# Down, Co. Westmeath: townland, land parcels and planning

Townland in the civil parish of Tyfarnham, barony of Corkaree, Co. Westmeath.

- Area (Tailte Éireann): 782,849 m² (78.28 ha, 193.45 acres)
- Land parcels (Tailte Éireann): 12 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in it, median 59,006 m² (5.9 ha, 14.58 acres)
- Zoning (national zoning, MyPlan): not in a zoned settlement
- Planning (National Planning Applications): 5 applications since 2010
- Civil parish: Tyfarnham, https://everytownland.com/westmeath/parish/tyfarnham.md
- Barony: Corkaree
- Electoral division: Stonehall, the unit of the census
- Census 2022 (Central Statistics Office): 236 people lived in 80 households in the Stonehall electoral division. 87% of households owned their home. 31% of homes were built since 2001. 8% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 1% were holiday homes.
- County: Co. Westmeath, https://everytownland.com/westmeath.md
- Placenames Database of Ireland: https://www.logainm.ie/en/52065
- Townland number at Tailte Éireann: 230579
- Centre: latitude 53.598467, longitude -7.351002 (WGS 84)

## Land parcels (registered freehold land, Tailte Éireann)

12 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Down, from 430 m² to 201,660 m² (20.17 ha, 49.83 acres); 13 neighbouring parcels touch its boundary. Largest first:

- Parcel 88921: 201,660 m² (20.17 ha, 49.83 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/88921.md
- Parcel 113117: 140,600 m² (14.06 ha, 34.74 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/113117.md
- Parcel 88923: 138,819 m² (13.88 ha, 34.3 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/88923.md
- Parcel 113549: 94,357 m² (9.44 ha, 23.32 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/113549.md
- Parcel 112425: 78,964 m² (7.9 ha, 19.51 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/112425.md
- Parcel 113997: 59,110 m² (5.91 ha, 14.61 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/113997.md
- Parcel 112438: 58,903 m² (5.89 ha, 14.56 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/112438.md
- Parcel 89645: 47,757 m² (4.78 ha, 11.8 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/89645.md
- Parcel 5236459: 7,000 m² (0.7 ha, 1.73 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/5236459.md
- Parcel 5236462: 1,598 m², https://everytownland.com/parcel/5236462.md
- Parcel 5236481: 1,299 m², https://everytownland.com/parcel/5236481.md
- Parcel 5236454: 430 m², https://everytownland.com/parcel/5236454.md

## Zoning (national zoning of development plans, MyPlan)

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

## Planning applications whose site touches the townland (National Planning Applications, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)

5 applications, newest first.

