Down

12 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Down, from 430 m² to 201,660 m² (20.17 ha, 49.83 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary; 13 neighbouring parcels touch it.

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.

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

• 21 Apr 2022Conditional

  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.

  Permission · Westmeath County Council, 22204

• 30 Nov 2021Conditional

  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.

  Retention, 1 home · Westmeath County Council, 21633

• 17 Aug 2021Conditional

  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).

  Retention, 1 home · Westmeath County Council, 21460

• 25 Nov 2020N/a

  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.

  Permission · Westmeath County Council, 206330

• 31 Jan 2018Conditional

  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.

  Permission · Westmeath County Council, 186022

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 Down.

Recorded monuments

• WM012-033 Bridge
  Description

  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
  Description

  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
  Description

  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
  Description

  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
  Description

  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

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 Down with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Westmeath.

Name

Down

Area

782,849 m² (78.28 ha, 193.45 acres)

Civil parish

Tyfarnham, and its townlands

Barony

Corkaree

Electoral division

Stonehall, the unit of the census

Neighbouring townlands

Galmoylestown Lower, Garrysallagh, Knightswood, Loughanstown, Rathlevanagh, Tyfarnham

Placenames

Down 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.