Arklow is a barony of County Wicklow, in the historical province of Leinster (Irish: An tInbhear Mór), covering 272 km² of land. The barony records 462 NMS archaeological sites and 157 NIAH listed buildings, placing it at around the 42nd percentile among 280 ROI baronies for sites per km². This means it is in the lower half of all baronies for sites per km². Dated archaeological evidence runs from the Mesolithic through to the Modern, spanning 8 of 9 archaeological periods, placing the barony in the 86th percentile among 280 ROI baronies for chronological depth. This means it is in the top fifth of all baronies for chronological depth. The largest dated subset of recorded sites dates to the Iron Age. Logainm flags 57 placenames in the barony as carrying a recognised heritage root; the largest share — around 84% — are names associated with early Christian church and monastic foundations.
Heritage at a glance
Percentile rankings throughout this profile compare each barony only against the other 279 Republic of Ireland baronies.
The recorded heritage of Arklow
The National Monuments Service Sites and Monuments Record (SMR) is the statutory inventory of archaeological sites for the Republic of Ireland, maintained by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. Sites recorded here include earthworks, ringforts, megalithic tombs, ecclesiastical remains, and post-medieval features; not every record is legally protected, but each is registered as a monument of archaeological interest.
The National Monuments Service records 462 archaeological sites in Arklow, putting it at the 42nd percentile among 280 ROI baronies for sites per km². This means it is in the lower half of all baronies for sites per km². Of these, 334 (72%) fall within a recorded monument protection zone. The record is dominated by defensive sites — ringforts, enclosures, hillforts, and stone forts (123 sites, 27% of the total), with ecclesiastical sites forming a substantial secondary presence (105 sites, 23%). The most diagnostically specific type is Burnt mound (40 records, 9% of the barony's NMS total) — compared to an ROI average of 2% across all baronies where this type occurs. Burnt mound is a heap of fire-cracked stone, ash and charcoal, with no surviving trough, dated Bronze Age to early medieval. The broader 'Enclosure' classification — which catches unclassified ringforts and field enclosures — accounts for a further 76 records (16%) and reflects the difficulty of sub-classifying degraded earthworks from surface evidence alone. Across the barony's 272 km², this gives a recorded density of 1.70 sites per km².
Most common monument types
Hover or tap a monument type to see its definition.
| Type | Count |
|---|---|
| Enclosure a banked or ditched feature of uncertain type, used as a catch-all where the original function cannot be determined from surface evidence | 76 |
| Burnt mound a heap of fire-cracked stone, ash and charcoal, with no surviving trough, dated Bronze Age to early medieval | 40 |
| Church a building used for public Christian worship, of any date from c. 500 AD onwards | 35 |
| Graveyard a burial area associated with a church, in use from the medieval period onwards | 32 |
| Ringfort – rath an earthen ringfort enclosed by a bank and external ditch — the most common Early Medieval farmstead, broadly dated 500–1000 AD | 30 |
| Ritual site – holy well a well or spring traditionally associated with a saint, often credited with healing properties; many trace earlier ritual origins but devotion is documented from the medieval period onwards | 17 |
| Rock art geometric and other motifs carved on earthfast boulders or rock outcrops, mainly Bronze Age but with possible Neolithic origins | 17 |
| Pit a circular or sub-circular cropmark, soil-mark or excavated cavity, of any date from prehistory onwards | 17 |
Chronological distribution
The dated archaeological record for Arklow spans from the Mesolithic through to the Modern, with activity attested across 8 of 9 archaeological periods. This is the 86th percentile across ROI baronies for chronological depth — an above-average span. The record is near-continuous, with only the Post Medieval period falling inside the span without any recorded sites. Activity concentrates most heavily in the Iron Age (127 sites, 38% of dated material), with the Early Medieval forming a secondary peak (75 sites, 23%). A further 132 recorded sites (29% of the overall NMS register for the barony) carry no period attribution — appearing as 'Unknown' in the bar chart below. This typically reflects either records that pre-date the standardised period vocabulary or sites awaiting specialist dating review, rather than a genuine absence of chronological evidence.
Sample of recorded monuments
Show 25 sample monuments (of 462 total)
A representative sample of 25 recorded monuments drawn from the barony’s 462 total NMS entries. Sites within a recorded monument protection zone and rarer site types are prioritised so the list shows a meaningful cross-section rather than only the most common type. Each entry shows the official Sites and Monuments Record reference number and the description published by the National Monuments Service.
