Finnea

145 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Finnea, from 18 m² to 161,041 m² (16.1 ha, 39.79 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary; 29 neighbouring parcels touch it.

• M2Self Sustaining Rural Consolidation (City/Town/village Centre, central area)
  WCC CDP 2021 - 2027 Finnea, Westmeath · 57 parcels The zoning objective in the plan

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

• 5 Mar 2025Conditional

  (1) renovation of existing cottage (2) retention for the existing porch, hot-press and bathroom, (3) replacement of existing flat roof on the porch with a new pitch roof, (4) demolition of existing domestic shed and store to the side of dwelling, (5) construction of a single storey extension to the rear and side of existing dwelling (6) decommissioning of existing septic tank and replacement with a treatment system and specified polishing filter (7) relocation & upgrade of existing entrance onto public road and all associated site development works

  Permission, 1 home · Westmeath County Council, 2560085

• 11 Dec 2020Conditional

  The development will consist of the construction of a 24 metre high free standing communications structure with its associated antennae, communication dish and ground equipment. The development will form part of Eircom Ltd existing telecommunications and broadband network

  Permission · Westmeath County Council, 206351

• 3 Oct 2019Conditional

  change of use from a Medical Centre to a dwelling house to include two bedrooms, one with en-suite, kitchen, dining, living, bathroom, hot press and porch and to decommission existing septic tank and to install a treatment system with percolation area with all ancillary site works

  Permission, 1 home · Westmeath County Council, 196275

• 26 Mar 2018Refused

  erect a light engineering workshop, entrance and entrance walls.

  Permission · Westmeath County Council, 186101

Source: National Planning Applications, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Applicants are not shown.

Designated sites

• Special Area of Conservation: Moneybeg and Clareisland Bogs SAC 002340
• Special Protection Area: Lough Kinale and Derragh Lough SPA 004061
• Special Protection Area: Lough Sheelin SPA 004065
• Natural Heritage Area: Lough Kinale And Derragh Lough NHA 000985
• Proposed Natural Heritage Area: Lough Sheelin 000987

Recorded monuments

• CV041-022 Bridge
  Description

  Three arches of the old medieval bridge of Finnea survive on either side of the modern single-span bridge which fords the drained River Inny. Those on the north side lie within Co. Cavan, while the corresponding southern arches are in Co. Westmeath. The bridge in its original state was a nine-span structure, three of the central spans having been since replaced with a modern single span. At some point the medieval bridge was added to on its E side. The surviving medieval arches are round headed (Wth 4.5m) and bear the remains of wicker centering together with some of the projecting corbels which formerly supported the centering (pers. comm. Conleth Manning). An ancient armorial plaque is incorporated into the east parapet of the modern span. In his memoirs, the Earl of Castlehaven refers to a skirmish at this bridge in 1644 and to the fact that it was built of stone and had a castle at its southern end (Castlehaven 1815, 70). (Fredengren et al. 2010, 123, Pl. 3.28) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cavan' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1995). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 18 December 2012

• WM001-001 Castle - unclassified
  Description

  Possible site of an Anglo-Norman castle located beside Finnea Bridge (WM001-052---) which is an important fording point over the Inny River. The placename Finnea is derived from the Irish Fiodh an Átha meaning the wood of the ford. In 1397 the annals recorded that 'a castle was built by the Earl [Roger Mortimer] at Fiodh an Átha' (Ó hInnse 1947, 161; Manning 1997, 31). 'Finnag Bridg' is depicted on the 1657 Down Survey map of Fore Barony (NLI, MS 723-4). On the 1657 Down Survey map of Foyran parish a ruinous tower or castle is depicted standing in the field to the N of the road crossing the bridge (WM001-052----) and a cluster of dwellings (WM001-059---) stand either side of this roadway representing the medieval village or settlement of Finnea (ibid.). A possible castle site is marked at this location on an OPW Survey field map, it is not clear where this source of information comes from (SMR File). In his memoirs, the Earl of Castlehaven refers to a skirmish at this bridge in 1644 and to the fact that it was built of stone and had a castle (WM001-001----) at its southern end (Castlehaven 1815, 70). In 1644 the Earl of Castlehaven wrote that he commanded 'a colonel with 5 or 600 foot, and 100 horse, to defend the bridge of Fienaugh (WM001-052----), that I might not be pursued; it was of stone, and a castle on our end. I sent with him shovels, pickaxes and spades, with plenty of ammunition'(ibid.) There is no visible trace of a castle site in this field (SMR file 23/07/1979). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 18 November 2016

