Fore

30 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Fore, from 38 m² to 185,863 m² (18.59 ha, 45.93 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary; 23 neighbouring parcels touch it.

Download the townland: DXF, in Irish Transverse Mercator metres, with its boundary, parcels and buildings; GeoJSON or KML.

No zone of a development plan covers Fore 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.

• 30 Sept 2024Conditional

  to convert and extend an existing stone shed into tourist accommodation, install a proprietary effluent treatment system and percolation area, use existing entrance onto public road and all ancillary site services

  Permission · Westmeath County Council, 2460366

• 24 May 2021Conditional

  Construct a terrace to provide an outdoor seating area and an outdoor children's play area

  Permission · Westmeath County Council, 21283

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

Designated sites

• Proposed Natural Heritage Area: Lough Glore 000686

Recorded monuments

• WM004-035 Historic town
  Description

  Fore is situated on the Kells-Castlepollard road in north-east Westmeath in a secluded marshy valley flanked by high ground on the north, east and south. The placename is derived from Fobhair, meaning a spring or well. This spring emerges from a rock known as Carraig Bhaile Fhobhair (the "Ben of Fore") on the south side of the town (Bradley et. al. 1985, 73). The precise date of Feichin's foundation is unknown but a date in the second quarter of the seventh century seems likely. The deaths of its abbots are recorded in the Annals from 705 until 1163. The monastery was a prosperous one and was burned or raided in 745, 771, 804, 830, 870, 971, 1025, 1069, 1095, 1112, 1114, 1149, 1163, 1169, 1172 and 1176 (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 36; Leask n.d. 3-4). These raids indicate that it was a monastery of importance but it was probably eclipsed, if not actually suppressed, with the foundation of the Benedictine priory (WM004-035010-) in the 1180s. Fore was granted to Hugh de Lacy as part of the liberty of Meath in 1172 and in the same year De Lacy spent a fortnight at Fore and burned the monastery (Ann. Tig.). He may not have effectively occupied Fore, however, until c.1180 (Orpen 1911-20, 81) and the motte castle was probably built sometime between then and 1186. The Benedictine priory (WM004-035010-) was established before 1185 and the settlement had achieved borough status by c. 1235 (MacNiocaill 1977, 55). Little is known of the town in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. On the death of Walter de Lacy in 1241, Fore passed to Geoffrey de Geneville from whom it passed to Roger de Mortimer in 1308 (Orpen 1911-20, 286). St. Feichin's church (WM039-035003-) continued to be used throughout the later Middle Ages as a parish church, however, and as such it is mentioned in the 1302-06 ecclesiastical taxation of Ireland (Cal. doc. Ire., 259). It remained in Mortimer hands until the death of 'Richard, duke of York, in 1460 when it passed to the crown. By the fifteenth century Fore was an exposed frontier town of the Anglo-Norman colony. Attacks by the Irish resulted in the burning of the priory in 1423 and of the town c.1432 (Seymour 1934; Tresham 1828, 229, 254). It was perhaps as a response to this that Henry VI made a grant of murage to the town which was subsequently reaffirmed in 1462-3 by his successor Edward IV (Berry 1914, 25). The priory was also fortified at about this time. In 1463 the manor was granted to Thomas, earl of Desmond (Berry 1914, 301) and in 1475-6 to Christopher Nugent (Morrissey 1939, 455). In 1567 the Crown granted Christopher Nugent, lord of Delvin a 21 year lease 'of the site of the priory (WM004-035010-) or manor of Fowre, county Westmeath, lands of Fowre, a lough there called [Logheleyn], lands of Hilton, Carpenterston, Mylcasteltowne, Gilbertston, Rahen, Dromsawry, with a chapel and tithes, Comoylston, Lighill alias, Larkehill by the parts of the Breny, Fayron, Keneleighe, Ratheny, Donamore, Betaghton, Nynche, 13s. 4d. chief rents out of Nenaghe, in the said county, and the customs of the tenants ; the rectories of S. Mary (WM008-097002-) in Fower, S. Fekins (WM004-035003-) in Fower, Archidiorum (WM004-035004-) in Fower, Fayron, Faghley, Mayne, Leigheblay, Dromiskille, Ragarf, Oldecastell, and Balmagarvy, in the counties of Meath and Westmeath, and diverse parsonages in the Breny. To hold the possessions of Fower, for 21 years from 1582, at a rent of £175 10s 8d., and maintaining five horsemen’ (Nicholls 1994, 134). The church was in ruins at the time of Bishop Dopping's visitation of 1682-5 (Ellison 1975, 7). Little further is known of Fore until 1682 when Piers (1981, 66) stated: "this town of Foure is at this day but very mean, the inhabitants very poor and live in small cottages". It would appear then that the later fifteenth, sixteenth and seventeenth centuries were a period of contraction and recession. The early monastic remains consist of a group of isolated buildings on the west side of the village. These comprise St Feichin's church (WM039-035003-), Teampall Fionain (WM004-035001-), a souterrain (WM004-035006-), the anchorite's cell (WM004-035004-) and St. Feichin's mill (WM004-035012-). There is no evidence for an ecclesiastical enclosure or delimiting feature of the monastery. The modern east-west road through the village may coincide for part of its course with the medieval main street. It is evident that it does not overly it exactly, however, because the present road bypasses both of the surviving town gates. The date of the present street plan is difficult to determine. The absence of clear burgage plots indicates a lack of continuity in the centre of the town and accordingly it is possible that the street pattern has changed considerably since the middle ages. Apart from the east-west street there are two other streets, one leading north towards the Benedictine priory (WM004-035010-), the other, a lane, running eastwards past Christian's Castle (WM008-097003-) to the motte and bailey castle (WM004-035014-). The market place is in the centre of the village and is of triangular plan, occupied by a small village green. The site of the town gaol (WM004-035005-) lies to the north. A small seventeenth century cross (WM008-097001-) has been erected on the green (Bradley et. al. 1985, 74). None of the houses in the village have diagnostic pre-1700 architectural features but the masonry of some such as the Gaol, some walls at the rear of houses on the north side of the main street, the single storied shed on the east side of the Green, and the two storied house, now used as a farm outhouse, immediately north of the shed, may be of pre-1700 date. In the absence of detailed masonry studies, however, this remains only a guess (ibid. 75). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 21 November 2013

• WM004-035003 Church
  Description

  The precise date of Feichin's foundation is unknown but a date in the second quarter of the seventh century seems likely. The deaths of its abbots are recorded in the Annals from 705 until 1163. The monastery was a prosperous one and was burned or raided in 745, 771, 804, 830, 870, 971, 1025, 1069, 1095, 1112, 1114, 1149, 1163, 1169, 1172 and 1176 (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 36; Leask n.d. 3-4). These raids indicate that it was a monastery of importance but it was probably eclipsed, if not actually supressed, with the foundation of the Benedictine priory in the 1180s. St Feichin's church continued to be used throughout the later Middle Ages as a parish church, however, and as such it is mentioned in the 1302-06 ecclesiastical taxation of Ireland where the 'Church of St. Fechin, Favorie' is valued at 26s. 8d.(Cal. doc. Ire., 259) and in a lease to Christopher Nugent, lord of Delvin in 1567 (Nicholls 1994, 134). In this year the Crown granted Christopher Nugent a 21 year lease 'of the site of the priory (WM004-035010-) or manor of Fowre, county Westmeath, lands of Fowre, a lough there called [Logheleyn], lands of Hilton, Carpenterston, Mylcasteltowne, Gilbertston, Rahen, Dromsawry, with a chapel and tithes, Comoylston, Lighill alias, Larkehill by the parts of the Breny, Fayron, Keneleighe, Ratheny, Donamore, Betaghton, Nynche, 13s. 4d. chief rents out of Nenaghe, in the said county, and the customs of the tenants ; the rectories of S. Mary (WM008-097002-) in Fower, S. Fekins (WM004-035003-) in Fower, Archidiorum (WM004-035004-) in Fower, Fayron, Faghley, Mayne, Leigheblay, Dromiskille, Ragarf, Oldecastell, and Balmagarvy, in the counties of Meath and Westmeath, and diverse parsonages in the Breny. To hold the possessions of Fower, for 21 years from 1582, at a rent of £175 10s 8d., and maintaining five horsemen’ (ibid.). In 1578 the Crown granted a 5 year lease to William Dood ‘of the site of the abbey of Fower (WM004-035010-), co. Westmeath, and the lands in Fowre, Hilton, Carpenterstowne, Mylcastellton, Gilbertston, Raghin, Dromsawry, Comoylston, Leighill alias Larkehill, Firone, Kilmalighe, Rathenny, Donnamore, Ballynniskerry, Betaughston, the Ninche, and Nenaghe, and the tithes and alterages of the rectories of Fower (WM008-097002-), S. Fekyn (WM004-035003-) in Fower, Archediorum (WM004-035004-) of Fower, Fayron, Faughley, Mayne, Lighblay, Dormiskell, Ragarfett, Oldecastell, and Balmagarvy, counties of Meath and Westmeath. To hold for 5 years. Rent, £140’ (ibid., 479). The church was in ruins at the time of Bishop Dopping's visitation of 1682-5 (Ellison 1975, 7). The early monastic remains consist of a group of isolated buildings on the west side of the village. These comprise St Feichin's church (WM039-035003-), Teampall Fionain (WM004-035001-), a souterrain (WM004-035006-), the anchorite's cell (WM004-035004-) and St. Feichin's mill (WM004-035012-). There is no evidence for an ecclesiastical enclosure or delimiting feature of the monastery. Described by Bradley (1985, 77-8) as a 'simple nave and chancel structure of coursed limestone masonry. The nave measures 11.3m by 7.2m and the chancel 5.86m by 5m. Chronologically the nave is pre-twelfth century while the chancel is an addition of the thirteenth. The windows of the east wall were blocked up in the fifteenth century and replaced by a single light. The chancel was carefully constructed in order to fit within the space formed by the antae of the nave. The east wall was originally lit by a twin-light window but this was partly filled in and replaced by a single-light cusped ogee-headed window with hollowed spandrels and external hood. The remains of the altar table are present beneath the window; this has a rectangular recess and is decorated with two deeply incised equal-armed crosses. The window is flanked by two corbels whose function is unclear, and there is a wall cupboard on the south side of the east wall. Both the north and south walls have two rectangular windows with internal splay; these have flat rear-arches except for one on the south side which is pointed. Projecting from the south wall is a chamfered piscina with drainage hole. The basin is shallow and is 0.28m in diameter and decorated with a half moulding on the outer side. The nave was originally a complete church with projecting antae and lintelled west door but most of its east wall was removed in order to form the chancel arch. This is a pointed arch of pink sandstone, plain except for a small figure carved on the lowermost springing stone of the north side facing into the nave. The figure is seated with his hands on his knees, and has a large round head with bulging eyes; the legs are crossed at the ankles and he wears a belted knee-length tunic. Portions of the north and south walls have been rebuilt and although they are largely featureless now, slight traces of a window are present at the east end of each wall. The west wall has a lintelled door with a batter splaying from 0.96m at the head to 1.1m at ground level. There is a rebate on the internal sides and an attempt was made to continue this on the lintel over the door. Externally the massive lintel is decorated in relief with an equal armed cross in a circle. High in the gable there is a wide flat lintelled window and there are also two corbels protruding from the wall. Inside the chancel of St. Fechin's church are the remains of a window moulding (dims. L 0.38m; T 0.2m) of 15th/16th century date and a limestone ogee-headed stone (dims. H 0.5m; Wth 0.46m; T 0.21m) of 15th century date set up against the wall of the chancel (Bradley et. al. 1985, 78). See attached plan of chruch taken from Bradley's Urban Survey of Westmeath. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 21 November 2013