Souterrain
Probably natural sea caves, but adjacent to a church (WI025-017001-), and possibly used as souterrains while the ecclesiastical site was in use.
The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological…
Probably natural sea caves, but adjacent to a church (WI025-017001-), and possibly used as souterrains while the ecclesiastical site was in use.
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
Rock shelter
Two caves excavated into the southern wall of a trench running across the neck of Bride's Head. A large quantity of broken flint was found in one of the caves (Martin 1932-3, 58); Martin likened them to flints found on…
Two caves excavated into the southern wall of a trench running across the neck of Bride's Head. A large quantity of broken flint was found in one of the caves (Martin 1932-3, 58); Martin likened them to flints found on raised beaches in other parts of the country. Traces of flint have also been found here in more recent times (Information P. Neary).
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
Cave
Two caves excavated into the southern wall of a trench running across the neck of Bride's Head. A large quantity of broken flint was found in one of the caves (Martin 1932-3, 58); Martin likened them to flints found on…
Two caves excavated into the southern wall of a trench running across the neck of Bride's Head. A large quantity of broken flint was found in one of the caves (Martin 1932-3, 58); Martin likened them to flints found on raised beaches in other parts of the country. Traces of flint have also been found here in more recent times (information P. Neary).
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
Gateway
Situated within a moated site (WI031-002002-) on the summit of a low gently slopped hill with extensive views especially to the S. The remains consist of a vaulted gateway aligned NNE-SSW (L 6.65m; Wth 3.7m),…
Situated within a moated site (WI031-002002-) on the summit of a low gently slopped hill with extensive views especially to the S. The remains consist of a vaulted gateway aligned NNE-SSW (L 6.65m; Wth 3.7m), constructed of regular mortared courses with no cut or dressed stone. If symmetric the gateway would have been c. 2.6m wide. Both side-walls are incomplete at the S end, but were probably not much longer. The NW corner is intact but the E wall appears to have continued some distance to the N. A short length of very thick wall (L 1.3m; Wth 1.8m) projects from the E side of the entranceway; there is no indication that this continued further; it may be a buttress or possibly the remains of a perimeter wall. The outer face of the W wall is broken but there is no indication of any adjoining wall on this side. There is no evidence for dating these remains to the 13th century except for the fact that they are sited on a moated site. They may well represent a gateway to a later hall-house or tower house. (O'Flanagan 1928, 120; Price 1936, 47-8)
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
This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 101/1940).
Ecclesiastical site
Situated on level ground with gentle E-facing slopes above and below the site. Traditionally the site of a monastic foundation associated with the Welsh saint Pol (Paul) and later belonging to the Templars and…
Situated on level ground with gentle E-facing slopes above and below the site. Traditionally the site of a monastic foundation associated with the Welsh saint Pol (Paul) and later belonging to the Templars and subsequently the Hospitallers in the 16th century. Not visible at ground level. Bones are believed locally to have been found during the construction of an extension to the adjacent house in the 1950s (Price 1967, 435). A dry fosse on the N edge of the garden could represent the N boundary of the graveyard. A holy well (WI031-008—-), also dedicated to St Paul, lies c. 100m to the E in Kilpoole Lower.
