Togherstown

67 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Togherstown, from 118 m² to 641,092 m² (64.11 ha, 158.42 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary; 48 neighbouring parcels touch it.

No zone of a development plan covers Togherstown 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.

• 22 Jun 2026N/a

  construction of a single storey dwelling (133.7sqm) and a new domestic entrance onto the public roadway. Permission is also sought for connection to the existing wastewater treatment system and all associated site works

  Permission · Westmeath County Council, 2660325

• 18 Dec 2025Refused

  to construct 4 no. single storey dwellings and a new entrance onto the public roadway. The development will include the provision for the construction of service road, footpaths, grass margins, public lighting, open space, boundary wall treatment and connecting to existing mains water, storm water and foul water services on site and adjacent site boundaries and all associated site works. This development falls within the curtilage of a protected structure (Church- RPS no. 025-018, Reg no. 15402520).

  Permission, 4 homes · Westmeath County Council, 2560629

• 8 Oct 2025Conditional

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

  Permission, 1 home · Westmeath County Council, 2560492

• 31 Aug 2025N/a

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

  Permission · Westmeath County Council, 2560434

• 11 Aug 2025Conditional

  construction of a new clubhouse (135.8 sqm). The proposed building will include a (91.8 sqm), accessible bathroom (8.7 sqm), kitchen (8.9 sqm) and a storeroom (8.7 sqm) and all associated sites works at the above address. This planning application falls within the curtilage of a Protected Structure, (Togherstown House - Reg. No. 15402404)

  Permission · Westmeath County Council, 2560406

• 7 Jul 2025Refused

  permission to construct one number detached dwelling, one number detached garden shed , to construct a new entrance to public road, to install a private well, to install a pumped tertiary wastewater treatment system with COCO filter and raised infiltration bed and all associated site works

  Permission, 1 home · Westmeath County Council, 2560339

• 23 Nov 2024Conditional

  upgrade and extend existing derelict dwelling, to upgrade and relocate existing entrances to public road and existing site boundaries, to install a private well, a mini-treatment system and polishing filter and all associated site works

  Permission, 1 home · Westmeath County Council, 2460448

• 13 Aug 2024Conditional

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

  Permission, 1 home · Westmeath County Council, 2460281

• 6 Jul 2023Conditional

  construction of a new 3m wide walking track, measuring 627m in length. Permission is also sought to install 13 no. floodlights, along the walking track, extending to a maximum height of 5m and all associated site works. This planning application falls within the curtilage of a Protected Structure, (Togherstown House - Reg. No. 15402404).

  Permission · Westmeath County Council, 2360206

• 10 Oct 2022Refused

  retention permission of garage structure located to the North Eastern corner of this site and permission to undertake completion/repair works consisting of overall re-roofing, wall and roof repairs. Permission for the change of use of this former garage structure and the extension of same to provide a physical connection with existing dwelling for the purposes of accommodating a granny flat, with the inclusion of solar panels; Retention of 3 (no.) ancillary structures for domestic use on site including a home office, workshop and garden shed; and permission for the erection of freestanding solar panels within rear garden and all associated site works

  Retention, 1 home · Westmeath County Council, 22490

• 5 Sept 2022N/a

  retain all existing structures on site including the existing garage, home office, workshop and any works carried out to date and permission for conversion of existing garage into Granny Flat at rear of main house and the inclusion of 40no. solar panels, 20no. on the proposed new roof and 20n. freestanding to garden at rear

  Retention · Westmeath County Council, 22444

• 17 May 2022N/a

  conversion of existing garage into Granny flat at rear of main house and the inclusion of approximately 40 no. solar panels , 20 no. on proposed new roof & 20 no. freestanding to garden at rear

  Permission · Westmeath County Council, 22258

• 20 Apr 2022N/a

  conversion of existing garage into granny flat at rear of main house & the inclusion of approximately 40 no. solar panels, 20 no. on proposed new roof & 20 no. freestanding to garden at rear

  Permission · Westmeath County Council, 22199

• 16 Nov 2021Refused

  Permission to construct a dwelling house with septic tank & percolation area with all ancillary site works

  Permission, 1 home · Westmeath County Council, 21612

• 16 Nov 2021Refused

  Planning Permission to construct a dwelling house with septic tank & percolation area with all ancillary site works

  Permission · Westmeath County Council, 21613

• 22 Oct 2021Conditional

  to construct a dwelling house and detached garage with treatment system and percolation area with all ancillary site works

  Permission, 1 home · Westmeath County Council, 21569

• 12 Jul 2021Conditional

  Construction of a storey and a half dwelling (176.2sqm) and a new domestic entrance onto the public roadway. Permission is also sought for connection to the existing wastewater treatment system and all associated site works.

