Kilmacnevan

9 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Kilmacnevan, from 4,253 m² (0.43 ha, 1.05 acres) to 628,332 m² (62.83 ha, 155.26 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary; 18 neighbouring parcels touch it.

No zone of a development plan covers Kilmacnevan 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.

No planning application touches the townland of Kilmacnevan in the national file, which goes back to 2010.

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

Designated sites

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

Recorded monuments

• WM010-038 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  Situated on a slight natural rise surrounded by gently undulating grassland with good views to the SE, SW & NW. Ringfort (WM010-039----) 75m to E. No surface remains visible of monument which was levelled between 1972-3. Described in 1972 as a sub-circular shaped area (approx. diam. 23m N-S; 20m E-W) enclosed by a poorly preserved bank and slight external fosse. The bank is levelled at from S-SE, & from NNE-N. There is an entrance gap (Wth 3.8m) at SW. The interior slopes from NNW-SSE. At the centre of the monument, and occupying most of the interior is a rectangular house site (WM010-038001-). Four low banks extend from this house site at SW, NW, ENE & NE towards the perimeter. No surface remains visible on Digital Globe aerial photograph taken November 2011. See attached sketch plan of monument drawn by ASI in 1972. Compiled by: Frank Coyne and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 9 June 2017

• WM010-038001 House - indeterminate date
  Description

  Situated on a slight natural rise surrounded by gently undulating grassland with good views to the SE, SW & NW. Ringfort (WM010-039----) 75m to E. At the centre of a ringfort (WM010-038---) is a rectangular house site (long axis NNE-SSW) occupying most of the interior of the monument, represented by low grass covered banks. It is divided internally by a low cross bank. Site was levelled between 1972-3. No surface remains visible on Digital Globe aerial photograph taken November 2011. Compiled by: Frank Coyne and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 9 June 2017

• WM010-039 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  Situated on a slight natural rise surrounded by gently undulating grassland with good views to the S & W. Levelled ringfort (WM010-038----) 75m to W. A circular shaped area (approx. diam. 26m N-S) enclosed by two poorly preserved earthen banks and intervening wide flat-bottomed fosse. The inner bank is best preserved at N, and is levelled from SW-W. It has traces of dry stone walling on both its inner and outer faces. A sub-circular shaped hut site (WM010-039001-) is visible in the NE quadrant of the monument. See attached profile of monument surveyed and drawn by the ASI. Compiled by: Frank Coyne and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 9 June 2017

• WM010-039001 Hut site
  Description

  Situated on a slight natural rise surrounded by gently undulating grassland with good views to the S & W. Levelled ringfort (WM010-038----) 75m to W. A sub-circular shaped house site (diam. 5.80m NE-SW; 4.80m NW-SE) enclosed by a grass covered earth and stone bank (Wth 1.3m; H 0.35m) visible in NE quadrant of ringfort (WM010-039---). There is an entrance gap (Wth 2.6m) into the hut site at W. Compiled by: Frank Coyne and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 9 June 2017

• WM010-040 Settlement deserted - medieval
  Description

  Situated on grassland with Kilmacnevan church (WM010-115----) 600m to SE and ringfort (WM010-039---) 60m to NW. These settlement earthworks are known locally as the ‘old town of Ballynacarrigy’. On the 17th century Down Survey map of Moygoish barony the present townland of Kilmacnevan was marked as Ballintur. The settlement earthworks are depicted as a cluster of dwellings and annotated as 'Ballintur towne' on the 1654-59 Down Survey map of Moygoish barony map (NLI, MS 723-4). On the 1654-59 Down Survey map of Kilmacnevan parish map a castle (WM010-040001-) is depicted standing beside the cluster of dwellings depicted as 'Ballintue towne' (WM010-040----). The terrier of this map recorded that in this parish there was a castle lately ruined 'in Ballintue' (ibid.). The precise location of this castle known as Ballintue Castle has not been identified. Not the same castle as the Site of Castle (WM010-019----) located 1.1km NNW of the settlement earthworks which is marked in Ballintue on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map. The earthworks are clearly visible on aerial photographs taken by Cambridge University in 1966 (CUCAP APG099/100). Present remains consist of a large complex of low banks, rectangular enclosures & possible hut sites covering an area of at least 3 hectares. There are a number of small house sites scattered about the complex. There is a laneway cutting through the site however, this appears to be more modern & there is no sign of a laneway or street connecting the house sites. The earthworks complex is bounded by a stream along its W side. These earthworks appear to represent the remains of a deserted medieval settlement associated with Ballintue Castle. See attached plan of monument surveyed and drawn by the ASI. Compiled by: Frank Coyne and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 9 June 2017

