Monroe

Area

190,109 m² (19.01 ha, 46.98 acres)

Buildings

No building touches it.

Zoning

No zone of a development plan covers it in the national zoning. Outside zoned towns and villages, the county development plan's rural policies apply.

Townland

Monroe

Planning applications on this parcel

No planning application touches this parcel in the national file, which goes back to 2010.

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

Designated sites

• Proposed Natural Heritage Area: Lough Owel 000688

Recorded monuments around it

This parcel is in the zone of notification of 12 recorded monuments.

• KK021-054 Ring-ditch
  Description

  On an island formed by the River Barrow on the E side and by an offshoot of the river on the W side, in tillage. A small circular enclosure (diam. c. 10m) visible as a cropmark on Google Earth (imagery date 14 July 2018), identified and reported by Simon Dowling. See attached Google Earth image (imagery date 14 July 2018) Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 28 January 2020

• WM011-142 Penitential station
  Description

  Monument placed on the Register of Historic Monuments on the 17/02/1977. Extract from Iris Oifigiúil 25th February 1977. Classification of this monument has been problematical with several different classifications proposed for this monument. Described as an 'Earthwork' on the Register of Historic Monuments in 1977. Various classifications have been suggested for this earthwork such as a possible mound or barrow, a hut site, an artificial mound or site of a summerhouse/gazebo. In 1962 this site was described as Lack Loman which preserved the 'memory of St. Lomán who founded a monastery here (Portloman WM011-145----) and a church on Inis Mór, alias Church Island (WM012-167----), near the E shore of the lake (Lough Owel)' (Killanin and Duignan 1962, 3810) In 1969 the monument was inspected by H. A Wheeler who described the monument as consisting of a small roughly square-shaped mound (approx. H 1m; 6m x 6m) enclosed by an earth and stone bank with doorway or entrance gap (Wth 0.85m) at NW corner which led him to suggest that this earthwork may have have been the collapsed remains of a square-shaped hut site or house. He recorded that the place name of the monument suggested that it might have been the burial place of Saint Lomán a disciple of St Patrick who founded a monastery at Portloman (SMR File 31/10/1969). Lomán of Lough Owel (Lough Uair) was the son of Oireannan and was associated with a church (WM012-167----) on Church Island (Inis Mór) and with a church at Portloman (Teach/Port Lomáin) also possibly known as Teach Mic Luim (Ó Riain 1992, 401-02). According to Ó Riain (1992, 402) Leac Lomáin marked the start of the station formerly performed at his church (WM011-145----). Portloman church (WM011-145---) lies 800m to the NE and the nearest shoreline of Lough Owel lies 700m to the E. Ringfort (WM011-143----) lies 100m to SE. Surveyed in 2012 and described by McGuinness (2012, 41) as following: ‘This site, marked Lack Loman (Leac Loman, St. Loman's Stone) on OS 6" map, has been identified as a barrow in the RMP. It comprises a naturally shaped, dished flagstone, surrounded by an oval, penannular bank (Diam. 7m NE-SW x 6m NW-SE) up to 0.5m high, fenced off from the surrounding field and heavily overgrown with thick grass. An entrance passage 0.61m in width runs for a distance of 1.8m from NW perimeter to flagstone at centre of monument. There are no grounds for identifying this monument as a barrow, tumulus or any other kind of prehistoric burial. The penannular bank, which probing shows to contain much stone beneath the sod, surrounds what was an important station for pilgrims visiting church of Portloman (WM011-145----) in 1830s (OSL 1837, Vol. 1, 176-80) and has the appearance of a pilgrims' cairn. According to local information gathered by the writer, travellers used to visit the stone up until c. 10 years ago and there was a tradition of pilgrims leaving stones at it’. See attached plan of monument surveyed and drawn by the ASI. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by David McGuinness. Date of upload: 25 April 2016

• WM011-143 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  Situated on ENE facing slope of a prominent hill in grassland, overlooking Lough Owel to the E, NE & SE, with excellent views in other directions also. Penitential station (WM011-142----) 100m to NW. A large circular shaped area (approx. diam. 37m E-W) enclosed by a low broad well preserved earthen bank and slight external fosse. Traces of cultivation ridges are visible running WSW-ENE across the interior of the monument. A field fence running NW-SE intersects the perimeter of the site from N-E. Compiled by: Frank Coyne and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 30 August 2017