  Permission, 1 home · Westmeath County Council, 21385

• 14 Jun 2021Conditional

  to construct a dwelling house and detached garage with connection to existing treatment system and mains water with all ancillary site works

  Permission, 1 home · Westmeath County Council, 21330

• 4 Sept 2020Conditional

  Permission to retain existing bungalow dwelling (77.2sqm). Permission is also sought for an extension to existing bedroom and front porch, alterations to the exisitng roof and all windows. Permission is sought to install brick structure to existing dwelling with cement board and nap plaster finish, on all elevations to the existing dwelling onsite. Permission is also sought to upgrade existing entrance to facilitate new domestic entrance onto the public regional roadway and to close the existing entrance on the southeast boundary and all associated site works at the above address

  Retention, 1 home · Westmeath County Council, 207130

• 4 Mar 2020Refused

  Retention permission to retain existing bungalow dwelling (77.2sqm) and garages (totalling 23.8sqm). Permission is sought to install cladding boarding to existing dwelling with nap plaster finish, on all elevations to the existing dwelling onsite. Permission is also south to upgrade existing entrance to facilitate new domestic entrance onto the public regional roadway and to close the existing entrance on the south-east boundary and all associated site works at the above address

  Retention · Westmeath County Council, 207035

• 26 Feb 2020N/a

  existing bungalow (77.2 sqm) and garage (totalling 23.8 sqm). Permission is sought to install cladding boarding to existing dwelling with nap plaster finish, on all elevations to the existing dwelling onsite. Permission is also sought to upgrade existing entrance to facilitate new domestic entrance onto the public roadway and to close the existing entrance on the southeast boundary and all associated site works

  Retention · Westmeath County Council, 206032

• 6 Dec 2019N/a

  Two storey dwellinghouse with septic tank, percolation area and all associated works

  Permission · Westmeath County Council, 196332

• 6 Dec 2019N/a

  Construction of a two storey dwelling house with septic tank, percolation area and all associated works.

  Permission · Westmeath County Council, 196336

• 6 Dec 2019Refused

  Two-storey dwellinghouse with septic tank, percolation area and all associated site works

  Permission, 1 home · Westmeath County Council, 197248

• 6 Dec 2019Refused

  Construction of a two-storey dwelling house with septic tank, percolation area and all associated works

  Permission, 1 home · Westmeath County Council, 197249

The 25 most recent of 31 applications.

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 Togherstown.

