Blessington Demesne

716 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Blessington Demesne, from 5 m² to 410,716 m² (41.07 ha, 101.49 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary; 34 neighbouring parcels touch it.

Download the townland: DXF, in Irish Transverse Mercator metres, with its boundary, parcels and buildings; GeoJSON or KML.

• R2Existing Residential (Existing residential)
  Blessington Local Area Plan, Wicklow · 664 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
• M2Town Centre (City/Town/village Centre, central area)
  Blessington Local Area Plan, Wicklow · 22 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
• S5Community & Education (Mixed/general community services/facilities uses)
  Blessington Local Area Plan, Wicklow · 12 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
• G3Natural Areas (Conservation, amenity or buffer space, corridor/belt, landscape)
  Blessington Local Area Plan, Wicklow · 11 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
• C2.1Employment (Industrial, enterprise, employment)
  Blessington Local Area Plan, Wicklow · 8 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
• G1Open Space (Open space, park)
  Blessington Local Area Plan, Wicklow · 6 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
• P1Agriculture
  Blessington Local Area Plan, Wicklow · 5 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
• R1New Residential (New/proposed residential)
  Blessington Local Area Plan, Wicklow · 3 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
• M3Small Local Centre (District, neighbourhood centre)
  Blessington Local Area Plan, Wicklow · 2 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
• G4Active Open Space (Active open space)
  Blessington Local Area Plan, Wicklow · 1 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
• N2.2Public Utility (Wastewater)
  Blessington Local Area Plan, Wicklow · 1 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
• G4Open Space and Amenity (Active open space)
  Kildare County Development Plan 2023 - 2029 - Blessington, Kildare · 1 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
• R1New Residential (New/proposed residential)
  Kildare County Development Plan 2023 - 2029 - Blessington, Kildare · 0 parcels The zoning objective in the plan

Source: Tailte Éireann and the Department of Housing (MyPlan), national zoning, CC BY 4.0.

• 19 Aug 2026N/a

  amendments to planning permission reference 25/60657 (principally relating to the construction of a new discount foodstore supermarket with ancillary off-licence sales, a café and conversion of vernacular townhouse). the proposed development comprises: 1) extensions of permitted foodstore building (totalling 197 sqm, externally to Northern elevation/side and internally through extended first floor plant deck area) along with reconfiguration of internal layout (sales, storage, welfare and ancillary areas) and associated / consequential elevational modifications (principally related to door / window / advertising panel configuration), overall resulting in a total gross floor space of 2,502 sqm and a net sales area of 1,572 sqm, in lieu of 2,305 sqm and 1,499 sqm permitted respectively), 2) additional elevational / roof changes to permitted Foodstore building including expansion of glazed façade to full height treatment on Dublin Road elevation, omission of (Southern) elevation high-level / clerestory glazing and replacement with rendered finish, omission (to relocated position) of previously permitted (roof mounted) plant compound, addition of roof access ladder to Eastern extent of Southern elevation, 3) revised elevations to permitted Café building, expanding render finishes; and, 4) revisions to overall site layout, including relocated trolley bay enclosure, reconfigured car park layout and hard and soft landscaping, creation of ground level plant compound and enclosure, modified boundary treatments and all other associated and ancillary amendments to planning permission reference 25/60657 above and below ground level

  Permission · Wicklow County Council, 2660740

• 29 Jul 2026N/a

  conversion / change of use of existing building to a 18 bedroom guesthouse on a protected structure, the works include, internal layout modifications, new windows and doors to both side elevations and rear elevation, new parking area to rear of existing building and associate works

  Permission · Wicklow County Council, 2660667

• 1 Jul 2026Conditional

  removal of the shed structure to the side of the existing house to accommodate a new single storey, pitched/flat roof, ground floor extension (32.5sq. M) to the side and front of the existing house to provide a new family bedroom, shower/utility room and associated internal alterations and external changes to the elevations with drainage/ancillary site works

  Permission · Wicklow County Council, 2660595

• 6 May 2026Conditional

  demolition of existing shed and single storey extension to the rear and construction of a new single storey extension to the front & side of existing dwelling and all associated site works

  Permission · Wicklow County Council, 2660381

• 29 Apr 2026N/a

  housing development consisting of 13 dwelling units consisting of 6 number three storey 4 beds and 7 number two storey 3 beds with connection to services and all associated site works including roads, footpaths, boundaries and boundary treatment, public lighting, open spaces, and landscaping and a new vehicular and pedestrian entrance from Woodleigh Park along with providing pedestrian access from Woodleigh Park to the N81. A Natura impact Statement will be submitted as part of this application

