Drumraney

Townland in the civil parish of Drumraney, barony of Kilkenny West, Co. Westmeath; in Irish Droim Raithne

Parcel 122109

Back to Drumraney

526 m across. Click a parcel to see it. © Tailte Éireann, CC BY 4.0

Area: 38,891 m² (3.89 ha, 9.61 acres)
Buildings: 5 buildings touch it, 401 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: Drumraney

Planning applications on this parcel

No planning application touches this parcel 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.

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 6 recorded monuments.

WM023-039 Ritual site - holy well
Description
Situated on flat poorly drained land with artificial lake to S. Drumraney church (WM023-040----) and graveyard 150m to SW, Drumraney Castle (WM023-036----) 220m to NW. Holy well dedicated to St Éanán of Drumraney whose feastday is celebrated on the 19th of August and 18th of September (Ó Riain 2011, 657-8). In 1837 its recorded that this was 'a holy well, dedicated to St. Enan; his festival is celebrated on the Sunday after Sept. 18th’ (Lewis 1837, 520). In 1981 it was recorded that the well was subject to local veneration and according to a local woman who stated that the water from well would ‘work miraculous cures if you had the belief’ (SMR File 14/10/1981). Present remains consist of a large ash tree standing over a natural spring well faced by a drystone wall with steps leading down to water. The well appears to be standing inside a small circular enclosure defined a low stone wall as depicted on the OS 25-inch map. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 6 July 2015
WM023-040 Church
Description
Church site dedicated to St Éanán whose feastday is celebrated on the 19th of August and 18th of September (Ó Riain 2011, 657-8). Holy well (WM023-039----) dedicated to St Éanán located 140m to NE. Drumraney castle (WM023-036---) located 300m to N. In the 6th century St Aed visited Éanán hermit of the monastery of Druim-rath [Drumraney] in the west of Meath (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 382). In 946 the Annals recorded that 'an army was led by the foreigners over Druim-raithe; and they burned the oratory and seven score and ten persons within it' (AFM, 661). The church and castle of Drumrany or Drumrath was built by Sir Henry Dillon [De Lion], Lord of Drumrany, shortly after 1185 when he was granted land in this region which later became known as Dillon’s Country (Brydges 1817, 25-6). The church of Drumrath [Drumraney] in the deanery of Loxouedi [Loughsewdy], in the diocese of Meath was valued at 6 marks per year in the 1302-06 ecclesiastical taxation of Ireland (Cal. doc. Ire., 266). Medieval church of Drumraney depicted on the 1659 Down Survey map of Drumraney parish which it is shown standing inside its glebe land measuring 32 plantation acres in size (NLI, MS 723-4). The terrier of the 1659 Down Survey map of Drumraney parish recorded that ‘on ye Gleabe Land Standes a Church’ (ibid.). In 1693 it was recorded that in ‘Drumraney alias Drumrath’ the medieval church was dedicated to St. Eugenius [Enanus/Éanán] and the condition of the building was described as a ‘Church and chancel ruined’ (Ellison 1975, 11). According to Cogan the medieval church was replaced by a Church of Ireland place of worship. Cogan (1867, 505) wrote that the medieval church had ‘been torn down and uprooted, and a Protestant house of worship built with the materials alongside’. No surface remains visible of the church depicted on all editions of the OS 6-inch maps which is shown standing in the N quadrant of Drumraney graveyard (WM023-040001-). This church was a 19th century C of I church which replaced the medieval church site of Drumraney. The precise location of this medieval church site has not been identified within the graveyard. In 2013 a clean up scheme was undertaken inside the graveyard which resulted in the levelling of the surface of the graveyard and the reseeding of grass which has resulted in the removal of surface features. In the early 1940s Westmeath County Council pulled down the C of I church ruins and used the stone for improvement works on the main road. The older graveyard occupies the S half of the present graveyard and appears to have been defined by a small enclosure (WM023-040004-) now survived by a scarp running E-W across the middle of the present graveyard. Inside this section of graveyard there are several architectural fragments belonging to the medieval church of Drumraney. Punch dressed stone from the medieval church has been rebuilt into wall of 19th century memorial surround located in W quadrant of graveyard. The head of a cut stone round-arched single light window lies on the surface of the graveyard in the W quadrant. The medieval punch dressed finial stone (H 0.16m ; Wth 0.3m; L 0.3m) belonging to the gable of the medieval church which supported a stone cross lies on the surface of the graveyard 2.95m W of the 1632 graveslab (WM023-040003-). Coping stones for the gable of the medieval church have been reused as a seat built into the inner face of the N face of the graveyard wall. Other architectural fragments such as window mullions lie amongst the headstones of the graveyard and some have may have been reused as gravemarkers. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 6 July 2015
WM023-040001 Graveyard
Description