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

• WM024-028 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

• WM024-031 Castle - tower house
  Description

  Ballintogher Castle stands on flat poorly drained land with good views in all directions. Croughal church (WM025-005001-) and graveyard (WM025-005006-) lies 500m to SE. Annotated as ‘Boleyvillish Castle in ruins’, on the 1838 ed. O 6-inch map where the castle is shown standing beside several buildings accessed by a road to NE. On this map this small cluster of dwellings are annotated with the placename ‘Boleyvillish’. On the 1838 map the castle is depicted as a long rectangular structure aligned NW-SE with a second L-shaped building to NE and a third building located a few metres to NW. All of these structures were accessed by a roadway running NE towards the public road. Only the SE and SW walls of this rectangular tower house (ext. dims. 9.1m S-E; approx. 8.5m S-W; wall T 1.4-1.6m) survives upstanding to first floor level with short return of the NE wall (L 1.3m) on the E corner. Only the SE wall survives completely intact with no evidence of dressed quoins on the S and E angles of the castle. The line of the NW wall is not visible and it is difficult to be certain where the line of this wall returned as the SW (L 7.9m) and NE walls are incomplete. Only the lower courses of the NE wall survives. The castle stands in the W quadrant of a large rectangular shaped moated earthwork which probably represents the remains of a levelled bawn (WM024-031001-). Although it is possible that this earthwork could be a later feature which is contemporaneous with the post-1700 buildings located to the SW and NE of the castle as depicted on the 1838 ed. OS 6-inch map. The walls of the castle are constructed with rubble stonework with prominent base-batter (H 1.4m) visible which has been robbed out in places. A wooden beam hole visible at ground floor level in the N face of the NE wall return at the E angle possibly represents the remains of a drawbar slot (L 1m; H 0.28 x Wth 0.28m) belonging to the doorway of the castle. The castle was entered through a ground floor doorway now destroyed located at E end of NE wall. The ground floor was lit by a broken out window visible in centre of SE wall and directly opposite doorway in SW wall. A large hole in the centre of the SW wall adjacent to the window displays some evidence of burning but has no chimney flue. The remains of a splay belonging to a possible destroyed window embrasure is visible at W end of SW wall. The wooden ceiling above the ground floor was carried on an offset (H 2.5m). The first floor was lit by a broken out window located in centre of SE wall and in SW wall. Small square shaped aumbry or wall cupboard located immediately S of flat-headed window embrasure in SW wall. Wall plate holes to support first floor visible in S angle. Two stone corbels supporting the wall plate of the first floor ceiling are visible in SE wall above the windows opening. A sloping recessed channel visible in E angle at top of wall may be remains of a chimney flue belonging to an angle fireplace in destroyed E corner of first floor but this is not certain. The wall footings of a post-1700 building (Wall T 0.65m) can be seen immediately to the NW of the castle as depicted on the 25-inch OS map. In 1635 this castle was known as Ballintogher Castle which formed part of the estate belonging to ‘Maurice Fitzgerrald’ who died 30 March 1635 and was succeeded by his son and heir Thomas who was 50 years of age and married at the time of his father’s death (Cal. inq. post mortem, 111 Car. 1). In 1639 there is a reference to the placename ‘Boolyvilis’ which formed part of the estate of Ballintogher (Cal. inq. post mortem, 148 Car. 1). Ballintogher Castle is not depicted in this townland on the 1654 Down Survey maps of Rathconrath barony or Conry parish (NLI Ms 723-4). In 1641 the townland of ‘Tocherstowne’ (Ballintogher) belonged to Thomas Fitzgerrald an Irish papist and owner of 396 acres of land in this townland (ibid.). Described in 1978 as ‘a large sub-rectangular earthwork (WM024-031001-) outlined by a stream on the NE side & by remains of a wide low bank & a wide fosse on the NE & SE sides. There is a narrow causeway entrance on the SE side. There is a second entrance, probably later, near the western end of the NW side. Inside the fosse on the SW side is the ruin of a rectangular tower house. There are no dressed stones visible in the ruin, however some dressed stones, probably from a doorway can be seen in the rubble at the NW side of the tower house. There is a later house & outbuilding to the NW of the tower house. A number of low banks & shallow fosses divide the interior of the earthwork. This monument is in flat pasture land, very poorly drained & rushy to the north & east, with very gently rising ground, fairly well drained to the south & west‘ (SMR File 16/09/1978). A second report from the same year describes the monument as ‘the ruin of a rectangular tower house approx. 9m square. The NE, SE & SW walls partially survive to a height of approx. 7m. The NW wall has been destroyed. The doorway appears to have been at the eastern end of the NE wall. There is no trace of vaulting or of a stairway. There is a large flat-topped window in the SW wall at first floor level & a smaller window in the NE wall at this level. The centre of the SE wall is broken down. The lower courses are battered. There are no cut or dressed stones visible, the quoin are roughly cut rubble stones. 2 corbels in the SE wall about 6m from the ground may have supported the second floor. The castle is set in the remains of a rectangular ditched enclosure (WM024-031001-). There is a 19thc. house (ruined) to the NW of the castle. The ruin seems to date to the 16th or 17th c.‘ (SMR File 02/05/1978). Described by Salter (2004,146) as consisting of ‘three walls up to 1.4m thick stand two and a half storeys high of a late 16th century tower 9.1m wide by probably 11.7m long. The basement has a wide doorway with a drawbar slot and four narrow loops, two of them set either side of a fireplace’. Compiled and revised by: Caimin O’Brien Date of revised upload: 11 December 2017

