Doonis
Townland in the civil parish of Noughaval, barony of Kilkenny West, Co. Westmeath; in Irish Dún Aonghasa
Parcel 92404
- Area
- 431,570 m² (43.16 ha, 106.64 acres)
- Buildings
- 4 buildings touch it, 354 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
- Doonis
Planning applications on this parcel
28 Mar 2026Conditional
the construction of a new dwelling, proprietary effluent treatment system & polishing filter, new road entrance, and all ancillary site works
Permission, 1 home · Westmeath County Council, 2660143
28 Jan 2022Refused
Proposed construction of a two storey type dwelling house with detached garage, entrance, boundary fence/wall, wastewater treatment system with percolation area and all ancillary works
Permission · Westmeath County Council, 2225
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 2 recorded monuments.
- WM015-005 Castle - tower house
Description
Situated on a small knoll on the NW face of a ridge, with good views in all directions, especially over Lough Ree to the W and N. Lough Ree lies 840m to N with Creggan Lough 560m to SW. Bethlehem nunnery (WM015-002----) lies 1.8km to the N. Area of rock outcrop with evidence of quarrying in field immediately to SSW. According to the Ordnance Survey Letters Ballynacliffy Castle belonged to the Dillon's (RIA 14/G/13/3(19)). According to other sources the the castle was first built in 1401 by Geróid Dalton, son of Lucas Dalton and that the townland name was derived from Baile na Cloiche meaning the town of the stone house (Cox 1971-2, 43; Hogan 1910, 86). In 1641 the lands of Ballynacliffy were in the ownership of the Earl of Kildare (NLI MS 723-4). All that survives are the grass-covered foundations (H 0.5m) of a square-shaped building (internal. dims. 9m N-S; 9m E-W) which probably represents the remains of a tower house standing on low natural rock outcrop. An extensive complex of earthworks (WM015-005001-) surround the castle which may represent the remains of a bawn and possible settlement. These earthworks show up clearly on Digital Globe aerial photographs and on aerial photographs taken in 20/07/1970 (CUCAP BDU069-070). This castle was known in the 17th century as Ballineclossy Castle and was used as a garrison for English forces during the Irish Rebellion of 1641. The castle was described by Sir Henry Piers in 1682 as following; In 1642 'two foot companies of English forces, were commanded to quarter at Ballineclossy, a strong castle and dwelling house of a gentleman of antient family and good estate, situated in the promontory before mentioned these were commanded by a gentleman of a very noble extraction, captain Bertie or Bartie, brother to the lord chamberlain of England, the earl of Lindsey, who was general for the king at the battle of Edgehill' (Vallancey 1786, 82). According to Pies after the English burnt Bethlehem Nunnery (WM015-002---) they returned to 'their quarters at Ballineclossy aforesaid, which had been deserted by the inhabitants on their appearance, but left well stored with excellent strong beer and aquavitae, and all sorts of provisions for food' (ibid). Piers recorded that the castle was 'seated in the mentioned promontory, which jets out into the lake or Shannon, nearer to the main land then Bethlem, and hath over against it on the other side of the Inny, which here falls into Lough-Ree in the Shannon, a placed called Portenure' (ibid.). Compiled by: Frank Coyne and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 4 September 2018
- WM015-005001 Bawn
Description
Situated on a small knoll on the NW face of a ridge, with good views in all directions, especially over Lough Ree to the W and N. Lough Ree lies 840m to N with Creggan Lough 560m to SW. Bethlehem nunnery (WM015-002----) lies 1.8km to the N. Grass-covered foundations of a square-shaped tower house known as Ballynacliffy Castle (WM015-005----) standing on low natural rock outcrop with an extensive complex of earthworks to the N which may appears to represent the remains of a bawn and possible evidence of small house sites. These earthworks show up clearly on Digital Globe aerial photographs and on aerial photographs taken in 20/07/1970 (CUCAP BDU069-070). On the Digital Globe aerial photograph the bawn appears as the low earthwork of a rectangular shaped area (approx. int. dims. 93m E-W x 120m N-S) located to the N of the castle. The public road immediately S of the