Drumraney graveyard associated with St Éanán whose feastday is celebrated on the 19th of August and 18th of September (Ó Riain 2011, 657-8). Holy well (WM023-039----) dedicated to St Éanán located 140m to NE. Drumraney castle (WM023-036---) located 300m to N. Irregular shaped graveyard (dims. 80m N-S; 60m E-W) enclosed by a post-medieval stone wall with entrance gate NE angle. No surface remains visible of the church depicted on all editions of the OS 6-inch maps which is shown standing in the N quadrant of the graveyard. This church was probably a post-medieval church which replaced the medieval church of Drumraney (WM023-040---). Punch dressed stone from the medieval church has been resued in the fabric of the graveyard wall and in the piers of the entrance gate. A sing gate in the middle of the E wall of the graveyard gives access to a house in the field to the E of the graveyard. In 2013 a clean up scheme was undertaken inside the graveyard which resulted in the levelling of the surface of the graveyard and the reseeding of grass which has resulted in the removal of surface features. There are no gravemarkers in the N quadrant of the graveyard. The older graveyard occupies the S half and appears to have been defined by a small enclosure now survived by a scarp (H 1-1.5m) running E-W across the middle of the present graveyard. Inside this section of graveyard there are several architectural fragments belonging to the medieval church of Drumraney. Other architectural fragments such as window mullions lie amongst the headstones of the graveyard and some have may have been reused as gravemarkers. Two 17th century graveslabs (WM023-040002-/040003-) are located inside the graveyard along with other memorials dating from the post-medieval period. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 6 July 2015
WM023-040002 Graveslab
Description
Located in E quadrant of Drumraney graveyard (WM023-040001-). Recumbent graveslab (L 1.88m; top Wth 0.28m; base Wth 0..67m) with triangular shaped base which bears the inscription carved in relief ‘PRAY FOR THE SOULES OF EDMOND DILLON & UNA HIS WIFE’ which runs around the edge of the slab. The date 1621 is located at the top of the slab and the date has been divided into two parts located either side of the head of the ringed cross in a similar fashion to the 1632 graveslab (WM023-040003-). The slab is decorated with a ringed cross with calvary base carved in false relief. The arms of the cross have fleur-de-lys terminals, the quadrants of the cross have small stud like features. The centre of the cross bears the letters I H S carved in false relief with cross rising from the cross-bar of the H. A rose or similar floral motif can be seen either side of the head of the ringed cross just beneath the date. Compiled by: Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 7 July 2015
WM023-040003 Graveslab
Description
Located in E quadrant of Drumraney graveyard (WM023-040001-). Tapering cross-slab (H 1.2m; top Wth 0.6m; base Wth 0.49m; T 0.14m) bears an incised ringed cross with expanded terminals and sunken angles contained within an incised frame. The date 1632 is divided into two parts with 16 and 32 incised into the triangular shaped area located either side of the head of the ringed cross. The inscription which reads HEARE LIETH THE BODY OF DO AND WILIAM FVRY HIS SON runs along the side of the incised frame either side of the shaft of the cross. The base of the slab is not visible as the stone has been placed in an upright position into the surface of the graveyard (WM023-040001-) similar to the surrounding headstones. Compiled by: Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 7 July 2015
WM023-040004 Ecclesiastical enclosure
Description
Sixth century monastery founded at Drumrath also known as Drumraney by St Éanán whose feastday is celebrated on the 19th of August and 18th of September (Ó Riain 2011, 657-8). In 1837 its recorded that the saints 'festival is celebrated on the Sunday after Sept. 18th’ (Lewis 1837, 520). Holy well (WM023-039----) dedicated to St Éanán located 140m to NE. Drumraney castle (WM023-036---) located 300m to N. In the 6th century St Aed visited Éanán hermit of the monastery of Druim-rath [Drumraney] in the west of Meath (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 382). In 946 the Annals recorded that 'an army was led by the foreigners over Druim-raithe; and they burned the oratory and seven score and ten persons within it' (AFM, 661). It has been suggested that the quadrantal form of Drumraney graveyard (WM023-040001-) may indicate the presence of an ecclesiastical enclosure (Swan 1988, 19). The rath element of the placename Drumrath may be a reference to the enclosing bank of the monastic enclosure. The older graveyard occupies the S half of the present graveyard and appears to have been defined by the curving arc of an enclosure now survived by a scarp running E-W across the middle of the present graveyard. This scarp is visible on OSI aerial photographs and may represent the partial remains of the ecclesiastical enclosure. Inside the older section of graveyard there are several architectural fragments belonging to the medieval church (WM023-040---) of Drumraney. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 7 July 2015

Architectural heritage

No building of the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage stands on this parcel.