• WM004-035004 Church
  Description

  National Monument No. 215. Situated west of St. Feichin's church at the foot of the rock outcrop known as Carraig Bhaile Fhobhair. The history of the site cannot be traced before 1300 but it is likely that its origins lie in the Early Historic period. This chapel is first mentioned in the 1302-06 ecclesiastical taxation of Ireland where the 'Chapel Archeriorum' is valued at 20s. (Cal. doc. Ire., 259), it is mentioned again as 'Archidiorum' in the lease of the priory of Fore to Christopher Nugent, lord of Delvin in 1567 (Nicholls 1994, 134). In this year the Crown granted Christopher Nugent a 21 year lease 'of the site of the priory (WM004-035010-) or manor of Fowre, county Westmeath, lands of Fowre, a lough there called [Logheleyn], lands of Hilton, Carpenterston, Mylcasteltowne, Gilbertston, Rahen, Dromsawry, with a chapel and tithes, Comoylston, Lighill alias, Larkehill by the parts of the Breny, Fayron, Keneleighe, Ratheny, Donamore, Betaghton, Nynche, 13s. 4d. chief rents out of Nenaghe, in the said county, and the customs of the tenants ; the rectories of S. Mary (WM008-097002-) in Fower, S. Fekins (WM004-035003-) in Fower, Archidiorum (WM004-035004-) in Fower, Fayron, Faghley, Mayne, Leigheblay, Dromiskille, Ragarf, Oldecastell, and Balmagarvy, in the counties of Meath and Westmeath, and diverse parsonages in the Breny. To hold the possessions of Fower, for 21 years from 1582, at a rent of £175 10s 8d., and maintaining five horsemen’ (ibid.). In 1578 the Crown granted a 5 year lease to William Dood ‘of the site of the abbey of Fower (WM004-035010-), co. Westmeath, and the lands in Fowre, Hilton, Carpenterstowne, Mylcastellton, Gilbertston, Raghin, Dromsawry, Comoylston, Leighill alias Larkehill, Firone, Kilmalighe, Rathenny, Donnamore, Ballynniskerry, Betaughston, the Ninche, and Nenaghe, and the tithes and alterages of the rectories of Fower (WM008-097002-), S. Fekyn (WM004-035003-) in Fower, Archediorum (WM004-035004-) of Fower, Fayron, Faughley, Mayne, Lighblay, Dormiskell, Ragarfett, Oldecastell, and Balmagarvy, counties of Meath and Westmeath. To hold for 5 years. Rent, £140’ (ibid., 479). In the same year the Crown granted a lease to William Pratt, Arland Uschere, and Charles Hewet of the ‘land in Fowre, co. Westmeath, called domus anchoristarum, parcel of the queen’s ancient inheritance’ (ibid., 453). Bishop Dopping's visitation of 1682-5 identifies Archidiorum as the anchorite's cell at Fore and records that it was then a chapel of St. Feichin's church (Ellison 1975, 7-8). The remains consist of a late 15th/16th century tower house with a nineteenth century mausoleum of the Nugent family, built in the style of a church, at its west end. A rectangular sandstone plaque above the mausoleum door notes that the tower house was used for that purpose since 1680 (Bradley et. al. 1985, 80). A rectangular sandstone plaque (WM004-035031-) above the Nugent mausoleum door in the Anchorite's Church notes that a tower house or castle (WM004-035030-) and chapel was rebuilt in 1680. The plaque bears the Nugent arms and a relief inscription in Roman capitals: THE RIGHT HONORABLE/ RICHARD NVGENT EARLE/ OF WESTMEATHE AT HIS OWN/ EXPENCES REBVILDED THIS/ CHAPLE AND CASTLE FOR/ THE BVRYINGE PLACE AND/ PIOVS VSE OF HIMSELFE AND/ HIS SVCESSORS ANNO/ DOMINI 1680 (Bradley et. al. 1985, 80). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 21 November 2013

• WM004-035005 Prison
  Description

  An 'Old Gaol' is depicted standing opposite to the N of the village green on the 1837 ed. of the OS 6-inch map. The market place is in the centre of the village and is of triangular plan, occupied by a small village green. The site of the town gaol lies to the north. A small wayside cross (WM008-097001-) has been inserted into the base of a possible market cross (WM008-097016-) which stood in the the triangular-shaped green. None of the houses in the village have diagnostic pre-1700 architectural features but the masonry of some such as the Gaol, some walls at the rear of houses on the north side of the main street, the single storied shed on the east side of the Green, and the two storied house, now used as a farm outhouse, immediately north of the shed, may be of pre-1700 date. In the absence of detailed masonry studies, however, this remains only a guess. The Gaol is perhaps the best preserved of these buildings. It is built of roughly coursed limestone and lacks jambs or quoins. Only the front facade and short returns of the side walls survive. It was originally rectangular with its long axis aligned east-west. It was at least two storied and has a slight batter at the base. The facade is 9.5m long and the length of the east return is 2.35 m. The facade wall is 1.3m thick and 3-4m high but the west gable is slightly higher. The ground floor was barrel-vaulted with a fireplace in the south wall which was later used as a doorway but is now blocked up. The remains of a spiral stair are present in the south-east corner (Bradley et. al. 1985, 75). Compiled and updated by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 14 April 2015

• WM004-035006 Souterrain
  Description

  A souterrain was discovered in 1962 about 60m south-east of St. Feichin's church (WM004-035003-). It was found during the construction of a hayshed and was considerably damaged before investigation. It consisted of a short passage 6m long, 1.3 m wide and 1.25m high. It ran in a north-south direction with the entrance at the north end. The souterrain curved eastwards towards the south but its full length was not determined because of collapse. It was built of poor quality drystone walling, slightly corbelled and roofed with transverse lintels about 0.45m wide and 0.3m thick (Bradley et. al. 1985, 80; Rynne 1964). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 22 November 2013

• WM004-035007 Ritual site - holy well
  Description

  Holy well depicted as 'Tobernacogany' on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map. In the field north of the road from St. Feichin's church (WM004-035003-). A holed stone of conglomerate is deeply buried in the ground beside this well. The "wishing tree", known locally as the tree that will not burn, is in the same field (Bradley et. al. 1985, 94). In the 19th century stations were performed at this well on the 2oth of January, St. Feichin's day, St. John's Day, 24th of June, and St. Peter's Day, the 29th of June. It was the local custom to insert a coin edgeways into the bark of the ash tree with three branches growing over the well. According to local tradition the wood from the ash tree will not burn, the water from the well will not boil. The water was used as a local cure for headache and toothache. Compiled and updated by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 21 April 2015

• WM004-035009 Ritual site - holy well
  Description

  Holy well depicted as 'Doaghfeighin' on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map. Delimited by a quadrangular setting of upright stones about 1m square and 1m high. The west side is formed from dry stone walling (Bradley et. al. 1985, 94). Large ash tree with votive offerings attached to branches of tree stands overhanging the edge of the holy well. According to local tradition delicate children were immersed in the water of the well in order to obtain a cure through the invocation of St. Feichin. Compiled and updated by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 21 April 2015

