Mount Temple

82 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Mount Temple, from 10 m² to 566,478 m² (56.65 ha, 139.98 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary; 53 neighbouring parcels touch it.

No zone of a development plan covers Mount Temple 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.

• 14 Apr 2026Conditional

  OUTLINE permission for the construction of a new dwelling, proprietary effluent treatment system & polishing filter, new road entrance and all ancillary site works

  Outline permission, 1 home · Westmeath County Council, 2660177

• 7 Apr 2026Refused

  Extension of Duration of Garden nursery, shed, office, rainwater storage tanks, effluent treatment system and percolation area, new site entrance, ancillary works and all associated site works

  Extension of duration · Westmeath County Council, 2612

• 28 May 2024Refused

  EXTENSION OF DURATION for construction of a new house including domestic garage, domestic sewage treatment system and soil percolation filter together with associated siteworks, landscaping and site entrance/driveway

  Extension of duration · Westmeath County Council, 2436

• 1 Jun 2021Refused

  Six 4-bedroom dwellings and 12 three-bedroom townhouses, adjustments to internal road network and also construction of associated car parking, public open space, provision of waste water treatment plant and associated polishing filter and demolition of an agricultural building, connection to existing storm water drainage and all associated siteworks, landscaping and drainage

  Permission, 18 homes · Westmeath County Council, 21310

• 21 Apr 2021Refused

  Construction of a four-bedroom dwelling. The application will also include an effluent treatment unit, with percolation area, domestic garage, new entrance and all associated site works and drainage

  Permission, 1 home · Westmeath County Council, 21216

• 12 Oct 2020Conditional

  Garden nursery, shed, office, rainwater storage tanks, effluent treatment system and percolation area, new site entrance, ancillary works and all associated site works

  Permission, 1 home · Westmeath County Council, 207154

• 27 May 2019Conditional

  Construction of slatted shed, dry bedded shed, manure pit, calving pens and all ancillary works

  Permission · Westmeath County Council, 197116

• 12 Apr 2019Conditional

  Construction of a new house including domestic garage, domestic sewage treatment system and soil percolation filter together with associated siteworks, landscaping and site entrance/driveway

  Permission, 1 home · Westmeath County Council, 197087

• 14 Nov 2018Conditional

  1. Proposed side single storey extension. 2. Proposed rear single storey extension with replacement balcony at first floor level. 3. Internal and External modifications to existing dwelling.

  Permission, 1 home · Westmeath County Council, 187216

• 4 May 2018Conditional

  The construction of a dwelling house, domestic garage, well, effluent treatment system/percolation area, associated siteworks and entrance.

  Permission, 1 home · Westmeath County Council, 187084

• 21 Dec 2017Conditional

  Planning Permission to construct 2 no dwelling houses with domestic garages and 2 no single dwelling treatment systems with percolation areas and all associated site works

  Permission, 2 homes · Westmeath County Council, 177230

• 9 Mar 2017Conditional

  The development will consist of the addition of a new entrance lobby to the south, alterations to the windows and doors, new windows to the east and changes to the internal layout

  Permission · Westmeath County Council, 177043

• 10 Jan 2017N/a

  Permission to construct 2 no dwelling houses with domestic garages and 2 no single dwelling treatment systems with percolation areas and all associated site works

  Permission, 2 homes · Westmeath County Council, 177002

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 Mount Temple.

Recorded monuments

• WM030-011 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  Situated at the N end of a small ridge running N-S, in low-lying wet pasture, with fairly good views in all directions. Depicted on the revised 1910 ed. OS 25-inch map as a suboval-shaped earthwork. Monument described in 1979 as a roughly circular-shaped area (diam. 26m) defined by a steep inner scarp. There is a much lower outer scarp from W-N-NNE and a fosse from S-W. The well preserved inner scarp is higher and steeper from NW-N and from E-S. There is no sign of an entrance. The interior rises from the perimeter toward the centre and is scattered with loose stones and largely obscured by vegetation. A field bank running NE-SW intersects the perimeter at NW. There are small, disused quarry holes just outside the perimeter at N and SE. Monument is visible today as a tree-planted earthwork on Digital Globe aerial photography. Compiled by Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien. Date of upload: 07 November 2019

• WM030-032 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  Situated on top of a small hill, in undulating pasture, with extensive views to N, E and W and overlooked by higher ground to S. Annotated ‘Grinan Fort’ on the 1837 OS Fair Plan map. Depicted on the revised 1910 ed. OS 25-inch map as an oval-shaped earthwork. Monument described in 1979 as a subcircular-shaped area (dims. 26m N-S; 24m E-W) defined by an earth and stone scarp with a steep natural slope beyond it. The scarp is well preserved from NE-E-S-W-N and is poorly preserved from N-NE. There are no indications of an external fosse or an entrance. A modern field fence runs roughly NE-WS along the outer edge of the monument at SE. The interior rises gently from the perimeter to the centre and the surface is very uneven. There is a large irregular-shaped disturbance depression occupying most of the S half. Monument is visible today on Digital Globe aerial photography as a roughly oval-shaped tree-planted earthwork. Compiled by Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien. Date of upload: 08 November 2019