castle appears to cut across the S side of the bawn with no enclosing element visible on this side. Circular projections on NW angle and midway along N side of bawn appear to represent the remains of flanking towers. A sunken linear earthwork running NW from W side if bawn may be the remains of a medieval roadway or could be the remains of a drainage ditch. A series of rectangular shaped earthworks immediately N and NW of the castle could be the remains of some house site but this is uncertain. The bawn appears to be subdivided by a linear earthwork running N-S which is clearly visible on Digital Globe aerial photograph. Earthworks in field to S of public road and castle may be the result of post-1700 quarrying. A limekiln is depicted standing in the SE corner of this field on the 1838 ed. OS 6-inch map. This castle was known in the 17th century as Ballineclossy Castle and was used as a garrison for English forces during the Irish Rebellion of 1641. The castle was described by Sir Henry Piers in 1682 as following; In 1641 'two foot companies of English forces, were commanded to quarter at Ballineclossy, a strong castle and dwelling house of a gentleman of antient family and good estate, situated in the promontory before mentioned these were commanded by a gentleman of a very noble extraction, captain Bertie or Bartie, brother to the lord chamberlain of England, the earl of Lindsey, who was general for the king at the battle of Edgehill' (Vallancey 1786, 82). According to Pies after the English burnt Bethlehem Nunnery (WM015-002---) they returned to 'their quarters at Ballineclossy aforesaid, which had been deserted by the inhabitants on their appearance, but left well stored with excellent strong beer and aquavitae, and all sorts of provisions for food' (ibid). Piers recorded that the castle was 'seated in the mentioned promontory, which jets out into the lake or Shannon, nearer to the main land then Bethlem, and hath over against it on the other side of the Inny, which here falls into Lough-Ree in the Shannon, a placed called Portenure' (ibid.). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 5 September 2018
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
- 341.1 ha
- 843 acres
- Land parcels
- 56
- registered freehold, median 33,180 m² (3.32 ha, 8.2 acres)
- Zoning
- —
- not in a zoned settlement
- Planning
- 0
- applications since 2010
Land parcels
Registered freehold land, Tailte Éireann
56 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Doonis, from 99 m² to 284,940 m² (28.49 ha, 70.41 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary; 32 neighbouring parcels touch it.
Zoning
Development plans, national zoning
No zone of a development plan covers Doonis 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
No planning application touches the townland of Doonis in the national file, which goes back to 2010.
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
- Special Area of Conservation: Lough Ree SAC 000440
- Special Protection Area: Lough Ree SPA 004064
- Proposed Natural Heritage Area: Lough Ree 000440
Recorded monuments
- WM015-003 Crannog
Description
Located 20m E of the present E shoreline of Doonis Lough, but was originally c. 50m W of the scarp of original shoreline. Doonis Lough is a small lake 400m S of Lough Ree. This crannóg was described by O'Sullivan (2004, 53-4) as following; 'a small, low cairn (dims. 17m NNE-SSW x 11m E-W; H 1.6m/ 0.5m above water level) of small stones, clay and timber in shallow water (1m depth), originally c. 50m from the shoreline. The crannóg was built by laying a primary platform of large (diam. 0.1-0.15m) roundwood alder, ash and birch logs directly on the lake muds (an organic-rich grey-brown silt or gytta soil). An upper platform of radially laid oak roundwoods (diam. 0.08-0.12m) was laid across this foundation. The cairn of stones was laid across these timber beams, retained by a vertical roundwood palisade that surrounds the site. The crannog’s upper surface is level, with an even profile with sharply sloping sides. The cairn itself is built of small, angular fist-sized stones (L 6-8cm), larger pebbles and some larger (L 0.6-0.8m) irregular limestone slabs, all of which lie exposed on the surface and in the shallow water surrounding the island. The enclosing features include a possible irregular kerb on the south and east sides, while the vertical wooden palisade