• WM004-035010 Religious house - Benedictine monks
  Description

  National Monument No. 215. After the Anglo-Norman invasion the churches of Fore and their endowments were granted, apparently by Hugh de Lacy, to the Benedictine abbey of St. Taurin at Evreux in Normandy (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 106; Orpen 1911-20 ii, 82). This can hardly have occurred before c.1180 while Gwynn and Hadcock (1970, 106) have pointed out that this must have happened before 1185. The endowments of the priory were increased by Walter de Lacy in or before 1210 (Gilbert 1884 ii, 311). Fore was frequently taken into the King's hands, and delivered to a guardian, during the Hundred Years War because it was an alien house dependent on a French abbey. In 1340 the-prior (and guardian), William Tessone, was granted part of the revenues to support himself and five monks, possibly the complement of the priory at this date (Seymour 1934, 64). In 1384 the priory's revenues were committed to the prior John Croys, who was to use them for the support of a chantry consisting of the prior and three chaplains which again may indicate the complement of the priory (Seymour 1934, 66-7). The priory was fortified during the first half of the fifteenth century in response to raids from the Irish who attacked the priory lands in 1423 and again in 1428 (Seymour 1934, 68). William England, prior of Fore from 1418, and William Croys, prior from c.1441, are both credited with having erected "divers castles” for the defence of the priory (Seymour 1934, 68-9; Leask n.d. 21-2: Tresham 1828, 254; Berry 1910, 145). In 1445 parliament removed the priory from Evreux and made it an independent house (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 106). At the dissolution of the monasteries the extent of the priory records "certain castles or towers, and other houses or buildings of stone at present in sufficient repair ....they are very necessary for the defence of the country against the attacks of the wild Irish on the King's subjects" (White 1943, 271). The priory was granted to Matthew King in 1540, Sir William Seyntlowe in 1551, and Christopher Nugent, lord of Delvin in 1567 (White 1943, 271; Morrin 1861, 253; Nicholls 1994, 134). In 1567, Christopher Nugent, lord of Delvin was granted a lease of the ‘site of the priory or manor of Fowre, county Westmeath, lands of Fowre, a lough there called [Logheleyn], lands of Hilton, Carpenterston, Mylcasteltowne, Gilbertston, Rahen, Dromsawry, with a chapel and tithes, Comoylston, Lighill alias, Larkehill by the parts of the Breny, Fayron, Keneleighe, Ratheny, Donamore, Betaghton, Nynche, 13s. 4d. chief rents out of Nenaghe, in the said county, and the customs of the tenants ; the rectories of S. Mary in Fower (WM008-097002-), S. Fekins (WM004-035003-) in Fower, Archidiorum (WM004-035004-) in Fower, Fayron, Faghley, Mayne, Leigheblay, Dromiskille, Ragarf, Oldecastell, and Balmagarvy, in the counties of Meath and Westmeath, and diverse parsonages in the Breny. To hold the possessions of Fower, for 21 years from 1582, at a rent of £175 10s 8d., and maintaining five horsemen’ (Nicholls 1994, 134). In 1578 William Dodd was granted a lease of the ‘site of the abbey of Fower (WM004-035010-), co. Westmeath, and the lands in Fowre, Hilton, Carpenterstowne, Mylcastellton, Gilbertston, Raghin, Dromsawry, Comoylston, Leighill alias Larkehill, Firone, Kilmalighe, Rathenny, Donnamore, Ballynniskerry, Betaughston, the Ninche, and Nenaghe, and the tithes and alterages of the rectories of Fower (WM008-097002-), S. Fekyn (WM004-035003-) in Fower, Archediorum (WM004-035004-) of Fower, Fayron, Faughley, Mayne, Lighblay, Dormiskell, Ragarfett, Oldecastell, and Balmagarvy, counties of Meath and Westmeath. To hold for 5 years. Rent, £140’ (ibid., 479). Lying to the north of the village of Fore, the priory is situated at the southern end of a knoll, known as Knocknamonaster, which is surrounded by wet ground on all sides except the east. The remains consist of the priory complex and a series of outbuildings, including a dovecot, and earthworks on Knocknamonaster. The buildings are grouped around a rectangular cloister. The church lies to the north, the refectory and kitchen on the south, apartments and other domestic buildings on the east and west. The basic layout of the monastery belongs to the early thirteenth century but it was considerably remodelled in a number of building campaigns during the fifteenth. In general it can be remarked that the size of the monastery contracted during the fifteenth century and new buildings were constructed in order to accommodate to the monastery's changing role. The thirteenth century church was a long narrow building with a chapel on its north side; this was shortened during the fifteenth century by the insertion of a tower at the west end and the blocking of the arches leading to the north chapel, which seems to have fallen into disuse. The original east range probably had a chapter room immediately south of the sacristy but during the fifteenth century this wing was totally remodelled in order to provide domestic apartments and a residential tower was constructed over the sacristy. The thirteenth century cloister enclosed a larger area than its fifteenth century counterpart. A new refectory was constructed in the fifteenth century immediateIy north of the old one, which was then demolished. The west range was also remodelled in the fifteenth century when its upper floor was converted into the monks dormitory. The Church This is a narrow building of roughly coursed mixed stone divided into a nave and choir by two rows of steps. The basic fabric is of thirteenth century date but a tower was added at the west end in the fifteenth. The east wall of the choir is lit by three round-headed lancets. These have round rear arches and a wide internal splay terminating in jambs with concave chamfers. The inner sills slope downwards to a moulded stringcourse. The north wall has two round-headed windows, partly rebuilt c.1870, while in the south there is a twin round arched niche for a piscina and aumbry. The plaster on the inside of the niche is painted with a masonry design of rectangles, outlined in red-brown with red rosettes in every second space. Leask (n. d. 12) notes that this design was continued on the wall above the piscina but there is no trace of it now. Above this are two rows of stone corbels, supporters for the roof gutters, at different periods. A door in the south wall leads into the sacristy and provides access to the stair leading to the eastern tower. The north wall of the nave is largely featureless and was rebuilt c. 1870. A door near its west end opened northwards into a narrow rectangular room of which only the foundations survive. The west end is delimited by a tower added in the fifteenth century. This has a stair turret projecting to the north to which access is had directly from the nave. There are four round-headed clearstorey windows in the south wall, one of which is blocked by the south wall of the western tower. Immediately north of the nave are the foundations a chapel which was reached through two arches in the nave north wall but these were obliterated when the modern wall was constructed. Two cross slabs (WM004-035027-; WM004-035028-) are set against the external south wall of the nave. Their find place is not recorded but it is likely from their position that they were found in the cloister and probably represent the burial place of two priors. West Tower This four-storied rectangular building with projecting stair-turret was a residential tower. The ground floor has a rectangular splayed window with an almost flat rear arch in the north wall and a blocked-up opening (possibly a window) in the west wall. The west wall itself incorporates parts of the original west gable of the thirteenth century church. The first floor was supported on fluted corbels which project from the north and south walls. Externally the jambs of the original west doo

• WM004-035011 Earthwork
  Description

  This low hill or knoll (dims. 160m E-W; 140m N-S) north of the Benedictine priory buildings (WM004-035010-) formed part of the monastery precinct and was enclosed by a defensive moat as depicted on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map. The slope of the knoll was scarped near its base to form a platform on the west, north and east sides. Outside this there is a ditch with a counterscarp bank. The platform measures 5.2m wide on average, while the ditch is 4.8m wide at the mouth; the counterscarp bank ranges in height from one to two metres and is four metres wide. There are the remains of a gateway on the north side with a stone built causeway leading northwards from the knoll through the defences. This causeway over the moat is depicted as 'Bridge in ruins' on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map. The bank has a gap on the west side also and another gate may have stood here. The precinct defences probably continued on the east side as far as the thirteenth century south-east gate (WM004-035029-) but they have been ploughed out and are not visible. There are a number of irregular banks on top of the knoll but they do not conform to any pattern and what they represent is unclear (Bradley et. al. 1985, 91). A medieval dovecote (WM004-035016-) is located in the S quadrant of the hill known as 'Knocknamonaster'. See attached plan of Knocknamonaster, surveyed and drawn by the ASI Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 22 November 2013

• WM004-035012 Water mill - vertical-wheeled
  Description

  Mill building depicted at this location on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map. A small rectangular building north of St. Feichin's church (WM004-035003-) is pointed out as St. Feichin's mill. It is situated close to a spring and the ground is continuously flooded with water which runs around and through the building. The structure is of roughly coursed limestone with a very wide batter on the north side. The north and south walls survive to a max. H. of 3m while the west gable is 5m high. High up on the south-west gable is a stone with the inscription '549 T Mc D 1895' (Bradley et. al. 1985, 82). The mill may be the same building as mentioned in 1613 in a land grant to Richard Nugent, Lord Baron of Delvin which included 'a water-mill in the town of Fower' (Cal. pat. rolls Ire., Jas I, 238). Compiled and revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 24 July 2015

• WM004-035013 Ritual site - holy well
  Description

  Possible holy well depicted as 'Toberfoolagh' on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch and on the 1910 revised OS 6-inch map as 'Toberfoolagh (Site of)' suggesting that the well was levelled or filled in between these dates. The site of the well was described in 1985 as a 'low grassy knoll with a hollow in the centre' (Bradley et. al. 1985, 94). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 25 November 2013