• WM011-144 Barrow - bowl-barrow
  Description

  Monument placed on the Register of Historic Monuments on the 17/02/1977. Extract from Iris Oifigiúil 25th February 1977. Portloman Abbey (WM011-145----) and Lough Owel 200m to E, standing stone (WM011-146----) 170m to SSW, bowl-barrow (WM011-139----) 300m to NNW. In 1912 it was recorded that a medieval graveslab (WM011-145002-) was excavated out of the mound located in the field beside Portloman Church (WM011-145----) and graveyard (WM011-145001-) (Tuite 1912, 69). The slab 'was found in the centre of the earthwork, on a level with the surrounding land, but there is no tradition that any human remains were underneath. Almost ever since this beautiful old stone has served the ignoble purpose of an improvised footway across the boundary-ditch which separates the farm on which it was found from the adjoining graveyard of Portloman' (Tuite 1912, 69). This mound was described by James Tuite (1912, 69) as following; 'The greater part of the mound still exists, and from examination it would appear that the work of excavation was carefully carried out. At present it stands about 18 feet (5.5m) in height; originally it was probably not more than 22 feet (6.7m). It is of the usual type we see scattered over the country, and in which Westmeath is particularly rich, especially this west shore of Lough Owel. In the immediate neighbourhood, and quite near the lake, is the mound of Forraidh, where Fiachra, brother of Nial of the Nine Hostages, was interred (Silva Gadelica); the mounds at Slanemore, associated with the ancient tale, Táin Bó Cuailgne; and the celebrated hill of Fremhain (Frewin); while Portloman itself occupies a very prominent place in Irish ecclesiastical history. I may also add that the Slige Assail, one of the great roads from Tara, runs through the above-named townlands, and its course can be distinctly traced in several places'. The presence of a medieval graveslab underneth the mound suggests that either the mound dates from the medieval period or that it was a prehistoric burial mound reused in the medieval period. Surveyed in 2012 and described by McGuinness (2012, 31-2) as following: ‘Enormous circular mound (Diam. 34.5m N-S x 35.5m E-W) with rounded, almost conical profile and flat-topped, irregular-shaped summit (Diam. 4.5m N-S x 4.5m E-W), surrounded by relatively shallow ditch, up to 0.3m in depth below external ground level, that is best preserved at SE and running from S to SW. Height of mound above ditch ranges from 3.06m on S side to 4.04m on N side. It is possible that apex of mound may be stepped, as at Slane More (WM018-078----) this effect is most pronounced at S and SW, where there is a clear drop of O.5m. On SE side, the well-defined ditch has what appears to be a counterscarp bank, but this effect seems to be created by a falling off of natural ground-surface just beyond ditch to SE, a topographical feature that can be traced running off from the barrow in a NE direction. Width of ditch ranges from 2.5m at ESE to 5.5m at N, where it is broad, shallow and indistinct, so that overall diameter of monument is 44m N-S x 44m E-W. Even allowing for erosion, size of ditch is completely insufficient to account for the mass of earth in the mound, which might possibly represent a modified kame or other sort of glacial hillock common in this area. Profile of mound is irregular on E and NE sides, as if material has been removed, and it has suffered recent erosion in places due to grazing sheep. There are two mature deciduous trees on E and S edges of mound and others close by, all probably planted in the 18th century. Monument is situated in low-lying pasture c. 250m to SW of Lough Owel. Beginning 20m to WNW of the barrow is a broad, sunken channel 12m in width and 0.5m in depth, which runs off in a WNW direction. Mr Dermot Bannon, a local landowner, identified this as the ancient road known as the Slighe Asail. The ancient, embanked curvilinear enclosure surrounding the ruined medieval church (WM011-145----) of Portloman, site of an early foundation (WM011-145005-) (Swan 1988, 10), lies 190m to ENE on shore of Lough Owel; the church may itself be situated on a stepped barrow or tumulus. The RMP documents two standing stones in the vicinity of the barrow: one less than 200m to SW (WM011-146----), now apparently removed but modern according to a local landowner Mr Dermot Bannon; the other stands fixed in cement over 300m to SE (WM011-147----), and comprises a narrow, angular pillar rubbed smooth by animals, which Mr Bannon also plausibly regards as recent’. See attached profile of monument surveyed and drawn by the ASI. Compiled and revised by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by David McGuinness. Date of revised upload: 30 August 2017