Designated sites: National Parks and Wildlife Service. Recorded monuments: Sites and Monuments Record, National Monuments Service. Buildings: National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. 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).

Download this parcel: DXF, in Irish Transverse Mercator metres, with its neighbours and buildings, for a drawing program; GeoJSON, in WGS 84, for a map.

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: 256.6 ha; 634 acres
Land parcels: 68; registered freehold, median 5,528 m² (0.55 ha, 1.37 acres)
Zoning: —; not in a zoned settlement
Planning: 2; applications since 2010

Land parcels

Registered freehold land, Tailte Éireann

2379 m across. Click a parcel to see it. © Tailte Éireann, CC BY 4.0

68 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Drumraney, from 31 m² to 638,176 m² (63.82 ha, 157.7 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary; 24 neighbouring parcels touch it.

Zoning

Development plans, national zoning

No zone of a development plan covers Drumraney 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

19 Feb 2026Conditional
construction of a part two-storey and part one-storey extension to the side of an existing two-storey detached dwelling. Refurbishment of ruinous outbuilding as part of two-storey extension. Relocation of entrance door at front porch and moving of rear window location of existing dwelling. Minor internal alterations to existing dwelling and all associated site works
Permission, 1 home · Westmeath County Council, 2660058
5 Apr 2017Conditional
Planning Permission to construct a dwelling house, domestic garage and a single dwelling treatment system with percolation area and all associated site works
Permission, 1 home · Westmeath County Council, 177056

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

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

Recorded monuments

WM023-036 Castle - motte
Description
Situated on natural rise of ground with good views of the surrounding countryside. Drumraney church (WM023-040----) and graveyard (WM023-040001-) located 300m to S with holy well (WM023-039----) 215m to SE. Anglo-Norman motte possibly constructed by Henry De Lion / Dillon c. 1185 who came to Ireland in this year as first gentleman and secretary to John, earl of Morton [later King John], who granted Henry MacCarron’s territory, called Corkoici, part of Annaly, now Longford, and a large part of Mac Geoghegan’s and O’Melaghlin’s territories, which he held with the service of 60 knights (Brydges 1817, 25-6). These granted lands became known as Dillion’s Country which during the reign of Henry VIII was divided into the barony of Kilkenny West and others. The Dillon’s constructed a castle and church (WM023-040----) at Drumraney which located roughly in the centre of Dillon’s Country. Situated on the landscaped estate of Drumraney House now levelled which was located immediately to SW as depicted on the first edition OS 6-inch map. The house was converted into a Constabulary Barracks as depicted on the current ed. OS 6-inch map. The motte may be the remains of Drumraney Castle depicted on the 1659 Down Survey map of Kilkenny West barony (NLI, MS 723-4). The castle is shown standing beside the medieval road depicted as the ‘Highway from Athlone to Dublin’ on the 1659 Down Survey map of Drumraney parish Ibid.). The terrier of the 1659 Down Survey map of Drumraney parish states that there was in ‘Donomony (WM023-016----) Ardnegragh (WM023-034----) Walterstowne (WM023-051----) Killineny (WM023-058----), Brinemore (WM023-070----) Lissenoyde (WM023-074----) & Highbaskin (WM023-046----) Lowbaskin (WM023-042----) and Dromrany at each a Castle’ (Ibid.). The 1659 Down Survey recorded that the lands of Drumraney belonged to Morris, Henry and John Dillon. Alternatively Drumraney House which has since been levelled may have been built on the site of the Dillon castle depicted on the 1659 Down Survey map. This late medieval stone castle may have replaced the earlier earth & timber motte castle. This motte is not depicted on the first ed. OS 6-inch map butis hachured on subsequent editions of the OS 6-inch maps. Present remains consist of a high steep sided sub-circular shaped mound of earth and stones with uneven summit which shows signs of disturbance in places. Motte was covered in scrub vegetation at time of visit. A tall tree rises from the summit of the motte. Farm laneway intersects base of mound from E to N as indicated on OS 25-inch map. Modern farm buildings are built into base of motte on SW side as shown on OS 25-inch map. No evidence of any enclosing fosse at base of mound or of any adjoining bailey area. A site inspection carried out in 1978 described a depression on the summit of the motte which was considered to of modern date along (SMR file 26/05/1978). Compiled by: Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 30 June 2015
WM023-037 Ringfort - rath
Description
Situated in pasture, with moderate views to N and E and restricted to W. Not depicted on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map or the 1913 ed. OS 25-inch map. Monument described in 1976 and 1978 as a circular-shaped area (diam. 33m) enclosed by a broad low earthen bank that is truncated by a roadway running NE-SW across the eastern sector. There is no visible trace of a fosse or an entrance feature. The interior has a gentle W-facing slope. See attached profile of monument surveyed and drawn by the ASI. Compiled by Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien. Date of upload: 24 July 2019
WM023-038 Earthwork
Description
Situated in low lying, poorly drained pasture. Depicted as an earthwork on the Larkin's 1808 Map of County Westmeath (NLI, MS 46,580). Levelled monument described in 1978 as having no surface remains visible. Compiled by Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien. Date of upload: 24 July 2019
WM023-043 Barrow - unclassified
Description
Situated on the summit of a hill with earthwork (WM023-044----) 110m to S. Small poorly preserved irregular-shaped mound (overall diam. c. 18m NNE-SSW) of earth and stones which has been quarried away on the S (SMR File 17/09/1971). The shape of the mound has been altered by the extensive damage caused by the quarrying of the mound. Not depicted as an antiquity on 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map. This mound marks the ordnance datum point for 401 ft. as depicted on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map. It is possible that the earthwork may have been modified or constructed by the Ordnance Survey when taking a datum point from this hilltop. The classification and antiquity of this monument is uncertain and its poor condition makes it difficult to be certain about its original appearance. It has been suggested that this earthwork may represent the remains of a poorly preserved bowl-barrow (SMR File 17/09/1971). However in profile the mound has the appearance of a stepped-barrow rather than a bowl-barrow. Compiled by: Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 20 July 2015
WM023-044 Moated site
Description
Situated on a rise, in pasture, with good views to E, S, W and restricted to N. Monument described in 1971 and 1976 as a subrectangular-shaped area (dims. 43m E-W; 25m N-S) enclosed by a low bank that has been levelled at SW and is slightly disturbed in places. A gap at N may represent the entrance. The interior has a gentle SW-facing slope and there are traces of cultivation ridges running N-S. A house site (WM023-044001-) is visible within SW quadrant. A semicircular-shaped annex enclosed by a low bank adjoins the E side of the enclosure. The interior of the annex is subdivided by a bank running E-W. There is a natural platform defined by a scarp to E of the monument. See attached plan and profile of monument surveyed and drawn by the ASI. Compiled by Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien. Date of upload: 24 July 2019
WM023-044001 House - indeterminate date
Description
Situated on a rise, in pasture, with good views to E, S, W and restricted to N. In the SW quadrant of rectangular-shaped enclosure or possible moated site (WM023-044----), adjoining the bank, are the remains of a subrectangular-shaped house site defined by a low bank. The interior is divided in two by a low earthen bank. See attached plan and profile of monument surveyed and drawn by the ASI. Compiled by Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien. Date of upload: 24 July 2019