• WM004-035014 Castle - motte and bailey
  Description

  Orpen (1911-20 ii, 81) suggests that the motte was built by the elder Hugh de Lacy (d. 1186) but Graham (1980, 53) indicates that it may have been constructed closer to 1192. The castle of Fore was one of those confiscated from de Lacy by King John in 1210 but it was restored to him in 1215 (Sweetman 1875, No. 612). The motte was the centre of a large manor but after 1215 nothing is known of its history except the names of the individuals who owned it (Bradley et. al. 1985, 75). The site is situated on a ridge which affords commanding views on the south and west, but the view to the north and east is blocked by hills. The motte consists of an oval-plan conical mound rising from a basal width of 42m by 24m to a flat top measuring 26.2m by 16.8m. The bailey is square (18m x 18m) and lies south-west of the motte being seperated from it by a shallow ditch 3.5m wide. The motte and bailey is enclosed on the north, east, and south sides by a steep-sided ditch 7m wide with a counterscarp bank, 8-10m wide. A further short section of ditch, 2.2m wide, with a bank 11m wide, is present at the north-east end. On the south-east the front of the bailey is stone-faced and there is evidence for a causeway linking the bailey to the rest of the ridge. At the north-east end of the ridge there are grass covered earthworks for a three-roomed rectangular structure 17m in length, with a circular depression at the west end having a diameter of 6.7 m. South-east of the motte are a number of banks and ditches running up the side of Gallow's Hill. These may be the remains of field fences but their date and function is unclear (Bradley et. al. 1985, 75-6). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 25 November 2013

• WM004-035016 Dovecote
  Description

  Located above the scarp, 35m NE of the 13th century abbey of Fore (WM004-035010-). Only the lower courses of the dovecote building survives to a height of 1.2m. The dovecote has an internal diameter of 3.35m and the walls are 1.15m thick. The lower dressed jambs of an E door are present (Bradley et. al. 1985, 91). Compiled and updated by: Rachel Barrett and Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 21 April 2015

• WM004-035017 Cross - Wayside cross (present location)
  Description

  According to Bradley (1985, 78) this cross-head is pre-twelfth century in date, however it is possible that this cross-head may be one of the several wayside crosses at Fore dating from the seventeenth century (Crawford 1928, 57). The cross-head has been set onto a corbel in the E wall of St. Feichin's church (WM004-035003-). Small disc-headed cross (dims. H 0.4m; Wth 0.38m; T 0.08m) with chamfered edges. Decorated in false relief with a lop-sided marigold design (Bradley et. al. 1985, 78). This may be the cross fragment No.9 (WM004-010----) drawn by Du Noyer in the 19th century and recorded by Crawford in 1928 (Crawford 1928, 59, no. 9). Crawford described the cross which was then located in the townland of Clonnageeragh as consisting of a 'portion of the head of a small cross with solid ring or disc, also a flat socket stone 2ft. square. When Du Noyer made his drawings this cross head was in better preservation than at present; he shows it with a six rayed cross or star in a circle on one side; on the other are the remains of a sunk trefoil pattern' (Crawford 1928, 59). This cross was drawn by George Du Noyer in 1864, the drawing is now accessible on the website of the Royal Irish Academy (George Victor Du Noyer, “Calvary cross on road side North of Fore Abbey Td. Of Clonageeragh. Sheet 4/3,” Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, accessed January 27, 2020, http://rsai.locloudhosting.net/items/show/23407). See attached drawing of cross taken from Crawford 1928. Compiled by: Rachel Barrett and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 21 November 2013

• WM004-035018 Cross-slab
  Description

  According to Bradley this broken cross-slab is pre-twelfth century in date (Bradley et. al. 1985, 77). The cross-slab is located inside St. Feichin's church (WM004-035003-) where it has en attached to the N face of the S wall of the chancel. Only a quarter of a sandstone slab (dims. H 0.74m; Wth. 0.54m; T 0.12m) survives decorated with an elaborate cross within a border. Only one arm, the central boss and part of the stem of the cross remain. The central boss and the cup shaped terminals are decorated with a geometric interlaced patterns (Bradley et. al. 1985, 77-8). Compiled by: Rachel Barrett and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 21 November 2013

• WM004-035019 Cross-slab
  Description

  Possibly a pre twelfth century cross slab (Bradley et. al. 1985, 79). Located inside St. Feichin's church (WM004-035003-). Sandstone or granite rectangular-shaped slab (dims. H 1.14m; Wth. 0.38m; T 0.07m) with slightly domed top. Now broken in half and very weathered. Decorated with a plain Latin cross in relief (Bradley et. al. 1985, 79). Compiled by: Rachel Barrett and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 21 November 2013

• WM004-035020 Graveslab
  Description

  Pre twelfth century fragment of a rectangular-shaped graveslab (dims. H 0.76m; Wth. 0.62m; T 0.1m) (Bradley et. al. 1985, 79). Located on the N side of the chancel of St. Feichin's church (WM004-035003-). Compiled by: Rachel Barrett and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 21 November 2013

• WM004-035021 Font
  Description

  Thirteenth century font (dims. H 0.83m; Wth 0.63m) located inside the door of St. Feichin's church (WM004-035003-) on the N. Fossiliferous limestone font with circular basin (Diam. 0.46m) resting on a square columnar shaft which rises from a low square chamfered base. Moulded corners extend from the basin onto the shaft. These may originally have been decorated with heads but they are very weathered. The central drainage hole retains its lead lining (Bradley et. al. 1985, 79; Roe 1968, 117). Compiled by: Rachel Barrett and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 21 November 2013

• WM004-035022 Cross - High cross
  Description

  Pre-twelfth century. Large undecorated pierced ringed cross (dims. H 1.18m; Wth 0.98m; T 0.22m) set on a concrete shaft E of St. Feichin's church (WM004-035003-) (Bradley et. al. 1985, 79). Described by Harbison (1992, vol. 1, 90) as following: 'The head of a ringed cross of sandstone stands to the east of St. Fechin's church (WM004-035003-) at Fore. It has no mouldings or decorations. In its present re-constructed form, it is 1.20m high, 1m across the arms, and the shaft is 35cm wide and 22cm thick'. This high cross stands inside a graveyard (WM004-035032-). Compiled and updated by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 21 April 2015

• WM004-035023 Graveslab
  Description

  Coffin-shaped grey sandstone slab (dims. H 0.78m; Wth 0.42-0.5m; T 0.11m) of 13th or 14th century date. Set upside down inserted into the surface of the graveyard 1.7m E of the E gable of St. Feichin's church (WM004-035003-). It is deeply buried but is decorated with an incised cross within a border (Bradley et. al. 1985, 79). Compiled and updated by: Rachel Barrett and Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 24 April 2015

• WM004-035024 Tomb - chest tomb
  Description

  Seventeenth century wall-plaque dedicated to Patrick Begley who died in 1616. The chest-tomb is set against the E wall of the Nugent mausoleum in the Anchorite's Cell (WM004-035004-). Side panel of a grey sandstone chest-tomb (dims. H 0.7m; L 1.97m; Wth 0.15m) decorated in relief with a crucifixion, figures, and angel's heads. Incised inscription in Roman capitals except for the first two letters which are in relief: EN EGO PATRICIVS BEGLE, SACRAE INCOLA EREMI/ HOC LAPIDV TVMVLO CONDOR, HVMORQVE CAVO/ RVPE SVR AERIA MONVMENTO ET SEDE SACRATA. INTEMERATO ADYTO TV SINE LABE DOMO/ QVIS QVIS IS EST, ERGO, QVI CERNET BVTA VIATO/ DICAT EREMCOLAE SPIRITVS ASTRA PETAT AD 1616. Left of the inscription is a crucifixion with Christ's head bent sharply onto the right shoulder. Mary stands with her hands joined on His right and John on His left. Above the cross are the sun and moon and the letters INRI are visible on the upper shaft. The foot of the cross has two skulls. On the right of the panel is a damaged figure wearing what is possibly a long mantle. The head is missing and the hands are by his side. Above the inscription there are three stylised angel's heads with outspread wings (Bradley et. al. 1985, 81; Anon 1891, 510; Cogan 1862-70, 566; Vigors 1904-06, 410). Compiled by: Rachel Barrett and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload/revision: 21 November 2013

• WM004-035025 Wall monument
  Description

  Wall plaque (dims. H 1.7m; Wth 1.02m) dedicated to Richard Nugent who died in 1680. Pink sandstone memorial inserted into the N wall of the Nugent mausoleum in the Anchorite's Cell (WM004-035004-). Set within a moulded frame, it consists of an inscription in Roman capitals in relief and an elaborate achievement of arms below. THE RIGHT HONOURABLE RICHARD/ NUGENT EARLE OF WEST MEATH/ ERECTED THIS MONUMENT FOR THE/ INTERRINGE OF HIMSELFE AND HIS SUCCESSORS AND ALSO IN SPETIALL/ MEMORY OF MARY COUNTES OF/ WEST MEATH HIS WIFE AND OF CHRISTOPHER/ LORD BARRON OF DELVIN HIS ELDEST/ SONN WHICH SAID COUNTES AND/ CHRISTOPHER ARE HERE VNDER/ INTERRD ANNO DOMINI 1680. The arms consist of a circular medallion with two bars ermine. The cockatrice is placed above a coronet and is surrounded by mantling. Below the shield is a skull and crossed bones, an hour-glass and the words MEMENTO MORI (Bradley et. al. 1985, 81-2). Compiled by: Rachel Barrett and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload/revision: 21 November 2013