• WM001-052 Bridge
  Description

  Six arches of the nine-arched medieval bridge of Finnea survives intact (Manning 1997, 29). The present road bridge (Wth 5.53m) which crosses the Inny River connecting Westmeath to Cavan was rebuilt in 1877 by the Upper Inny Drainage Board under the supervision of engineer, James Dillon. A date stone commemorating this rebuild is visible in the E face of the W parapet wall. Under this rebuilding phase the middle three arches of the medieval bridge were replaced by a wide single central arch of rusticated stonework spanning the river channel. The three arches on the N side of the present river channel stand on dry ground in Co. Cavan, while the S arches also now on dry ground are in Co. Westmeath. In the 17th or early 18th century the medieval bridge was widened on its E side (Wth 2.05m), the straight joint of this addition is visible on the underside of the medieval arches. 'Finnag Bridg' is depicted on the 1657 Down Survey map of Fore Barony (NLI, MS 723-4). On this map a ruinous tower or castle (WM001-001----) is depicted standing in the field to the N of the road crossing the bridge and a cluster of dwellings stand either side of this roadway representing the medieval village or settlement of Finnea (WM001-059----). The surviving medieval arches (2.75m apart) are round headed (L 4.3m; Wth 2.48m) the undersides of which bear the impressions of wicker centering along with some of the projecting corbels which supported the wicker framing of the arch (pers. comm. Conleth Manning). The medieval road crossing the Inny River measured approximately 1.48m or 4ft 10 inches wide. A 17th century armorial plaque (WM001-052001-) showing the arms of the first Earls of Westmeath is incorporated into the W face of the E parapet wall (H 1.27m; T 0.59m) of the 19th century section of the bridge. In his memoirs, the Earl of Castlehaven refers to a skirmish at this bridge in 1644 and to the fact that it was built of stone and had a castle (WM001-001----) at its southern end (Castlehaven 1815, 70). In 1644 the Earl of Castlehaven wrote that he commanded 'a colonel with 5 or 600 foot, and 100 horse, to defend the bridge of Fienaugh (WM001-052----), that I might not be pursued; it was of stone, and a castle on our end. I sent with him shovels, pickaxes and spades, with plenty of ammunition'(ibid.) (Fredengren et al. 2010, 123, Pl. 3.28) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cavan' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1995). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled and revised by; Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 28 March 2017

• WM001-052001 Armorial plaque (present location)
  Description

  17th century armorial plaque (dims. H 0.85m; Wth 0.75m) showing the coat-of-arms of the married couple of Richard Nugent, first Earl of Westmeath and his wife Jane Plunkett, daughter of Christopher, 9th Lord of Killeen. The armorial plaque is now incorporated into the W face of the E parapet wall of the 19th century section of Finnea Bridge (WM001-052----) (Manning 1997, 29). The shield is divided horizontally containing the arms of the Nugent family on the left consisting of ermines and two horizontal bars and those of the Plunkett family on the right consisting of a bend or diagonal strap with a castellated tower, a coronet above the shield and supporters on each side in the form of a cockatrice with elevated wings on the left and a horse or Pegasus on the right. At the top of the plaque are the initials R N and I [J] P in raised lettering which represent the name of Richard Nugent, Baron of Delvin and first Earl of Westmeath, and his wife Jane Plunkett, daughter of Christopher, 9th Lord of Killeen. The earldom of Westmeath was created in 1621, Richard Nugent died in 1641 and his wife died in 1643. On the bottom right hand side are the incised numbers 43 which may have formed the date 1643 the numbers 16 are not visible on the bottom left hand side of the plaque. Beneath the shield there is an entwined floral motif. The armorial plaque may commemorate the death of Jane Plunkett or possibly when the medieval bridge of Finnea was extended on the E side. A medieval castle (WM001-001----) was located in the field 45m to the E of the bridge. Compiled and revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 28 March 2017

