Coolatoor

44 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Coolatoor, from 148 m² to 204,971 m² (20.5 ha, 50.65 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary; 25 neighbouring parcels touch it.

No zone of a development plan covers Coolatoor in the national zoning. Outside zoned towns and villages, the county development plan's rural policies apply to each application.

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

• 4 Mar 2024Conditional

  construction of a dwelling house with septic tank & percolation area with new entrance with all ancillary site works

  Permission, 1 home · Westmeath County Council, 2460064

• 23 Sept 2020Conditional

  Construction of a four-bedroom dwelling and domestic garage. The application will also include an effluent treatment unit, percolation area, horse stables, new entrance and all associated site works and drainage.

  Permission, 1 home · Westmeath County Council, 207140

• 4 Mar 2019Conditional

  The development will consist of a single storey dwelling house, bored well, septic tank, percolation area and all associated site development works

  Permission, 1 home · Westmeath County Council, 197049

• 14 Nov 2018Conditional

  To demolish existing derelict dwelling and decommission existing septic tank and construct a dwelling house, domestic garage and septic tank with percolation area and associated site works

  Permission, 1 home · Westmeath County Council, 187215

• 1 Feb 2017Conditional

  The construction of a domestic garage to the rear of the existing dwelling, and associated site works

  Permission, 1 home · Westmeath County Council, 177013

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

Designated sites

No designated site (Special Area of Conservation, Special Protection Area, Natural Heritage Area or proposed one) touches the townland of Coolatoor.

Recorded monuments

• WM024-171 Well
  Description

  Situated on the bend of a stream, in low-lying, flat pasture, immediately W of parish boundary between Kilcumreragh and Killare. Depicted on the revised 1913 ed. OS 25-inch map as a small circular spring, annotated 'Toberfely'. Monument described as a small, unenclosed, surface spring which is grass covered with no special characteristics to distinguish it as a blessed well. This site no longer seems to be revered as a holy well. According to local folklore there was only one holy well in the townland of Coolatoor known as Toberavill (WM031-014002-) (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0733, Page 177). Compiled by Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien. Date of upload: 03 September 2019

• WM031-005 Mound
  Description

  Situated on a rise, in low-lying, wet pasture. Ringfort (WM031-006----) lies c. 72m to E. Not depicted on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map, however a limekiln is depicted in this location on this map. Depicted on the 1910 ed. OS 25-inch map as a small circular-shaped earthwork which could be the remains of a levelled limekiln. Monument described in 1973 as a very small roughly circular-shaped area (diam. 20m) defined by a low scarp. The interior rises gently from the perimeter towards the centre, where a number of large boulders project from the surface. There is no apparent entrance. Monument is visible today as a tree-planted earthwork on Digital Globe aerial photography. Compiled by Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien. Date of upload: 12 November 2019

• WM031-006 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  Situated on the W slope of a high hill, with good views to the W & S. Ringfort (WM031-005----) lies c. 70m to W. Depicted on the 1910 ed. OS 25-inch map as a small circular-shaped earthwork. Monument described in 1973 as a roughly circular-shaped area (approx. diam. 30m) enclosed by a bank of earth & stone with slight traces of an external fosse. The bank has been destroyed on the S & SW sides. The interior is relatively flat & featureless. Monument is visible today as a tree-covered earthwork on Digital Globe aerial photography. Compiled by Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien. Date of upload: 12 November 2019

• WM031-007 Stone head
  Description

  Situated on the terrace on the S side of Coolatoor House (b. c. 1866, NIAH). An inscribed stone (WM031-007001----) is built into a wall at the E end of the house. An architectural fragment (WM031-007002-) and a sheela-na-gig (WM031-007003-) are reputed to have been situated at the house, although these are currently unlocated. Monument described in 1981 as a carved limestone bust of a female figure which was recovered some years ago in an overgrown rockery in the grounds of the house. Nothing else of its origins are known. The figure (H 0.57m; Wth 0.31m; T 0.28m) is carved in the round and was seemingly intended to be freestanding and upright. It is well carved with a very flat face and has a damaged nose. A dimple can be seen under her chin. The top of the dress is defined by a beaded border which falls on either side of the chest and is finished by a tassel. An open right hand extending from a thin arm, lies on the left breast. The lady wears a head-dress with a veil falling over the shoulders. The back & sides of the head-dress are carved with a foliage pattern. The base of the figure is roughly carved with an unfinished appearance. The stone appears to be of medieval date. According to local information, Col. Upton was the former owner of the house and a well-known antiquarian. He had a large collection of medieval carved stones and graveslabs which he had collected during the early part of the 20th century. The grounds of the house are extensive, with very overgrown shrubberies and rockeries, etc., which could potentially conceal other items of interest from Col. Upton’s collection. In 1988 the current owner of the house did not know of the current whereabouts of the stone head (SMR file). Compiled by Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien. Date of upload: 12 November 2019