• WM004-035026 Wall monument
  Description

  Table tomb pilaster (dims. H 0.63m; Wth 0.26m; T 0.19m) of seventeenth century date standing against the E wall of the Nugent mausoleum in the Anchorite's Cell (WM004-035004-). Rectangular-shaped memorial which consists of an engaged column decorated with leavy designs supported on a draped base (Bradley et. al. 1985, 82). Compiled by: Rachel Barrett and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload/revision: 07 December 2011

• WM004-035027 Graveslab
  Description

  Two cross inscribed graveslabs (WM004-035028-) are set against the external S wall of the nave of the Abbey (WM004-035010-). Their findplace is not recorded but it is likely from their position that they were found in the cloister and probably represent the burial place of two priors. The first is a 13th or 14th century coffin-shaped sandstone graveslab (dims. H 1.75m; Wth 0.35-0.47m; T 0.18m) outlined by an incised line and decorated with an incised cross patee with elongated stem. The surface of the stone has been deeply scored (Bradley et. al. 1985, 87). Compiled by: Rachel Barrett and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 21 November 2013

• WM004-035028 Graveslab
  Description

  Two cross inscribed graveslabs (WM004-035027-) are set against the external S wall of the nave of the Abbey (WM004-035010-). Their findplace is not recorded but it is likely from their position that they were found in the cloister and probably represent the burial place of two priors. Weathered coffin-shaped granite graveslab (dims. H 1.68m; Wth 0.3-0.48m; T 0.18m) of 13th or 14th century date with an incised fleur-de-lis cross (Bradley et. al. 1985, 87). Compiled by: Rachel Barrett and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 21 November 2013

• WM004-035029 Gatehouse
  Description

  Thirteenth century gatehouse located 40m E of Fore Abbey (WM004-035010-). Depicted on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map as a small rectangular building guarding the causewayed entrance over the enclosing moat which protected Fore Abbey. This two storeyed rectangular gatehouse has two towers on the E façade. The S and W walls are battered externally and the remains of a small round archway are attached to the SE angle. Some walls of a modern outhouse survive on the W. The NE tower was three storeyed with small chambers on each floor. The ground floor is barrel-vaulted and divided longitudinally into two rooms. The northern room has a chimney in the N wall, and a splayed rectangular window and door in both the E and W walls. The southern room is entered from the N and has a fireplace in the S wall and a rectangular window in the E wall. The first floor is a single chamber with the remains of a tiled floor of recent date. The N wall has collapsed but there are three rectangular splayed windows with flat rear arch in the E wall and a small fireplace in the S wall (Bradley et. al. 1985, 91-2). In 1992 archaeological excavations under licence No. 92E0046 were carried out by Georgina Scally in advance of OPW conservation work took place at the 13th-century gatehouse of Fore Abbey, Co. Westmeath. The Benedictine Abbey of Fore, or Priory as it is sometimes called, is thought to have been founded by one of the De Lacy's in the late 12th century. It was founded as a dependency of the Abbey of St. Taurin at Evreux in Normandy, France, and is one of the only certain and substantial remains of an Anglo-Norman Benedictine House in Ireland. Three external (nos 1-3) and 2 small internal cuttings (nos 4-5) were excavated. Cutting 1 Located to the front, on the eastern side of the gatehouse, Cutting 1 encompassed the (blocked up) centrally placed entrance archway together with the in situ foundations of a 15th-century garderobe tower. Much had been added to the north-east corner of the gatehouse. The small village of Fore is world renowned for its 'seven wonders' one of which is the 'abbey built on a bog'; this proved to be a veritable truth! The foundations of the gatehouse were found to have been constructed upon a 0.3m-0.6m depth of natural bog. Two parallel lines of a post and wattle fence were exposed built directly upon the bog, and enclosed an area of rough gravel and stones, which was interpreted as a pathway over the obviously difficult terrain. A number of 13th-century pottery sherds together with a single bone die was recovered from this level. This phase of activity was followed by the construction of the 13th-century gatehouse. Substantial deposits of stone and compact clays were placed over the bog and were eventually covered by a metalled surface extending out from the gatehouse in an easterly direction. This metalled surface was only identified in the area in front of the entrance archway. In the early 15th century (AD 1423, 1428) the priory is recorded as having been raided by the O'Reillys and the O'Farrells and its buildings were incorporated into the towns fortifications. It was probably at this time that the original 13th-century entrance way was blocked up and relocated to the external, southside of the gatehouse (Cutting 2). A two storey garderobe tower was added to the north-east corner of the gatehouse and a substantial stone wall (probably a reorientation of the 13th-century precinct wall) was identified extending northwards from the garderobe tower. The garderobe was fully excavated and removed, its chute and outflow channel having been 'cleaned out' at a latter date, leaving only a stoney loam fill in situ with no trace of any organic deposits. The tower was constructed on a bed of timber piles driven into the underlying peat. In 1815 a painting of the abbey depicts the gatehouse in a fairly ruined and dilapidated state. It is known to have been reconstructed in c. 1850 AD when a substantial stone porch was added to the front of the building and a doorway knocked through the blocked up 13th-century archway. Cutting 2 Located to the southern side of the gatehouse, the earliest feature exposed was a stone wall constructed on a natural bog, extending south, and contemporary with the gatehouse foundation stones. This is most likely to be the remains of the 13th-century precinct wall. It was superceded by a metalled surface, bounded on the north by the gatehouse wall, and on the south by the pier of the 15th-century relocation of the arched entrance-way. The remains of the arch could be seen extending out from the upper part of the gatehouse wall, where a doorway led from the top of the gateway into the upper storey of the gatehouse. A substantial buttress was added to the west-end of the gatehouse wall and a metalled surface related to the 19th-century occupation of the house was identified. Cutting 3 Located on the west (back) side of the gatehouse, Cutting 3 extended for c. 9m along the gatehouse wall. Natural bog was identified over its full length, which was covered by a c. 0.2m depth of stoney, gravel and clay fill upon which a metalled surface was identified. A number of 13th-century pottery sherds were retrieved from this surface. It was superseded by a second metalled surface upon which a number of c. 19th-century outhouse buildings were constructed. There was no evidence for an archway in the gatehouse masonry on this side of the gatehouse. Cuttings 4 and 5 These were 2 small cuttings located inside the gatehouse building. In both cases natural bog was exposed beneath a elm depth of an homogenous 19th-century clay fill, upon which a tiled floor was set. It seems most likely that the 19th-century occupant of the gatehouse relaid the internal foundations (Scally 1993, 60-1). Compiled by: Rachel Barrett and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 21 November 2013

• WM004-035030 Castle - tower house
  Description

  A two storey tower house was added on to the E end of the Anchorites church (WM004-035004-) in the 15th or 16th century. This tower house was rebuilt by Richard Nugent in 1680 as stated on a wall memorial inside the Anchorites Church (WM004-035004-). A rectangular sandstone plaque (WM004-035031-) above the Nugent mausoleum door in the Anchorite's Church (WM004-035004-) notes that a tower house or castle and chapel (WM004-035004-) was rebuilt in 1680. The plaque bears the Nugent arms and a relief inscription in Roman capitals: THE RIGHT HONORABLE/ RICHARD NVGENT EARLE/ OF WESTMEATHE AT HIS OWN/ EXPENCES REBVILDED THIS/ CHAPLE AND CASTLE FOR/ THE BVRYINGE PLACE AND/ PIOVS VSE OF HIMSELFE AND/ HIS SVCESSORS ANNO/ DOMINI 1680 (Bradley et. al. 1985, 80). Described by Bradley in 1985 as 'the tower is rectangular with a projecting stair-turret on the W side. It is two-storeyed and constructed of roughly coursed limestone. Internally it measures 4.17m by 2.45m. Externally the SW corner is rounded 2m above the ground level and there is a buttress at the NW corner. There is a string course of recent date above the first floor which supports the renovated stepped battlements above. There is a pointed head with broad forehead and open mouth on the west wall of the stair turret. A limestone gargoyle projects above the first floor on the south wall; it is a winged animal but the face has been smashed off. The tower is entered from the W through the Nugent mausoleum and since there is no sign of any other entry it indicates that there was originally a chapel on the N side of the tower. The upper courses of the tower are modern (Bradley et. al. 1985, 80-1). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 21 November 2013

• WM004-035031 Wall monument
  Description

  A rectangular sandstone plaque above the Nugent mausoleum door in the Anchorite's Church (WM004-035004-) notes that a tower house or castle (WM004-035030-) and chapel (WM004-035004-) was rebuilt in 1680. The plaque bears the Nugent arms and a relief inscription in Roman capitals: THE RIGHT HONORABLE/ RICHARD NVGENT EARLE/ OF WESTMEATHE AT HIS OWN/ EXPENCES REBVILDED THIS/ CHAPLE AND CASTLE FOR/ THE BVRYINGE PLACE AND/ PIOVS VSE OF HIMSELFE AND/ HIS SVCESSORS ANNO/ DOMINI 1680 (Bradley et. al. 1985, 81-2). Compiled by: Rachel Barrett and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 21 November 2013

• WM004-035032 Graveyard
  Description

  Depicted as a 'Burying Ground' on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map and as a Grave Yard on the revised editions. Roughly square-shaped graveyard (dims. 58m N-S; 57m E-W) located to the S of St Feighin's Church (WM004-035003-) and to the E of the Anchorite's Church (WM004-035004-). This graveyard is an exenstion of the smaller rectangular-shaped graveyard immediately enclosing St. Feighin's Church (WM004-035003-) which runs parallel to the public road. Compiled and updated by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 22 April 2015