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
Cist
Situated on level ground towards the SW end of a low ridge. Small cist (dims. c. 0.43m x 0.3m) of four slabs with a capstone containing a food vessel, discovered in 1933. It was found in a rectangular enclosure marked…
Situated on level ground towards the SW end of a low ridge. Small cist (dims. c. 0.43m x 0.3m) of four slabs with a capstone containing a food vessel, discovered in 1933. It was found in a rectangular enclosure marked on the 1838 OS 6-inch map. What remains on the site is a small cairn, with traces of stone facing, which may be part of the enclosure. (Dargan 1916, 77-8; Waddell 1990, 163)
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
Megalithic tomb – portal tomb
Situated on a marked NE-facing slope overlooking Potters River. The tomb consists of two portal stones, a backstone which leans markedly inwards and a displaced roofstone resting against the N portal-stone and…
Situated on a marked NE-facing slope overlooking Potters River. The tomb consists of two portal stones, a backstone which leans markedly inwards and a displaced roofstone resting against the N portal-stone and backstone. A slab between the portals may be a displaced doorstone. The chamber faces uphill to the W. The monument is densely overgrown and field clearance has been piled up around its base. Some flint is visible on the S edge of the field. (Price 1934, 32-3, 37; Tuomey 1854-5, 187-9)
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
Ogham stone
National Monument in state guardianship No. 304. Situated at the edge of the road on level ground overlooking the Potter's River valley. A large granite slab with its flat surface now uppermost (L. 1.48m; Wth 0.4-0.5m;…
National Monument in state guardianship No. 304. Situated at the edge of the road on level ground overlooking the Potter's River valley. A large granite slab with its flat surface now uppermost (L. 1.48m; Wth 0.4-0.5m; T 0.31m). The inscription has been read by Macalister (1945, 51-2, no. 47) as 'NETA-CARI NETA-CAGI. Named 'Cromlech in ruins (called the Long Stone)' on the 1838 OS 6-inch map and known locally as 'the giant's stone'. (Grogan and Kilfeather 1997, no. 1006)
Compiled by: Nora White
Date of upload: 3 September 2016
Castle – unclassified
Situated on the NW edge of a spur of ground overlooking the Avoca River. Only one wall (L 5m; H 3m) of the castle survives, c. 80m SW of the 19th-century church (now abandoned). The castle stood within the medieval…
Situated on the NW edge of a spur of ground overlooking the Avoca River. Only one wall (L 5m; H 3m) of the castle survives, c. 80m SW of the 19th-century church (now abandoned). The castle stood within the medieval borough of Carysfort (WI034-010—-). (Price 1936, 51-2)
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
Mausoleum
At the centre of a graveyard (WI040-021002-). A rectangular structure with a colonnaded façade on its N face and built into a low hillside at S. A partially legible inscription records its dedication, 'To the memory of…
At the centre of a graveyard (WI040-021002-). A rectangular structure with a colonnaded façade on its N face and built into a low hillside at S. A partially legible inscription records its dedication, 'To the memory of Frances Parnell'. A second mausoleum, erected in 1785 by Ralph, Viscount of Wicklow, (according to the inscription it bears) stands to the NE of the former and is in the form of a low, rectangular structure supporting a pyramid.
Compiled by: Claire Breen
Date of upload: 19 September 2013
Burial mound
Situated on a gentle N-facing slope. Steep-sided circular mound (diam. 16m; H 2.8-4m) defined by a fosse (Wth 2-4m; D 0.4m). Part of the centre and the E side have been removed through quarrying. An urn was allegedly…
Situated on a gentle N-facing slope. Steep-sided circular mound (diam. 16m; H 2.8-4m) defined by a fosse (Wth 2-4m; D 0.4m). Part of the centre and the E side have been removed through quarrying. An urn was allegedly found here in the 19th century (Waddell 1990, 166).
Included on the Register of Historic Monuments by Minister John Gormley, DoEHLG, on 7 September 2009 and published in Iris Oifigiúil on 18 September 2009. (G. Conroy.)
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
Historic town
In 1571 the Manor of Arklow and the 'burgesses of the Earl's town of Arcloe' were required to, 'have paid the yearly rent of 3s. 4d., and some of them paid but 6d. by the year, with bearing Irish exactions as 'conyve,'…
In 1571 the Manor of Arklow and the 'burgesses of the Earl's town of Arcloe' were required to, 'have paid the yearly rent of 3s. 4d., and some of them paid but 6d. by the year, with bearing Irish exactions as 'conyve,' livery, horsemen, horseboys, gallowglasse, kerne and kernitye with divers other impositions for every of their tenements, gardens and commodities of the accustomed commons time out of mind which to said burgesses and dwellers of said town belongeth/the said Earl, pitying the miserable estate and decay of said town and dwellers, and they complaining the same to grow of the said 'conye' and other Irish exactions, agreed that in consideration that the burgesses shall be free of the aforesaid exactions and all other impositions and all old accustomed rents, they shall pay for every of their tenements to said Earl and his heirs yearly 13s. 4d. current money of Ireland and one 'wetche' hen, and the tenants that be not burgesses shall pay a like sum and two 'wetche' hens. Every burgess shall pay to said Earl and his heirs the ancient customs heretofore paid out of timber, wood, boards, bark and fishing, and bring such wood as shall be provided for the Earl and his heirs at the waterside in their small lighters, and put the same aboard the vessel or vessels wherein it shall be transported to Dublin for the provision of the Earl and his heirs frank and free from paying anything for the lighters or men labouring in them, as heretofore they were accustomed. Every burg…
Religious house – Dominican friars
Situated on level terrain on the S side of the town. The site of the Dominican friary founded in 1264 by Thomas Theobald FitzWalter. Portions of the church and claustral buildings survived into the mid-18th century…
Situated on level terrain on the S side of the town. The site of the Dominican friary founded in 1264 by Thomas Theobald FitzWalter. Portions of the church and claustral buildings survived into the mid-18th century (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 221). No surviving remains; the site is now a park in Arklow town with 18th- and 19th-century headstones, including samples by Denis Cullen and James Byrne, arranged around the perimeter of the high-walled square graveyard. Part of the medieval borough of Arklow (WI040-029—-).