• WM031-007001 Inscribed stone
  Description

  Built into a wall at the E end of Coolatore House (b. c. 1866, NIAH). A stone head (WM031-007----) was recovered from the garden and is situated on the S terrace of the house. An architectural fragment (WM031-007002-) and a sheela-na-gig (WM031-007003-/WM024-123001) are reputed to have been situated at the house, although these are currently unlocated. Datestone described in 1981 as a trapezoidal-shaped cut limestone (H 0.4m; Wth at top 0.35m; basal Wth 0.3m) inscribed with the letters N A K IHS 1640. This date stone may have come from an earlier building on the site or may have been brought here from elsewhere. The present house has datestones inscribed with the dates 1864 and 1866. According to local information, Col. Upton was the former owner of the house and a well-known antiquarian. He had a large collection of medieval carved stones and graveslabs which he had collected during the early part of the 20th century. Compiled by Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien. Date of upload: 12 November 2019

• WM031-007002 Architectural fragment
  Description

  Built into a wall at the E end of Coolatore House (b. c. 1866, NIAH). A stone head (WM031-007----) was recovered from the garden and is situated on the S terrace of the house. An architectural fragment (WM031-007002-) and a sheela-na-gig (WM031-007003-/WM024-123001-) are reputed to have been situated at the house, although these are currently unlocated. According to local information, Col. Upton was the former owner of the house and a well-known antiquarian. He had a large collection of medieval carved stones and graveslabs which he had collected during the early part of the 20th century. Compiled by Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien. Date of upload: 12 November 2019

• WM031-008 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  Situated on a W-facing slope of a high hill, with good views to S and W. Depicted on the 1910 ed. OS 25-inch map as an oval-shaped earthwork which is open to S. Monument described in 1973 as a roughly circular-shaped area (approx. diam. 30m) enclosed by a bank and external fosse. The earth and stone bank is well preserved, although it has been levelled from S-SW. There are slight traces of an outer fosse. The interior is relatively flat and featureless. Monument is visible today as a tree-lined earthwork on Digital Globe aerial photography, where the bank now appears to be levelled from ESE-S-SW-WSW. Compiled by Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien. Date of upload: 12 November 2019

• WM031-009 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  Situated on a rise, in a valley of pasture, between two high ridges. Depicted on the 1837 OS 6-inch map as a circular-shaped earthwork. Shown on the 1910 ed. OS 25-inch map as a subcircular-shaped earthwork which has been cut by a field boundary running NE-SW across the SE quadrant. Monument described in 1973 as a roughly circular-shaped raised platform (diam. 25m) defined by a scarp. A field fence running NE-SW cuts off the SE quadrant of the earthwork. The interior rises gently from the perimeter towards the centre and has an uneven surface. Monument is visible today as an oval-shaped tree-planted earthwork on Digital Globe aerial photography, whereby the field boundary appears to have been adjusted to respect the SE quadrant of the scarp that had previously been severed. Compiled by Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien. Date of upload: 12 November 2019

• WM031-013 Earthwork
  Description

  Situated in gently undulating pasture. Motte with possible bailey (WM031-012----) lie c. 150m to W. Depicted on the revised 1910 ed. OS 25-inch map as a substantial linear-shaped earthwork with a gap off-centre to NW. Monument described in 1973 as a long linear-shaped earthwork defined by a bank of earth and stone running NW-SE. The height of the bank diminishes at the N end where it curves in a semicircle to W. There is a fosse outside the bank at this end. Towards the W side the bank and fosse seem to merge with the townland boundary. The bank has been disturbed by quarrying at the S end and it is not possible to trace the return of a curve which would correspond with that at the N end. Nevertheless, it is possible that the original bank may have enclosed a large suboval-shaped area. There is a possible entrance about half way along the length of the linear bank. The area enclosed within the interior is fairly level and slopes upwards to the bank around the perimeter. A low knoll is situated in the S portion of the interior, which appears to be a natural feature. This earthwork may be associated with the nearby motte and bauley castle. Monument is visible today as a long curvilinear tree-planted earthwork on Digital Globe aerial photography. Compiled by Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien. Date of upload: 12 November 2019