• WM004-035033 Cross-inscribed stone
  Description

  Cross-inscribed stone of uncertain date standing in NW quadrant of graveyard (WM004-035032-), NNW of W gable of St. Feichin's Church (WM004-035003-). Low irregular shaped sandstone slab (H 03.5m x Wth 0.43m x T 0.09m) with crudely cut cross on E face of stone. Stone located 1.7m S of N wall of graveyard and 12m E of W wall of graveyard. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 24 April 2015

• WM004-035034 Barrow - pond barrow
  Description

  On the summit of Knockmonaster Hill overlooking Fore Benedictine Abbey (WM004-035010-). Described by McGuinness (2019, 51) as following; 'It comprises an annular bank, very slightly subcircular, which surrounds a sunken, dished interior (Diam. (overall) c. 11.5m N- x c. 11.10m E-; Diam. (interior) 6.5m N- x 5.6m E-). Height of bank over interior at cardinal points varies from 0.12m (E) to 0.21m (N) to 0.34m (S) to 0.41m (W). Although, as with the closely similar monument at Clonydonnin (No. 6), outer edge of bank blends almost seamlessly with external ground level, it is clearest and best preserved at SSE where its width and height over external ground level can be estimated as 2.5m and 0.37m respectively; and while the same ambiguity prevents an accurate depth measurement of the interior with reference to external ground level, it certainly has the appearance of falling below ground level. Near the centre of the monument is a large, overgrown and apparently earthfast boulder (L. 1.05m; W. 0.70m; H. 0.35m). Monument is prominently positioned on summit of the low but striking Knocknamonaster Hill, some 54m to SE of a possible mound-barrow (No. 12) and some 12.5m to ESE of a dead-ice hollow, the low rim of which faces NW. The earthwork is clearly visible on Google Earth aerial photographs taken 05/10/2009 and the two earthworks identified by McGuinness as possible barrows was surveyed and drawn by the ASI in the 1970s. See attached Google earth aerial photograph showing possible site and earthwork plan surveyed and drawn by the ASI which shows the hollow feature. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by David McGuinness. Date of upload: 21 February 2020

• WM004-035035 Barrow - mound barrow
  Description

  On the summit of Knockmonaster Hill overlooking Fore Benedictine Abbey (WM004-035010-). Described by McGuinness (2019, 50) as following; 'this monument comprises a low round mound (Diam. 7.8m N-S x 7.5m E-W) having a slightly domed profile but with flattish upper surface (4m N-S x 3.1m E-W), and is currently irregular in shape with its SW edge being almost straight, although this edge appears to follow the line of a track or linear hollow running up to the mound from WNW and is presumably the result of alteration. Situated on ground sloping down to NNW, height of mound at cardinal points varies from 0.33m (S) to 0.60m (E) to 1.15m (W) to 1.32m (N). At junction of upper surface and steep side of mound on S side there is an overgrown boulder embedded in the mound. Monument is located on sloping NNW side of Knocknamonaster Hill, which is enclosed by an imposing ditch and rampart at its base, and lies just N of the 12th-century Benedictine Priory and within the medieval walled town of Fore; a short distance S of priory are the varied remains of St. Feichin’s important early medieval monastery of Fore, and just outside the walls to NE is a motte and bailey (WM004-029---) which was formerly identified as a barrow by the ASI. A possible pond-barrow (WM004-035034-)lies on the summit of the hill 54m to SE and there is a dead-ice hollow some 34m to S, its lower rim opening to NW. Some 2.5m to E of mound is a broad low bank, apparently cut through by cultivation ridges, which is either a trackway or a flattened field fence running downhill past the barrow towards the motte to NE'. The earthwork is clearly visible on Google Earth aerial photographs taken 05/10/2009 and the two earthworks identified by McGuinness as possible barrows was surveyed and drawn by the ASI in the 1970s. See attached Google earth aerial photograph showing possible site and earthwork plan surveyed and drawn by the ASI which shows the hollow feature. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by David McGuinness. Date of upload: 21 February 2020

• WM004-039 Ring-ditch
  Description

  In reclaimed grassland. Cropmark of ring-ditch (diam. c. 6m) visible on Google Earth orthoimage taken 16/03/2021. See attached Google Earth orthophoto Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by Jean-Charles Caillère Date of upload: 19 July 2022

• WM008-097001 Cross - Wayside cross (present location)
  Description

  17th century wayside cross possibly standing in the base of an earlier medieval market cross (WM008-097016-) standing in the small triangular shaped Fair Green in the village of Fore. Listed by Crawford as Cross No. 16 (Crawford 1928, 62) where the crucified Christ figure is shown facing NW. The cross has been reset into the cross base in the opposite direction for today the crucified Christ figure faces SE. Depicted as ‘Cross’ on the 1910 ed. OS 25-inch map where it is shown standing in a triangular-shaped green in the village of Fore, Co. Westmeath. The cross is not shown at this location on earlier editions of the OS 6-inch maps and was originally located in the graveyard (WM008-097014-) of St. Mary’s Church (WM008-097002-) located 70m to the SE (ibid.). This cross was drawn by George Du Noyer in 1864, the drawing is now accessible on the website of the Royal Irish Academy (www.cats.ria.ie/) where it is shown as a freestanding ringed-cross (H 2ft. 10 in. / 0.86m) standing in the graveyard (WM008-097014-) decorated with a naive figure of the crucified Christ, the shaft and head of the cross are chamfered. In 1928 the cross was described by Crawford as consisting of the 'head and upper part of the shaft of a cross with a solid recessed ring; set in a large socket stone with inclined sides. The cross is 2ft. 3in. (0.68m) in height above the socket, and has a crucifixion carved on the front; the figure has the arms placed horizontally and the feet crossed. Some years ago the cross lay in the graveyard (WM008-097014-) at St. Mary's Church (WM008-097002-), but it has recently been fixed in the socket in the village street' (Crawford 1928, 62). The cross was described in 1980 as consisting of a 'small stone solid-ring cross (H 0.66m) set in a base erected in the small triangular green in Fore village. The base (dims. Wth. 0.71m x H 0.4m) is a large roughly rectangular-shaped block of what seems to be a conglomerate stone. The socket (dims. 0.27m x 0.34m) appears to be much larger than the shaft (Wth 0.22m; T 0.15m) of the cross but it is now filled with concrete. The edges of the cross are chamfered. On one face, that now facing roughly W, there is a panel occupying most of the head and shaft with a figure carved in it, Christ Crucified. The figure is fully represented with head & features, body, arms and legs. The figure appears to be wearing a loin-cloth & the feet are apparently bound or crossed' (SMR file). According to the SMR file this cross was 'set into a large socket stone which was probably made orginally for another larger cross (WM008-097016-). It is possible that the present base of the wayside cross may have been the base of a market cross (WM008-097016-) which stood in the triangular shaped green. The shaft and upper portion of this possible market cross have since disappeared and were replaced by the present cross in the early 1900s. The base of this cross may have belonged to a market cross that was described in the OS Name Books dating from 1875. The OS described the cross in 1875 as consisting of an 'ancient stone cross, which is now in a dilapidated state, only a portion of it remaining. The cross was formerly in the centre of the market place when this was a borough town having a weekly market and faires?' (OS Name Book 1875, 1). The small wayside cross standing in the base of an earlier market cross has been dated to the 17th century by Bradley who described the monument in 1985 as a ‘small disc headed cross with short arms and upper shaft. The material is conglomerate and it is set into a conglomerate base on the village green. The edges are chamfered and one face is decorated in false relief with a crucifixion set within a panel. Christ is shown as a small chubby figure with short hair and a square perizonium. His head is upright, the arms are horizontal and the feet are nailed separately. There is a tri-lobed design in the spandrels under His arms’ (Bradley et. al. 1985, 93). Cross-referenced with WM008-097016-. See attached image (WM008-097001-_01.jpeg) of wayside cross and base of possible market cross taken from Crawford 1928. Compiled and revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 14 April 2015

