S respectively. A 16th/17th century graveslab belonging to John Nelson was recently unearthed in the NE quadrant of the graveyard adjacent to the boundary wall and close to the entrance gate. The undecorated tapering partially damaged graveslab (dims. L 1.68m; top Wth 0.73m; base Wth 0.64m) has a Latin inscription carved in false relief running around the edge of the slab. The corner of the slab has been broken off and is now missing and so the inscription survives in an incomplete form. The surviving inscription reads ' Hic jacet joannes nelson qui obii die ..... poster .....'. A John Nelson is listed in the c. 1659 census of Ireland as living in Kilbeggan. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien based on details kindly provided by Chris Corlett Date of upload: 28 September 2017

Architectural heritage

No building of the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage stands on this parcel.

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).

Ground and risks

Radon

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

Landslides

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

Flooding

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

Radon Risk Map of Ireland, Environmental Protection Agency; Landslide Susceptibility Classification, Geological Survey Ireland; both CC BY 4.0.

Download this parcel: DXF, in Irish Transverse Mercator metres, with its neighbours and buildings, for a drawing program; GeoJSON, in WGS 84, for a map; KML, for Google Earth.

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.