• WM030-033 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  The monument was inspected in 1982 and described as follows: ‘Situated on the shoulder of a hill. The ground falls off steeply to E. What appears to be an ancient field fence defined by a low earthen bank runs NE-SW. It joins the ringfort bank on N side. It extends down the hill to ENE for a considerable distance. The land is good and there are good views in all directions. This site is not indicated on any edition of the OS map nor does it appear to have been previously noted. The remains consist of a low circular shaped area (diam. 32m E-W), raised slightly above the surrounding field surface. There are traces of a slight bank around the edge of the platform and traces of a possible ditch on the W. These consist of a shallow depression. The interior is level and clear of vegetation’ (SMR File 1982). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 04 March 2014

• WM030-035 Ecclesiastical site
  Description

  Site of abbey indicated on OS 6-inch map with holy well known as ‘Fooran Well’ located 60m to SW. Castle (WM030-038----) located 430m to SE. In 1837 O’Donovan recorded in the OS memoranda that this monument consisted of the ‘site of a small abbey not far from castle (WM030-038----)’ and that at this time there were ‘no remains of any walls’ (SMR File). On the Ordnance Survey Fair Plan map the monument is annotated as ‘Old Abbey’ and depicted as a long rectangular-shaped area delimited by a broken line. No upstanding remains of a building are indicated on any edition of the OS 6-inch maps. The site of this ‘Old Abbey’ was inspected in 1976 and described as following: ‘To the NE of the well (WM030-036----) is a mounded stony area covered with scrub. It contains what might be called collapsed rubble masonry and there are slight indications of an outer facing on W side. This site corresponds to the position marked on the OS sheets as the Abbey (site of)’. No earthworks. According to Gwynn and Hadcock this may be the location of one of the very few Poor Clare foundations in Ireland’ (SMR File). The site was revisited in the 1982 and described as following: The are indicated consists of very bumpy and uneven ground with many ridges, hollows and hillocks. There are also many clumps of bushes etc. This makes it difficult to determine features with any accuracy. However there are what appears to be foundations of a rectangular building in the position indicated. The structure is badly overgrown with bushes and undergrowth. It consists of the foundations of stone walls. It measures approx. 15m E-W x 8m N-S. There is a spread of collapsed stone around the structure’ (SMR File). It also appears to have a good deal of collapse in its interior. It is situated on the shoulder of a slight ridge. The ground slopes steeply towards a stream to E. The general surface in the vicinity is pitted with ridges and depressions. These do not form a definable pattern’ (SMR File). In 1985 the site of this abbey was damaged when land reclamation works caused the levelling of the earthworks and the clearance of scrub vegetation in the field containing the ecclesiastical site (SMR File). No abbey is indicated in this townland which was then called 'Grynan' on the 1656-9 Down Survey map of Ballyloughloe Parish (NLI p.7384). On the Down Survey map the adjoining townland to the N was called 'Monktowne' which may have been related to the presence of this abbey. This townland now forms part of the modern townland of Mount Temple. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 04 March 2014

• WM030-036 Ritual site - holy well
  Description

  Natural spring well known as ‘Fooran Well’ located 60m to SW of site of Abbey (WM030-035----). The monument was inspected in 1973 and described as follows: ‘A small well enclosed by natural rocks & overhung by some low bushes. A small stream runs out of the well. The well is situated on a slope’ (SMR File). In 1982 the well was revisited and described as follows: ‘a circular depression in the ground. This is now simply a dry circular hollow. However it is the only feature in the area which might have been “Fooran Well”’ (SMR File). There is no evidence to suggest that this natural spring well was the site of a holy well. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 04 March 2014

• WM030-037 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  Situated on the summit of a large ridge running E-W, in pasture, with extensive views in all directions. Depicted on the revised 1910 ed. OS 25-inch map as an oval-shaped earthwork. Bivallate ringfort described in 1979 as an oval-shaped area (dims. 28m N-S; 26m E-W) enclosed by an inner bank, an intervening fosse and a possible outer bank. The inner bank is high and steep on the exterior where it is best preserved from SSE-S-W-N-NNE and is almost reduced to a scarp elsewhere. A V-shaped intervening fosse survives from NNW-N-NNE and is infilled elsewhere. A short stretch of a low, broad earthen outer bank is present from NNW-N-NNE and may be a later feature. The bank has been eroded by livestock at SW and W and a gap at SW seems to be due to disturbance. The site has suffered considerable disturbance during relatively recent land clearance works. A number of large limestone boulders have been deposited around the perimeter at NNW and from NNE-E-S-SSW. The perimeter has been badly defaced by these deposits at E. There is no sign of an original entrance. The interior has a N-facing slope and the surface is quite uneven. There is a house site (WM030-037001-) in the SE quadrant and a low sod-covered mound on the interior of the bank at SW, which is of unknown significance. Monument is visible today as a roughly oval-shaped scrub-covered earthwork in the grounds of Mount Temple Golf Course on Digital Globe aerial photography. Compiled by Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien. Date of upload: 08 November 2019

