Simonstown

7 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Simonstown, from 2,154 m² (0.22 ha, 0.53 acres) to 626,693 m² (62.67 ha, 154.86 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary; 20 neighbouring parcels touch it.

No zone of a development plan covers Simonstown 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.

• 24 Oct 2025Conditional

  a change to design of dwelling house plan from that previously granted under Planning Application Reference 23/60129

  Permission, 1 home · Westmeath County Council, 2560523

• 11 May 2023Conditional

  proposed construction of a dormer style dwelling, detached residential garage, boundary fence & proposed entrance, conventional septic tank & percolation area as per submitted drawings inclusive of all ancillary site works

  Permission, 1 home · Westmeath County Council, 2360129

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 Simonstown.

Recorded monuments

• WM018-037 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  Situated on a small hill, in undulating pasture, with extensive views in all directions. Ringfort (WM018-038----) lies c. 210m to SSW. Depicted on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map and the revised 1913 ed. OS 25-inch map as an oval-shaped earthwork. A circular-shaped earthwork is depicted on an estate map of Rathconrath dating from 1776 (NLI, MS 21 F. 48 (026) ). Bivallate ringfort described in 1979 as an oval-shaped area (dims. 43m E-W; 32m N-S) enclosed by an inner bank, an intervening fosse and an outer bank. The inner bank of earth and stone is best preserved from N-E and is reduced to a scarp at SE, S and NW. The fosse is narrow and shallow and is present from S-W. The outer bank of earth and stone is very low and is visible from S-W. The fosse and outer bank may be later features. The original entrance is not recognisable. The interior has an E-facing slope and is uneven due to grass-covered deposits of field clearance stones in the S quadrant. A hut site (WM018-037001-) is located within the NW quadrant. A D-shaped annexe (dims. 19m E-W; 11.9m N-S) adjoins the N side of the ringfort. It is enclosed by a low bank of earth and stone and there is a gap between it and the ringfort bank at E. The interior of the annexe is generally level. An old field bank extends to the exterior of the ringfort at W and to the annexe at NNW. Monument is visible today as an oval-shaped, partly tree-lined enclosure on Digital Globe aerial photography. Compiled by: Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 11 January 2019

• WM018-037001 House - indeterminate date
  Description

  Situated on a small natural hill, in undulating pasture, with extensive views in all directions. In NW quadrant of ringfort (WM018-037----) are the remains of a rectangular-shaped house site (dims. 5.6m NE-SW; 4.9m NW-SE) defined by a low bank of earth and stone. There is a gap (Wth 2m) in the bank at SE which may represent an entrance. Compiled by: Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 11 January 2019

• WM018-038 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  Situated on top of a prominent ridge, in undulating pasture, with extensive views in all directions. Ringfort (WM018-037----) lies c. 210m to NNE. Depicted on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map as an oval-shaped earthwork with a field boundary extending to SW and NW. Depicted on the revised 1913 ed. OS 25-inch map as a penannular-shaped earthwork which is open to NW. Earthwork described in 1979 as a small oval-shaped area (26m E-W; 17m N-S) enclosed by a bank which is reduced to a scarp in places. The low bank of earth and stone is best preserved from S-SW-W. The bank appears to have been quarried W-NE. There are stones visible on the presumed line of the perimeter at N but these appear to be residual quarry deposits. A small, upright stone near the foot of the scarp at W appears to be a cattle scratching post. The NW quadrant of the interior has been disturbed by quarrying. A modern field wall runs NNE-SSW across the W quadrant and has also been defaced by quarrying. A second report described the monument in 1983 as a partly levelled, roughly D-shaped area (dims. 35.5m NE-SW; 27m NW-SE) that has been modified in shape and extensively disturbed by digging. The monument is enclosed by a bank which has been reduced to a scarp in places. A steep curvilinear scarp defines the perimeter from E-S. A low and poorly preserved bank is present from S-W-NW-NNW, which is obscured by a field wall from W-NW-NNW. The modified straight side is defined by a low scarp along the NE side. The low remains of the original curvilinear scarp are visible from NNW-N-E, some distance out from the modified straight side of the D-shaped perimeter. There is no sign of an entrance. The interior has been disturbed by extensive digging. Monument is visible today as a D-shaped earthwork on Digital Globe aerial photography. Compiled by: Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 11 January 2019

• WM018-039 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  Situated at the NE end of a low ridge, in undulating pasture, with good views to NW and overlooked by higher ridges elsewhere. Not depicted on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map or the revised 1913 ed. OS 25-inch map. Described in 1980 as a roughly circular-shaped area (dims. 36m NW-SE; 35m NE-SW) enclosed by a bank which is reduced to a scarp in places. Traces of a low, faint bank are visible from W-NE, which are reduced to a faint scarp from NE-ENE. The perimeter is levelled from ENE-SE, where it is defined by a modern field wall. A low, much disturbed scarp defines the outline of the monument from SE-W, where it has been modified by a quarry hole. There is no sign of an entrance. The interior has a gentle NE-facing slope. Monument is visible as an oval-shaped earthwork on Digital Globe aerial photography. Compiled by: Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 11 January 2019