• WM010-040001 Castle - unclassified
  Description

  Situated on grassland with Kilmacnevan church (WM010-115----) 600m to SE and ringfort (WM010-039---) 60m to NW. On the 17th century Down Survey map of Moygoish barony the present townland of Kilmacnevan was marked as Ballintur. The settlement earthworks (WM010-040----) are depicted as a cluster of dwellings and annotated as 'Ballintur towne' on the 1654-59 Down Survey map of Moygoish barony map (NLI, MS 723-4). On the Down Survey map of Kilmacnevan parish map a castle is depicted standing beside the cluster of dwellings depicted as 'Ballintue towne' (NLI, MS 723-4). The terrier of this parish map recorded that the castle had been recently destroyed and was described as 'lately ruinous' (ibid.). The precise location of this castle known as Ballintue Castle has not been identified. Not the same castle as the Site of Castle (WM010-019----) located 1.1km NNW of the settlement earthworks which is marked in Ballintue on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map. Present remains consist of a large complex of low banks, rectangular enclosures & possible hut sites covering an area of at least 3 hectares. It is bounded by a stream along its W side. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 12 June 2017

• WM011-113 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  Situated on a slight natural rise surrounded by gently undulating grassland. Kilmacnevan House 200m to N. Ringfort (WM011-114----) 50m to SSE. A sub-circular shaped area (approx. diam. 25m NW-SE; 25m NE-SW) enclosed by a low earthen bank revetted externally with a drystone wall and a slight outer fosse. The interior slopes towards the perimeter at ESE & WNW and is almost completely overgrown. In the ESE quadrant there is a linear earth and stone bank, some of which are large flag-stones (L 7.2m; H 0.5m). It is possible that this was originally a ringfort that was re-used as a tree ring in the post-1700 period. Compiled by: Frank Coyne and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 28 August 2017

• WM011-114 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  Situated on a low natural rise in well drained grassland with good views of the surrounding countryside. Kilmacnevan House 265m to NNW, possible ringfort (WM011-113----) 50m to NNW. Church (WM011-115---) 200m to SE, with ecclesiastical enclosure (WM011-115002-) 40m to SE. A raised sub-circular shaped area (approx. diam. 26m N-S; 31m E-W) enclosed by a drystone wall and a slight outer fosse visible at S only. A field fence running NE-SW intersects the perimeter of the site at NNE & W. It is possible that this was originally a ringfort that was re-used as a tree ring in the post-1700 period. Compiled by: Frank Coyne and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 28 August 2017

• WM011-115 Church
  Description

  Kilmacnevan monastic site placed on the Register of Historic Monuments in 1989. Extract from Iris Oifigiúil 25th April 1989. Situated on well drained grassland with good views of the surrounding countryside. Kilmacnevan Castle (WM010-040004-) and deserted medieval settlement (WM010-040----) 650m to N, ringfort (WM011-114----) 200m to NW. Kilmacnevan Church depicted standing in the townland of Ballintue on the 1654-9 Down Survey map of Kilmacnevan parish (NLI, MS 723-4). The terrier of this parish map recorded that there was 'one Church between Rathmore and Ballintue' (ibid.). The poorly preserved ivy-covered ruins of the medieval nave and chancel parish church of Kilmacnevan stand in the N quadrant of a graveyard (WM011-015---). In the field to the W of the church are possible remains of a large early Christian ecclesiastical enclosure (WM011-015002-). Present church ruins consist of a small nave and chancel church of which the E, N and S walls of the chancel survive upstanding (max. H 3m). The ivy-covered walls of the chancel are the best preserved with a segmental archway in the centre of the W wall which appears to represent the remains of the chancel arch. Only the lower ivy-covered wall footings of the nave survive. A piscina is visible in the S wall. The chancel was lit by a single light window in the centre of the E gable and a similar window in the N and S wall of the chancel. A small aumbry is visible in the E wall located close to the NE angle of the chancel. See attached plan of monument surveyed and drawn by the ASI. Compiled by: Frank Coyne and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 28 August 2017

• WM011-115001 Graveyard
  Description

  Kilmacnevan monastic site placed on the Register of Historic Monuments in 1989. Extract from Iris Oifigiúil 25th April 1989. Situated on well drained grass land, a trapezoidal-shaped graveyard (approx. diam. 33m NE-SW; 29m NW-SE; wall T 0.5m) enclosed by a mortared stone wall dating from 1863. Graveyard entered through shouldered-arched gateway in centre of S wall with stile immediately to E. 1863 date inscribed with the name 'KILLMACKNEVAN' on the lintel of the entrance arch. A second stone stile can be seen at W end of N wall of graveyard. The interior of the graveyard contains memorials dating from the 18th century to the present time. Medieval ruins of Kilmacnevan Church (WM011-015---) in N quadrant. To S of the church there is the possible base and head of a high cross (WM011-115003-). A linear earthen bank can be seen running W from the SW angle of the graveyard and other earthworks are visible in the field immediately to the W. The graveyard possibly stands inside a larger early Christian ecclesiastical enclosure (WM011-015002-) containing numerous low earthworks which may represent a medieval settlement. See attached plan of monument surveyed and drawn by the ASI. Compiled by: Frank Coyne and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 28 August 2017