• WM001-059 Settlement cluster
  Description

  The modern village of Finnea or Fiodh an Átha (the wood of the ford) appears to have been built on the site of a medieval settlement consisting of a cluster of dwellings flanking both sides of a medieval routeway crossing the Inny River at the medieval bridge (WM001-052----) of Finnea. This roadway and fording point was the main medieval routeway connecting Westmeath to Cavan (Manning 1997, 29). A medieval castle (WM001-001----) protected this bridge and fording point over the Inny River, in the 17th century an artillery fort (WM001A001-) was built to the W of the village. This cluster of dwellings and routeway are depicted on the 1657 Down Survey map of Fore Barony (NLI, MS 723-4). On this map a ruinous tower or castle is depicted standing in the field to the N of the road crossing the bridge and a cluster of dwellings stand either side of this roadway representing the medieval village or settlement of Finnea. According to Manning (1997, 31) there was a medieval settlement at Finnea located on the border of the Anglo-Norman lordship of Meath. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 18 November 2016

• WM001A001 Bastioned fort
  Description

  Situated on low-lying flat land 20m S of the Inny River with Finnea Bridge (WM001-052---; CV041-022---) and castle (WM001-001---) 240m to NE. E shore of Lough Kinale 420m to W. In 1644 General John Butler, of the Leinster regiment was sent to Finnea in order to ‘make good that passadge’ (Gilbert 1879, 83). On the 14th March 1650 [1] the Catholic Confederate garrison of Finnea (Finnagh) fort under the Governorship of Major Christopher Dardis surrendered to the Parliamentarian forces under the joint command of General John Reynolds and Colonel John Hewson (Woods 1907, 11). Finnea Fort was described in 1651 as ‘the onely bulwarke and gatehouse of that county’ (Gilbert 1880, 136). In 1644 the Earl of Castlehaven wrote that he commanded 'a colonel with 5 or 600 foot, and 100 horse, to defend the bridge of Fienaugh (WM001-052---; CV041-022---), that I might not be pursued; it was of stone, and a castle (WM001-001-----) on our end. I sent with him shovels, pickaxes and spades, with plenty of ammunition' (Castlehaven 1815, 70). Constructed in the 17th century as an artillery fortification, consisting of a rectangular-shaped enclosure (approx. dims. 55m E-W) defined by an earthen bank, with projecting rectangular-shaped bastions at each angle. Today only N half of the fortification survives intact along with the scrub-covered NE and NW bastions, while the SE and SW bastions are destroyed by a field drain cutting across the SE side of the fort. Possible traces of an external fosse enclosing the fort at NE and SW. The field drain at SE may have reused the external fosse on this side, no external fosse visible on NW side. The fortification was entered through a gap in the bank on the E side adjacent to the NE bastion. Immediately inside the entrance on the N side are the remains of linear earthworks which may represent the foundations of a guardhouse. The interior of the bastions are raised above the interior of the central section of the fort and there are traces of an enclosing bank running along the outer edge of the bastions. Compiled by: Frank Coyne & Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 15 November 2016

Architectural heritage

• Finnea Bridge, bridge, 1600–1877 · National interest
  Description

  Seven-arch road bridge spanning River Inny, built c.1650. Originally the bridge had nine arches but the central three arches were replaced by a single-arched central section in rusticated limestone, with rusticated limestone coping and dressed limestone voussoirs, c.1877. A limestone plaque on the bridge marks these 1877 works. The central arch is flanked by early-seventeenth century sections with three smaller arches to the north and the south, constructed with random limestone with cut limestone voussoirs. These smaller arches are separated by triangular-shaped breakwaters on the upstream side of the bridge. An early-seventeenth century sandstone armorial plaque is found on the east side of the bridge. This plaque was moved to its present location during the 1877 works. Located to the west end of the village of Finnea.

• House, 1800–1840 · Regional interest
  Description

  End-of-terrace two-bay two-storey vernacular house, c.1830, now unoccupied. Pitched natural slate roof with a rendered brick chimneystack to north end. Whitewashed roughcast rendered front façade, with exposed rubble limestone walls to side and rear. Square-headed openings with cut stone sills. Square-headed window openings with two-over-two pane timber sliding sash windows to first floor opening, replacement window to ground floor. Square-headed door opening with timber panelled door. Whitewashed roughcast rendered wall adjacent to south may have once been part of this structure or similar structure. Street fronted.