includes an inner row of slow-grown (60-80 years old) ash roundwood poles (diam. 0.08-0.12m). There are also occasional vertical posts in the stones and muds 2-3m out from the island (apparently driven to depths of 1m. A single, loose vertical post (diam. 0.08m, L 0.7m) from the enclosing palisade was inspected on the east side of the crannóg. This was a roundwood ash pole, sharpened to a chisel-shaped point, using a metal axe wielded at very shallow angles. The toolmarks on the worked end are small (L 0.03m, Wth 4m), slightly concave with clean junctions between each toolmark. These appear to have been made by a small bronze axe, possibly of Middle or Late Bronze Age type. Burnt bone fragments and unburnt bone, (apparently mostly of bird) is visible in the eroded section of the crannog’s cairn material on the west and east sides. A possible wooden artefact (a charred and carved piece of bucket or tub fragment) lies in the water on the E shore of the crannóg. The crannóg is now overgrown by young alder trees and rushes, and is surrounded by reedbeds'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by Aidan O'Sullivan. Date of upload: 6 March 2017
- WM015-006 Ringfort - rath
Description
Situated on elevated N-facing slope of rising ground. Ringfort (WM015-007---) 150m to S. A slightly raised circular-shaped area (approx. diam. 38m E-W) enclosed by a low bank of earth and stone with a shallow external fosse. The bank has been almost completely levelled at N, where the perimeter is intersected by a NW-SE field fence. The interior slopes gently from SW-NE. In the centre of the monument a mound of field clearance stones is visible, with a low bank extending to SW from the W end of this mound towards the ringfort bank. See attached profile of monument surveyed and drawn by the ASI. Compiled by: Frank Coyne and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 5 September 2018
- WM015-007 Ringfort - rath
Description
Situated on E facing slope of a hill with wide views of the surrounding countryside from N-E-S. Ringfort (WM015-006---) 150m to N, ringfort (WM015-008---) 100m to SW. A circular-shaped area (approx. diam. 26m NW-SE) enclosed by a wide low bank of earth and stone with a shallow external fosse that is visible only at W and N. There is an entrance gap in the inner bank at E. The interior slopes appreciably from W-E. Field fences intersect the monument at N, E, S and W. See attached profile of monument surveyed and drawn by the ASI. Compiled by: Frank Coyne and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 5 September 2018
- WM015-008 Ringfort - rath
Description
Situated on S facing slope of a hill with wide views from-E-S-W. Ringfort (WM015-007---) 100m to NE. A large circular-shaped area (approx. diam. 34m NE-SW) enclosed by a two low banks of earth and stone, with an intervening shallow fosse and an outer shallow fosse. The inner fosse is best preserved at N. The outer bank has been reduced to a scarp at E and W. The interior slopes appreciably from NNE-SSW. A field fence running NW-SE bisects the interior of the monument. A field fence runs E-W along the line of the outer bank and fosse from NNW-NE. See attached profile of monument surveyed and drawn by the ASI. Compiled by: Frank Coyne and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 5 September 2018
- WM015-009 Enclosure
Description
Situated on elevated NE facing slope of a prominent hill in grassland. Depicted on the 1837 OS Fair Plan map as a small circular enclosure (approx. diam. 19m) forming the SW corner of a field. The enclosure is not marked as an antiquity on the 1838 ed. OS 6-inch map. A kink in the field boundary from S-SW reflects part of the original enclosure. No surface remains visible of levelled monument. Compiled by: Frank Coyne and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 5 September 2018
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
No address of the register names Doonis with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Westmeath.
The townland
- Name
- Doonis · Dún Aonghasa
- Area
- 3,411,026 m² (341.1 ha, 842.88 acres)
- Civil parish
- Noughaval, and its townlands
- Barony
- Kilkenny West
- Electoral division
- Doonis, the unit of the census
- Neighbouring townlands
- Ballynacliffy, Bethlehem, Bleanphuttoge, Cartroncroy, Littletown, Maghera
- Placenames
- Doonis 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.