In 1414 the pope granted the friary the following rights; 'Relaxation, during ten years, of years and ten quarantines of enjoined penance to penitents who on the six feasts of Our Lord, Whitsun day, the four feasts of, St. Mary the Virgin, the Nativity of St. John Baptist, SS. Peter and Paul, the Invention and Exaltation Of Holy Cross and the dedication, and on All Saints, during the octaves of certain of them and the six days of Whitsun week, visit or (vel) give alms for the conservation and sustentation of the Friars Preachers' church of Holy Cross de Arclo, in the diocese of Dublin' (Cal. papal letters, 461).
In 1541 after the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the Crown granted a 'Lease to Edmund Duffe, gent.; of the site of the priory of friars preachers of Arclow, with appurtenances. To hold for 21 years, at a rent of 20s.—' (Nicholls 1994, 22). On the 27th of January, 1541 an inquistion held at Arklow under a jury consisting of, 'Edmund Edward, Peter Waffe…
Religious house – Cistercian monks
Situated on low-lying marshy ground in Arklow Town. Probably the site of a Cistercian Abbey, granted by Theobold Walter to the Cistercians of Furness, but possibly only in existence for a short period (Gwynn and Hadcock…
Situated on low-lying marshy ground in Arklow Town. Probably the site of a Cistercian Abbey, granted by Theobold Walter to the Cistercians of Furness, but possibly only in existence for a short period (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 126). It was part of the medieval borough of Arklow (WI040-029—-). Human skeletons in what appear to have been lintelled graves or long cists were found on the site prior to 1927 at the site marked 'Site of Grave Yard' on the 1838 OS 6-inch map. A trapezoidal tombstone, possibly of medieval date, was also found and was located at Shelton Abbey (Ronan 1927, 103). The site is now occupied by houses.
The Urban Survey of Co. Wicklow described the Cistercian Abbey site as follows; 'Before 1204 Theobald Walter granted the island of Arklow to the Cistercians of Furness (Lancashire) for the foundation an abbey but in 1205 he transferred the monks to a new monastery at Abington, County Limerick (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 126). Presumably the Cistercians established some form of temporary church but it is not clear what happened to it after 1205. O’Curry (O.S. Letters: Wicklow) noted that "an ancient graveyard with the site of a church was found on the north side of the Bridge of Arklow in a sandbank in Ferrybank townland in this [Kilbride] parish. Several graves containing’ skeletons were found here, which were covered with large flags, the sides being built with stones of various sizes and forms. The surface of the place is still covered over with human b…
Settlement deserted – medieval
Situated on a gentle SE-facing slope. Templerainy Church ruins (WI040-017001-) located 1.7km to SW and Kilpatrick Church (WI036-023—-) located 2.5km to N. An area (dims. c. 350m NE-SW; 200m NW-SE) containing a large…
Situated on a gentle SE-facing slope. Templerainy Church ruins (WI040-017001-) located 1.7km to SW and Kilpatrick Church (WI036-023—-) located 2.5km to N. An area (dims. c. 350m NE-SW; 200m NW-SE) containing a large complex of low banks, trackways, some rectangular enclosures, house sites and areas of ridge and furrow cultivation. The field within which the complex occurs was annotated 'Oldtown Field' on the 1838 OS 6-inch map (Price 1967, 4720. The old Dublin to Wexford road ran on the SE side of the settlement and joined with other roads leading N. King James' Road (WI041-003002-) ran though the centre of the possible deserted medieval settlement connecting the medieval church of Templerainy (WI040-017001-) to Kilpatrick Church (WI036-023—-). The well preserved earthworks are very clear on Google Earth orthoimages taken 20/01/2017.