- 21 Apr 2022, Westmeath County Council 22204: Conditional. Permission. Continuance of use of existing quarry and associated processing previously permitted under P.Ref. 93/607, Section 261A Substitute Consent (ABP Ref. SU0026) and P.Ref. 21/460. Extension to rock, and sand and gravel extraction areas, works proposed consist of the following; 1. Extraction of rock including blasting operations to a depth of c.28m above OD within an overall quarry extraction area of c.12.5 hectares, with associated mobile crushing and screening plant and the provision of a new internal quarry access ramp, and provision of perimeter screening berms; 2. Lateral extension of c.7.6 hectares to the current sand and gravel extraction area, with dry working above the water table and processing that includes crushing, washing, and screening, and provision of perimeter screening berms; 3.Site screening and landscaping works including restoration to a combination of agricultural use and nature conservation areas; 4. The development proposed seeks to utilise existing permitted ancillary buildings and facilities including fixed field transfer conveyor, silt storage lagoons, portacabin structures comprising of site offices, canteen, and toilets; wheelwash; weighbridge; maintenance shed; bunded fuel storage tanks and hydrocarbon interceptor; effluent treatment systems and percolation areas and carparking area; The proposed development application area is c.41.3 hectares within an overall land interest area of c.58.8 hectares, and all for a period of 40 years. An Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) has been prepared in respect of this Planning Application.. File: https://www.eplanning.ie/WestmeathCC/AppFileRefDetails/22204/0
- 30 Nov 2021, Westmeath County Council 21633: Conditional. Retention, 1 home. Recommencement of processing using the exiting crushing, screening and washing plants and associated ancillary infrastructure which was regularised by way of a grant of substitute consent (ABP ref. SU0026). Retention of the existing concrete batching plant (with a maximum overall height of 17m) and associated ancillary infrastructure. Retention of the existing asphalt plant (with a maximum overall height of 22.7m) and associated ancillary infrastructure, which replaced the asphalt plant previously granted permission under planning ref 99/967. Importation to site of up to 100,000 tonnes per annum of aggregate materials for use in the concrete batching and asphalt plants and all within a planning application area of 4.6 hectares.. File: https://www.eplanning.ie/WestmeathCC/AppFileRefDetails/21633/0
- 17 Aug 2021, Westmeath County Council 21460: Conditional. Retention, 1 home. permission (total c.0.4ha.) consisting of rock extraction (c.0.2ha) and sand and gravel extraction (c 0.2ha) outside of the existing permitted extraction areas under P. Reg. Ref 93/607 and Section 261A Substitute Consent (ABP Ref SU0026).. File: https://www.eplanning.ie/WestmeathCC/AppFileRefDetails/21460/0
- 25 Nov 2020, Westmeath County Council 206330: N/a. Permission. The development will consist of permission for continued use of the previously permitted development under Planning reg ref 93/607 Section 261 Ref QY 25 Section 261A substitute consent ABP Ref SU0026 and Planning reg ref 16/6213 consisting of extraction of rock, including blasting operations and all associated mobile crushing and screening plant, extraction of sand and gravel and use of the existing flied field transfer conveyor, concrete batching plan, asphalt plant, aggregate processing plant to include washing (with associated silt storage lagoons) and related ancillary buildings and facilities including portacabin structures consisting of site offices, canteen and toilets, wheelwash, weighbridge, maintenance shed, bunded fuel storage tanks and hydrocarbon interceptor, effluent treatment systems and percolation areas and car parking area, continued extract of rock and extension to the existing rock quarry area to give an overall extraction footprint of c.13.5 hectares to a depth of c. 28m AOD, recommencement of sand and gravel extraction beyond the existing pit area to give an overall extraction footprint of c 10.6 hectares to a depth of c. 68m AOD, provision of a new internal quarry access ramp. All site screening and landscaping works with restoration to a combination of agricultural use and nature conservation areas and the proposed development application area is c. 43 hectares within an overall land interest area of c. 60.7 hectares and all for a period of 40 years. An Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) has been prepared in respect of this planning application.. File: https://www.eplanning.ie/WestmeathCC/AppFileRefDetails/206330/0
- 31 Jan 2018, Westmeath County Council 186022: Conditional. Permission. construction of a new 2,357sqm building for the storage and mixing with lime of organic bio-solids and all associated site works. This activity will be applied for with a Waste Facility Permit Application, under the Waste Management (Facility Permit and Registration) Regulations 2007 - as amended.. File: https://www.eplanning.ie/WestmeathCC/AppFileRefDetails/186022/0

Applicants are not shown.

