Rathnew

Townland in the civil parish of Conry, barony of Rathconrath, Co. Westmeath

Parcel 96538

Back to Rathnew

126 m across. Click a parcel to see it. © Tailte Éireann, CC BY 4.0

Area: 5,494 m² (0.55 ha, 1.36 acres)
Buildings: 3 buildings touch it, 118 m² on the ground
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: Rathnew

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

No designated site (Special Area of Conservation, Special Protection Area, Natural Heritage Area or proposed one) touches this parcel.

Recorded monuments around it

This parcel is in the zone of notification of 46 recorded monuments.

WM024-025 Barrow - unclassified
Description
Surveyed in 2013 and described by McGuinness (2014, 62-3) as following: 'Enormous subcircular mound (35m N-S x 30m E-W) reaching up to 4.4m in height on NE side, with sharply defined edge marked by a clear step or scarp. Traces of a shallow ditch are visible immediately beyond the step, running clockwise from S to N or NE; where clearest at NW, this is up to 1.5m in width, which would give an overall diameter for of 38m N-S. In SE quadrant, domed summit slopes down fairly uniformly to edge of mound, but elsewhere, the slope lessens from highest part towards edge of mound, giving the impression of a kind of berm. Numerous limestone boulders and outcrops of rock are visible over surface of mound, especially in NE quadrant and along part of perimeter. Old deciduous trees, located just inside the perimeter of the mound, were clearly planted, probably as shelter for cattle; a few others farther in towards the centre appear younger in date and presumably result from natural seed-dispersal. Clear traces of a dry-walled revetment to the stepped edge of the mound on SW, S and E sides may relate to the same episode of landscaping that involved the planting of trees; the step is best preserved where the walling has survived, reaching up to 0.84m in height. Macalister and Praeger ‘examined’ the mound ‘with no satisfactory results’. They had taken it ‘for a mound of stones, possibly a large artificial carn’, but it ‘proved to be a mere outcrop of much decomposed rock’. Their ‘examination’ presumably involved some kind of excavation but no record of this has been left. Their dismissal of the site as ‘a mere outcrop’ is completely inconsistent with its current appearance, that of an artificially shaped mound, although substantial areas of outcrop were clearly incorporated into it by its builders; its location in immediate proximity to a large ringfort-like structure (WM024-027----) is also consistent with an artificial origin. Presumably with similar reservations about Macalister and Praeger’s conclusions, Schot (2006) marks it as a ‘Barrow/mound’ on her map of the Uisneach complex. Monument lies on a low eminence just 8m to NNW of the large and complex bivallate ringfort excavated by Macalister and Praeger (1929-31); prehistoric rock art reused in this fort (O’Reilly 2010) was conceivably taken from the barrow. At least one other ringfort (WM024-027----) lies close by to W'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by David McGuinness. Date of upload: 23 February 2015
WM024-027 Ringfort - rath
Description
Situated on a terrace, on N-facing slope of a hill, in pasture, with excellent views to W and N. Annotated ‘Rathfarsan’ and depicted on the revised 1913 ed. OS 25-inch map as an oval-shaped earthwork. Bivallate ringfort described in 1971 and 1976 as an oval-shaped area (dims. 47.60m NE-SW and 35.50m NW-SE) enclosed by an earth and stone bank, an intervening fosse and an outer bank. The inner and outer banks are substantial and the intervening U-shaped fosse is wide and deep (D 3m). The inner bank has several small disturbance gaps. The outer face of the inner bank has been steepened and partly stone faced from NE-E-SSE to form part of a modern field fence. The fosse has been modified from NE-E-SSE and the outer bank has been removed at this point. The outer bank is slightly disturbed in several places and has several small gaps. The original entrance is not recognisable. A rectangular-shaped house site (WM024-027001-) is visible in S quadrant. A low rise or platform is located to N of the house site and a second low rise is visible in the NW-quadrant. Compiled by Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien. Date of upload: 31 July 2019
WM024-027001 House - indeterminate date
Description
Situated on a terrace, on N-facing slope of a hill, in pasture, with excellent views to W and N. In the S quadrant of the interior of a ringfort (WM024-027----) are the remains of a rectangular-shaped house site (dims. 5m NE-SW; 4m NW-SE) defined by a slight earthen bank (overall Wth 1.4m; Wth at top 0.4m; H 0.25m) with a gap (Wth 3.3m) in the S side, at the SW corner, which may represent a doorway. A low rise or platform is located to N of the house site and a second low rise is visible within the NW-quadrant of the ringfort. Compiled by Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien. Date of upload: 31 July 2019
WM024-028 Ringfort - cashel
Description
Situated on NNE facing slope of Ushnagh Hill with barrow (WM024-025----) immediately to N, moated site (WM024-029----) 110m to E and Rathfarson (WM024-027----) 150m to W. The townland boundary with Ushnagh Hill lies immediately to S. This monument was excavated between 1929-30 by Macalister and Praeger and during the excavations they uncovered a spiral-decorated stone (WM024-028001-) which formed part of the pavement in the middle of Court A (Macalister and Praeger 1929-31, 77), a house site (WM024-028002-) and two souterrains (WM024-028003-/004-). Prior to excavation the monument was described as following; 'The structure consists of the following parts: 1. The Outer Fosse, now almost completely filled, and represented by a shallow depression in the ground, running round the entire site, but most clearly traceable to the north-west and the east. 2. The Outer Vallum, much abraded. 3. The Outer Area, divided irregularly by cross walls radiating like the spokes of a wheel (here called the Radial Walls). 4. The Inner Fosse, resembling the Outer Fosse, and, like it, almost completely filled. 5. The Inner Vallum, in much better condition than the Outer Vallum, and enclosing 6. The Inner Area, raised to a height of about 5 ft. [1.5m], above the level of the surrounding country, on the southern and western sides. This area displayed a number of irregularities of surface, evidently due to the presence of the buried foundations of walls. These were so vague that, before excavation, no satisfactory plan could have been made of them' (Macalister and Praeger 1929-31, 55). Excavation of the outer fosse revealed that the ditch was 'found it to be uniform in character throughout, though the dimensions varied slightly from place to place. The breadth at the surface ranged from 9 ft. [2.7m] to 11 ft. 6 ins. [3.5m]: the depth from 6 ft. 10 ins. [2.08m] to 8 ft. [2.4m]. The sides slope inward; the breadth at the bottom was about 2 ft. 6 ins [0.76m]' (ibid.). The outer vallum was described as 'essentially composed of the earth taken out of the fosse which runs alongside of it; there is no indication that any of this material was cast up on the outer side of the fosse. Stones are mingled with the earth; these were probably embedded in the drift material extracted from the fosse. The outer face of the vallum seems to have been revetted with stones above the level of the filling of the fosse and therefore after the fosse had been filled up. Most of this revetment has however been removed by builders of field-walls and the like constructions, in search of stones. A few cow-bones were found in the earth of the vallum, underneath the stone revetment. The vallum was best preserved on the northern side, where it rose to a maximum height of 5 ft. 6 ins. [1.67m] outside, and 2 ft. [0.6m] inside. To the E. and S. it was much injured- indeed, between about the N.N.E. and the E. points it had absolutely disappeared, and even excavation failed to reveal the slightest trace of it' (ibid.). The area between the two enclosing banks was described by Macalister and Praeger as; 'Between the two ramparts there is a flat annular area, ranging in breadth between 40 and 58 feet [12-15m]. On the N. and W. sides the area was divided into sections by the Radial Walls. This First Radial Wall