  Permission, 13 homes · Wicklow County Council, 2660353

• 29 Apr 2026Conditional

  single storey extension the side and rear of existing dwelling and all associated site works

  Permission · Wicklow County Council, 2660356

• 20 Apr 2026N/a

  housing development consisting of 13 dwelling units consisting of 6 number three storey 4 beds and 7 number two storey 3 beds with connection to services and all associated site works including roads, footpaths, boundaries and boundary treatment, public lighting, open spaces, and landscaping and a new vehicular and pedestrian entrance from Woodleigh Park along with providing pedestrian access from Woodleigh Park to the N81, at Santry Hill, Blessington, Co. Wicklow. A natura impact assessment has been submitted as part of this application

  Permission, 13 homes · Wicklow County Council, 2660322

• 26 Mar 2026N/a

  demolition of existing shed and single storey extension to the rear and construction of a new single storey extension to the front & side of existing dwelling and all associated site works

  Permission · Wicklow County Council, 2660224

• 18 Mar 2026N/a

  demolition of existing shed and single storey extension to the rear and construction of a new single storey extension to the side of existing dwelling and all associated site works

  Permission · Wicklow County Council, 2660204

• 14 Jan 2026Conditional

  widening of existing vehicular entrance and full planning permission to dish the roadside kerb and all associated site works

  Retention · Wicklow County Council, 2660017

• 9 Jan 2026Unconditional

  section 42 - extension of appropriate period - (ABP-306425-20) 19/1020 - housing development to include (a) apartment block A (three - four storeys in height) consisting of 3 no 3 bedroom apartment, 14 no 2 bedroom apartments and 5 no 1 bed apartments (b) apartment block B (three - four storeys in height) consisting of 3 no 3 bedroom apartments, 14 no 2 bedroom apartments and 1 no 1 bed apartment (c) apartment block C (three - four storeys in height) consisting of 3 no 3 bedroom apartments, 4 no 2 bedroom apartments and 8 no 1 bed room apartments. The total number of apartments is 58 (d) connection to main services and all associated site development works including attenuation, foul drains, surface water drains, water main roads, car parking bicycle parking, footpaths, bin storage, boundaries, and boundary treatment, public lighting, mini pillars, open space and landscaping (e) 2 no new site entrances

  Extension of duration · Wicklow County Council, 268

• 15 Dec 2025Conditional

  (a) Ground and First floor extension to side of existing two storey detached dwelling, (b) Ground Floor Extension to rear, (c) New fenestration to existing elevations, internal modifications and all associated site works and services; (d) Retention Permission for an existing Home Office garden room to the rear of existing dwelling.

  Permission · Wicklow County Council, 2561019

• 10 Dec 2025Conditional

  Retention Permission for as constructed timber cabin for use as a home gym/office space to the rear of existing dwelling along with permission for demolition/alteration to reduce the overall size and all associated site works at 4 Ashton, Blessington, Co. Wicklow.

  Retention · Wicklow County Council, 2561004

• 26 Nov 2025Conditional

  (1.) demolition of existing rear ground floor bathroom 2.5m2, (2.) new ground floor rear extension of 22m2 and (3.) first floor side extension 28.83m2

  Permission · Wicklow County Council, 2560962

• 4 Nov 2025N/a

  as constructed timber cabin for use as a home gym/office space to the rear of existing dwelling along with permission for demolition/alteration to reduce the overall size and all associated site works

  Retention · Wicklow County Council, 2560880

• 30 Oct 2025N/a

  as constructed timber cabin for use as a home gym/office space to the rear of existing dwelling along with permission for demolition/alteration to reduce the overall size and all associated site works

  Retention · Wicklow County Council, 2560873

• 13 Oct 2025Conditional

  single storey extension to the side and rear of existing dwelling along with a dormer window to the rear and all associated site works

