Corkan

17 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Corkan, from 2,122 m² (0.21 ha, 0.52 acres) to 235,810 m² (23.58 ha, 58.27 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary; 24 neighbouring parcels touch it.

No zone of a development plan covers Corkan 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.

• 21 May 2026Refused

  construction of a Bungalow-Type Dwelling with proposed vehicular entrance, Detached Residential garage, Proprietary sewage treatment system with polishing filter and percolation area, inclusive of all ancillary site works

  Permission, 1 home · Westmeath County Council, 2660266

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 Corkan.

Recorded monuments

• WM017-041 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  Situated in pasture with ringfort (WM017-042----) approx. 88m to E. This site has been levelled and is visible on aerial photography as a circular-shaped area (approx. dims. 30m) defined by the cropmark of a backfilled fosse and truncated by a linear field boundary (long-axis NE-SW) across the NW-sector (Digital Globe). Depicted on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map as a circular-shaped area truncated across the NW-sector, as per aerial photograph. Annotated as a 'fort' on the 1837 OS Fair Plan map. Monument described in 1975 as a levelled site with no visible trace of an antiquity on the surface. Compiled by: Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 06 December 2018

• WM017-042 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  Situated on a slight natural rise in relatively low-lying, wet pasture with good views all round. Ringfort (WM017-041----) approx. 88m to W. Monument visible as a bivallate tree-lined ringfort on Digital Globe aerial photography. Depicted on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map as a circular-shaped ringfort. Shown on the revised 1913 ed. OS 25-inch map as a bivallate ringfort with an external bank visible from SW-N-SE. Monument described in 1980 as a bivallate ringfort consisting of a roughly circular-shaped area (approx. dims. 25.5m E-W; 23.5m N-S) enclosed by two earth and stone banks with an intervening fosse with entrance gap (top Wth 2.3m; base Wth 1m) at SE. The inner bank is best preserved at NE where it has internal stone facing. The inner bank has been reduced to a scarp from SSE-S-W. There is a broad and shallow, flat-bottomed fosse with a broad causeway (Wth at top 2.5m; Wth at base 4.8m) and a corresponding wider gap (Wth at top 13m; Wth at base 9m) in the outer bank at SE, which may have been enlarged at a later period. The outer bank of earth and stone is substantial from SSE-S-WSW and has the remains of internal and external stone facing at S and N. There are a number of disturbance gaps in the outer bank from NNE-E, at W and NNW. Two shallow disturbance depressions are located just outside the outer bank at W. The interior is uneven and has a SE-facing slope. Compiled by: Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 06 December 2018

• WM017-043 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  Situated on slight, natural rises in relatively low-lying, wet pasture with ringfort (WM017-052----) approx. 57m to SW. Two ringforts (WM017-041-/042) 148m to NNE and 220m to NE. Monument visible as a pair of conjoined ringforts on Digital Globe aerial photography. Only the S ringfort is depicted on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map where it is shown as a circular-shaped monument. The revised 1913 ed. OS 25-inch map shows the monument consisting of a circular-shaped platform (approx. diam. 25m) defined by a scarp, fosse and outer bank with adjoining D-shaped enclosure to NE. The D-shaped enclosure consists of a D-shaped platform (approx. dims. 48m NE-SW; 45m NW-SE) with straight side at SW defined by a scarp, fosse and external bank. On this map the monument has the appearance of conjoined ringforts or of a ringfort with D-shaped annexe or bailey area to N. This monument could be the remains of an Anglo-Norman ringwork with D-shaped bailey to NE. the outer enclosing element of the S ringfort also serves as the outer enclosing element of the D-shaped platform which is a feature often found on Anglo-Norman motte and bailey castles. Oblique aerial photographs taken 07/17/1966 shows clearly the outer enclosing element of the D-shaped annexe or bailey area also enclosing the circular shaped ringfort (CUCAP APH003/004). Monument described in 1975 as two ringforts bounded by a complex series of earth and stone banks. The interior of the S ringfort is traversed by post-medieval cultivation ridges. The N ringfort has a complex series of low earth and stone banks running across the interior. A scaled plan of this monument surveyed and drawn by the ASI shows the complex nature of the earthworks associated with the conjoined ringforts. See attached plan of conjoined ringforts surveyed and drawn by the ASI Compiled by: Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 06 December 2018