is 52 feet [16m] long and 3 ft. 6 ins. [1m] broad. In its present form it rises about 2 feet [0.6m] above the level of the ground' (ibid). The inner fosse and bank was described as 'similar in section to the Outer Fosse, but is of smaller size. So far as we tested it, the depth is nowhere over 6 ft. [1.8m]; the breadth at top ranges between 7 ft. 6 ins. [2.3m] and 9 ft. [2.7m], except at the entrance cause way, where it is as much as 11 ft. [3.35m]. The inner face of the fosse is covered with a revetment, extending from the top of the Inner Vallum to the bottom of the ditch, and evidently original. The Inner Vallum, though much better preserved than the Outer Vallum, is not in good condition; when we saw it first we counted seven breaches, any or all of which might have been original entrances. Sections across the wall shewed that it was fundamentally of earth, with a sloping stone revetment on the outer face, and a well-built vertical revetment on the inner. The outer revetment was also well built, on the whole. It ran down the face of the wall to the bottom of the fosse outside it, and therefore must have been built while the fosse was still open. The maximum height of the revetment above the bottom of the fosse is 8 feet [2.4m]; how much higher it may have been when complete there is nothing to shew, but it is not likely to have been less than 15 or 16 feet [4.8m] high in all. On the inner side the vallum nowhere rose to more than 2 ft. [0.6m] above the level of the enclosed area. From summit to summit the diameter of the ring of the vallum is about 110ft [33.5m]' (ibid.). The causewayed entrance at NE was described as a 'causeway, which is merely the length of the fosse left uncut, and lined with a stone facing on each of its vertical sides. Externally this causeway is 27 ft. 5 ins. [8.3m] in breadth; internally it is a little less, as the sides taper to some extent. There is no indication of a pavement, or of a protecting wall along the edges; nor yet of a gateway of any kind at the entrance to the causeway'. The inner causewayed entrance was described as 'a similar causeway, 21 feet [6.4m] across. This causeway rises to the entrance through the Inner Vallum by a rather steep slope. As the visitor enters, his left-hand side is flanked by the Fourth Radial Wall. This must have been a structure of great and imposing massive ness. The remains indicated a thickness of no less than 7 ft. 8 ins [2.3m]. The wall, or rather its much disturbed ruin, runs for a length of 27 feet [8.2m]; it was probably longer in its original state. On the visitor's right hand there is nothing but the facing of the causeway, 2 ft. [0.6m] to 2 ft. 6 ins. [0.76m] across, which may possibly have risen above the surface to form a protecting wall over the edge of the fosse. The passage through the Inner Vallum, to which these causeways give access, is 8 ft. [2.4m] in breadth, and is paved, especially on the southern side, with sandstone flags. The sides of the entrance are composed of masonry jambs, of which only the bottom course remains, to a height of about 1 foot [0.3m]; the building on the southern side is rather more perfect and regular than on the northern side. Here the line of the jamb is prolonged and curves round in a single row of stones 2 ft. [0.6m] thick, to form what appears to be a sort of sentry-box, semicircular on plan, and 3 ft. 2 ins. [0.96m] in maximum diameter (internally)'. The inner courtyard area of the ringfort was described by the excavators as consisting of a 'Central Court triangular in shape. The south-eastern side is formed by the vallum; the western and northern sides by walls, now ruined to their foundations, and so much despoiled that their outline is not a little indefinite. The northern wall is not straight, but runs in a curved line, concave to the court. The court measures 52 ft. [15.85m] east to west, 68 ft. [20.7m] north to south; the sunk area measures about 30 ft. [9.1m] north to south. The floor of the court, on the northern side of the sunk area, is paved with flags of sandstone. No pavement remains on the southern side, or in the sunk area, except near the entrance, where there is a poor pavement, chiefly of limestone. The wall forming the northern boundary of the Central Court has three doorways, which give access to two courts between it and the site of the vallum (which is here destroyed on its inner face). Two of these doorways lead into the eastern court (A), the third into the western. The walls surrounding these courts were roughly built from the first, and the spoilers have left them in so complete a state of ruin that they are difficult to trace. The maximum
WM024-028001 Rock art
Description
This stone was found by Macalister and Praeger (1929-31) in the course of their excavations of a ringfort (WM024-028----). It is now housed in the National Museum of Ireland (DU018-407----). This stone has been described by O’Reilly (2010, 76-7) as follows: ‘Macalister and Praeger's report on their excavations at Togherstown on the northern slopes of the Hill of Uisneach was published in 1931. Included in the excavation report was a drawing and description of a small fragment of a stone decorated with prehistoric rock art that had been re-used as a paving slab in the courtyard of the early medieval ringfort. . . . The Togherslown stone is a fragment of local sandstone measuring approximately 38 x 36 x 10cm that seems to have been broken off a larger stone in the vicinity at some stage before being deposited at Togherstown. The excavators believed it to have been decorated on three surfaces, and recorded that it was 'inscribed on both faces and one edge (presumably the original top) with bronze-age spiral ornament. The side which had been turned uppermost in the pavement where it was found was abraded by footwear: but the lower side was, if anything, rather more injured by weathering, except along one edge where the surface was bevelled and preserved its carving quite sharp'. The ornament on the uppermost face and the bevelled edge is indeed clear, but that on the third face is less convincing. When examined and photographed in 2001 this surface still had red chalk lines drawn on it. These correspond to Macalister's supposed spirals, which are indicated only very faintly on his original drawing. On closer inspection it appears that this is a naturally weathered and pitted surface and that these 'spirals' must be ruled out as rock art. Of the two remaining surfaces the ornament on the 'bevelled edge' is the best preserved, having being laid face-down in the paved courtyard. On this surface two motifs can be seen. The first is a small cup-mark approximately 3cm in diameter surrounded by two concentric rings, the largest measuring approximately 8cm in diameter. Immediately beside it are the remains of a similar but larger pattern, apparently another cup-and-ring design. Of this pattern only two arcs of the outer rings are visible, the rest of the motif being truncated by the broken edge of the stone. The second side of the Togherstown stone is badly worn as a result of being exposed when used as a paving stone. This surface does, however, contain the larger portion of rock art on the stone. It consists of a central cup-mark approximately 3cm in diameter surrounded by five concentric arcs, the largest of which has a diameter of 20cm. When complete, the arcs must have formed a group of concentric rings around the central cup-mark.’ See attached images of rock art and its location in the N quadrant of the ringfort taken from Macalister and Praeger 1929-31. Compiled by: Paul Walsh Date of upload: 30 August 2013
WM024-028002 House - indeterminate date
Description
Situated on a terrace, on NNE-facing slope of Ushnagh Hill, in pasture, with excellent views to W, N and E. In W quadrant of ringfort (WM024-028----) are the remains of a rectangular-shaped house site defined by well-preserved stone built walls and with an entrance in the N side. A souterrain (WM024-028003-) is located within this structure. House site excavated in 1929-30 (Macalister and Praeger 1929-31). Compiled by Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien. Date of upload: 12 August 2019
WM024-028003 Souterrain
Description