  Retention · Wicklow County Council, 2560815

• 18 Jul 2025Conditional

  large-scale residential development at this site c. 9.98 ha. The application provides for amendments to the decision of An Coimisiún Pleanála (Ref .319657-24 and Wicklow County Council Ref. 23/689) which permitted a Town Park of 10.65 ha. and c.700m of the Blessington Inner Relief Road (BIRR). The proposed development provides for revisions to the previously proposed residential development comprising 329 units and will consist of: • 325 residential units including: o 278 two storey houses (28 no. 2-bed, 218 no. 3-bed, 32 no. 4 bed.) comprising of semi-detached and terraced units. o 47. No. apartments (22 no. 1 bed, 25 no. 2 bed) provided within 1 no. four-storey block. • Car and bicycle parking spaces to include: o 534 no. car parking spaces for the houses, 53 no. spaces for the apartments. o 72 bicycle spaces for the apartments & 46 Visitor spaces across the scheme. • 1.04 ha public open space including pocket parks and playgrounds; • 1,290 sqm of communal open space • Two new vehicular access off Oak Drive and one new vehicular access off the Blessington Inner Relief Road. • Infrastructure works to serve the housing development to include the internal road network; • ESB substations/switch rooms, lighting, site drainage works and all ancillary site services and development works above and below ground; and • Temporary permission for up to 3 years is also sought for the erection of three marketing signs (4.55 m high and 13.73 sqm each) and a marketing suite. A Natura Impact Statement has been prepared in respect of the proposed development and is submitted with the application

  Permission, 278 homes · Wicklow County Council, 2560548

• 10 Jul 2025Conditional

  Amendment application. Permission sought for amendments to permitted development under Ref. ABP-306425-20 & Ref: 19/1020 to provide for 6 additional apartments resulting in an increase in the number of units from 58 to 64 (with 3 additional units in Block A and 3 additional units in Block B).Internal and external reconfigurations and modifications to development previously granted planning permission under Ref. ABP-306425-20 & Ref: 19/1020 to provide for: the floor areas of units permitted in Block A and Block B to be amended such for both Block A and Block B, resulting in revisions to 7 No. apartments in each block to provide for 6 No. 1 Bed & 14 No. 2 Bed apartments in lieu of 8 No. 2 Bed & 6 No. 3 Bed apartments. This will result in Block A consisting of 2,256.95 sq. metres (an increase of 181.55 sq. metres from that permitted) and Block B consisting of 2,013.12 sq. metres (an increase of 165.32 sq. metres from that permitted). The amendment proposes to omit the public open space required by under Condition 4 of the Appeal Decision ABP-306425-20 (PRR 19/1020) and replacement with parking spaces together with associated changes to elevations and minor amendments to the site layout, and ancillary site development works

  Permission · Wicklow County Council, 2560521

• 1 Jul 2025N/a

  amendment application. Permission sought for proposed internal and external reconfigurations and modifications to development previously granted planning permission under Ref. ABP-306425-20 & Ref: 19/1020 to provide for: Proposed internal configuration changes to 6 of the consented 3-Bed apartments within Blocks A & B to provide for 6 No. additional apartments in total (3 No. additional apartments in each Block) and revisions to 7 No. apartments in each block to provide for 6 No. 1 Bed & 14 No. 2 Bed apartments in lieu of 8 No. 2 Bed & 6 No. 3 Bed apartments together with associated changes to elevations and minor amendments to the site layout, and ancillary site development works

  Permission · Wicklow County Council, 2560482

• 9 Apr 2025Refused

  construction of a timber cabin for use as a home gym/office space to the rear of existing dwelling and all associated site works

  Retention · Wicklow County Council, 2560268

• 2 Apr 2025N/a

  a new single storey side and rear extension with flat roof and roof windows, comprising of a utility room and family room and all associated site works. The planning retention of the front and side shed extension with pitched roof

  Permission · Wicklow County Council, 2560235

• 2 Mar 2025N/a

  new single storey side and rear extension with flat roof and roof windows, comprising of a utility room and family room and all associated site works. The planning retention of the front and side shed extension with pitched roof

  Permission · Wicklow County Council, 2560135

• 13 Feb 2025Conditional

  a proposed development comprising 71 No. residential units and a retail/commercial space of approx. 96sq.m on a site of approx. 0.75 hectares adjoining generally the public road at Newtown Centre to the north, Newtown Square and apartments to the East and ‘Downshire Park’ residential development to the west and south. The residential development will consist of 35 No. 1 & 2 bedroom apartment units within a four storey building (Block 1), and 36 No. 2 & 3 bedroom duplex apartments within 3 No. three storey buildings (Blocks 2,3 & 4) comprising 5 No. 1 Bed Units, 48 No. 2 Bed Units and 18 No. 3 Bed Units together with all site development works and proposed access roads, car parking, bicycle parking, footpaths, bin storage, boundary treatments, public lighting, open space, soft and hard landscaping, electricity sub-station/switch room and new vehicular entrance onto the existing public road bounding the site to the north (Opposite Dunnes Stores) together with vehicular services access and provision for a future access to adjoining lands to the east from existing access road alongside the eastern site boundary and proposed connections to main services including surface water attenuation, foul sewers, surface water sewers and watermains

  Permission · Wicklow County Council, 2560074

• 8 Jan 2025Conditional

  a first floor extension to the side of existing dwelling along with the widening of existing entrance all associated site works

  Permission · Wicklow County Council, 2560007

The 25 most recent of 98 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 Blessington Demesne.