• WM008-097002 Church
  Description

  The precise foundation date of the medieval church dedicated to St. Mary is not known but it is probably coeval with the foundation of the borough of Fore. The church is first mentioned in the 1302-06 ecclesiastical taxation of Ireland where the 'Church of St. Mary, Favorie' is valued at 20s. (Cal. doc. Ire., 259). After the dissolution of the monasteries, the church was leased to Christopher Nugent, lord of Delvin in 1567 (Nicholls 1994, 134). In this year the Crown granted Christopher Nugent a 21 year lease 'of the site of the priory (WM004-035010-) or manor of Fowre, county Westmeath, lands of Fowre, a lough there called [Logheleyn], lands of Hilton, Carpenterston, Mylcasteltowne, Gilbertston, Rahen, Dromsawry, with a chapel and tithes, Comoylston, Lighill alias, Larkehill by the parts of the Breny, Fayron, Keneleighe, Ratheny, Donamore, Betaghton, Nynche, 13s. 4d. chief rents out of Nenaghe, in the said county, and the customs of the tenants ; the rectories of S. Mary (WM008-097002-) in Fower, S. Fekins (WM004-035003-) in Fower, Archidiorum (WM004-035004-) in Fower, Fayron, Faghley, Mayne, Leigheblay, Dromiskille, Ragarf, Oldecastell, and Balmagarvy, in the counties of Meath and Westmeath, and diverse parsonages in the Breny. To hold the possessions of Fower, for 21 years from 1582, at a rent of £175 10s 8d., and maintaining five horsemen’ (ibid.). In 1578 the Crown granted a 5 year lease to William Dood ‘of the site of the abbey of Fower (WM004-035010-), co. Westmeath, and the lands in Fowre, Hilton, Carpenterstowne, Mylcastellton, Gilbertston, Raghin, Dromsawry, Comoylston, Leighill alias Larkehill, Firone, Kilmalighe, Rathenny, Donnamore, Ballynniskerry, Betaughston, the Ninche, and Nenaghe, and the tithes and alterages of the rectories of Fower (WM008-097002-), S. Fekyn (WM004-035003-) in Fower, Archediorum (WM004-035004-) of Fower, Fayron, Faughley, Mayne, Lighblay, Dormiskell, Ragarfett, Oldecastell, and Balmagarvy, counties of Meath and Westmeath. To hold for 5 years. Rent, £140’ (Nicholls 1994, 479). Bishop Dopping 's visitation of 1682-5 noted that the church was in disrepair before 1640 (Ellison 1975, 7). The ruins of the late medieval church lie in the old graveyard (WM008-097014-) N of the modern St. Feighin’s R. C. church. The present remains consist of the grass-covered foundations of the N and S walls, a short section of the W wall and the full gable of E wall which is covered in ivy. The rectangular undivided church (int. dims. 19.8m E-W x 7.1m N-S) was built with roughly coursed limestone rubble. The E wall has a small single light ogee-headed window with undecorated window spandrels and a hood-moulding above. The W wall lacks features and stands to a height of about 3m. Leask mentions the presence of a trough-shaped piscina located beneath a window jamb at the E end of the S wall but this feature is no longer visible (Bradley et. al. 1985, 83). A number of dressed and cut stones from the church including a chamfered window mullion and a finial stone of 15th/16th century date have been reused as headstones in the graveyard (WM008-097014-) while other cut stone has been built into the enclosing graveyard boundary wall which is post-1700 in date (ibid.). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 20 November 2013

• WM008-097003 Castle - unclassified
  Description

  Medieval castle located 135m SE of St. Mary's medieval church (WM008-097002-) and graveyard (WM008-097014-). No surface remains visible. Situated on flat grassland with good views in all directions. Marked as 'Christians Castle in ruins' on the 1837 edition of the OS 6-inch map which suggests that at this time there were some upstanding remains visible of this castle. The castle is marked as 'Site of' by the 1901 edition of the OS 6-inch map which suggests that by this date no surface remains of the castle survived above ground. 'Christians Castle' was presumably a late medieval tower house but nothing survives above ground today (Bradley et. al. 1985, 95). Compiled and updated by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 14 April 2015

• WM008-097004 Gateway
  Description

  Described by Bradley (1985, 76) as following: 'The South Gate is a rectangular gatehouse built of fairly evenly coursed limestone. It stands on the south side of the road from Crossakeel opposite the modern St. Feighin's R.C. Church. Only the ground floor survives but the presence of a spiral stair on the west side indicates that there was an upper level originally. The passage is entered through a round arch 2.6m wide. Some of the quoins are re-used stones from the Benedictine priory (WM004-035010-), and include one section of the cloister arcade. The north-east wall has an added external batter. A bank, c.1-1.5m high and 1.5m wide, runs south-west from the South Gate up the side of the hill. It is connected to a crossing bank of similar size which skirts the base of the Ben of Fore and turns north-west to link in with the North Gate. These banks have a rubble core and there are traces of stone facing. Further protection appears to have been added on this side by scarping the side of the hill at two levels contiguous with the base of the Ben of Fore'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 14 April 2015

• WM008-097005 Cross - Wayside cross
  Description

  Wayside cross listed by Crawford (1928, 62) as cross No. 15, the current location of this cross is unknown (Bradley et. al. 1985, 94). Listed by bradley (1985, 94) as Fore 3. This cross was drawn by George Du Noyer in the 19th century and described in 1928 by Crawford as 'The head of a small plain cross with solid ring; 1ft. 9in. (0.52m) across the arms and 5in. (0.12m) thick. It was formerly in the graveyard (WM008-097014-) at St. Mary's Church (WM008-097002-); and is now preserved in St. Fechin's Church (WM008-035003-)' (Crawford 1928, 62, no. 15). It was recorded in 1976 that the cross inside St. Fechin's Church (WM008-035003-) 'is no longer to be seen amongst the stones preserved in the chancel of that church' (SMR file). It has been suggested that this cross was originally located in the townland of Clonageeragh where the base (WM004-010----) of the cross still survives (SMR file). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 23 June 2010

• WM008-097007 Church
  Description

  Listed by Bradley (1985, 83) as a Penal Chapel of possible 17th century date. The ruins of this T-shaped church stand at the W end of the graveyard (WM008-097014-) of St. Mary's parish church (WM008-097002-). On the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map this building is annotated as R. C. Chapel and is shown standing immediately to the W of the medieval ruins of St. Mary's Church (WM008-097002-). The present remains consist of fragments of the N, E, and S wall which are possibly of seventeenth century date. They are ivy-clad and stand to a height of 3-4m with internal dimensions of 26.5m by 5.05m. Some plaster remains on the returns of a late pointed door with cut stone jambs in the S wall. There are two walls running N from the centre of the church for a distance of c. 2.5m - 4.5m with a distance between them of 6.2m. Their function is unclear (Bradley et. al. 1985, 83). Dr Beryl Moore, in her unpublished notes in the County Library, Navan, mentions the existence of a large tablet or possible memorial stone (WM008-097013-) dating from 1616 over the N entrance to the penal chapel (WM008-097007-). Compiled by: Rachel Barrett and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 20 November 2013.

• WM008-097008 Font
  Description

  Possible medieval sandstone font belonging to St. Mary's church (WM008-097002-) which is now half buried in the graveyard (WM008-097014-) to the W of the medieval church ruins. Lichen covered pink-coloured sandstone font (dims. H c. 0.4m; diam. 0.45m; basin diam. 0.3m; D 0.24m) which is tub-shaped and has a circular basin, but no central drainage hole visible (Bradley et. al. 1985, 83; Roe 1968, 118). Compiled by: Rachel Barrett and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 20 November 2013

• WM008-097009 Cross-slab
  Description

  Cross-slab of unknown date which is located N of N wall of the medieval ruins of St. Mary's parish church (WM008-097002-). Cross-slab consists of an upright limestone slab (dims. H 0.9m; Wth. 0.33m; T 0.05m) with an incised equal armed cross with bars at the terminals (Bradley et. al. 1985, 83-4). Compiled and updated by: Rachel Barrett and Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 14 April 2015

• WM008-097010 Memorial stone
  Description

  17th century memorial stone may be located underneath mound of rubble stone due to recent collapse of the E end of the N wall of the medieval church (WM008-097002-). The memorial stone was dedicated to Raymond Fitzsimons who died on the 14th November 1613. The stone was inserted into the S face of the N wall of St. Mary's parish church (WM008-097002-) close to the NE angle and adjacent to 17th century wall monument (WM008-097011-) dedicated to the Nugent family. The stone consisted of a small sandstone block (dims. H 0.23m; Wth 0.23m) with Roman inscription in false relief: I H S/ REMVN/ FISIMVNS/ EIRES IN/ ?EPO(fai). XIIII/ NOVEMB/ 16XIII (Bradley et. al. 1985, 84). Compiled and updated by: Rachel Barrett and Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 16 April 2015

• WM008-097011 Wall monument
  Description

  Wall monument dedicated to the Nugent family, erected 1680. Pink sandstone slab (dims. H 1.94m; Wth 0.83m) inserted into E wall of St. Mary's parish church (WM008-097002-) where it is located off centre to N. Nugent arms placed above an incised commemorative inscription. The flattened shield has two bars ermine with a crescent for the second son surrounded by elaborate mantling and the crown and cockatrice of the Nugents. The motto is DECREVI. Inscription in Roman letters: THIS MONUMENT WAS FIRST/ BEGUN FOR OLIVER NUGENT/ OF BELENA IN THE COVNTY/ OF MEATH ESQ BROTHER TO/ THE [H]ONOURABLE RICHARD/ LOR[D] BARON OF DELVIN BY chrisTOPHER NUGENT HIS/ Son aND HEIRE WHICH OLIVER/ DIED THE 17 OF MARCH 1589 AND/ WAS HERE ERECTED AT THE COST/ AND CARE OF ROBERT NUGENT OF/ CLONE GIRACH AND XPHER Nt/ GRAND CHILDREN TO THE Sd/ XPHER OF NICHOLAS & ROBERT/ SONS OF OLIVER Nt OF WILLIAM/ XPHER EDMOND & RICHARD/ SONS OF JAMES Nt BOTH NEPH/ EUS TO THE Sd AND OF EDMOND/ N GRAND CHILD TO THE Sd XPHER/ & THOMAS HIS SON FOR THE INTERRING OF THEM & THER/ POSTERITY ANNO DOM 1680/ GOOD XPIANS PRAY FOR/ THESE HERE INTERRD (Bradley et. al. 1985, 84; Anon 1898-1900, 134, 487). Compiled and updated by: Rachel Barrett and Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 14 April 2015