Situated on a terrace, on NNE-facing slope of Ushnagh Hill, in pasture, with excellent views to W, N and E. In W quadrant of ringfort (WM024-028----) are the remains of a rectangular-shaped house site (WM024-028002-) with a souterrain (WM024-028003-) located within this structure. House site and souterrain excavated in 1929-30 (Macalister and Praeger 1929-31). Listed by the excavators as the 'Greater Souterrain' which was described as following; 'Returning to the western court north of the Central Court, we enter at a doorway in its western wall. This doorway has two jamb-stones, 2 ft. 3 ins. [0.68m] apart, 2 ft. 2 ins. [0.66m] high, and 2 ft. [0.6m] broad. In the opening between them, there are two paving-flags, with a third behind them at a slightly lower level, forming a step downward. Behind this again there is another flagstone at the western side of the passage, forming a further step down ward 1 ft. 2 ins. [0.35m] deep. This doorway gives admission to a chamber, 12 ft. 4 ins. [3.75m] in length, and 4 ft. 2 ins. [1.27m] in maximum breadth. The height was at least 4 ft. 10 ins. [1.5m], but the roofing-flags are all gone. These must have formed a pavement for the triangular court overhead. The floor slopes downward by about 2 feet [0.6m] in its course. The chamber at Togherstown ends in a doorway 1 ft. 2 ins. [0.35m] across, which gives access to a further chamber, B; a drop of 9 inches [0.22m] leads from the threshold of the doorway to the floor. This second chamber is kidney-shaped on plan, 19 ft. 6 ins. [6m] long, 6 ft. 10 ins. in maximum breadth. Three of the roofing-flags remain, giving a clear height of 5 ft. 6 ins. [2m] above the floor in the middle of the chamber - rather more at the end. The floor is very neatly paved with sandstone flags which, though irregular in shape, are well fitted into one another, producing an effect which resembles the "crazy pavements'' of artistic gardens. At the southern end of the chamber there is a cupboard-like recess just under the roof. It is 3 ft. 9 ins. [1.14m] above the floor, 3 ft. [0.9m] across, 2 ft. 6 ins. [0.76m] high, and is built all round with stones. The floor of this cupboard consists of two flat flagstones, with a row of five stones along the outer edge forming a kind of high sill. The roof of the cupboard is formed by a great stone, 5 ft. [1.5m] long, 2 ft. [0.6m] across, 1 ft. [0.3m] thick, kept in position by smaller stones wedged into the earth at each end. From the back of the cupboard there runs a narrow ventilating shaft, 7 ft. 6 ins. [2.28m] long, formed of small stones close together, supporting small cover-slabs. At the N.E. corner of the chamber there is what may be described as a kind of portico (C), badly built, 4 ft. 8 ins. [1.42m] in length by 4 ft. 6 ins. [1.37m] wide; it was at least 5 ft. 5 ins. [1.65m] high. It steps down into the creep-passage (D) which follows, behind an irregularly shaped sill-stone which is flush with the ground on the outer side, but on the inner rises 10 ins. [0.25m] above the floor. The creep-passage runs eastward from the portico. It is 7 ft. [2.1m] in length, 1 ft. 10 ins. [0.55m] across, 3 ft. 7 ins. [1.09m] high. It is awkward to pass through, and is rendered still more so by a sill of two stories set on edge, end to end, crossing the floor. This sill is 9 ins. [0.22m] high and 9 ins. [0.22m] broad, and is set at 3 feet [0.9m] from the inner end of the passage. On this sill we find conspicuous marks of wear, such as we also find at various places further in. The passage ends in a step downward, 1 ft. [0.3m] deep, leading into the next chamber, E. This is oval on plan, 10 ft. 7 ins. [3.2m] long and 5 ft. 7 ins. [1.7m] in maximum breadth. Only two of the roofing-lintels remained in position, giving a height of 5 ft. 1 in. [1.55m]. Two other lintels had fallen into the chamber, which was full of earth that had run into the opening thus made. In this earth filling was discovered part of an Anglo-Saxon saucer-brooch -the first of its kind to be found in Ireland - which was not only remarkable in itself, but gave a welcome, if insecure, hint at a date. The brooch dates from the sixth century A.D., which possibly may approximate to the date when the lintels collapsed. The floor of this chamber is irregular. To the south of the entrance doorway there is a kidney-shaped hollow sunk in the drift, 2 ft. 4 ins. [0.7m] across and about 1 ft. [0.3m] deep. It was nearly filled with a block of stone that lay within it. Both the entrance and the exit doorways are of an awkwardly small size. The first is of the dimensions of the passage that leads to it. The second is 3 feet [0.9m] high, 2 ft. 11 ins. [0.88m] across, and 2 ft. [0.6m] in length, with large blocks of stone serving as jambs. stones on which such marks of traffic would naturally be looked for. The exit doorway admits us into a short passage, F, the axis of which is at right angles to that of the chamber just left. At its western end there is a manhole, opening in the floor of the Post-hole Court just beside the post-holes. The floor under the manhole is 5 ft. [1.5m] beneath the surface of the ground. The breadth of the manhole is 2 ft. 11 ins. [0.88m] to the edge of the first lintel. This is a passage, G, approximately continuing the line of the fallen-in chamber, averaging about 3 ft. [0.9m] in breadth. The height is 4 ft. 8 ins. [1.42m], which reduces to 3 ft. [0.9m] near the inner end. From doorway to doorway the length is 11 ft. 9 ins. [3.58m] Just before reaching the exit doorway, the floor drops suddenly over a large block of stone to a depth 3 ft. [0.9m] below its previous level. The roofing-stones of this part of the souterrain are of considerable size. Immediately before the drop in the floor, there is an opening in the eastern wall, formed by the omission of one stone. Below it there is a projecting sill, shewing that the construction was intentional; apparently the purpose was to make a small cupboard, possibly for holding a lamp to illuminate this dangerous part of the cave. The exit doorway is 3 ft. 10 ins. [1.16m] high, 3 ft. [0.9m] across, and 2 ft. [0.6m] from front to back. The lintel is thus only slightly above the floor-level of this part of the passage leading to it. It gives access to a continuation of the passage, turned approximately at right angles to the line of the first portion. In the corner opposite we found a small pile of loose stones, but it concealed nothing. This part of the souterrain (H) is 14 ft. 9 ins. [4.5m] long and, at the outer end, 3 ft. 6 ins. [1.06m] broad and 5 ft. 6 ins. [1.67m] high. At the inner end the breadth is just over 3 ft. [0.9m] and the height 5 ft. 4 ins. [1.62m]. About the middle the breadth taken across the floor is 4 ft. 4 ins. [1.32m]; about 4 ft. [1.2m] above the floor the side walls, which approximate from the foundations, are shouldered out on the principle of the cantilever, and the clear breadth of the roof is not more than 1 ft. 5 ins. [0.43m]. Finally the passage turns once more through an angle, and runs for a length, K, of 11 ft. 6 ins. [3.6m]. At the angle, on the convex side, there is the opening of a second airshaft 3 ft. 6 ins. [1.06m] above ground, 9 ins. [0.22m] high, 1 ft. 3 ins. [0.38m] across; it runs for a length of 13 ft. [3.96m] to its outer exit. The passage ends abruptly at the inner end of this last section; the end is 4 ft. [1.2m] broad and slightly concave; the height above the floor is 5 ft. 7 ins. [1.7m]' (Macalister and Praeger 1929-31, 71-4). See attached plan of the souterrain taken from Macalister and Praeger 1929-31. Compiled by Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien. Date of upload: 12 August 2019
WM024-028004 Souterrain
Description