Recorded monuments

• WI005-013 Habitation site
  Description

  A circular mound excavated by Roe (1946, 1-13). This mound (diam. c. 10m; H 0.6m) was surrounded by a shallow ditch (Wth. c. 1m; D 0.25m) and was likely to have been constructed as an 18thC/19thC landscape feature, together with four more which are not described. Earlier material was discovered in the immediate vicinity of the excavated mound - 13/14C pottery, 16th/17C pottery (as well as 18C and 19C material). Listed as a 'cemetery mound' in the SMR (1986) and the RMP (1995) at an erroneous location immediately to the W of 'The Piper's Stones' (WI005-014----). This revised location is the one indicated by Roe (ibid.). Compiled by: Matt Kelleher Date of upload: 04 December 2012

• WI005-014 Stone circle
  Description

  Situated at the foot of a small hill on level ground. Local tradition of a stone circle destroyed before 1838. No visible remains. (O'Flanagan 1928, 116) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wicklow' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 17 December 2008

• WI005-016 Designed landscape - ornamental lake
  Description

  Listed as an 'enclosure' in the SMR (1986) and a 'landscape feature' in the RMP (1995). On level terrain on the grounds of Blessington Demesne. A circular pond (diam. c. 40m; D 3.5m) with a walk-way (Wth 3m) around the lip. Compiled by: Matt Kelleher Date of upload: 04 December 2012

• WI005-018 House - 16th/17th century
  Description

  Situated on level ground at the SE end of a gentle slope. A large late seventeenth-century house built by Michael Boyle, Archbishop of Armagh, shown on the 1838 OS 6-inch map as 'Downshire Ho. (in Ruins)'. Described by Bence-Jones (1978, 44) as a 'House of two storeys with dormered attic in its high-pitched roof; of brick, and built on an “H”-plan. Principal front with five-bay centre recessed between two three-bay projecting wings joined by a single-storey balustraded colonnade. Roof on bracket cornice; single-storey wing at one side. The house stood at the end of an avenue in a fine demesne with a deer park'. The house was burnt in 1798. The only surviving portion consists of a brick-built stairwell leading down, with one return, to a barrel-vaulted chamber (dims. c. 8m x 5m). Landscape features possibly associated with the house include a two circular ponds, one (diam. c. 40m; D c. 3.5m) with a path (Wth 3m) around the lip, and another (diam. c. 12m) set at the SE end of a subrectangular enclosure (dims. c. 60m NW-SE; 12m NE-SW), two circular mounds each with external fosses (max. ext. diam. c. 14m and diam. 11.1m; H 1m), are visible on aerial photographs (GSIAP, O 73, N 332-3). (OS Name Books) In 1998 an archaeological assessment and impact study were undertaken in the area prior to a major residential development (Excavation Licence 98E0425). The assessment showed some of the field boundaries on the site to be contemporary with the occupation of the house (Dunne 2000, 225). In 2003 a series of test trenches were opened across the location of the house (Excavation Licence 03E0453) and all features identified were surveyed and recorded (Phelan 2006, 544). Monitoring of top soil stripping continued until 2007, three rubbish pits containing post medieval artefacts were uncovered in 2007 (Phelan 2007, 477; Phelan 2010, 553). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wicklow' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Revised by: Claire Breen Date of revision: 16 January 2013

• WI005-019 Barrow - unclassified
  Description

  On gently undulating terrain in the landscaped demesne of Damshire House. Circular mound with external annular ditch (max. ext. diam. c. 14m). No visible surface remains. Visible on aerial photograph (G.S.I. O 73/N 332/333 (1973)). Compiled by: Matt Kelleher Date of upload: 04 December 2012

• WI005-020 Designed landscape feature
  Description

  On level to gently sloping ground at the E foot of a small steep rise. A roughly rectangular area ( c. 60m x 12m) defined by a low bank (H 0.3m) with an external ditch. The SE end of the feature is unenclosed and abutts onto a small circular pond (diam. c. 12m). In 2002 five trenches were excavated 'in the constraint area' of this monument but nothing of archaeological significance was noted (Molloy 2004, 532) Compiled by: Matt Kelleher and Claire Breen Date of revision: 18 January 2013