See attached Google Earth orthoimages
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: Caimin O'Brien
Date of upload/revision: 5 October 2020
Chapel
Situated in modern Roadstone quarry on a marked NE-facing slope overlooking the seashore, 2.1km SSE of Arklow town. Two holy wells, Lady's Well (WI045-006—-) and St. Patrick's Well (WI045-007—–) lie 130m to the SSW…
Situated in modern Roadstone quarry on a marked NE-facing slope overlooking the seashore, 2.1km SSE of Arklow town. Two holy wells, Lady's Well (WI045-006—-) and St. Patrick's Well (WI045-007—–) lie 130m to the SSW and 280m to the SSE respectively. Site of chapel now occupied by a quarry office. Today there are no surface remains visible of Chapel Hogan which was annotated 'Site of Chapel Hogan' on the 1840 ed. OS 6-inch map. In 1838-40 the site of the church was described in the Ordnance Survey Letters as following; 'there is an old little burial place at the south end of the strand in the Townland of Bigrock; it has no name'. Price (1967, 484) wrote about the OS Letters and stated that 'the place he is referring to is Chapel Hogan. There was a mound here with a small piece of masonry on it, but it has now been levelled. I cannot explain the name, but it may have some connection with Baltinglass Abbey (WI027-024001-). The Abbey owned a slat-pan at Arklow adjoining the lands which had been granted to the Cistercians of Furness; it must have been somewhere on the sea-shore here. Baltinglass Abbey also owned the lands of the parish of Clonmelsh, Co. Carlow, and there is a place there called Killogan Burial Ground (CW012-025001-) or Kill Hogan, as it was pronounced locally. Chapel Hogan may have been a chapel belonging to the Abbey near their salt-pan'.
The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wicklow' (Dublin…
Hillfort
Visible on aerial photographs (Michael Moore, 6 July 2006). Not recorded on the 6-inch OS 1st. ed.(1841) map but shown as an oval field (est. diam. c. 200m NE-SW; c. 100m NW-SE) on the 1908 ed. Possibly a hillfort.
The…
Visible on aerial photographs (Michael Moore, 6 July 2006). Not recorded on the 6-inch OS 1st. ed.(1841) map but shown as an oval field (est. diam. c. 200m NE-SW; c. 100m NW-SE) on the 1908 ed. Possibly a hillfort.
The hillfort was recently described in the Atlas of Hillforts of Britain and Ireland as following; 'Near small village of Ballygahan, an oval hillslope fort of approximately 1.6ha total site footprint positioned on sloping ground with steep break of slope to N, E and S. Extensive views of the Avoca river valley from the interior. The hillfort is positioned at a major bend in the Avoca Valley. This gives the hillfort extensive views of the entire valley. There are no recorded entrance features. No evidence for any internal features on the surface. The ramparts have not been archaeologically recorded and their state is unknown. The entire hillfort is under dense scrub. Earliest map depiction in second edition Ordnance Survey mapping. The monument has not been recorded in the archaeological inventory of County Wicklow. Extensive copper mining to immediate NE, E and S of hillfort. Possible mound abutting the exterior of the enclosing elements at NE. May be associated with more recent mining activity.' (http://hillforts.arch.ox.ac.uk/records/IR0721.html)
Revised by: Caimin O'Brien
Date of revised upload: 7 February 2020
Kiln
Archaeological monitoring in 2006 uncovered three possible kilns here (Excavation Licence 04E1633 (Area 1)). They are preserved in situ. (O’Carroll 2009, 571)
Compiled by: Claire Breen
Date of upload: 17 January…
Archaeological monitoring in 2006 uncovered three possible kilns here (Excavation Licence 04E1633 (Area 1)). They are preserved in situ. (O’Carroll 2009, 571)
Compiled by: Claire Breen
Date of upload: 17 January 2013
Bullaun stone (present location)
A granite block (48cm x 52cm) with a circular bowl (diam. 27cm; max. D 10cm). The surface around the circumference of the bowl is defaced. Moved from the church site at Castletimon (see WI036-009005- for original…
A granite block (48cm x 52cm) with a circular bowl (diam. 27cm; max. D 10cm). The surface around the circumference of the bowl is defaced. Moved from the church site at Castletimon (see WI036-009005- for original location record) sometime after 1990 to its present location beside the steps of 'Brittas Church' where it is embedded in cement which has '2000' etched into it.