## Designated sites (National Parks and Wildlife Service)

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

## Recorded monuments (Sites and Monuments Record, National Monuments Service)

- WM012-033: Bridge, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CWM012-033----. A report dated, 27 August 1984, recorded the former presence a single large stone slab or flagstone was used as a bridge to cross the River Gaine at this point but it had been broken up as part of improvement works undertaken on the river (SMR file). This stone slab may have been the footbridge described in 1682 by Sir Henry Piers of Tristernagh who wrote that at Kinghtswood 'there sustainteth a late built footbridge' (Vallancey 1786, 6). On the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map an old laneway crosses the river at this point. Rahanduff ringfort (WM012-042----) stands along the N side of this old roadway 350m to the NE of the crossing point. Compiled and revised by: Paul Walsh & Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 6 December 2016
- WM012-034: Ringfort - rath, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CWM012-034----. This monument was completely removed in the course of quarrying between 1995 and 2000 (SMR file). It was sited on the W edge of a natural terrace of the W side of a high hill. An inspection report dated 9 March 1972 recorded it as ‘An approximately circular slightly uneven enclosure with a general slight slope from NE – SW bounded by a steep scarp with slight remains of an earthen bank on its upper edge. The best is best preserved from NNE – NE – ENE and from E to S. Elsewhere it has been almost completely denuded down to the interior. There is no visible trace of a fosse at its foot. An earthen bank contacts the foot of the scarp on the SSW and a scarp-cum-bank contacts it on the N. These are probably later than the rath. There is a large disturbance gap in the bank and scarp on the E. It is uncertain where the original entrance was located.' (SMR file) A second report in 1973 described the ringfort as situated on the edge of a natural terrace of the W face of a high hill in grass-land. Ringfort (WM012-042----), also known as ‘Rahanduff’ 150m to NE. Remains consist of a sub-circular shaped area (approx. diam. 32m N-S; 30m E-W) enclosed by a slight earthen bank. The bank is best preserved from NNE-ENE and from E-S; elsewhere it is reduced to a scarp. There is a possible entrance gap at NE. The interior slopes from NE-SW. Compiled by: Paul Walsh Date of upload: 17 August 2015
- WM012-042: Ringfort - rath, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CWM012-042----. Situated atop rise of ground with good views in all directions. Possible mound barrow (WM012-043----) 55m to E, possible moated site (WM012-044----) 120m to SE, ringfort (WM012-034----) 135m to SW. Modern quarry located immediately to N, NE and W. Annotated as 'Rahanduff' on all editions of the OS 6-inch maps. Slightly raised circular shaped flat-topped area (approx. diam. 30m) enclosed two earthen banks with intervening fosse. A possible entrance gap at SE is visible on Cambridge aerial photographs taken July 1966 and July 1970 (CUCAP APE033-034; BDV074-076). On these aerial photographs the bivallate ringfort is shown with large barrow type monument (WM012-043----) to SE and possible moated site (WM012-044----) with cultivation ridges which are now levelled. See attached profile of monument surveyed and drawn by the ASI. Compiled by: Frank Coyne and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 8 February 2018
- WM012-043: Castle - motte, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CWM012-043----. Situated atop steep natural hill with good views in all directions. 'Rahanduff' ringfort (WM012-042) 50m to W, possible levelled moated site (WM012-044---) 80m to SE. Modern quarry located immediately to N. A high steep-sided flat topped circular-shaped mound (approx. diam. 20m E-W) the base of which is enclosed by a wide deep fosse, and wide flat-topped berm the edge of which is defined by a bank with external fosse. The mound appears to be artificially raised and small quarry holes are visible on the summit of the mound at E and ESE. These quarry holes are clearly visible on Cambridge aerial photographs taken July 1966 and July 1970 (CUCAP APE033-034; BDV074-076). There is a gap (2.3m) in the inner bank and causeway across the inner fosse (Wth 1.2m; H 0.2m) at E. The berm (Wth varying from 5-10m) is widest at W. There is an entrance gap in the outer bank (Wth 2.5m) and causeway (Wth 1.1m; H 0.45m) across the fosse at ESE. A field fence, which forms the townland boundary with Galmoylestown Lower, runs along the perimeter of the monument from NE-SE. On the Cambridge aerial photographs the monument has the appearance of a burial mound or motte rather than a ringfort. On the aerial photographs the bivallate ringfort (WM012-043---) in the background displays the characteristic morphology for a ringfort. It is possible that this site may be a prehistoric burial mound or Anglo-Norman motte rather than a ringfort. Alternatively it may have been a royal site as the monument is similar in morphology to the 'Forradh' or inauguration mound (ME031-033013-) at Ráth Ríogh on the Hill of Tara, Co. Meath. See attached plan of monument surveyed and drawn by the ASI. Compiled by: Frank Coyne and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 8 February 2018
- WM012-044: Moated site, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CWM012-044----. Situated on a steep natural hillock in hilly grassland. 'Rahanduff' ringfort (WM012-042---) 220m to WNW and possible motte (WM012-044---) 80m to NW. The road which forms the townland boundary with Galmoylestown Lower is 5m to N. Levelled site visible as a cropmark on Digital Globe aerial photograph taken November 2011. In 1970 the monument was upstanding and described as consisting of a sub-circular shaped area (approx. diam. 38m NE-SW; 33m NW-SE) enclosed by a low earthen bank and external fosse which is visible from NNW- NNE and from SSW-W. Traces of cultivation ridges are visible running E-W across the interior, which slopes NNW-ESE. The monument which appears to have been a roughly square shaped earthwork is clearly visible on Cambridge University aerial photographs taken July 1966 and July 1970 (CUCAP APE033-034; BDV074). On these aerial photographs the roughly square-shaped monument has the appearance of a possible moated site rather than a ringfort. A site visit in 1984 described the monument as levelled with no surface remains visible. See attached profile of monument surveyed and drawn by the ASI. Compiled by: Frank Coyne and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 8 February 2018