• WM017-043001 Field system
  Description

  Low earthworks in field immediately to NNE and E of ringfort (WM017-043----) may be the remains of a medieval field system. These earthworks are not visible on Digital Globe aerial photographs. See attached plan of ringfort showing earthworks of field system to NNE and E. Compiled by: Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 06 December 2018

• WM017-052 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  Situated on the E end of a small, low natural ridge running E-W in pasture with extensive views in all directions. Ringfort (WM017-043----) and field system (WM017-043001-) 55m to NNE, standing stone (WM017-114----) c. 8m to S. Visible as a roughly oval-shaped enclosure on Digital Globe aerial photography. Depicted on the revised 1913 OS 25-inch map as a roughly oval-shaped area defined by a scarp. Monument described in 1980 as a broad oval-shaped area (28.5m NE-SW; 24.5m NW-SE) enclosed by a bank mainly reduced to a scarp, shallow broad fosse and slight remains of a low outer bank visible from WSW-W-WNW. There is no indication of an entrance. The inner bank only survives from WSW-W-WNW where it is quite substantial and has the remains of internal stone facing. There is a large piece of limestone outcrop incorporated into the scarp from W-WNW. The intervening fosse is very shallow and broad being visible from WSW-W-WNW. The interior has a gentle SE-facing slope and has an uneven surface due to the presence of modern cultivation ridges running NE-SW. A possible hut site (WM017-052001-) is located within the S quadrant. Outline of monument clearly visible on aerial photographs taken in 1966 (CUCAP APH003). Compiled by: Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 10 December 2018

• WM017-052001 Hut site
  Description

  Situated on the E-end of a small, low natural ridge running E-W in pasture with extensive views in all directions. The remains of a hut site (approx. dims. 5.3m N-S; 9.7m E-W) are located on the inner edge of the scarp, within the S quadrant of a ringfort (WM017-052----). The hut site is visible as a rectangular-shaped depression defined by a low bank of earth with abundant stone to S, some of which may represent the remains of internal stone facing. Two stones set in the ground at W may be the remains of the W bank. A very low and faint scarp defines the E side of the monument, however, there is little definition to N. Compiled by: Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 10 December 2018

• WM017-056 Enclosure - large enclosure
  Description

  Situated on a slight natural rise, in relatively low-lying, wet pasture. Hut site (WM017-113----) c. 155m to W. Depicted on 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map as a roughly oval-shaped enclosure. Monument visible today as a roughly oval-shaped earthwork on Digital Globe aerial photography. Described in 1975 as a large irregular-shaped area (approx. dims. 75m E-W; 46m N-S) enclosed by a poorly preserved earth and stone bank with traces of an external fosse. The bank is much disturbed by modern gaps and the original entrance is not recognisable. The interior has a number of large stones and has been disturbed by relatively modern cultivation. Compiled by: Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 12 December 2018