• WM031-014001 Church
  Description

  Situated on the W facing slope of Knockastia, in scrub. Holy well, (WM031-014002-) annotated ‘Toberavill’ lies c. 45m to WSW. Depicted on the revised 1910 ed. OS 25-inch map as a rectangular-shaped building (approx. dims. 10m NE-SW; 6m NW-SE) annotated ‘Ancient Chapel (in Ruins)’. Monument described in 1957 as not located due to dense cover of scrub. Monument is obscured today by dense cover of scrub on Digital Globe aerial photography and is located at the E edge of a quarry. Compiled by Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien. Date of upload: 12 November 2019

• WM031-014002 Ritual site - holy well
  Description

  Situated on a steep, rocky hillside, in scrub, on the W facing slope of Knockastia. Chapel (WM031-014001-) annotated ‘Ancient Chapel (in Ruins)’ lies c. 45m to ENE. Depicted on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map as a small, circular-shaped well feature annotated ‘Toberavill’. Monument described in 1957 as a spring well enclosed by a drystone wall and with a very rough drystone roof. The water flows from the well into a second, uncovered round basin. The stone work is very rough and of indeterminate date. It is unclear if this was a holy well, but the fact that it is marked as an antiquity on OS maps and the presence of an iron gate designed to allow access for pedestrians from the road, suggests that it was used for some religious purposes. There are no offerings or other direct evidence of this, however this function may have gone out of use. There are quarries on both sides of the monument. Holy Well is obscured today by dense scrub on Digital Globe aerial photography and is located at the E edge of a quarry. In the late 1930s the following folklore was recorded about Toberavill; 'There is a large tree growing beside this well and on this tree people used to hang objects after using the water of well for the cure of warts and sore eyes. The custom is still in vogue. "Rounds" used to be made some years ago on Good Friday at this well and some people used to come long distances to make them. There are fourteen large stones around the well and tree, to represent the Stations of the Cross. Warts and sore eyes have been cured at this well. The eyes or warts are bathed three times with the water and prayers said. If a cloth is used it is hung up on the tree afterwards. If the washing is done by the hand some of the trifle is left at or on the tree. There is a great variety of objects on the tree presently. It is also said that the water of this well cannot be boiled and that the wood of the three beside the well cannot be burned. Some people also say that there is supposed to be the ruins of an old church [WM031-014001-] behind this well. Portion of a wall is to be still seen at this place' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0733, Pages 177-9). Compiled by Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien. Date of upload: 12 November 2019

• WM031-015 Barrow - mound barrow
  Description

  Surveyed in 2013 and described by McGuinness (2014, 35-7) as following: 'This is the well-known Early-Middle Bronze Age cemetery cairn on summit of Knockast, excavated by Hencken and Movius over three weeks in 1932 as part of the archaeological section of the anthropological survey of Ireland conducted by Harvard University. During excavation the ‘entire mound’ was removed, although the last three days were ‘devoted to restoring it as nearly as possible to its original appearance’; the reconstructed mound survives and according to a 1982 ASI account measures about 14m (N-S) x 15m (E-W), is 1.5-2m high, and slopes appreciably from SE to NW. Before excavation the cairn appeared as ‘a low, flat, grassy mound with a slight depression in the middle, [which] measured 60 feet [18.3m] in diameter and no more than 4 feet [1.2m] high at its highest point. In general, however, it was not much over 3 feet [0.91m] high’. Excavation showed the cairn to be composed of a core of stones ‘merely thrown together with no attempt at walling or any other arrangement’, and with dark soil between them and covering them, ‘so that only a few stones were visible on the surface’; a large limestone boulder on the natural ground was incorporated in W half of monument (Hencken and Movius 1932-4, 233-4). The excavation uncovered a very large group of burials reflecting a broad variety of burial customs, including four inhumations in cists or unprotected, and thirty-nine cremations ‘in cists, in pots, in mere spaces between the stones, upon the earth at the base of the cairn, or in holes made in the original ground level below it’ (ibid., 248). Charcoal mixed with the cremations indicated that the funeral pyres were uniformly of oak. There was no evidence of a central, primary burial, most of the burials being located in the SE part of the cairn, ‘and indeed one small area in this vicinity, 17½ feet long by 4 feet wide, and running north and south, contained all the objects other than the pots that were found with burials’ (ibid., 249). These objects comprised three bronze shaving-razors, scraps of bronze, bone cylinders, a plano-convex flint knife and a rock crystal; much later in date, but found isolated deep within in the cairn, was an early medieval penannular brooch, possibly associated with one of the skeletons ‘which must be a later intrusion in the cairn’ (ibid., 252-3). The pottery, though not so tightly distributed as the other grave goods, was again confined to the S and E quadrants, and amounted to ten pots, among which a Bowl Food Vessel, a Vase Food Vessel, an Encrusted Urn, a Vase Urn and a Cordoned Urn were identified. Also found were three pits dug in the original ground surface, containing ox, horse and sheep or goat bones, which, along with signs of intense conflagrations beneath the cairn, were interpreted as ‘probably traces of some ceremonial that took place before the cairn was erected’ (ibid., 247). Cairn is on summit of very prominent limestone hill known as Knockast or Knockastia. The 1982 ASI account of the site gives a sense of the dramatic location of this monument: Situated on prominent knoll at NW end of ridge running approx NW-SE. Rock outcrop in the form of a crag bounds the spur on which site is situated from S to W. Ground falls away sharply on all other sides from ESE-E-NE-N-NW. [SMR file] In the 1930s the name of this hill was pronounced ‘Knock Costha’ or ‘Connacostha’ and it appears to be the Cnoc in Coscair referred to in the medieval text Bruiden Da Chocae, in which ‘Eochain Bece, having gone away out of a battle described, fell on Cnoc Ni Coscair after weariness of conflict, so that there are many graves on it and it is called Beces Hill’ (Shaw 1921, 142-3; Hogan 1910, 275; Hencken and Movius 1932-4, 2). On SW slopes of Knockast about 400m to W, the ASI documents a church and well (WM031-014----) — this is Toberavill holy well, at which John O’Donovan caught the tail end of a pilgrimage tradition in 1837: 'From the S:W: side of the conspicuous Hill of Cnoc Aiste in this Parish, springs a holy well called Tobar Amhaill [supposed to mean St. Avell’s Well] at which stations are performed on Fridays, but especially on Good Fridays. Is there any Saint of this name in the Calendar or in Colgan?' (Herity 2011, 76). The church is marked Ancient Chapel (in Ruins) on OS 6” map (Hencken and Movius 1932-4; Kavanagh 1973, 566; 1976, 376-7; 1991, 98-100; Waddell 1990, 149-50; Ó Ríordáin and Waddell 1993, 141 )'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by David McGuinness. Date of upload: 23 February 2015