• WM011-145 Church
  Description

  Lomán of Lough Owel (Lough Uair) was the son of Oireannan and was associated with a church (WM012-167----) on Church Island (Inis Mor) and with a church at Portloman (Teach/Port Lomáin) also possibly known as Teach Mic Luim (Ó Riain 1992, 401-02). According to Ó Riain (1992, 402) Lomán's church stood on the ancient roadway known as the Slighe Asail. According to local tradition a sacred song of Colum Cille called the Amhra was sung on a route or station performed between the church and the cross (WM011-145003-) and the penitential station Leac Lomán (WM011-142----) located 800m to SW (ibid.). His feastday fell on the 7th of February or possibly on the 3rd of February (ibid.). The church ruins were described in 1876 as measuring 'seventy-seven feet [23.5m], by twenty feet four inches [6.2m]. A stone [WM011-145002-], deeply embedded in the clay, was disinterred some years ago. It was shaped like a coffin-lid, and it had a cross inscribed. Probably, it marked the grave of some ecclesiastic, in former times' (O'Hanlon 1875-1903, 384). Described in 1980 as 'The ruin of a long rectangular building aligned ESE-WNW. The building is 8m wide by at least 25m long. The SSW wall, part of the WNW wall and part of the NNE wall survive. The ESE wall is missing so the exact length cannot be determined. There is a rect.[angular] doorway of roughly shaped stones near the W end of the SSW wall. There is the remains of the northern end of a crossing wall which seemingly divided the building into a nave and chancel. There are no decorated stones visible. The east end of the NNE wall is a cross wall. This area is very ruined but there appears to have been a mural stair here and there is a small garderobe near the cross wall between the nave and chancel. The surviving walls are very ruined and rise at their highest to 2.5m. The church ruin is set within a subcircular enclosure bounded by a low scarp which is well preserved from SE through E through NW to SW and poorly preserved from SW through S to SE. Beyond the foot of the scarp is a low earth and stone bank which now forms the perimeter of the graveyard (WM011-145004-). There is a modern stone wall built against the outer face of this from NW through N to east. The churchyard contains some 18th and 19th century tombstones. There are no earthworks visible in the surrounding field' (SMR file). A bowl-barrow (WM011-144----) lies 230m to W and a cross (WM011-145003-) lies 6m W of the church. The church and graveyard are located on the W shoreline of Lough Owel. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 24 June 2010

• WM011-145001 Cross-inscribed stone
  Description

  Described in 1980 as 'a flat sandstone slab (L 0.67m; Wth 0.28m) with an incised cross in the centre surrounded by a lightly incised pattern of rectangles. This stone lies on the ground about 2m west of the west end of the church (WM011-145----)' (SMR file, 15/10/1980). See attached rough sketch of graveslab drawn in 1980. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 24 June 2010

• WM011-145002 Graveslab
  Description

  In 1912 it was recorded that this graveslab was excavated out of the mound or possible bowl-barrow (WM011-144----) located in the field beside Portloman Church (WM011-145----) and graveyard (WM011-145001-) (Tuite 1912, 69). The slab 'was found in the centre of the earthwork, on a level with the surrounding land, but there is no tradition that any human remains were underneath. Almost ever since this beautiful old stone has served the ignoble purpose of an improvised footway across the boundary-ditch which separates the farm on which it was found from the adjoining graveyard of Portloman' (Tuite 1912, 69). This mound was described by Tuite (1912, 69) as following; 'The greater part of the mound still exists, and from examination it would appear that the work of excavation was carefully carried out. At present it stands about 18 feet (5.5m) in height; originally it was probably not more than 22 feet (6.7m). It is of the usual type we see scattered over the country, and in which Westmeath is particularly rich, especially this west shore of Lough Owel'. The graveslab was described a measuring 'about 6 feet (1.8m) long, 2 feet (0.6m) wide at the top, 18 inches (0.45m) at the bottom, and 5 inches (0.12m) thick. It is in a remarkably good state of preservation, due of course to the fact that it was for such a long period protected by the clay of the mound (ibid.). The graveslab was described as a 'tapering coffin-shape, but the ornamental carving is unusual. The ordinary floreated cross is absent, and in its place there is an axial line dividing the decorated surface longitudinally into two halves. Each of these halves is ornamented with a series of devices, similar but not sym¬metrically disposed. At the head of each side is a cross pattée with interlacing lines, below which is a sexfoil in a circle. Beneath this again is another cross pattée, differing from the first in having the limbs voided. The rest of the decoration consists of Greek fret, returned on the dexter side, and a continuous pattern, partly floral, partly geometrical, of fairly common type, which on the sinister side runs up to touch the upper cross' (ibid.) In 1980 the graveslab was described in 'a tapering limestone flag (Top Wth 0.67m; base Wth 0.3m; L 0.67m) approx. 0.17m thick now set on a modern concrete base inside the graveyard (WM011-145004-) gate. The slab is divided by a double line down the centre and decorated with a fret and marigold. Another fret and a double line of a key pattern and a chain of recessed S-shaped loops' (SMR file). See attached drawing of graveslab taken from JRSAI 1912. Compiled and revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 30 August 2017