• WM018-040 Castle - unclassified
  Description

  Situated on top of a small ridge, in undulating pasture, with extensive views in all directions. A river lies c. 60m to S. Annotated on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map as ‘Simonstown Castle (in ruins)’ within the W corner of a partially tree-planted garden plot. Annotated on the revised 1913 ed. OS 25-inch map as ‘Simonstown Castle (Site of)’ and located outside to W of a garden wall which has been modified at this location. A tower house type castle is depicted in Simonstown on the 1655-9 Down Survey map of Rathconrath parish where it is depicted standing on lands owned by John Fitzgerald, an Irish papist, in 1641 (NLI, MS 723-4). Annotated 'Old Castle' on an estate map of Rathconrath dating from 1776 where it is shown as standing a short distance to the N of a field drain and S of a rectangular shaped farmyard ((NLI, MS 21 F. 48 (026)). Described in 1979 as a short stretch of stone wall located a short distance to W of the corner of a relatively modern stone garden wall. The old wall (approx. L 2.1m; T 1.6m; max. H 3m) is built of small, rough, undressed, limestone blocks laid in irregular courses and bonded with a coarse mortar. There are some loose and some grass-covered stones at the base of this wall which could be collapsed material. There are no dressed stones in the upstanding wall and no recognisable features. There are no signs of any foundations elsewhere and no traceable ground plan. An old, shallow quarry depression is located a short distance to N. It is assumed that most of the stone was taken to build Simonstown House and farmyard c. 30m to ENE. Castle site is visible at the corner of a tree-planted area on Digital Globe aerial photography. Compiled by: Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 11 January 2019

• WM018-041 Barrow - ring-barrow
  Description

  Surveyed in 2013 and described by McGuinness (2014, 60-1) as following: 'Monument was destroyed by ploughing not long before 1987, when visited by an ASI fieldworker; the present survey-team searched for traces of it but found nothing. It had been seen and recorded twice during ASI fieldwork in 1979 and 1980, when a plan and profile were made, from which it is clear that this was a ring-barrow. The second description is given here: A small roughly circular earthwork outlined by a narrow, shallow fosse with the remains of a faint, low external bank. The bank has been levelled from WNW-NW-N and elsewhere is very low and faint. The fosse is narrow and shallow and is preserved all round. The interior is level and featureless. The interior is not raised above the surrounding field. The barrow is located on rising ground in undulating pasture land. There are extensive views to the N and W—overlooked by a ridge to the SE—good views to the S .... There are old cultivation ridges running roughly E-W through the field S of the site. The ridges run up to its bank at the SSW and SSE but they do not cross the site. [SMR file] From the 1979 account it can be added that the diameter, ‘crest to crest of bank’, was 11.1m N-S x 11.3m E-W. A plan and profile of the monument made before its destruction, included in the SMR file, show this monument to be a ring-barrow with level interior, which could also be termed an embanked ring-ditch. Barrow lay c. 200m NW of site of graveyard (WM018-061---) marked on OS 6” map. Kilpatrick Fort, a ringfort (WM018-063----) marked on OS 6” map, lay less than 600m to SSE and St. Patrick’s Well (WM018-059----) lies c. 1km to S. Site of Simonstown Castle (WM018-040----) and a disused farmstead lie less than 500m to S, and between these and the barrow Killahugh is marked on 1837 OS 6” map, although no ancient church has been documented in this location'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by David McGuinness. Date of upload: 23 February 2015

• WM018-042 Castle - unclassified
  Description

  Situated on top of a small hill, in undulating pasture, with extensive views in all directions except where overlooked by a higher ridge to SW. Simonstown Castle (WM018-040----) lies c. 320m to NE. Depicted on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map as the outline of a rectangular-shaped structure and annotated ‘Site of Castle’. Rectangular-shaped area not depicted, yet annotated on the revised 1913 ed. OS 25-inch map as ‘Castle (Site of)’ where it is shown abutting a field boundary to SW. Described in 1979 as a poorly preserved rectilinear-shaped area (dims. 61.3m NE-SW; 37.6m NW-SE) enclosed by a bank which is reduced to a scarp in places. The bank is best preserved along the NW and NE sides and the scarp is well defined along the SE and SW sides. The area outside the bank at NW appears disturbed and there are hints of a possible fosse. An old field bank runs into the site from the N and crosses the outer scarp and continues up to the inner scarp at the NNW. There are no signs of any stonework or the foundations of structures within the interior. Possible outline of levelled rectangular-shaped earthwork described in 1979 is barely visible today on Digital Globe aerial photography. This earthwork is located 20m to N of castle site location depicted on the 1838 ed. OS 6-inch map. Compiled by: Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 04 February 2019