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).

## Architectural heritage (National Inventory of Architectural Heritage)

No building of the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage stands in the townland of Down.

## Ground and risks (Radon Risk Map of Ireland, EPA; Landslide Susceptibility Classification and LiDAR, Geological Survey Ireland)

- Radon: at the centre of the townland of Down, about 1 in 5 homes in this area is likely to have high radon levels. Testing a home: https://www.epa.ie/environment-and-you/radon/radon-testing/#d.en.82887
- Landslides: The 1:50,000 map rates the landslide susceptibility here as high, moderately high, moderately low, low, partly inferred.
- Terrain model: no LiDAR survey of the Office of Public Works covers the centre of the townland of Down.
- Flooding: the flood maps of the Office of Public Works, https://www.floodinfo.ie/map/floodmaps/, linked only: their licence does not allow re-use.

LiDAR: contains Irish Public Sector Data (Geological Survey Ireland & the Office of Public Works) licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.

## Downloads

- DXF, in Irish Transverse Mercator metres, with its boundary, parcels and buildings, for a drawing program: https://everytownland.com/westmeath/down.dxf
- GeoJSON, in WGS 84, for a map: https://everytownland.com/westmeath/down.geojson
- KML, for Google Earth: https://everytownland.com/westmeath/down.kml

## Homes sold (Residential Property Price Register)

No address of the register names Down with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Westmeath: https://everytownland.com/westmeath.md

## Neighbouring townlands (National Statutory Boundaries, Tailte Éireann)

- Galmoylestown Lower: https://everytownland.com/westmeath/galmoylestown-lower.md
- Garrysallagh: https://everytownland.com/westmeath/garrysallagh.md
- Knightswood: https://everytownland.com/westmeath/knightswood.md
- Loughanstown: https://everytownland.com/westmeath/loughanstown-230936.md
- Rathlevanagh: https://everytownland.com/westmeath/rathlevanagh.md
- Tyfarnham: https://everytownland.com/westmeath/tyfarnham.md

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.

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Everytownland reads the registered freehold land and the statutory boundaries of Tailte Éireann, the national zoning, planning file and heritage records of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and the Residential Property Price Register. 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; this site names no owner. A price is the price recorded for a past sale, not a valuation.

Sources: Cadastral Parcels Freehold, Townlands, Civil Parishes, Baronies, Electoral Divisions and Buildings, Tailte Éireann, CC BY 4.0; national zoning of development plans (GZT, MyPlan) and National Planning Applications, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0, applicants not shown; designated sites, National Parks and Wildlife Service, CC BY 4.0; Sites and Monuments Record, National Monuments Service, CC BY 4.0; National Inventory of Architectural Heritage, CC BY 4.0; Residential Property Price Register, Property Services Regulatory Authority, re-used with the source acknowledged.

- Page: https://everytownland.com/westmeath/down
- In JSON: https://everytownland.com/api/townland/westmeath/down