Situated on a terrace, on NNE-facing slope of Ushnagh Hill, in pasture, with excellent views to W, N and E. In W quadrant of ringfort (WM024-028----) are the remains of a rectangular-shaped house site (WM024-028002-) with a souterrain (WM024-028003-) located within this structure and a second souterrain excavated in 1929-30 (Macalister and Praeger 1929-31, 75-6). Listed by the excavators as the 'Lesser Souterrain' which was described as following; 'The lesser souterrain lies to the south of the souterrain [WM024-028003-] just described, and is entirely independent of it. The entrance is apparently at an almost megalithic trilithon, or at least a structure of which one side was formed by a large rounded boulder, apparently pressed into the service because it was too heavy to move; which stood on the southern side of the Inner Fosse, a little to the south of its outer edge. The space between the supports was about 2 feet [0.6m] wide and the same high; the lintel stone, which was partly displaced, measured 4 ft. [1.2m] by 2 ft. 5 ins. [0.73m] by 1 ft. [0.3m], and the supporting stone was of about the same order of magnitude. In and around this structure there were traces of large fires. This entrance gives access to an oval chamber, A, 17 ft, 2 ins. [5.2m] long and 5 ft. 2 ins. [1.57m] broad; the walls remain standing to a height of 4 ft. 6 ins. [1.37m]. This chamber runs through the inner fosse, and in order to build it the fosse must have been filled up to a depth of 3 feet [0.9m]. The fosse is here rather wider than usual - 8 ft. 7 ins. [2.6m] - and we reach its inner edge at about 1 foot [0.3m] before reaching the exit doorway of the chamber. At the exit doorway there is a neatly built sill of three stones, about 5 feet [1.5m] below the present surface of the ground. The exit of the chamber leads into a passage, B, 16 feet [4.87m] in length. This contracts to a narrow opening at 6 ft. [1.8m] from the entrance. Near the end, the passage contracts again to a width of 2 ft. 8 ins. [0.81m], where there are two jamb-stones, the one on the north about 2 feet [0.6m] cube, the other on the south 3 ft. [0.9m] high by 2 ft. 6 ins. [0.76m] by 2 ft. [0.6m]. At 3 feet [0.9m] from this point, and 33 ft. 2 ins. [10.1m] from the megalithic entrance, there is a doorway 1 ft. 8 ins. [0.5m] high by 1 ft. 10 ins. [0.55m] broad, with a sill rising 6 ins. [0.15m] high on the inner side. This doorway admits to those portions of the souterrain which are within the Inner Area. A passage, C, runs inward from it for a length of 16 ft [4.87m], 4 ft. 6 ins. [1.37m] high and a little over 3 ft. [0.9m] broad. It is very badly and irregularly constructed. The passage runs for the distance specified in a N.E. direction, and then turns through approximately a right angle. The second stretch of the passage, D, is 29 ft. [8.83m] in length. Owing to irregularities, fallen stones, and the low roof, it is troublesome to explore. The only feature of interest is a small cupboard-recess, E, on one side, about half way along its course. The passage ends in a blank wall; but on each side there is an entrance giving admission to a chamber. These chambers are the only passably good constructions in the souterrain. The left-hand doorway is 2 ft. 2 ins. [0.66m] high and 2 ft. [0.6m] broad, and is 3 ft. [0.9m] from front to back. The chamber, F, to which it leads is shapely, and built of fairly large stones; it is 14 ft. 6 ins. [4.4m] long and 5 ft [1.5m] in maximum breadth. At the inner end is a recess 1 ft. 8 ins. broad and 1 ft. 8 ins. [0.5m] high, and penetrating 2 ft. [0.6m] into the wall. It had no masonry back, and we found it convenient to cut through the clay behind it, thus making a second opening by which the chamber could be most easily entered. The opposite doorway on the right-hand side of the passage is smaller, and more difficult to pass through. It leads into a similar but smaller chamber, G. Both chambers, as usual, are roofed with large flag-stones'. See attached plan of the souterrain taken from Macalister and Praeger 1929-31. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 12 August 2019
WM024-029 Moated site
Description
Situated on N facing slope of rising ground with ringfort (WM024-028----) 125m to W. A report from 1971 records that the monument consisted of ‘a large rectilinear enclosure (int. dims. 47m N-S; 35.5m E-W), with an appreciable slope from the S end to the N end, bounded by the remains of a substantial earth and stone rampart with remains of a narrow fosse at its external foot and remains of a slight counterscarp bank of earth and stone. The inner bank is best preserved in the S end and E side where it rises well above the interior. Elsewhere, it rises but slightly above the interior but drops appreciably to the fosse. The inner bank has remains of both internal and external stone facing. The outer bank is very slight and fragmentary. A portion of the counterscarp has been quarried away on the ENE. A gap (Wth 6m) in the inner bank on the E side may represent the entrance. It is partly blocked by collapsed material. There is no definite trace of a causeway. There is no trace of an outer gap but the outer bank is much disturbed there. In the SW corner is s small square hut foundation (WM024-029001-) represented by a slight earth and stone bank’ (SMR File 20/07/1971) A second report from 1976 described the monument as following ; ‘The square shaped embankment is enclosed by an earth / stone bank. The bank has a stone facing in places best seen on the E and s sides. The crest is highest on the S and E and in places on the E inner stone facing can be seen. The bank is surrounded by a narrow fosse and a small outer bank which is barely discernible in places. A causewayed entrance feature exist in the centre of the E side. The fosse is deepest in the SE corner. The interior is free of scrub and slopes from S to N where the ridge on which the site is placed falls away. Limestone outcrop visible. Internal partition walls are visible in the NE corner. There is a small stone built square enclosure (a house site) (WM024-029001-) in the extreme SW corner with another possible house site conjoining it to the N. There are traces of a large stone wall running N from this structure. Situated on the N facing slopes with good view of pasture land to N. W and E’ (SMR File 23/04/1976). A later undated report described the monument as a ‘fairly large earthwork almost sub-rectangular in shape. The sides are gently curved & the corners are rounded. The earthwork is bounded by a bank of earth & stones. On the northern side the bank is set on a low counterscarp embankment. In several places the inner & outer faces of the bank have the remains of stone facing. Outside the bank there is a shallow fosse with a low outer bank of earth & stones outside it. There is no definite entrance to the interior. Part of the bank & fosse have been disturbed in the northern corner. In the interior there are a number of low banks. On the SW side & in the western corner there are 5 small enclosures, while in the eastern corner there is a larger enclosure. The significance of these enclosures is not very clear, some may be the remains of houses. The earthwork is on a gentle slope facing north & NE’ (SMR file). Compiled by: Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 10 March 2016
WM024-029001 House - indeterminate date
Description
Situated on N facing slope of rising ground with ringfort (WM024-028----) 125m to W. Possible house site located in SW corner of possible moated site (WM024-029----). A report from 1971 records that the monument consisted of ‘a large rectilinear enclosure (WM024-029----), with an appreciable slope from the S end to the N end, bounded by the remains of a substantial earth and stone rampart with remains of a narrow fosse at its external foot and remains of a slight counterscarp bank of earth and stone. A gap (Wth 6m) in the inner bank on the E side may represent the entrance. In the SW corner is s small square hut foundation represented by a slight earth and stone bank’ (SMR File 20/07/1971) A second report from 1976 described the monument as following ; ‘The square shaped embankment (WM024-029----) is enclosed by an earth / stone bank. A causewayed entrance feature exist in the centre of the E side. Internal partition walls are visible in the NE corner. There is a small stone built square enclosure (a house site) in the extreme SW corner with another possible house site conjoining it to the N. There are traces of a large stone wall running N from this structure. Situated on the N facing slopes with good view of pasture land to N. W and E’ (SMR File 23/04/1976). A later undated report described the monument as a ‘fairly large earthwork (WM024-029----) almost sub-rectangular in shape. In the interior there are a number of low banks. On the SW side & in the western corner there are 5 small enclosures, while in the eastern corner there is a larger enclosure. The significance of these enclosures is not very clear, some may be the remains of houses. The earthwork is on a gentle slope facing north & NE’ (SMR file). Compiled by: Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 10 March 2016