Architectural heritage

Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception, church/chapel, 1850–1860 · Regional interest
Description
Detached T-plan Roman Catholic church, built or rebuilt c.1857, comprising three-bay nave to the east, single-bay transepts to the north and the south and a shallow chancel to the west. Single-bay gable-fronted entrance to the north face of nave. Later single-storey vestry adjoins chancel to the west. Pitched natural slate roof with raised limestone verges to gable ends having kneeler stones to eaves and cut stone Celtic cross finials to apexes. Cast-iron rainwater goods. Built of snecked rubble limestone with extensive ashlar limestone trim including clasping buttresses to the corners and a pointed statue niche to the entrance gable (east). Pointed-arched window openings having flush ashlar limestone block-and-start surrounds, chamfered ashlar sills, and cast-iron windows with stained and quarry glass. Triple graded lancet openings to the nave and chancel gables and to the gable ends of transepts, all having hoodmouldings over. Pointed-arched doorcase to projecting porch having moulded ashlar surround, timber double doors with a cut stone date plaque over. Set back from road in own grounds with freestanding cast-iron belfry to the southwest corner of site. Bounded on road frontage (east) by an ashlar limestone plinth wall having decorative cast-iron railings over. Main entrance comprises a pair of ashlar limestone gate piers with decorative capstones having wrought-iron cross finials over, supporting cast-iron gates.

Homes sold

Property Price Register

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

The townland

Name: Drumraney · Droim Raithne
Area: 2,566,143 m² (256.61 ha, 634.11 acres)
Civil parish: Drumraney, and its townlands
Barony: Kilkenny West
Electoral division: Drumraney, the unit of the census
Neighbouring townlands: Baskin Low, Bleachlawn, Carrickaneha, Cartroncoragh, Cormaclew, Dunnamona, Kilcornan, Killeennanam
Placenames: Drumraney 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.