• WM031-016 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  Situated on NE-facing slope, in pasture, with commanding views to N, E and W. Ringfort (WM031-017----) lies c. 100m to SE. Depicted on the 1910 ed. OS 25-inch map as a roughly circular-shaped earthwork. Monument described in 1973 as a roughly circular-shaped area (diam. 38m) enclosed by a wide earthen bank and a wide external fosse with entrance gap at E. The interior has a NW-facing slope and a small pile of stone is visible in the E quadrant. Monument is visible today as a circular-shaped tree-lined earthwork on Digital Globe aerial photography. Compiled by Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien. Date of upload: 12 November 2019

• WM031-017 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  Situated on NE-facing slope of a high hill, in pasture, with commanding views to N and E. Ringfort (WM031-016----) lies c. 100m to NW. Depicted on the 1910 ed. OS 25-inch map as a subcircular-shaped earthwork. Monument described in 1973 as a roughly circular-shaped area (diam. 39m) enclosed by an earth and stone bank and external fosse. The bank has been partially levelled from ENE-E-ESE where the entrance may have been located. The fosse has been infilled from NE-E-ESE. The interior has a gentle NE-facing slope and the surface is cut by a number of cultivation ridges. Monument is visible today as a roughly circular-shaped tree-lined earthwork on Digital Globe aerial photography. Compiled by Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien. Date of upload: 12 November 2019

• WM031-018 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  Situated on gently sloping ground, in pasture, to S of a farmhouse and farmyard. Ringfort (WM031-016----) lies c. 100m to NW. Depicted on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map as a tree-planted rectangular-shaped earthwork with rounded corners. Depicted on the 1910 ed. OS 25-inch map as a subcircular-shaped earthwork. Monument described in 1973 as a roughly circular-shaped area defined by a scarp and a stone retaining wall at E. Access is difficult in the interior due to stacks of recently felled trees and overgrowth. Monument is visible today as a roughly oval-shaped tree-planted earthwork on Digital Globe aerial photography. Compiled by Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien. Date of upload: 12 November 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).

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

Name

Coolatoor · Cúil an Tuair

Area

2,964,104 m² (296.41 ha, 732.45 acres)

Civil parish

Kilcumreragh, and its townlands

Barony

Moycashel

Electoral division

Kilcumreragh, the unit of the census

Neighbouring townlands

Ballinaspick Or Bishopstown, Ballinlig Lower, Ballinlig Upper, Ballintober, Ballybrickoge, Coolatoor Or Grouselodge

Placenames

Coolatoor 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.