And 36 more.

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).

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.

Area: 37.7 ha; 93 acres
Land parcels: 5; registered freehold, median 7,308 m² (0.73 ha, 1.81 acres)
Zoning: —; not in a zoned settlement
Planning: 1; applications since 2010

Land parcels

Registered freehold land, Tailte Éireann

809 m across. Click a parcel to see it. © Tailte Éireann, CC BY 4.0

5 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Rathnew, from 2,388 m² (0.24 ha, 0.59 acres) to 351,877 m² (35.19 ha, 86.95 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary; 9 neighbouring parcels touch it.

Zoning

Development plans, national zoning

No zone of a development plan covers Rathnew 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.

Planning applications

Sites that touch the townland, newest first

21 Dec 2021Conditional
The construction of a 5.0m wide x 2.1 wide (internal dimensions) with 300mm walls x 16m long precast concrete underpass under the R-390 road to connect our lands and all associated pathways at Rathnew & Lalistown, Loughnvalley, Mullingar, Co Westmeath.
Permission · Westmeath County Council, 21681

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

Nature and heritage

Designated sites and recorded monuments

Designated sites

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

Recorded monuments

WM024-066 Ringfort - rath
Description
A conjoined enclosure excavated by Macalister and Praeger (1928), the results of which have been recently re-interpreted by Schot (2006). The conjoined enclosure is one of a cluster of monuments situated on the Hill of Uisneach. Nearby monuments include a mound barrow (WM024-173----) 200m to the N, an earthwork (WM024-068----) 390m to the SE, an embanked roadway annotated 'ancient road' (WM024-067----) runs onto the S side of the monument, a ringfort (WM024-063----) and holy well (WM024-60----) lie 390m to the SSW, an earthwork (WM024-065----) lies 290m to the W, a second earthwork (WM024-062---) 270m to the WNW, and a ritual pond known as Logh Lugh (WM024-064002-) 170m to the NW. The monument was described in 1963 as a 'large pair of conjoined ringforts, with hut-foundations (WM024-066002-) visible in the either part' (SMR file 1963). This ringfort was excavated in 1925-8 by R. A. S. Macalister, who believed that the larger ringfort was the mythological 'palace of Tuathal Techtmar'. On the 1837 edition of the OS 6-inch map the monument is depicted as a large circular ringfort with D-shaped annexe on the E side of the ringfort. On this map a 'Cave' or souterrain is annotated and depicted in the centre of the ringfort, the E quadrant of the ringfort interior has been divided into two small areas defined by earthen banks which run off the N & E side of a rectangular shaped platform located in the S quadrant of the ringfort. This rectangular platform appears to be the foundations of a hut site. A second possible hut site is depicted in the centre of the W annexe on the 1837 edition of the OS 6-inch map. These earthworks are clearly visible on aerial photographs taken 09/07/1964 (CUCAP AJQ092/093/094), 12/07/1966 (CUCAP AOY072/073/074) and 11/07/1969 (CUCAP AYR014/015/016). Schot (2006, 1) recently reinterpreted the results of the excavation by Macalister and Praeger and summarised her findings as following; 'Three main structural phases are postulated, the principal components of which comprise a late prehistoric ceremonial enclosure, an early medieval conjoined ringfort and a field system of possible medieval date. The changing role of the site from sanctuary to domestic settlement during the early medieval period and the possibility that the conjoined ringfort was a high-status, perhaps even 'royal', residence of the Clann Cholmáin 'kings of Uisneach'. See attached plan of site taken from Schot 2006 after Macalister and Praeger 1928 Compiled and revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 09 May 2019
WM024-066001 Ringfort - rath
Description
A conjoined enclosure excavated by Macalister and Praeger (1928), the results of which have been recently re-interpreted by Schot (2006). The conjoined enclosure is one of a cluster of monuments situated on the Hill of Uisneach. Nearby monuments include a mound barrow (WM024-173----) 200m to the N, an earthwork (WM024-068----) 390m to the SE, an embanked roadway annotated 'ancient road' (WM024-067----) runs onto the S side of the monument, a ringfort (WM024-063----) and holy well (WM024-60----) lie 390m to the SSW, an earthwork (WM024-065----) lies 290m to the W, a second earthwork (WM024-062---) 270m to the WNW, and a ritual pond known as Logh Lugh (WM024-064002-) 170m to the NW. The monument was described in 1963 as a 'large pair of conjoined ringforts, with hut-foundations (WM024-066002-) visible in the either part' (SMR file 1963). This ringfort was excavated in 1925-8 by R. A. S. Macalister, who believed that the larger ringfort was the mythological 'palace of Tuathal Techtmar'. On the 1837 edition of the OS 6-inch map the monument is depicted as a large circular ringfort with D-shaped annexe on the E side of the ringfort. On this map a 'Cave' or souterrain is annotated and depicted in the centre of the ringfort, the E quadrant of the ringfort interior has been divided into two small areas defined by earthen banks which run off the N & E side of a rectangular shaped platform located in the S quadrant of the ringfort. This rectangular platform appears to be the foundations of a hut site. A second possible hut site is depicted in the centre of the W annexe on the 1837 edition of the OS 6-inch map. These earthworks are clearly visible on aerial photographs taken 09/07/1964 (CUCAP AJQ092/093/094), 12/07/1966 (CUCAP AOY072/073/074) and 11/07/1969 (CUCAP AYR014/015/016). Schot (2006, 1) recently reinterpreted the results of the excavation by Macalister and Praeger and summarised her findings as following; 'Three main structural phases are postulated, the principal components of which comprise a late prehistoric ceremonial enclosure, an early medieval conjoined ringfort and a field system of possible medieval date. The changing role of the site from sanctuary to domestic settlement during the early medieval period and the possibility that the conjoined ringfort was a high-status, perhaps even 'royal', residence of the Clann Cholmáin 'kings of Uisneach'. See attached plan of site taken from Schot 2006 after Macalister and Praeger 1928 Compiled and revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 13 August 2019
WM024-066002 House - medieval
Description
House site described by Macalister and Praeger as the 'Eastern House' in centre of a conjoined enclosure excavated by Macalister and Praeger (1928), the results of which have been recently re-interpreted by Schot (2006). The conjoined enclosure is one of a cluster of monuments situated on the Hill of Uisneach. Nearby monuments include a mound barrow (WM024-173----) 200m to the N, an earthwork (WM024-068----) 390m to the SE, an embanked roadway annotated 'ancient road' (WM024-067----) runs onto the S side of the monument, a ringfort (WM024-063----) and holy well (WM024-60----) lie 390m to the SSW, an earthwork (WM024-065----) lies 290m to the W, a second earthwork (WM024-062---) 270m to the WNW, and a ritual pond known as Logh Lugh (WM024-064002-) 170m to the NW. The eastern house was described in 1928 as following: 'This was the most important structure. remaining within the enclosure (WM024-066----). On our first visit we saw an earthen ring about 44 feet [13.4m] in diameter, with indications of an entrance towards the east, and some suggestions of internal divisions in the form of faint ridges. The Eastern House Consists essentially of an area divided into a number of compartments and chambers, and contained within a more or less circular wall of earth, about 10 feet [3m] in thickness at the base, faced on one or both sides with dry-stone masonry. Without the circular area, on the southern side, there is an annexe of three chambers, approached through doorways in the surrounding wall of the main building (afterwards blocked up), as well as by means of a separate entrance. The main entrance to the structure is a passage 4 feet [1.2m] wide at its outer end, 3 feet [0.9m] wide at the sill by which it is closed internally. It projects 2' 8" [0.8m] outside the face of the surrounding wall. This projection has been made to carry out the door to near the circumference of a bank of gravelly earth and stones heaped up against the outer face of the surrounding wall, apparently at a later date. The doorway faces outward to the east. The passage is paved with flat slabs of irregular shape (some of which we raised and replaced, in the hope of finding threshold deposits, but without result). Just outside where the pavement begins there are two well marked post-holes for the door-posts: they are 3' 10" [1.16m] centre to centre, 1' 3" [0.38m] in diameter, 1' 5" [0.43m] deep. These dimensions may possibly have been slightly enlarged in the process of excavation. At 9' [2.7m] from the entrance there is a slab laid down over the paving stones, forming a step 8" [2.4m] high and 2' [0.6m] broad. This was apparently an afterthought, as the pavement runs underneath it. The entrance passage is bordered on the southern side with a series of slabs on edge, four in number; they are 9" [0.22m] in thickness and 2' 3" [0.68m] in maximum height. On the north side there are five ordinary building stones forming the lowest course of a wall of masonry; nearly all of the course next above has disappeared. The floor of the passage rises slightly from outside inward. Just behind the step mentioned above as being at the inner end of the entrance passage, there is a slab on edge, set with a slight slope inward, forming a sill. This is 2' 2" [0.66m] long and 8" [0.2m] broad, and it stands exposed to a height of just under 