Compiled by: Chris Corlett and Claire Breen
Date of upload: 21 February 2013
Anomalous stone group
Situated on a N-facing slope within a copse of conifers c. 9m up-slope from a farm track. The remains consist of a chamber-like feature defined by two orthostats on the N and two other possible orthostats on the S. The…
Situated on a N-facing slope within a copse of conifers c. 9m up-slope from a farm track. The remains consist of a chamber-like feature defined by two orthostats on the N and two other possible orthostats on the S. The ‘chamber’ is orientated WSW – ENE and is wedge-shaped in plan with the wider element (1.55m at E) narrowing to 0.85m at W. The E of the two uprights forming the S side measures 1.9m long, 0.35m thick and stands 0.7m high. It is separated by 0.6m from its W counterpart which measure 2.3m long, 0.3m thick and is 1m high. These stones give an overall ‘chamber’ length of 4.85m. There are three wedge-indentations or marks visible on the upper interior edge of the E stone and a single example is visible on the W end of the W orthostat. These are V-shaped in profile with a rounded point at the bottom. The edges of these marks are not sharp and they do not appear to have been made using metal tools. The two stones that form the possible S side lean markedly inwards to the N and it is unclear if both were ever fully erect: no wedge-marks are visible on these stones. The E stone measures 1.4m long, is at least 0.2m thick and, if erect, would have been at least 0.6m high. The slab beside it to the W measures 1.85m long, 0.3m thick and, if erect, would have been 0.8m high: its top rests against a tree growing in the ‘chamber’. Some 2m W of this stone is a low orthostat set transversely to the line of the so-called ‘chamber’ sides. It measures 0.7m long, 0.27m thick and…
Architectural fragment
Situated on gentle N-facing slope with the steep valley of the Aughrim River 370m to NE & E. Bride's Well (WI040-011001-) c. 110m to the NW. Cropmark of levelled ringfort (WI040-031—) in field to S. Levelled…
Situated on gentle N-facing slope with the steep valley of the Aughrim River 370m to NE & E. Bride's Well (WI040-011001-) c. 110m to the NW. Cropmark of levelled ringfort (WI040-031—) in field to S. Levelled medieval church stands (WI040-011002-) in the centre of a D-shaped graveyard (WI040-011003-) containing two stones (WI040-011006-/WI040-011007-) decorated with prehistoric rock art. The D-shaped graveyard may preserve the line of an Early Christian ecclesiastical enclosure (WI040-011004-). Graveyard may have been used as a children's burial ground (WI040-011005-).
The 1838 ed. OS 6-inch map shows the 'Old Font' belonging to the medieval church of Tachmayl or Ballintemple as being incorporated into the enclosing bank of the graveyard on the S side to the E of the graveyard entrance. The stone was removed from this location and according to Ronan (1927, 108) the holy water font is preserved in part at Mr. Laurence Wolohan’s, Ballintemple. This font appears to be the remains of a medieval stoup (Top diam. 0.2m; D 0.12m) taken from Ballintemple church and now incorporated into the wall of the first floor of the house belonging to the Wolohan family.
Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien
Date of revised upload: 27 July 2017
Cairn – burial cairn
Situated atop high ground with panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. Ordnance Survey trigonomterical station marking spot height 894ft. lies 35m to NNW and hilltop enclosure (WI035-074—) 80m to N. …
Situated atop high ground with panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. Ordnance Survey trigonomterical station marking spot height 894ft. lies 35m to NNW and hilltop enclosure (WI035-074—) 80m to N. Meandering dry-stone wall running roughly E-W marking townland boundary with Glenteige 10m to S, two other meandering walls to the N and running parallel to the townland boundary may be remains of a prehistoric field system (WI025-075—-).
Present remains consist of a circular-shaped pile (H c. 2.5m; base diam. 18m E-W x 16.5m N-S; Top diam. 8.6m E-W x 10m N-S ) of stones partially heather covered which has the appearance of a possible prehistoric burial cairn, although the possibility of a clearance or boundary cairn cannot be ruled out. There is a small circular-shaped chamber or cavity (diam. 1.2m; D 0.6m ) located off centre to S in the cairn which may have been a later booley shelter or hut site. The suggestion or outline of other similar chambers and possibly an L-shaped passage which are now obscured by stone collapse.