• WM017-057 Souterrain
  Description

  Situated on a small natural rise, in gently undulating pasture and having a modern field fence running E-W, to the immediate N of the opening. Site of church (WM107-053----), abbey (WM017-054----) and ogham stone (WM017-054002-) 423m to W. Souterrains (WM017-065---) 300m to SW with second souterrain (WM017-051----) 655m to WSW. According to local information, this souterrain was discovered c. 1940s-1950s when excavating a small gravel pit. The pit was closed up and was not reopened until the mid-1970s when the souterrain was rediscovered.Not indicated on any OS historic mapping and not visible on Digital Globe aerial photography. Monument described in 1977 as a rectangular stone built chamber (L 6.6m; Wth 1.87-3m; H 1.75m) running E-W visible just below ground level. The enclosing drystone walls are built in regular courses using rubble stone. These walls rise vertically almost to the level of the roof where there are two to three courses of slight corbelling. Some of the stones in the wall are quite large blocks of limestone with small pinning stones. The roof is built of seven large lintels laid on top of the walls with those at the W end being substantial. A small area at the E-end of the chamber is now blocked off by a later secondary wall, which may have been constructed to support a weakness in the roof at this point. It is built of rougher stones in irregular courses and is not bonded into the other walls of the chamber. The original entrance into the chamber seems to have been via a narrow lintelled opening in the NE corner. This is now blocked off by collapse and may have been deliberately closed off when the blocking wall was built. The present entrance is through a hole in the roof, to the immediate W of the blocking wall and just N of the S wall of the chamber. There is a small rectangular recess (Wth 0.6m; H 1m; D 0.55m) in the W wall at the SW corner. There is another rectangular recess (Wth 0.68m; H 0.6m; D 0.69m) in the W wall just at the S end of the blocking wall. This latter recess had been closed off by the later blocking wall but is now just accessible through a hole in this wall. The floor of the chamber and the two recesses have been disturbed by recent digging particularly at the W end where the natural gravel is visible at the end of the W recess. There are a number of large blocks lying on the interior: One against the middle of the N wall, one against the S wall, near the SW corner and one roughly in the centre of the floor. There are also some smaller stones scattered across the floor area. It is not clear where these stones came from as they do not seem to have derived from the souterrain structure. A large inscribed stone (WM017-057001-) in the centre of the floor appears to be inscribed with the letter ‘U’ with a possible ‘I’. There are some animal bones and teeth scattered around the interior and some small flecks of charcoal. A small button was found in disturbed soil just outside the W recess. See attached cross-sections of monument surveyed and drawn by the ASI. Compiled by: Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 12 December 2018

• WM017-057001 Inscribed stone
  Description

  Situated in a small natural rise, in gently undulating pasture. Described in 1977 as a large stone which lies on the centre of the floor of a souterrain (WM017-057----). The letter ‘U’ and possibly ‘I’ is picked out of the upper surface. A second field report of 1977 describes this stone as having a number of grooves which appear to have been enlarged by pocking. This inscribed stone could be a possible ogham stone. A second possible ogham stone (WM017-054002-) liew on entrance avenue to Oldtown house c. 425m to W. See attached cross-sections of souterrain showing location of inscribed stone surveyed and drawn by the ASI. Compiled by: Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 12 December 2018

• WM017-113 Hut site
  Description

  Situated in the centre of a rough pasture field. A possible standing stone (WM017-114----) lies c. 70m to NW. Not depicted on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map or the revised 1913 ed. OS 25-inch map. Described by the Forest Service in 2006 as a sub-rectangular shaped area (approx. overall dims. 8.5m NNE-SSW x 8m WNW-ESE) enclosed by an earth and stone bank (H 0.7m). The bank is retained in places on the interior by large flags and boulders. An entrance is located on the N side. Monument is visible as a roughly circular-shaped area of differential growth located within the exclusion zone of a forestry plantation, as seen on Digital Globe aerial photography. See attached sketch plan of the hut site submitted by the Forest Service. Compiled by: Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 10 January 2019

• WM017-114 Standing stone
  Description

  Located on the southern side of an E-W orientated drumlin, situated just off the crest. Obscured by a lone thorn bush’ (Forest Service letter 14/08/2006). Ringfort (WM017-052----) 15m to N, hut site (WM017-113----) c. 70m to SE. Compiled by: Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 10 January 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 Corkan with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Westmeath.

Name

Corkan

Area

1,428,996 m² (142.9 ha, 353.11 acres)

Civil parish

Rathconrath, and its townlands

Barony

Rathconrath

Electoral division

Skeagh, the unit of the census

Neighbouring townlands

Bigfurze, Milltown, Modranstown, Pishanagh, Rathcastle, Rathduff, Skeagh More

Placenames

Corkan 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.