• WM024-031001 Bawn
  Description

  Ballintogher Castle (WM024-031----) stands in W quadrant of bawn on flat poorly drained land with good views in all directions. Croughal church (WM025-005001-) and graveyard (WM025-005006-) lies 500m to SE. Annotated as ‘Boleyvillish Castle in ruins’, on the 1838 ed. O 6-inch map where the castle is shown standing beside several buildings accessed by a road to NE. On this map this small cluster of dwellings are annotated with the placename ‘Boleyvillish’. On the 1838 map the castle is depicted as a long rectangular structure aligned NW-SE with a second L-shaped building to NE and a third building located a few metres to NW. All of these structures were accessed by a roadway running NE towards the public road. The bawn consists of a square-shaped earthwork (approx. dims 75m NW-SE x 73 NE-SW) defined by a scarp and wide water-filled moat with causewayed entrance at SE. The Fitzgerrald castle (WM024-031----) stands in the W quadrant of the bawn. It is not clear if this earthwork is contemporaneous with the castle or with the post-1700 building located to the W and NW which are depicted on the 1838 ed. OS 6-inch map. The interior of the bawn appears to be sub-divided into quadrants which may suggest the presence of a garden inside the bawn, cultivation ridges running E-S are visible in E quadrant of bawn. This monument was described in 1978 as ‘a large sub-rectangular earthwork outlined by a stream on the NE side & by remains of a wide low bank & a wide fosse on the NE & SE sides. There is a narrow causeway entrance on the SE side. There is a second entrance, probably later, near the western end of the NW side. A number of low banks & shallow fosses divide the interior of the earthwork. This monument is in flat pasture land, very poorly drained & rushy to the north & east, with very gently rising ground, fairly well drained to the south & west‘ (SMR File 16/09/1978). A second report from the same year describes the monument as ‘The castle (WM024-031----) is set in the remains of a rectangular ditched enclosure. There is a 19thc. house (ruined) to the NW of the castle. The ruin seems to date to the 16th or 17th c. ‘ (SMR File 02/05/1978). Compiled and revised by: Caimin O’Brien Date of revised upload: 11 December 2017

• WM025-032 Ringfort - unclassified
  Description

  Situated on the E side of the summit of a prominent hillock, in pasture with good views to NNE. Depicted on the revised 1913 ed. OS 25-inch map as a roughly circular-shaped tree-planted earthwork. Monument described in 1978 as an almost completely levelled, roughly circular-shaped area (dims. 49m N-S; 40m E-W) enclosed by a very slight, smooth scarp and slight traces of an external fosse. No clear entrance feature visible. The interior has a gentle ESE-facing slope and the surface is uneven with humps and hollows due to trees which were planted within. A low, circular-shaped rise within the WNW quadrant appears to be natural. The area outside the scarp at W has also been defaced in modern times. Outline of much degrade monument visible today on Digital Globe aerial photographs. Compiled by Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien. Date of upload: 05 September 2019

• WM025-033 Bullaun stone
  Description

  In 1983 the Archaeological Survey of Ireland recorded that ‘in front to the R.C. Church at Loughanavally is a large bullaun. The bullaun is a rough moss-covered piece of limestone approx. 70cms by 60cms. The circular depression is approx. 40cms in diam. by 20cms deep’ (SMR File 09/09/1983). Today there is no bullaun stone located in the front of the R. C. church at Loughanavally. The current location of this bullaun stone is unknown. According to the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage the bullaun stone was located adjacent to the gates into the grounds of the R.C Church (www.buildingsofireland.ie ). Compiled by: Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 28 July 2014

• WM025-034 Font (present location)
  Description

  Limestone baptismal font of possible 16th century date now incorporated into the top of a modern wall to the S of the S doorway of the 19th century R.C. Church at Loughanavally. According to local information this font originally came from the medieval church (WM025-011----) at Churchtown (SMR File) which is 2.8km to the ENE. A limestone baptismal font (ext. H 0.35m; rim Wth 0.08m) consisting of an octagonal shaped bowl (ext. diam. 0.66m) with a circular-shaped basin (int. diam. 0.5m; D 0.2m). There is no evidence of a drainage hole in the basin. On one of the eight faces (L 0.27m; H 0.2m) of the font there is a date 1511 carved in relief. The underside of the font has 8 chamfered faces. Cross referenced with WM025-011003-. Compiled by: Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 28 July 2014

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

Name

Togherstown · Baile an Tóchair

Area

2,446,313 m² (244.63 ha, 604.5 acres)

Civil parish

Conry, and its townlands

Barony

Rathconrath

Electoral division

Ballymorin, the unit of the census

Neighbouring townlands

Adamstown, Ballynacarrow, Corr, Croughal, Gneevestown, Lalistown, Lockardstown, Mweelra, Rathnew, Ushnagh Hill

Placenames

Togherstown 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.