1' [0.3m]. Immediately behind this sill, on the inner side, there is a row of three stones, flattish on face, forming a step downward into the chamber into which the entrance passage gives access. The step has a tread of 1' [0.3m] and a rise of 7" [0.17m]. On the left hand side of a person entering building the row of slabs on edge, above mentioned, is returned at an approximate right angle, and runs southward for a length of 6' 9" [2.05m]. It seems improbable that these upturned slabs supported any stone superstructure; but they may well have been the revetment of an earthen wall. The peculiar L-shaped space shewn in the plan, of which they now form the eastern boundary, was emptied by us of its earth, but it did not form a chamber: in consequence it is not shaded as such in the plan. It is really the continuation of the circular boundary wall. The curved interior face on the eastern side is quite rough, and could never have been intended to be exposed; moreover, there is no apparent entrance to the U-shaped area, which, as it stands, measures 11 ft. 10 ins. [3.6m] north to south, by 6 ft. [1.8m] broad in its eastern limb and 4 ft. [1.2m] narrowing to 2 ft. 4 ins. [0.71m] broad in its southern limb. Nevertheless, the digging out of the earth was justified by its revelation of traces of a powerful fire underlying the foundation. The bed of ashes which represents it continued along the inside of the circumference northward for a total length of about 27' [8.22m], including the breadth of the entrance passage, and running under the foundation of the enclosing wall. Some kind of foundation rite seems to be indicated' (Macalister and Praeger 1928, 101-4). On the 1837 edition of the OS 6-inch map the monument is depicted as a large circular ringfort with D-shaped annexe on the E side of the ringfort. On this map a 'Cave' or souterrain is annotated and depicted in the centre of the ringfort, the E quadrant of the ringfort interior has been divided into two small areas defined by earthen banks which run off the N & E side of a rectangular shaped platform located in the S quadrant of the ringfort. This rectangular platform appears to be the foundations of a hut site. A second possible hut site is depicted in the centre of the W annexe on the 1837 edition of the OS 6-inch map. These earthworks are clearly visible on aerial photographs taken 09/07/1964 (CUCAP AJQ092/093/094), 12/07/1966 (CUCAP AOY072/073/074) and 11/07/1969 (CUCAP AYR014/015/016). See attached plan of site taken from Schot 2006 after Macalister and Praeger 1928 Compiled and revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 13 August 2019
WM024-066003 Souterrain
Description
A souterrain located beneath a house site (WM024-066004-) located in W quadrant of conjoined enclosure excavated by Macalister and Praeger (1928), the results of which have been recently re-interpreted by Schot (2006). The conjoined enclosure (WM024-066----) is one of a cluster of monuments situated on the Hill of Uisneach. Nearby monuments include a mound barrow (WM024-173----) 200m to the N, an earthwork (WM024-068----) 390m to the SE, an embanked roadway annotated 'ancient road' (WM024-067----) runs onto the S side of the monument, a ringfort (WM024-063----) and holy well (WM024-60----) lie 390m to the SSW, an earthwork (WM024-065----) lies 290m to the W, a second earthwork (WM024-062---) 270m to the WNW, and a ritual pond known as Logh Lugh (WM024-064002-) 170m to the NW. The souterrain was described by Macalister (1928, 112-4) as following: 'The Upper Chamber is much ruined, owing to the universal spoliation of stones. Nothing is left of it except the mere foundations of two portions of its enclosing wall. These are insufficient to tell us what the masonry of the complete structure was like; but it was probably very rough, and certainly was of stone set in clay. It is impossible to say whether the walls were perpendicular and covered with a horizontal wooden roof, or whether they approximated by oversailing, thus making a dome-shaped structure. So far as the extant fragments permit us to judge, the internal dimensions of the Upper Chamber were 17' [5.18m] north to south, and 15' [4.57m] east to west. It was bounded by a wall, of which nothing now remains except the north-west and the south-east angles, and fragments of the adjacent foundation. The former angle is very obtuse, and the wall is here 4 feet 6 ins. [1.37m] thick. The latter is a fairly well-made right angle, and the wall is here no less than 6 feet [1.8m] thick. The stones used in this part of the building are rather larger, on the average, than those used in the Souterrain. A few remain which measure from 2 ft. 6 ins. [0.76m] to 3 feet [0.9m] in diameter. There was but one chamber in the upper portion of the building. Access to the Souterrain must have been obtained by means of a manhole in the floor of the Upper Chamber. For purposes of description we may divide this part of the structure into three sections, A, B, and C: the first is to the south, the third to the north. Section A is 22' [6.7m] long by 5' [1.52m] broad, but is narrower toward the eastern end. It runs east and west, and at the western end is closed by a straight wall 1 ft. 3 ins. [0.38m] thick, which overhangs the fosse between the outer ramparts of the Enclosure. The walls of the Souterrain are built with oversailing courses; a maximum height of 5 feet [1.5m] remains, in which height there is an oversail of 1ft. 2 ins. [0.35m]. The stones of which this part of the Souterrain is built are field stones, some of them of considerable size, especially in the lower courses. They shew signs of having been for long exposed to the weather, an indication that they were not dressed by the masons who set them in their place. The courses range from about 5 [0.12m] to about 8 inches [0.2m]in height, but the coursing of the masonry is irregular. On the south side, at 9 feet [2.7m] from the western end, there is a square recess in the wall 2 ft. 5 ins. [0.73m] above the floor level. This recess measures 1' 3" [0.38m] in height, 1' 4" [0.4m] in breadth, and 2' 4" [0.71m] in depth. The floor of the recess is formed of one large stone, which runs down the whole way to the foundation of the wall. On the north side at 13' 10" [4.21m] from the western end, there is a recess on the ground level 1' 9" [0.53m] broad by 1' 4" [0.4m] high; it has no stone sill. Section B is separated from Section A by a doorway 2 feet 4 [0.71m] inches across, at the east end of the latter section. It is of irregular shape, measuring about 7' [2.13m] across each way: and is built of smaller stones, on an average, than Section A, though there are some large stones interspersed among them. The building stones, especially the smaller ones, are more angular than are those in Section A. The foundation of the western fragment of the upper wall is 2' [0.6m] above the floor of the Souterrain at the southern end, but rises to 4' [1.2m] at the northern end. There is a recess 3' 9" [1.14m] broad by 2' 5" [0.73m] deep in the eastern wall of the Section, running up to the present top of the masonry. It seems to have been used as a fire-place. It was filled with clay in which were mingled charcoal and ashes from a depth of about 2 ft. [0.6m] from the surface of the ground, down to the bottom of the Souterrain; at the bottom there was a large solid bed of charcoal. There was also a quantity of charcoal against the northern jamb of the doorway leading to Section A, mingled with burnt clay; this spread over on to the floor of Section A. The manhole leading out of the Upper Chamber must have been in the roof of this part of the Souterrain, close to the fireplace. When the fire was burning it seems inevitable that the Upper Chamber was full of smoke. A doorway at the northern end of Section B of the Souterrain leads to Section C. This first runs north-eastward, and then turns north-westward. It was roofed with lintels, of which six remain. On the western side, just inside the entrance from Section B, there is a recess at the floor level, 1' 6" [0.45m] across, 2' [0.6m] high, and 3' [0.9m] deep. It runs right through the wall, to the clay at the back; there is no sign of any masonry at the inner end, nor can it be regarded as a doorway leading to an extension of the Souterrain. There is nothing to call for any special remark in Section C of the Souterrain, except that the floor first rises northward, and then slopes suddenly downward into the part that runs westward: this is 2' 5" [0.73m] below the level of the northward portion. Section C is built of comparatively small stones, and has a rounded end: but just at the entrance, on the western side, there is a stone measuring 3' 6" [1.06m] by 2' [0.6m] by 1' 4" [0.4m]'. On the 1837 edition of the OS 6-inch map the monument is depicted as a large circular ringfort with D-shaped annexe on the E side of the ringfort. On this map a 'Cave' or souterrain is annotated and depicted in the centre of the ringfort, the E quadrant of the ringfort interior has been divided into two small areas defined by earthen banks which run off the N & E side of a rectangular shaped platform located in the S quadrant of the ringfort. This rectangular platform appears to be the foundations of a hut site. A second possible hut site is depicted in the centre of the W annexe on the 1837 edition of the OS 6-inch map. These earthworks are clearly visible on aerial photographs taken 09/07/1964 (CUCAP AJQ092/093/094), 12/07/1966 (CUCAP AOY072/073/074) and 11/07/1969 (CUCAP AYR014/015/016). See attached plan of site taken from Schot 2006 after Macalister and Praeger 1928. Compiled and revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 13 August 2019
WM024-066004 Hut site
Description