• WM011-145003 Cross
  Description

  Described in 1980 as 'Almost 6m west of the west wall of the ruin (WM011-145----) is a small broken cross (H 0.9m; Wth c. 0.22m; T 0.12m) with a solid ring. The cross is of limestone and bears no inscription. The workmanship suggests a late medieval date at the earliest' (SMR file) the cross is located to the W of a medieval church ruins (WM011-145----) standing inside a ciruclar shaped graveyard (WM011-145004-) with bowl-barrow (WM011-144----) 220m to W. See attached rough sketch of cross drawn in 1980. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 24 June 2010

• WM011-145004 Graveyard
  Description

  Lomán of Lough Owel (Lough Uair) was the son of Oireannan and was associated with a church (WM012-167----) on Church Island (Inis Mor) and with a church at Portloman (Teach/Port Lomáin) also possibly known as Teach Mic Luim (Ó Riain 1992, 401-02). According to Ó Riain (1992, 402) Lomán's church stood on the ancient roadway known as the Slighe Asail. According to local tradition a sacred song of Colum Cille called the Amhra was sung on a route or station performed between the church and a cross and the penitential station Leac Lomán (WM011-142----) located 800m to SW (ibid.). His feastday fell on the 7th of February or possibly on the 3rd of February (ibid.). Described in 1980 as 'The church ruin (WM011-145----) is set within a subcircular enclosure bounded by a low scarp which is well preserved from SE through E through NW to SW and poorly preserved from SW through S to SE. Beyond the foot of the scarp is a low earth and stone bank which now forms the perimeter of the graveyard. There is a modern stone wall built against the outer face of this from NW through N to east. The churchyard (int. dims. 60m N-S; 60m E-W) contains some 18th and 19th century tombstones. There are no earthworks visible in the surrounding field' (SMR file). A bowl-barrow (WM011-144----) lies 230m to W and a cross (WM011-145003-) lies 6m to W of the church. Inside the graveyard are the remains of two medieval graveslabs (WM011-145002-/003-) and a burial vault located to the E of the medieval church ruins. The church and graveyard are located on the W shoreline of Lough Owel. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 24 June 2010

• WM011-145005 Ecclesiastical enclosure
  Description

  Lomán of Lough Owel (Lough Uair) was the son of Oireannan and was associated with a church (WM012-167----) on Church Island (Inis Mor) and with a church at Portloman (Teach/Port Lomáin) also possibly known as Teach Mic Luim (Ó Riain 1992, 401-02). According to Ó Riain (1992, 402) Lomán's church stood on the ancient roadway known as the Slighe Asail. According to local tradition a sacred song of Colum Cille called the Amhra was sung on a route or station performed between the church and the cross (WM011-145003-) and the penitential station Leac Lomán (WM011-142----) located 800m to SW (ibid.). His feastday fell on the 7th of February or possibly on the 3rd of February (ibid.). Possible ecclesiastical enclosure identified by Swan (1988, 10) who recorded that there was evidence of a possible enclosure in the segmental form of the boundary wall of Portloman graveyard (WM011-145004-). Compiled by: Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 18 August 2015

And 2 more.

Architectural heritage

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

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

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

Registered freehold land, Tailte Éireann, CC BY 4.0. A parcel is the land of a title, not an address. The owner's name is in the Land Registry of Tailte Éireann: a copy of the folio can be ordered on landdirect.ie, for a fee.