• WM018-052 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  Situated at the E end of a low rise, which is on the summit of a low ridge, in undulating pasture with extensive views to N and W and overlooked by slightly higher ground to NNE and NE with higher ridges in the distance to SW and S. Ringforts (WM018-051---- and WM018-053----) lie c. 170m to NW and 220m to SE, respectively. Depicted on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map as a circular-shaped earthwork bisected by a field boundary running NE-SW. A circular-shaped earthwork is depicted on an estate map of Rathconrath dating from 1776 (NLI, MS 21 F. 48 (026) ). Monument described in 1980 as a roughly oval-shaped area (approx. dims. 28m N-S; 25m E-W) enclosed by an inner bank, an intervening fosse and a low outer bank. The inner bank is best preserved at ESE and from SSW-W and is reduced to a scarp where eroded at N, E and SW. The remains of an internal stone facing are visible at NW and N. The fosse survives from S-W-NNE but is best preserved from SW-W-NW and has been infilled from NNE-E-SE-SSE. There are remains of a stone facing to the outer edge of the fosse from WNW-NW. The outer bank survives from WNW-NW-NNE and there are the remains of an outer stone facing at NW. The outer bank has been levelled from NNE-E-SE-SSE. The original entrance is not obvious but it could have been through the gap in the inner bank at SE or NW. There is a corresponding gap in the outer bank at NW but there is no sign of a causeway across the fosse. The interior is uneven and has an uneven SE-facing slope. There is an arc of low scarp a short distance inside the bank from NW-NNW-N, which is visible on Digital Globe aerial photography. There is a depression running roughly NE-SW from inside of the bank at NE toward the centre. It is unclear if this curvilinear scarp and depression is due to disturbance or is part of an original feature. A modern field wall and hedge runs NW-SE just outside the site to NE. Monument is visible today as a circular-shaped tree-lined earthwork on Digital Globe aerial photography. Compiled by: Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 04 February 2019

• WM018-053 Moated site
  Description

  Situated on SE-facing slope, near the top of a low rise, in pasture with extensive views to NW and W, overlooking a small valley to E and SE and overlooked by high ridges to S and SSW. Ringforts (WM018-051---- and WM018-054----) lie c. 170m to NW and c. 195m to ESE, respectively. Depicted on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map and the revised 1913 ed. OS 25-inch map as a rectangular-shaped earthwork with field boundaries extending from SE and WNW. A circular-shaped earthwork is depicted on an estate map of Rathconrath dating from 1776 (NLI, MS 21 F. 48 (026) ). Monument described in 1980 as a rectangular-shaped area (approx. dims. 41.5m NE-SW; 35.5m NW-SE) enclosed by a bank. The bank is well preserved and has internal stone facing from N-NNE and from SSE-S-SSW. The bank has been reduced down to a scarp from NNE-NE-E and from ESE-SE, there are disturbance gaps elsewhere. There is no sign of an original entrance. The interior has a SE-facing slope and appears featureless. There is a modern dry stone wall against the outer face of the bank from W-NW and at SE. A modern wall and hedge extends from the bank at SE and WNW, as indicated on OS maps. Monument is visible today as a rectangular-shaped tree-lined earthwork on Digital Globe aerial photography. Compiled by: Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 04 February 2019

• WM018-061 Burial ground
  Description

  'Old Grave Yard' depicted as a circular shaped earthwork on an estate map of Rathconrath dating from 1776 (NLI, MS 21 F. 48 (026) ). This site was recorded and described in 1979 as the site of a 'large broad oval area (dims. 83m N-S; 47m E-W) outlined by a very faint low earthen bank. The bank appears to have been incoporated into an old field bank from N to E, the old field bank continues on swinging away from the site to the S. The bank is very faint and barely discernible from SSE-S-SW-W. There are no signs of an entrance. The interior is fairly level & shows faint traces of old cultivation ridges running N-S. Other such ridges can be traced running E-W in the field outside the site on E & NE. There is a low limestone block set on end to the NW of centre, this appears to be just a cattle scratching post. N & W of this & just inside the bank at the NNW, there are low banks which seem to oultine rect. Features but these are rather indefinite and appear to be disturbed. There are some shallow depressions just inside the bank at the N & E, also probably due to disturbance. The site is on top of a small natural ridge in undualting pasture land with extensive views all round. There is a large pond at the bottom of the ridge just NW of the site.' (SMR file). The site was revisited by the National Monuments Service in 1987 and in 1988 and was described then as being 'recently ploughed but no further features have been revealed' (ASI file) Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 30 November 2009

• WM018-062 Ringfort - unclassified
  Description

  Situated in level pasture. Not depicted on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map or the 1913 ed. OS 25-inch map. Possible antiquity shown as a double dotted circle on 1776 Estate Map (NLI, MS 21 F 48 (26)). Levelled monument described in 1983 as no surface remains visible. Levelled monument is not visible on Digital Globe aerial photography. Compiled by: Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 04 February 2019

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 Simonstown with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Westmeath.

Name

Simonstown

Area

1,130,522 m² (113.05 ha, 279.36 acres)

Civil parish

Rathconrath, and its townlands

Barony

Rathconrath

Electoral division

Rathconrath, the unit of the census

Neighbouring townlands

Calliaghstown, Cartron, Davidstown, Gaddrystown, Kilpatrick, Rathtrim

Placenames

Simonstown 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.