Hut site with souterrain (WM024-066003-) underneath described by Macalister and Praeger as the 'Western House' in W area of a conjoined enclosure (WM024-066----) excavated by Macalister and Praeger (1928), the results of which have been recently re-interpreted by Schot (2006). The conjoined enclosure is one of a cluster of monuments situated on the Hill of Uisneach. Nearby monuments include a mound barrow (WM024-173----) 200m to the N, an earthwork (WM024-068----) 390m to the SE, an embanked roadway annotated 'ancient road' (WM024-067----) runs onto the S side of the monument, a ringfort (WM024-063----) and holy well (WM024-60----) lie 390m to the SSW, an earthwork (WM024-065----) lies 290m to the W, a second earthwork (WM024-062---) 270m to the WNW, and a ritual pond known as Logh Lugh (WM024-064002-) 170m to the NW. The western house was described in 1928 as following; 'This structure consists of two parts, the Upper Chamber and the Souterrain. The Upper Chamber is much ruined, owing to the universal spoliation of stones. Nothing is left of it except the mere foundations of two portions of its enclosing wall. These are insufficient to tell us what the masonry of the complete structure was like; but it was probably very rough, and certainly was of stone set in clay. It is impossible to say whether the walls were perpendicular and covered with a horizontal wooden roof, or whether they approximated by oversailing, thus making a dome-shaped structure. So far as the extant fragments permit us to judge, the internal dimensions of the Upper Chamber were 17' [5.18m] north to south, and 15' [4.57m] east to west. It was bounded by a wall, of which nothing now remains except the north-west and the south-east angles, and fragments of the adjacent foundation. The former angle is very obtuse, and the wall is here 4 feet 6 ins. [1.37m] thick. The latter is a fairly well-made right angle, and the wall is here no less than 6 feet [1.8m] thick. The stones used in this part of the building are rather larger, on the average, than those used in the Souterrain. A few remain which measure from 2 ft. 6 ins. [0.76m] to 3 feet [0.91m] in diameter. There was but one chamber in the upper portion of the building. Access to the Souterrain [WM024-066003-] must have been obtained by means of a man hole in the floor of the Upper Chamber' (Macalister and Praeger 1928, 112-3). On the 1837 edition of the OS 6-inch map the monument is depicted as a large circular ringfort with D-shaped annexe on the E side of the ringfort. On this map a 'Cave' or souterrain is annotated and depicted in the centre of the ringfort, the E quadrant of the ringfort interior has been divided into two small areas defined by earthen banks which run off the N & E side of a rectangular shaped platform located in the S quadrant of the ringfort. This rectangular platform appears to be the foundations of a hut site. A second possible hut site is depicted in the centre of the W annexe on the 1837 edition of the OS 6-inch map. These earthworks are clearly visible on aerial photographs taken 09/07/1964 (CUCAP AJQ092/093/094), 12/07/1966 (CUCAP AOY072/073/074) and 11/07/1969 (CUCAP AYR014/015/016). See attached plan of site taken from Schot 2006 after Macalister and Praeger 1928 Compiled and revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 19 August 2019
WM024-066005 Souterrain
Description
Souterrain located beneath a pile of stones in centre of a conjoined enclosure (WM024-066----) excavated by Macalister and Praeger (1928), the results of which have been recently re-interpreted by Schot (2006). The conjoined enclosure is one of a cluster of monuments situated on the Hill of Uisneach. Nearby monuments include a mound barrow (WM024-173----) 200m to the N, an earthwork (WM024-068----) 390m to the SE, an embanked roadway annotated 'ancient road' (WM024-067----) runs onto the S side of the monument, a ringfort (WM024-063----) and holy well (WM024-60----) lie 390m to the SSW, an earthwork (WM024-065----) lies 290m to the W, a second earthwork (WM024-062---) 270m to the WNW, and a ritual pond known as Logh Lugh (WM024-064002-) 170m to the NW. The souterrain was described in 1928 as following; 'At a place where a Pile of Stones is indicated in the plan, an area was found in which the earth (normally of a red iron-oxide colour) was very black, indicating the presence of much decayed organic matter. There were however but few bones. On the other hand there were many large stones, of dimensions up to about 1' 10" [0.55m], lying in an irregular heap; no order could be observed in their disposition. At this place there was an irregular pit sunk in the Drift, and some of the stones filled it up. The appearance suggested that there had here been a carn, or perhaps a hut of the "beehive" construction with the floor sunk below the level of the ground; and that the structure had been wrecked by despoiling it of some of its stones, and allowed to fall into ruin. The "Stone" marked on the plan to the east of this "Pile of Stones" is a weathered boulder, 4' [11.2m] by 2' 6" [0.76m] by 1' 3" [0.38m], which lay just beneath the surface of the ground. When the pile of stones was removed, to see if anything was covered by it, two slabs on edge were found at the bottom. This gave a clue which we followed up; and we found that these slabs formed an entrance to a Souterrain, which had been deprived of its roofing-slabs, and had been so thoroughly filled up that there was no trace on the surface of the ground to tell of its existence. It is a straight passage, 28' [8.5m] long running northward from the two slabs mentioned. At these slabs, its southern end, it is 1' 3" [0.38m] broad; it broadens to 1' 8" [0.5m] breadth at 18' [5.5m] from the southern end; at 23' [7m] it is 2' 7" [0.78m], and here it suddenly widens into an oval bee-hive chamber, 5 ft. [1.5m] in length, and 3 ft. 6 ins. [1.06m] in maximum breadth. On the eastern side the line of the wall is continued southward for about 6 ft. [1.8m] under the pile of stones: and there is a single stone 3 ft. [0.9m] further on. These may indicate that the original length of the souterrain was 37 feet [11.27m]. The floor of the souterrain falls 2' 4" [0.71m] in the courste of its length; it is 4' 9" [1.44m] below the surface of the ground at the northern end, 5' [1.5m] at 13' [3.96m] from the end, and only 2' [0.6m] to 3' [0.9m] at the entrance. The walls are built of small stones, but there are some stones at the base measuring up to about 3 ft. [0.9m] broad and 2 ft. 6 ins. [0.76m] high'. On the 1837 edition of the OS 6-inch map the enclosure is depicted as a large circular ringfort with D-shaped annexe on the E side of the ringfort. On this map a 'Cave' or souterrain is annotated and depicted in the centre of the ringfort, the E quadrant of the ringfort interior has been divided into two small areas defined by earthen banks which run off the N & E side of a rectangular shaped platform located in the S quadrant of the ringfort. This rectangular platform appears to be the foundations of a hut site. A second possible hut site is depicted in the centre of the W annexe on the 1837 edition of the OS 6-inch map. These earthworks are clearly visible on aerial photographs taken 09/07/1964 (CUCAP AJQ092/093/094), 12/07/1966 (CUCAP AOY072/073/074) and 11/07/1969 (CUCAP AYR014/015/016). See attached plan of site taken from Schot 2006 after Macalister and Praeger 1928 Compiled and revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 19 August 2019
WM024-067 Road - road/trackway
Description
This embanked roadway running N-S towards the top of the Hill of Uisneach is annotated 'Ancient Road' on all editions of the OS 6-inch map. On this map it is depicted running N for a distance of 500m from the public road (R3900) where it provides access onto the S side of a large conjoined ringfort (WM024-066----). This embanked roadway was described in 1963 as an 'Ancient roadway, marked by a double bank, moving S from conjoined ringforts (WM024-066----) to a modern road. On Hill of Uisneach' (SMR file 1963). In 1976 the monument was described as a 'sunken roadway 6m wide in places extends almost from the modern road directly opposite the driveway to Lunestown demense which may be built as an extension of it. In its present state it begins behind the gate lodge of Lunestown House. The ancient road is bounded on the E by a low scarped bank of earth and stone and on the W by a more obvious bank of stone & earth. There are stones some of which may have been said to have been laid down. The W bank and portion of the E bank may have originally been constructed as dry walling but now they are grassed over. The roadway runs up the hill varying somewhat in width up to the ringfort (WM024-066----)' (SMR file 1976). Macalister and Praeger (1928, 81-2) described the ancient road as following; 'A roadway, running in an almost straight line up the southern slope of the hill. On each side there are the foundations of dry-stone walls, now reduced to a maximum height of about 2' [0.6m], and turfed over. Local gossip asserts that it can be traced south of the Lunestown demesne, on the south side of the Mullingar-Ballymore road; and that it ultimately makes its way to Streamstown. No such extension, however, is to be traced on the Ordnance Map. The first hint of its existence is in the beginning of the carriage drive to Lunestown House, which for some yards is exactly in a line with it, and may be constructed upon it. If there was a section crossing the modern road, this has naturally been effaced ; and a further possible section may be covered by the gate-lodge of Lunestown, which is on the north side of the modern road, and which stands exactly in the line of the old Roadway. In its present state, therefore, the Roadway does not now begin lower down the hill-slope than the back of the gate-lodge. Here the walls are ill-defined, and the width is not quite certain; it seems to be about 25' [8m]. Its lowest section runs up a rather steep slope to a shoulder of the hill, where it is hidden by a clump of bushes. Above this obstacle its breadth is 18 [6m] to 22 feet [7m], with the low side walls already described ; its course is remarkably straight, directed about 10 points west of true north. At a point about 750' [230m] from the modern road, the road on its western side strikes the corner of a field-boundary and changes its course to about 3 points west of north; keeping the same breadth, and having boundary walls of the same character as before. A short distance below the change of direction there is a heap of stones, 35' [12m] long, 5' [1.5m] broad, and about 2' [0.6m] high, within the roadway. This appears to be nothing but an accumulation cleared for agricultural purposes from the field. Above this, the eastern side wall is almost effaced for some distance, and the roadway crosses a slight hollow in the hill-side. Some little way above the change of direction there is a stone in the middle of the road, measuring about 4' [1.2m] by 2' [0.6m] by 2' [0.6m]; apparently the road-makers shirked the labour of removing this obstacle. As we approach the hill-top, the side walls become broken and interrupted, especially on the eastern side; the western wall, though faint in places, nowhere disappears until it reaches the hill-top; indeed, it seems to continue as the boundary-wall between the Central and Eastern Sections of the summit Enclosure [WM024-066----]. The length of the upper part of the Roadway, after the change of direction, is about 900' [275m], of which the last 200' [61m] is ill defined. It seems here to widen to the width of the Central Section of the hill-top enclosure. We cut a trench across a well marked part of the Roadway, in order to ascertain whether any form of pavement had been used; and also to find out more fully the nature of the boundary walls. It was found that there is actually a pavement of small rough pebbles, angular, not water worn, measuring about 1" [0.02m] to 3" [0.07m] in diameter, laid at about 8" [0.2m] beneath the present surface. Underneath this layer of pebbles there is a bed of fine loam resting upon the Drift, which, at the place where the trench was cut, is 1' 6" [0.45m] beneath the present surface. As the depth of soil covering the Drift, outside the Roadway, is here 3' 6" [1m], the present floor of the Roadway is sunk about 2' [0.6m] beneath the level of the surrounding field. In constructing the side walls, a row of stones on edge was set up to form a footing, and, above them, field-stones were laid between and over them, as in a modern wall'. The dating of the road with the second building phase of the hilltop enclosure/ringfort (WM024-066----) as suggested by Macalister and Praeger (1928, 92) is problematical. This uncertainty and revised dating was recently summarised by Schot (2006, 48-9) as following; 'The embanked roadway plays a pivotal role in Macalister and Praeger's structural sequence (though this is often implicit in the text), and therefore warrants specific comment here. It is necessary to emphasise from the outset that the primary position assigned to this feature by the excavators (their 'second period') is purely conjectural and is founded on the a priori view that this so-called 'ancient road' was a processional avenue leading specifically to the enclosure(s) on the summit. Indeed, Macalister and Praeger went so far as to surmise that the road may have extended deep into the interior of the site on the basis of the apparent alignment of the western bank of the road on the denuded wall separating the Eastern and Western Enclosures. Unfortunately, much of their account regarding the structural development of the site is predicated on this putative relationship. In reality, such a relationship could not be proven because the roadway, such as it is, stops more than 40m short of the enclosure. There is, indeed, nothing to indicate that the roadway proper ever continued further northwards: the denuded earthen banks attached to its western bank including that aligned on the wall separating the enclosures are the remnants of a derelict field system. Furthermore, there is no clear evidence of an entrance to the enclosure at the point where, if projected, the road would intersect with it. The result, as we shall see, is that the excavators were forced to make some rather bizarre, and totally unsupportable, interpretations of the stratigraphical evidence. In fact, while the nature of the relationship between the roadway and the field boundaries appended to its western bank remains unclear, the morphological attributes of the roadway proper tend to suggest a relatively late date. A section cut across a well-defined (but unidentified) part of the roadway revealed a paved surface consisting of small, angular pebbles, laid approximately 0.2m below the present surface, flanked on either side by a bank composed of 'a row of stones on edge' with field stones 'laid between and over them, as in a modern wall'. As such, the suggestion put forward here that the roadway was constructed during the medieval period can be independently supported by both topographical and excavated evidence, and yet also accords well with the evidence from the enclosures, outlined below'. Compiled and revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 09 May 2019
WM024-068 Enclosure
Description
Situated on a rise, in undulating pasture, with a low-lying wet area to SE. Depicted on the 1837 OS Fair Plan map as a D-shaped earthwork enclosed by a bank, with internal divisions. Depicted on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map as a D-shaped area (dims. 40m N-S; 33m E-W) enclosed by a bank. This map also shows the internal subdivisions of a small square-shaped enclosure in the N corner and a long, rectangular-shaped enclosure abutting this to S, with a semi-circular area abutting both features to E. There is a spring well abutting the curvilinear bank of this enclosure to E. It would appear that the revised 1913 ed. OS 25-inch map depicts only the remains of the small square enclosure (dims. 11m ESE-WNW; 7.5m NNE-SSW) which previously occupied the N corner of the larger D-shaped enclosure that is shown on the 1837 OS 6-inch map. Referred to by Macalister as a rectangular-shaped enclosure. Described by the Ordnance Survey as an 'Earthen enclosure with traces of stones through it as if the remains of a building close by it is a well' (OS Memoranda). Natural looking hillock hachured on OS map may only represent the N quadrant of the enclosure depicted on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map. Levelled monument described in 1971 as no surface remains visible. Compiled by Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien. Date of upload: 13 August 2019
WM024-200 Ring-ditch
Description
This circular ring-ditch was revealed by geophysical survey c.14m SE of a large conjoined ringfort (WM024-066----) in 2004 (Schot 2005; 2011). It is evidenced geophysically as a positive annular feature, c.9m in diameter, which is best defined on the N where it has a maximum width of c.1.5m. There are a number of gaps in its perimeter, on the W, S and E, some or all of which may be the result of disturbance by ploughing. A pit-type feature lies at the centre of the enclosed area. Compiled by: Dr. Roseanne Schot Date of upload: 08 May 2019
WM024-201 Ring-ditch
Description
This well-defined ring-ditch was identified by geophysical survey in 2004 approximately 100m SSE of the conjoined ringfort (WM024-066----) and c.50m E of the ancient roadway (WM024-067----) (Schot 2005; 2011). Located on a gentle south-facing slope, it registers geophysically as a positive magnetic ring, 7m in diameter, with a pit-type feature c.1.5m in diameter at its centre. Faint traces of a second possible ring-ditch, of similar size, were recorded by the survey just over 2m to the SE, while a possible ring-barrow (WM024-202----) lies c.65m to the SE. Compiled by: Dr. Roseanne Schot Date of upload: 08 May 2019
WM024-202 Barrow - ring-barrow
Description
This possible burial monument is located on the gentle south-facing slope of Uisneach, overlooking a small lake that formed in recent decades in an area that may also have been prone to water-logging in the past (Schot 2005; 2011). Identified during field survey, it survives as a slightly raised, circular area, c.0.15m in height and 3m in diameter, surrounded by a shallow ditch and very low, external bank measuring c.7m in overall diameter. The site provides good views to the E and SW but is overlooked by higher ground on all other sides. A well-defined ring-ditch (WM024-201----) and a second, possible ring-ditch, were recorded by geophysical survey c.65m to the northwest, and an ancient roadway (WM024-067----) runs in a north/south direction to the west. Macalister and Praeger also identified in this general area an ‘earthwork’ (WM024-175----) which they described as being ‘identical in character’ to a ring-barrow (WM024-058----) located near the western summit of Uisneach. They ‘trenched through’ the earthwork, but found ‘it did not contain so much as a construction of stones’ (Macalister and Praeger 1928, 83). However, the dimensions recorded by Macalister and Praeger for this putative barrow (diameter of central mound, 6.4m; width of ditch, 2.75m; depth of ditch 0.38m; width of outer bank, 2.75m) suggest that it was more than twice the size of the present ring-barrow, and is therefore likely to represent a separate monument, no obvious trace of which survives today. See attached photo provided by Dr. Roseanne Schot Compiled by: Dr. Roseanne Schot Date of upload: 08 May 2019

Homes sold

Property Price Register

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

The townland

Name: Rathnew
Area: 377,428 m² (37.74 ha, 93.26 acres)
Civil parish: Conry, and its townlands
Barony: Rathconrath
Electoral division: Ballymorin, the unit of the census
Neighbouring townlands: Kellybrook, Lalistown, Mweelra, Togherstown, Ushnagh Hill
Placenames: Rathnew 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.