Rathduff

20 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Rathduff, from 883 m² to 284,435 m² (28.44 ha, 70.29 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary; 15 neighbouring parcels touch it.

No zone of a development plan covers Rathduff 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.

• 20 Apr 2021Conditional

  Permission to construct a dwelling house and detached garage with septic tank and percolation area with all ancillary site works

  Permission, 1 home · Westmeath County Council, 21207

• 6 Mar 2020Conditional

  construction of a slatted shed, and ancillary works (i.e concrete yard area) all for agricultural purposes only, in existing farmyard area utilising existing farm entrance.

  Permission · Westmeath County Council, 206043

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 Rathduff.

Recorded monuments

• WM017-018 Enclosure
  Description

  Situated on the E-facing shoulder of a hill, in reasonably good pasture. Not depicted as an antiquity on any edition of the OS 6-inch maps. Shown as an area of rock outcrop on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch where it is depicted as a narrow rectangular shaped area (approx. dims. 160m NE-SW x 70m NW-SE) defined by a townland boundary from SW-W-N and by a low earth and stone bank elsewhere. Along the NW side of this area of rock outcrop the townland boundary with Irishtown kicks out in a semi-circular fashion following the outline of a sub-circular shaped enclosure (dims. 84m N-S; 78m E-W). Aerial photographs (CUCAP APH001/002) taken 17/07/1966 shows the site as consisting of a rise of ground partially enclosed by a curving earth and stone bank which is interested by a meandering townland boundary defined by a stone wall which kicks out to form a distinct angle at NW. Site consists of a sub-circular shaped area defined by the remains of a stone wall visible from SW-W-N where it forms the townland boundary with Irishtown and elsewhere by an earth and stone bank with traces of an external fosse. The townland boundary at NW has a distinct angle. The interior is subdivided by low earthen banks creating small rectangular and sub-rectangular shaped plots which are clearly visible on Digital Globe aerial coverage. Also visible is a natural rise or mound in E quadrant, surrounded by a low earthen bank which is best preserved at NE, E and S. The internal subdivisions are more fragmented across the W half of the interior and incorporate a small circular anomaly at NW, which is a probable hut site (WM017-018001-). Cultivation ridges running NE-SW are visible in fields immediately to E and S. It is possible that some of these earthworks could be the result of post-medieval quarrying as the site is located on natural rock outcrop. Classification of this monument is difficult based on the complex series of earthworks which appear to make up a series of small sub-rectangular shaped areas, with one possible hut site clearly visible. The large sub-circular shaped enclosure is formed by an earth and stone and stone wall forming a townland boundary at N with curving earth and stone bank elsewhere. The townland boundary all appears to cut across the enclosing element suggesting that this was a later feature. The remains of two larger rectangular-shaped enclosures are located in field 45m to E which may be related to the larger circular shaped enclosure. Possibly the remains of a small clustered settlement contained within a circular-shaped enclosure. See attached plan of monument surveyed and drawn by the ASI. Compiled by: Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 28 November 2018

• WM017-018001 Hut site
  Description

  Situated on the E-facing shoulder of a hill, in reasonably good pasture. Not depicted as an antiquity on any edition of the OS 6-inch maps. Shown as an area of rock outcrop on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch where it is depicted as a narrow rectangular shaped area defined by a townland boundary from SW-W-N and by a low earth and stone bank elsewhere. Along the NW side of this area of rock outcrop the townland boundary with Irishtown kicks out in a semi-circular fashion following the outline of a sub-circular shaped enclosure (WM017-018----). Site consists of a sub-circular shaped area defined by the remains of a stone wall visible from SW-W-N where it forms the townland boundary with Irishtown and elsewhere by an earth and stone bank with traces of an external fosse. The townland boundary at NW has a distinct angle. The interior is subdivided by low earthen banks creating small rectangular and sub-rectangular shaped plots which are clearly visible on Digital Globe aerial coverage. The internal subdivisions are more fragmented across the W half of the interior and incorporate a small circular shaped hut site (approx. diam. 10m) at NW which is defined by a low earth and stone. Cultivation ridges running NE-SW are visible in fields immediately to E and S. It is possible that some of these earthworks could be the result of post-medieval quarrying as the site is located on natural rock outcrop. The remains of two larger rectangular-shaped enclosures are located in field 45m to E which may be related to the larger circular shaped enclosure. Possibly the remains of a small clustered settlement contained within a circular-shaped enclosure. See attached image of hut site from Google Earth taken 24/03/2017 . Compiled by: Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 28 November 2018

• WM017-025 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  Situated on top of a prominent hill, in pasture with good views in all directions except to NW, where they are limited by higher ground. Depicted on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map as a circular shaped area (approx. dims. 28m N-S; 26.5m E-W) defined by a scarp and which is situated in a long, narrow field. Depicted on the revised 1913 ed. OS 25-inch map as an oval-shaped area defined by a bank, having some field boundaries to W removed. A field bank is visible on modern aerial photography extending from the monument at SE and W (Digital Globe). Monument described in 1975 as the remains of a sub-circular shaped area defined by a substantial bank with the slight remains of a counterscarp, both of earth and stone and having a wide, yet shallow external fosse. The bank is occupied by thorn trees. A later field bank traverses the bank and fosse at WNW. A causewayed entrance (top Wth 4m; base Wth 1m) is visible at SE. The causeway traverses the fosse (H 0.25m) where it is defined by a modern bank along the SW side. There is a modern gap in the bank at WNW. The interior has a gentle SE-facing slope with grass-covered wall footings of a rectangular hut site (WM017-025001-) visible within. Compiled by: Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 30 November 2018