• WM008-097012 Memorial stone
  Description

  Wall memorial dedicated to Robert Nugent and his wife Eleanor who died in 1683. Sandstone memorial stone (dims. L 1m; H 0.36m) located off centre to S in W face of E wall of St. Mary's parish church (WM008-097002-). Narrow sandstone slab with worn incised inscription: THE MONUMENT WAS BUILT BY ROBERT NUGENT/ [SON TO JAMES FITZ CHRISTOP]HER OF BELEA/ [IN THE COUNTY OF MEATH ESQ. FOR] INTERRI[NG OF HIMSELF/ AND HIS SUCCESSO]RS AND/ [IN SPECIAL MEMORY OF HIS WIFE] E[LI]N[OR] N[UGENT/ OF BRACKLEN ESQRE WHO DI]ED/ [THE XTH DAY OF XBER ANNO D[O]MI 1683] (Bradley et. al. 1985, 84). The missing letters in brackets were taken from Isaac Butler's reading of the memorial in the late 19th century (Butler 1888-91, 508). Compiled by: Rachel Barrett and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 21 November 2013

• WM008-097013 Memorial stone
  Description

  Memorial stone dating from 1616 which was located over the N entrance to the penal chapel (WM008-097007-) standing inside the graveyard (WM008-097014-) of St. Mary's church (WM008-097002-). This stone is now missing. Dr Beryl Moore, in her unpublished notes in the County Library, Navan, mentions the existence of a large tablet over the N entrance to the penal chapel (WM008-097007-). It was dated 1616 and depicted a figure in a hair shirt. In 1985 Mr. Paddy Healy informed the Urban Survey that he had seen this memorial stone in one of the local public houses but inquiries failed to locate its whereabouts in the village of Fore(Bradley et. al. 1985, 85). Compiled by: Rachel Barrett and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 21 November 2013,

• WM008-097014 Graveyard
  Description

  Roughly rectangular-shaped graveyard (dims. 74m NW-SE x 43m N-S) defined by a boundary wall of post-medieval date with the remains of a medieval church (WM008-097002-) standing in the N quadrant. The graveyard contains inscribed memorials dating from the 18th century onwards. The ruins of a T-plan R. C. church (WM008-097007-) of possible late 17th century date can be seen in the W quadrant of the graveyard. The wayside cross (WM008-097001-) now standing in the triangular-shaped green was originally located inside this graveyard. A number of dressed and cut stones from the church (WM008-097002-) including a chamfered window mullion and a finial stone of 15th/16th century date have been reused as headstones in the graveyard while other cut stone has been built into the enclosing graveyard boundary wall which is post-1700 in date (Bradley et. al. 1985, 83). A limestone piscina (dims. H 0.24m; Wth 0.5m) of 17th/18th century date has been built into the S wall of the graveyard (ibid.) Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 20 November 2013

• WM008-097015 Cross - Wayside cross
  Description

  Listed by Crawford as Cross No. 16 (Crawford 1928, 62). Depicted as ‘Cross’ on the 1910 ed. OS 25-inch map where it is shown standing in a triangular green in the village of Fore, Co. Westmeath. The cross is not shown at this location on earlier editions of the OS 6-inch maps and was originally located in the graveyard (WM008-097014-) of St. Mary’s Church (WM008-097002-) located 70m to the SE (ibid.). See WM008-097001- entry for full description of Wayside Cross at its current location. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 21 November 2013

• WM008-097016 Cross - Market cross
  Description

  The remains of a wayside cross (WM008-097001-) of possible 17th century date appears to have been taken from the nearby graveyard (WM008-097014-) and inserted into the socket of an earlier cross, possibly the market cross of the village of Fore. Depicted as ‘Cross’ on the 1910 ed. OS 25-inch map where it is shown standing in a triangular-shaped green in the village of Fore, Co. Westmeath. In 1928 the wayside cross and its base was described by Crawford as consisting of the 'head and upper part of the shaft of a cross with a solid recessed ring; set in a large socket stone with inclined sides. The cross is 2ft. 3in. (0.68m) in height above the socket, and has a crucifixion carved on the front; the figure has the arms placed horizontally and the feet crossed. Some years ago the cross lay in the graveyard (WM008-097014-) at St. Mary's Church (WM008-097002-), but it has recently been fixed in the socket in the village street' (Crawford 1928, 62). The wayside cross and its base were described in 1980 as consisting of a 'small stone solid-ring cross (WM008-097016-) set in a base erected in the small triangular green in Fore village. The base (dims. Wth. 0.71m x H 0.4m) is a large roughly rectangular-shaped block of what seems to be a conglomerate stone. The socket (dims. 0.27m x 0.34m) appears to be much larger than the shaft (Wth 0.22m; T 0.15m) of the cross but it is now filled with concrete' (SMR file). According to the SMR file this wayside cross (WM008-097016-) was 'set into a large socket stone which was probably made orginally for another larger cross. It is possible that the present base of the wayside cross may have been the base of a market cross which stood in the triangular shaped green. The shaft and upper portion of this possible market cross have since disappeared and were replaced by the present cross in the early 1900s. The base of this cross may have belonged to a market cross that was described in the OS Name Books dating from 1875. The OS described the cross in 1875 as consisting of an 'ancient stone cross, which is now in a dilapidated state, only a portion of it remaining. The cross was formerly in the centre of the market place when this was a borough town having a weekly market and faires?' (OS Name Book 1875, 1). See attached image (WM008-097016-_01.jpeg) of wayside cross and base of possible market cross taken from Crawford 1928. Compiled and updated by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 14 April 2015

Architectural heritage

• Greville-Nugent Mausoleum, mausoleum, 1500–1870 · National interest
  Description

  Freestanding four-bay mausoleum and mortuary chapel, built 1867, abutting and incorporating a single-bay two-storey rubble limestone tower house, on square-plan, to the west, built c.1500 and altered c.1867 with addition of a battlemented parapet. Steeply pitched roof to later structure with flagstone covering having ashlar limestone kneeler stones/fractables, moulded ashlar limestone eaves course and a moulded ashlar ridge course to roof apex with finial block to east gable. Coursed square rubble limestone walls with extensive detailing. Including clasping corners buttresses and a chamfered ashlar plinth. Ogee-headed lancet window openings, set in flush ashlar limestone surrounds, to nave (north and south) having cast-iron bars. Pointed-arched doorcase to west having scrolled ashlar limestone surround and timber boarded double-doors with chevron pattern. Sandstone memorial above doorcase, dated 1680, commemorating the Nugent Family. Number of monuments and memorials to the interior, of main medieval and post medieval date, most commemorating the Nugent Family. Memorial dated 1616 reads 'last hermit of Fore, Patrick Begley'. Set back from road on side of a steep hill overlooking Fore Abbey to the west. Site is enclosed by a battlemented rubble limestone wall with ashlar coping and a projecting string course. Dressed limestone gate piers to west having iron gates.

• Saint Feichin's Catholic Church, church/chapel, 1880–1912 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached double-height Roman Catholic church, built c.1885, comprising four-bay nave, single-bay chancel to the southeast with single-storey sacristy attached to southwest side with a single-bay entrance porch to the southeast end of main elevation (southeast). Four-stage tower, on square-plan having an octagonal belfry and spire over, flanking nave to northwest, built c.1912. Pitched natural slate roof with bracketed eaves, raised moulded limestone verges to gable ends and decorative ridge cresting and cast-iron rainwater goods. Modern glass section added to roof at southeast end of nave. Constructed of dark rock-faced limestone having extensive light-coloured ashlar/dressed limestone trim, including dressings to openings and flush string courses. Clasping buttress between each bay to nave and to the corners. Cusped lancet openings to nave and to tower, triple graded cusped lancet window to nave gable (northwest) and a wide pointed-arched opening to the chancel gable having Geometric cut stone tracery with stained glass windows. Pointed-arched doorcase to southwest face of tower having dressed limestone surround having hoodmoulding and timber sheeted double doors with a plain overlight above. Pointed segmental/Tudor arch to the northwest face to porch having cut stone surround with timber panelled door. Set back from road in own grounds with rubble limestone boundary wall to road frontage having decorative cast-iron railings over (to central section) and cast-iron double gates. Cut stone plaque reading 'St Feichin’s Fore 1885 A.D.’ built into wall. Graveyard to southeast of church with collection of cut limestone and slate headstones. Remains of former St. Mary’s church (late Medieval) to the east and the remains of a small penal chapel to the north, set in a graveyard. Site located towards the southeast end of Fore Village.

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).

Radon

About 1 in 5 homes in this area is likely to have high radon levels. Testing a home

Landslides

Susceptibility high, moderately high, moderately low, low, low (inferred), on the 1:50,000 map.

Terrain model

No LiDAR survey of the Office of Public Works covers the centre of the townland of Fore.

Flooding

The flood maps of the Office of Public Works: floodinfo.ie.

Radon Risk Map of Ireland, Environmental Protection Agency; Landslide Susceptibility Classification, Geological Survey Ireland; both CC BY 4.0. 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.

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

Name

Fore · Baile Fhobhair

Area

552,814 m² (55.28 ha, 136.6 acres)

Civil parish

St. Feighins, and its townlands

Barony

Fore

Electoral division

Fore West, the unit of the census

Census 2022

Fore West electoral division: 404 people in 146 households; 86% of households own their home; 30% of homes were built since 2001; 13% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 3% were holiday homes.

Neighbouring townlands

Aghalasty and Ankersland, Ben, Clonnageeragh, Lakill and Moortown, Windtown

Placenames

Fore on logainm.ie, the Placenames Database of Ireland

Townlands, civil parishes, baronies and electoral divisions, National Statutory Boundaries, Tailte Éireann, CC BY 4.0. Census 2022, Small Area Population Statistics by electoral division, Central Statistics Office, 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.