• House, 1830–1870 · Regional interest
  Description

  Terraced four-bay two-storey vernacular house, built c.1850, with projecting single-bay single-storey entrance porch to front. Now unoccupied. Pitched corrugated metal roof with concrete ridge tiles, cast-iron rainwater goods and four rendered chimneystacks, two of which are shared with neighbouring properties. Painted roughcast rendered walls. Squared-headed openings with stone sills with two-over-two pane timber sliding sash windows in irregular-sized openings to ground floor and one-over-one pane timber sliding sash windows to first floor. Off-center projecting porch with flat concrete capping, c.1950, containing square-headed doorcase and timber paneled door. Street-fronted.

• Finnea Market House, market house, 1840–1860 · Regional interest
  Description

  Three-bay two-storey former market house, built c.1850, now in use as private residence. Shallow hipped natural slate roof with overhanging eaves, supported by modillions at the corners. Rendered walls to ground floor, pebble-dashed to first floor, separated by painted projecting stone string course. Painted stone quoins to corners. Square-headed window openings with stone block-and-start surrounds, stone sills and replacement windows. Large arched doorcase with stone block-and-start surrounds, infilled with modern replacement door. Located in prominent position at south end of town facing down Main Street towards the bridge.

• Myles O'Reilly Monument, monument, 1910–1915 · Regional interest
  Description

  Freestanding monument, erected c.1913, comprising limestone ashlar Celtic cross with Celtic strap-work over limestone plinth and base. North facing elevation has decorative carved Celtic scroll with inscription and a carved human head. On south elevation is a coat of arms. Monument is surrounded by cast-iron railings with hammered spikes and cut and hammered decorative finials. Located in prominent position at road junction, outside of the former Market House, facing down Main Street towards the bridge.

• Water pump, 1860–1890 · Regional interest
  Description

  Freestanding cast-iron waterpump, erected c.1875, comprising banded cylindrical shaft with fluted head and fluted ogee-domed cap. Cow-tail curvilinear handle and projecting spout. Now disused. Located at a bend in the road, and surrounded by low rubble wall.

• Dennington Lodge, house, 1800–1840 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached three-bay two-storey house, built c.1820 with flat-roofed single-bay single-storey porch to centre of front elevation with moulded eaves cornice. Pitched natural slate roof with clay ridge tiles, cast-iron rainwater goods and raised rendered verges. Rendered walls with square-headed openings with two-over-two pane timber sliding sash windows. Original doorcase now obscured by later porch but a fine semi-circular fanlight is visible behind. Door to west side of porch. Set back from the road in own grounds and bounded by ruled-and-line rendered wall with wrought-iron gates. Two-bay two-storey outbuilding constructed of roughly-coursed limestone rubble to east.

• Saint Mary's Catholic Church, church/chapel, 1900–1910 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached five-bay double-height Roman Catholic church, built c.1904, with single-storey chancel and vestry to the east. Single-storey entrance porch with gabled roof to entrance front (west). Pitched natural slate roof with red clay decorative ridge tiles, raised limestone verges, cut-stone coping and decorative corbel stones at eaves. Ruled-and-line rendered walls over limestone plinth. Five lancet windows separated by clasping buttresses along each side of nave. Three graded lancet windows to chancel and nave gables. Interior retains many original features and materials including marble alter goods, decorative chancel arch, heavy wooden pews and stained glass windows. Freestanding cast-iron belfry, c.1904, to south. Set back from road with no boundary wall. Disused and dilapidated school building, dated 1871, located to the north of the church.

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).

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

Name

Finnea · Fiodh an Átha

Area

2,024,026 m² (202.4 ha, 500.15 acres)

Civil parish

Foyran, and its townlands

Barony

Fore

Electoral division

Finnea, the unit of the census

Neighbouring townlands

Carrick (Co. Cavan), Clareisland Or Derrymacegan, Cornacreevy, Derragh (Co. Longford), Kilgolagh (Co. Cavan), Williamstown

Placenames

Finnea 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.