• WM017-025001 Hut site
  Description

  Situated on top of a prominent hill, in pasture with good views in all directions except to NW, where they are limited by higher ground. The grass-covered wall footings of a rectangular hut site are visible inside a ringfort (WM017-025----). Compiled by: Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 30 November 2018

• WM017-026 Enclosure
  Description

  Situated on a slight rise, on an elevated area of a gentle NW-facing slope. Depicted on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map as an oval-shaped area (approx. dims. 50m NE-SW; c. 38m NW-SE) defined by a scarp and external fosse, with a field boundary extending from the monument at NE, SW and NW. Depicted on the 1913 ed. OS 25-inch map as an oval-shaped area defined by a bank from SW-NE and by a field boundary from NE-SW which extends (long-axis NE-SW) beyond the monument to SW. Levelled monument described in 1975 as ‘demolished’. No surface remains visible of levelled monument on Digital Globe aerial photographs. Compiled by: Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 30 November 2018

• WM017-044 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  Situated on a low natural ridge running NW-SE, in low-lying, wet pasture, on the ENE-side of a stream with extensive views in all directions. Visible as a roughly D-shaped area covered in scrub on Digital Globe aerial photography. Depicted on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map as a semi-circular-shaped area intersected by a stream serving as a townland boundary from S-W-WNW. It appears that the stream served as the original enclosing element as there is no visible remains of any enclosing element to W of stream. The semi-circular nature of the enclosing element suggests that this monument is similar to cliff-edge forts which use a natural feature as a partial enclosing element. The partial medieval ringwork (WX037-028002-) at Ferrycarrig, Co. Wexford is similar in morphology. On the revised 1913 ed. OS 25-inch the monument is shown as a roughly oval-shaped area of similar dimensions with a later field boundary running NE-SW across the NW-quadrant. Monument described in 1980 as an almost D-shaped area (71m NW-SE; 47m NE-SW) with straight side at W (L 62m) enclosed by an earth and stone bank, with deep U-shaped fosse and a low outer bank visible from NW-N-E-SSE, with possible entrance gap (Wth 4m) at NNE. The substantial inner bank is best preserved from NW-N-E-S, it is much lower and slighter from S-W-NW, where it abuts the stream. Both the enclosing banks have the remains of internal and external stone facing. A deep modern drain running NE-SW directly abuts the monument at S where it joins a stream running N-S forming a deep channel that intersects the external face of the inner bank from SSW-W-NW. The interior rises irregularly from the perimeter towards the centre. There is a lot of stone visible on the surface which appears to be natural bedrock and a scatter of loose stone. A modern field wall running NE-SW traverses the NW quadrant. Local folklore collected in 1938 at Irishtown National School recorded that there was a possible souterrain (WM017-044001-) inside the ringfort described as a ‘cave’ accessed by an opening in a rock called ‘Cathair na Súl’ (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0742, Page 162). Compiled by: Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 07 December 2018

• WM017-044001 Souterrain
  Description

  Situated on a low natural ridge running NW-SE, in low-lying, wet pasture, on the ENE-side of a stream with extensive views in all directions. Local folklore collected in 1938 at Irishtown National School recorded that there was a possible souterrain inside the ringfort (WM017-044----) described as a ‘cave’ accessed by an opening in a rock called ‘Cathair na Súl’ (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0742, Page 162). Compiled by: Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 07 December 2018

• WM017-111 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  Situated on a W-facing shoulder of rising ground, in improved pasture, with good views to W and S. Not depicted on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map or the revised 1913 ed. OS 25-inch map, except where a curvilinear townland boundary (approx. C 58m) encloses this area from SW-W-N. Described in 1980 as a partially levelled ringfort enclosed by an earth and stone bank (H c. 1m) visible from SW-W-N which is incorporated into a townland boundary running NE-SW. The remains of a levelled bank can be traced from NE-E, albeit much disturbed. There are slight traces of an external fosse, which is best preserved at NE. The monument is located at the SW end of a rectangular field, as depicted on OS mapping. Monument visible today as a roughly circular-shaped area (approx. dims. 68m N-S; 64m E-W) defined by a curvilinear townland boundary from SW-W-N and elsewhere by a cropmark from N-E-S-SW visible on oblique aerial photograph (CUCAP APH002) taken 17/07/1966. Outline of enclosure clearly visible on Digital Globe aerial photography. Compiled by: Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 10 January 2019

• WM018-157 Mass-rock
  Description

  Rathduff mass-rock situated on NNE facing rock outcrop with good views to N and E. Curving field boundary depicted on 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map represents the quarried face of the rock outcrop. Large irregular shaped boulder (H 0.75m; L 1.2m x Wth 0.8m) with an encircled (diam. 0.22m) sunken cross (dims. 0.16m x 0.16m) carved on N face of boulder. Flat-topped surface of boulder was used as an altar during penal times. Rough flagstone seat located to E. The estate records of William Meade Smythe recorded that there 'is a rock called (Carraig an Affrin) tradition tells that a Mass was celebrated at this rock in the penal days. A cross with circle round it is quite plain to be seen on it and must be cut on it to commemorate the deed. I have heard it stated that people, old men and women, could be seen praying at this rock in olden times' (igp-web.com/IGPArchives/ire/westmeath/land/legends.txt). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 29 November 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 Rathduff with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Westmeath.

Name

Rathduff

Area

1,201,169 m² (120.12 ha, 296.82 acres)

Civil parish

Rathconrath, and its townlands

Barony

Rathconrath

Electoral division

Skeagh, the unit of the census

Neighbouring townlands

Corkan, Davidstown, Irishtown, Kilmacnevan, Modranstown, Pishanagh, Rathmore

Placenames

Rathduff 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.