• WI005-021 Barrow - unclassified
  Description

  On a slight rise in gently undulating terrain with higher ground to the NW. Circular mound (diam. 11.1m; H. 1m) with an external annular ditch (Wth 1.5m; D. 0.45m). Compiled by: Matt Kelleher Date of upload: 04 December 2012

• WI005-130 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  Archaeological test trenching was carried out by Muireann Ní Cheallacháin of IAC Archaeology under licence 21E0133 which followed on from a geophysical survey conducted in December 2020 by John Nicholls of Target Geophysics under licence 20R0236. The results of this test trenching were summarised as follows; 'A total of 148 trenches were excavated across the site measuring 6820 linear metres. Testing at AA1 confirmed the presence of a heavily truncated rectangular ditched enclosure (possible original int. diameter: 75m x 65m) and the partial remains of an annex to the south of the enclosure as identified in the geophysical survey. At least 30m (c.50%) of the western arm of the enclosure ditch along with an area measuring c.75m x 30m (c. 40%) of the enclosure’s interior have been heavily truncated by the construction of the distribution road. Testing has also revealed that the entire eastern extent of the rectangular enclosure ditch has been heavily truncated by construction activity associated with the distribution road. While the enclosure ditch ranges in width from 2.3m to 4m, the relatively shallow nature of the surviving enclosure ditch (0.7m-1m) and some of the habitation features suggests the site has been truncated by agricultural activity over time. A large pit of dumped post-medieval rubble material possibly associated with the demolition of Downshire house and two gravel extraction pits were also identified within AA 1a suggesting further modern truncation of the site as a whole. Items recovered from the investigation of the enclosure ditches and internal features include fragments of lignite/jet bracelet, flint lithics, stone tools, metalworking waste of iron and possible non-ferrous metals, kiln or furnace furniture and a possible crucible fragment. The form of the enclosure and annex and the habitation and metalworking evidence along with the recovery of a lignite/jet bracelet suggests that it may be the highly fragmented remains of an early medieval ringfort' (Ní Cheallacháin 2021, 17-19). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by Muireann Ni Cheallacháin Date of upload: 28 May 2021

• WI005-131 Ring-ditch
  Description

  Archaeological test trenching was carried out by Muireann Ní Cheallacháin of IAC Archaeology under licence 21E0133 which followed on from a geophysical survey conducted in December 2020 by John Nicholls of Target Geophysics under licence 20R0236. The results of this test trenching within Area 2a were summarised as follows; 'Trenches 56 and 57 identified the ditches of a c. 15m diameter bi-vallate ring ditch that align with the targeted geophysical anomalies. The outer ditch C56.1 is 0.85m wide and 0.26m deep and contains an upper mid brown sandy silt and a basal mid greyish brown sandy silt. The inner ditch C56.3 was 0.26m-0.44m wide and 0.08m-0.16m deep contains a mid to dark brown gravelly sandy silt with an upper dark grey black sandy silt with occasional to moderate charcoal recorded in the northern arm of the inner ditch. No burnt bone was identified in the investigative slots. Multiple parallel northwest–southeast aligned agricultural linear features were recorded across the two trenches truncating the upper fills of the ring-ditch' (Ní Cheallacháin 2021, 19). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by Muireann Ní Cheallacháin Date of upload: 28 May 2021

Architectural heritage

No building of the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage stands in the townland of Blessington Demesne.

Designated sites: National Parks and Wildlife Service. Recorded monuments: Sites and Monuments Record, National Monuments Service. Buildings: National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Works at or in relation to a recorded monument need two months' written notice to the National Monuments Service (National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994, section 12).

Radon

About 1 in 10 homes in this area is likely to have high radon levels. Testing a home

Landslides

Susceptibility moderately low, low, low (inferred), on the 1:50,000 map.

Flooding

The flood maps of the Office of Public Works: floodinfo.ie.

Radon Risk Map of Ireland, Environmental Protection Agency; Landslide Susceptibility Classification, Geological Survey Ireland; both CC BY 4.0.

No address of the register names Blessington Demesne with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Wicklow.

Name

Blessington Demesne · Díméin Bhaile Coimín

Area

1,658,382 m² (165.84 ha, 409.8 acres)

Civil parish

Blessington, and its townlands

Barony

Talbotstown Lower

Electoral division

Blessington, the unit of the census

Neighbouring townlands

Blessington, Deerpark, Dillonsdown, Haylands, Newpaddocks, Newtown Little (Co. Kildare), Newtownpark (Co. Kildare), Santryhill

Placenames

Blessington Demesne 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.