Compiled by: Caimin O’Brien
Date of upload: 18 December 2017
Hilltop enclosure
Possible hilltop enclosure (approx. diam. c. 100m N-S x -110m E-W) situated just off summit of hill on steep N facing slope with commanding views of the surrounding countryside. Ringfort (WI035-045—-) 120m to NNW,…
Possible hilltop enclosure (approx. diam. c. 100m N-S x -110m E-W) situated just off summit of hill on steep N facing slope with commanding views of the surrounding countryside. Ringfort (WI035-045—-) 120m to NNW, cairn (WI035-073—-) 70m to SSE and possible prehistoric field walls (WI035-075—-) 60m to S. The furthest field wall to the S forms townland boundary with Glenteige.
Hilltop covered in bracken making it impossible to follow the full route of the curving bank visible on Google Earth aerial photographs taken 21/04/2015 (see attached photos). Single coniferous tree marks location of low earthen bank visible at base of steep N facing slope. The dense cover of bracken made it impossible to trace the curving route of this earthwork. Close to the summit of the hill there is a large area of rock outcrop the N face of which appears to have been terraced or modified and this terracing appears to be the feature which shows up as the enclosing element on the S side of the monument on Google Earth photographs. The outline of this possible hilltop enclosure is not visible on any of the OSI aerial photography but is partially visible on Digital Globe aerial photographs.
Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien
Date of upload: 12 January 2018
Field boundary
Possible hilltop enclosure (WI035-074—-) and cairn (WI035-075) situated just off summit of hill with commanding views of the surrounding countryside. Possible prehistoric field walls running roughly E-W immediately S…
Possible hilltop enclosure (WI035-074—-) and cairn (WI035-075) situated just off summit of hill with commanding views of the surrounding countryside. Possible prehistoric field walls running roughly E-W immediately S and E of cairn (WI035-073—-). The furthest field wall to the S forms townland boundary with Glenteige. The meandering route of the field walls clearly visible on Google earth photographs (21/04/2015) suggest contemporaneity with each other and are different morphologically from the straight running field boundaries which enclose the base of the hilltop. Possible remains of prehistoric field system or linear defences on S side of possible hilltop enclosure.
Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien
Date of upload: 12 January 2018
Enclosure
Discovered in 1998 during archaeological monitoring of works associated with the IDA Industrial Park (Excavation Licence 98E0257). Excavation revealed a rectangular area (14m E-W x 8m) defined by a U-shaped trench (Wth…
Discovered in 1998 during archaeological monitoring of works associated with the IDA Industrial Park (Excavation Licence 98E0257). Excavation revealed a rectangular area (14m E-W x 8m) defined by a U-shaped trench (Wth 0.34m-0.44m; D 0.04m – 0.2m) with an entrance (Wth 1.35m) on the S side. There was a large amount of charcoal and burning present which led the excavator to suggest 'that the trench held a wooden palisade that burnt down. The presence of only one post-hole, that at the east side of the entrance, suggests that the trench may have contained a sill-beam in which posts were set that have now decayed without trace.' (Cotter 2000, 220). Finds included one sherd of pottery and numerous pieces of flint. (ibid)
Compiled by: Claire Breen
Date of upload: 24 January 2013
Listed buildings
The National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) is a state survey appraising buildings of architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, social, or technical interest. Each surveyed structure receives a rating from International (the highest, for buildings of European importance) through National, Regional, Local, and Record-Only.
The NIAH records 157 listed buildings in Arklow (68th percentile across ROI baronies). The highest-graded structures include 2 of National significance. The Republic holds 937 National-graded buildings in total, so this barony accounts for around 0% of the national total. Construction dates concentrate most heavily in the Victorian (1830-1900) period. The most-recorded building type is house (96 examples, 61% of the listed stock).