• WM030-037001 House - indeterminate date
  Description

  Situated on top of a small hill, in undulating pasture, with extensive views to N, E and W and overlooked by higher ground to S. In SE quadrant of ringfort (WM030-037----) are the remains of a square-shaped house-site (dims. L 5m) which is defined by a low bank of earth and stone. The bank has been disturbed at E, although this could be partly due to the presence of a doorway. Compiled by Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien. Date of upload: 08 November 2019

• WM030-038 Castle - unclassified
  Description

  Medieval McGawley castle site depicted as ‘a Castle in repaire’ on the 1656-59 Down Survey map of Ballyloughloe parish (NLI, MS 723-4). On this map the castle is shown standing in the SE corner of ‘Grynan’ townland which in 1640 was the property of Henry McGawley. This townland was later incorporated into the present townland of Mount Temple. A lake depicted as ‘Loch Luatha’ on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map is located immediately to the N of the castle. It is this lake which gave its name to the local area and to the parish of Ballyloughloe. On the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map the upstanding remains of a castle building are depicted standing to the NW of 'Mount Temple Old Ho.'. However no castle building is depicted on the revised 1910 edition of the OS 25-inch map where the location is depicted as 'Castle Site of' indicating that the castle had been levelled after 1837. In 1837, O'Donovan recorded the condition of the castle in the OS memoranda where he recorded that there was 'no remains but one vault' (SMR File). The monument site was inspected in 1982 and described as follows: ‘No trace of this castle now survives. It was located near the village of Mount Temple, a short distance NW of the motte (WM030-047----). The area where it is indicated consists of a natural knoll. This is now occupied by a farmyard. In the fields to the E, there are a number of ridges etc. which appear to be the remains of some earthworks (WM030-039----). These do not extend as far as the site of the castle’ (SMR File). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 4 March 2014

• WM030-039 Settlement cluster
  Description

  Situated in undulating pasture. Not depicted on OS mapping. Motte (WM030-047----) lies c. 50m to S and castle (WM030-038----) lies c. 150m to W. Monument described in 1982 as a large number of ridges and depressions in a field to N of the very large motte at Mount Temple. They do not appear to form any clear pattern although some platforms can be traced. These earthworks could either be associated with the motte or the castle and may represent the remains of a settlement cluster. Monument is visible as a series of linear and rectilinear earthworks on oblique aerial photographs (CUCAP APH058-060) taken 17/07/1966. Levelled earthworks are not visible today on Digital Globe aerial photography and the area has been incorporated into Mount Temple Golf Course. A well is depicted at the location of these levelled earthworks on the 1910 ed. OS 25-inch map. Compiled by Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien. Date of upload: 08 November 2019

• WM030-040 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  Situated on the N edge of a large ridge, in pasture, with extensive views in all directions. Depicted on the revised 1910 ed. OS 25-inch map as a roughly oval-shaped earthwork (approx. dims. 31m NW-SE; 24m NE-SW). Monument described in 1979 as the much defaced remains of a roughly oval-shaped area which is enclosed by an earthen bank, an intervening fosse and an outer earthen bank. The inner bank is present from NNW-N-NNE and has been removed by quarrying from NNE-E-S-W-NNW. There is a small heap of sod-covered stones on the site of the bank at SSW which seems to be a spoil mound. The exterior of the inner bank and the intervening fosse have been much defaced by quarrying from SW-W-NW and from NE-E-ESE. The outer bank has been levelled from NNE-E-SSE and has been incorporated into a field fence from SSE-S-W-NW, which is flanked on the exterior by an old laneway. There is no sign of an entrance. The interior has a gentle S-facing slope and has been disturbed by quarrying just inside the perimeter at S where there are two shallow depressions. There are a number of large boulders on the edge of the site at NW and smaller stones deposited into a quarry depression at W. There are a number of natural rock outcrops in the field to S of the monument. Monument is visible today as a partially tree-lined roughly oval-shaped earthwork on Digital Globe aerial photography. Compiled by Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien. Date of upload: 08 November 2019

Architectural heritage

No building of the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage stands in the townland of Mount Temple.

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).

• Mount Temple, Moate7 sales

Name

Mount Temple · An Grianán

Area

2,344,819 m² (234.48 ha, 579.42 acres)

Civil parish

Ballyloughloe, and its townlands

Barony

Clonlonan

Electoral division

Mount Temple, the unit of the census

Neighbouring townlands

Aghanashanamore, Carnfyan, Correagh, Creeve, Creevebeg, Fearmore, Labaun, Legan, Tullaghanshanlin

Placenames

Mount Temple 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.