• WM011-115002 Ecclesiastical enclosure
  Description

  The monastic site of Cill Mhic Naomháin (Kilmacnevan) was placed on the Register of Historic Monuments in 1989. Extract from Iris Oifigiúil 25th April 1989. Situated on in fairly well drained grass-land with good views of the surrounding countryside. A semi-circular shaped area (approx. diam 20m N-S) enclosed by a low very poorly preserved earthen bank from S-W-N, at the centre of a large sub-circular earthen banked (Wth 3m) area (approx. diam. 75m N-S; 80m E-W) which incorporates Kilmacnevan Church (WM011-115---), graveyard (WM011-115001-) and high cross (WM011-0115003-) in its SE quadrant. In the SW quadrant of the interior is a complex of low banks and a possible rectangular house site (WM011-115004-). Other banks run outside the enclosure on from S-W-NE. This enclosure appears to be part of a larger series of earthworks extending approximately 8 hectares which are visible on Digital Globe aerial photograph taken November 2011. Ecclesiastical enclosure listed by Swan (1988, 13) who recorded that there was evidence of a possible enclosure in the quadrantal form of the boundary wall of the graveyard (WM011-115001-). The Schools' Collection of 1937-9 recorded the following folklore regarding these earthworks which stated that 'there was a town where the graveyard lies now. There was a monastery in the town and in one corner of the graveyard there are the ruins of the monastery' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0740, 281). The folklore also recorded the presence of a 17th century mass burial pit in the field beside the graveyard that was marked by a 'big bush' the location of which has not been identified. According to local tradition the 'custom was that every funeral going into the graveyard had to go round the bush three times and the priest say the Deprofundis' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0740, 281). The custom was stopped by the local priest c. 1918. See attached plan of monument surveyed and drawn by the ASI. Compiled and revised by: Frank Coyne and Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 24 August 2015

• WM011-115003 Cross - High cross
  Description

  Kilmacnevan monastic site placed on the Register of Historic Monuments in 1989. Extract from Iris Oifigiúil 25th April 1989. Possible base and ringed head of a high cross standing in S quadrant of graveyard (WM011-115001-) which contains the ruins of Kilmacnevan Church (WM011-015---) both of which are enclosed by an Early Christian ecclesiastical enclosure (WM011-115002-). Lying on the surface of the graveyard is the head of a ringed cross of possible 10th-11th century date. Nearby is a circular stone with a hole in the centre, probably a base for this cross. See attached plan of monument surveyed and drawn by the ASI. Compiled by: Frank Coyne and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 28 August 2017

• WM011-115004 House - indeterminate date
  Description

  Kilmacnevan monastic site placed on the Register of Historic Monuments in 1989. Extract from Iris Oifigiúil 25th April 1989. Situated on fairly well drained grassland with good views of the surrounding countryside. Kilmacnevan church (WM011-115---) graveyard (WM011-115001-) and high cross (WM011-115003-) immediately to NNE. The wall footings of a possible rectangular house (approx. diam. 5m N-S; 4m E-W) with an entrance at N (Wth 2m) are visible in the SW quadrant of Early Christian ecclesiastical enclosure (WM011-115002-). The Schools' Collection of 1937-9 recorded the following folklore regarding these earthworks which stated that 'there was a town where the graveyard lies now. There was a monastery in the town and in one corner of the graveyard there are the ruins of the monastery' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0740, 281). See attached plan of monument surveyed and drawn by the ASI. Compiled by: Frank Coyne and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 28 August 2017

• WM011-115005 Bullaun stone
  Description

  Saddle-shaped bullaun stone (dims. L 0.44m x T 0.2m x Wth 0.25m) with shallow depression (dims. top diam 0.22m x 0.16m; base diam. 0.1m; 0.08m D) located in SW quadrant of Kilmacnevan graveyard (WM011-115001-). The stone is shaped like a small saddle quern and may have functioned as a stoup embedded into the wall of Kilmacnevan Church (WM011-115-----). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 12 December 2017

Designated sites: National Parks and Wildlife Service. Recorded monuments: Sites and Monuments Record, National Monuments Service. Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Works at or in relation to a recorded monument need two months' written notice to the National Monuments Service (National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994, section 12).

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

Name

Kilmacnevan · Cill Mhic Naomháin

Area

969,391 m² (96.94 ha, 239.54 acres)

Civil parish

Kilmacnevan, and its townlands

Barony

Moygoish

Electoral division

Kilbixy, the unit of the census

Neighbouring townlands

Ballintue, Deerpark, Irishtown, Rathduff, Rathmore

Placenames

Kilmacnevan 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.