Terrain and environment
Mean elevation across the barony is 101m — the 60th percentile among 280 ROI baronies for elevation. This means it is in the upper half of all baronies for elevation. Elevation matters for heritage because higher-altitude baronies typically favour defensive monuments — ringforts and hilltop forts placed on prominent ground — while lowland baronies are more likely to carry the dense settlement and church networks of intensive agricultural landscapes. The barony reaches 561m at its highest point — a vertical span of more than 460m within its boundary, indicating significant topographic diversity. Mean slope is 6.3° — the 88th percentile among 280 ROI baronies for slope. This means it is in the top fifth of all baronies for slope. This is consistently steep terrain by ROI standards, the kind of landscape that tends to preserve upstanding archaeological features well. Slope is a key control on both land use and archaeological preservation: steep ground resists ploughing and tends to preserve earthworks intact, while gentle slopes favour intensive cultivation that damages or destroys surface archaeology over time. Localised maximum slopes reach 17°, typical of stream-cut valleys, escarpments, or coastal bluffs within the wider landscape. The Topographic Wetness Index averages 9.7, the 12th percentile among 280 ROI baronies for wetness. This means it is in the bottom fifth of all baronies for wetness. This is well-drained ground by ROI standards — typical of upland or steeply-sloping country that sheds water rapidly. Drainage matters for heritage because poorly-drained ground preserves organic archaeology (wooden trackways, leather, textiles, and on rare occasions human remains) far better than free-draining soil; well-drained ground favours arable use but destroys organic material rapidly. The land-cover mosaic combines improved grassland (59%), woodland (24%), and arable farmland (13%), giving a mixed agricultural and semi-natural landscape. In overall character, this is steeply-sloping terrain at modest elevation, with land use dominated by improved grassland.
Terrain measurements
Where this barony sits in the Republic of Ireland
Geology and preservation
Bedrock geology shapes the landscape long before any settlement begins — controlling soil drainage, agricultural potential, the survival of upstanding monuments, and the preservation of buried archaeology. The figures below come from the Geological Survey Ireland 1:100,000 bedrock map.
The bedrock underlying Arklow is predominantly slate, sandstone (56% of the barony by area), laid down during the Ordovician period (94% by area, around 485 to 444 million years ago). The single largest mapped unit is the Kilmacrea Formation (56% of the barony's bedrock). With 9 distinct rock types mapped, the barony sits in the top third of ROI baronies for geological diversity (88th percentile) — typically a sign of complex tectonic history or coastal mosaics of differing rock units.
Rock type composition
Largest mapped unit: Kilmacrea Formation (56% of the barony)
Placename evidence
Logainm records 57 heritage-diagnostic placenames for Arklow, drawn from townland and civil-parish names across the barony. The dominant stratum is Early Christian ecclesiastical — cill-, teampall-, and domhnach-prefixed names that record the dense network of early church foundations established between the fifth and tenth centuries. The leading diagnostic roots are cill- (39 — church), teampall- (7 — church), and dún- (5 — hilltop fort or promontory fort). This is above the ROI average of 30.7 heritage placenames per barony. Logainm records 309 placenames for Arklow (predominantly townland names). Of these, 57 (18%) carry one of the diagnostic Gaelic roots tracked above; the remainder draw on more generic landscape vocabulary that does not encode a heritage period.
Pre-Christian / Early Medieval Defensive
| Root | Count | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| dún- | 5 | hilltop or promontory fort |
| ráth- | 4 | earthen ringfort |
Early Christian Ecclesiastical
| Root | Count | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| cill- | 39 | church (early) |
| teampall- | 7 | church (later medieval) |
| mainistir- | 1 | monastery |
| tobar- | 1 | holy well |
Other baronies in Wicklow
- Ballinacor South
- Rathdown
- Talbotstown Upper
- Newcastle
- Shillelagh
- Talbotstown Lower
- Ballinacor North
- Balrothery West — Dublin
- St. Mullin's Lower — Carlow
- Moyashel And Magheradernon — Westmeath
See all 280 baronies in the Republic of Ireland Heritage Tool.
Explore further
Grounding History: 10 Maps of Northern Ireland’s Past
If you’re interested in Irish heritage more widely, the companion report for Northern Ireland brings together the analysis of all 462 NI wards into one place through 10 high-quality maps — covering monument density, archaeological periods, placename heritage, terrain, wetland, and the historic landscape at first survey. Take a look.
About this profile
Click any section below to expand.
What is a barony?
A barony is a historic administrative unit in Ireland, broadly equivalent to an English hundred. The 280 baronies used here are from the OSi 2019 National Statutory Boundaries (generalised 20m), covering the 26 counties of the Republic of Ireland. Baronies derive from the Norman period, were formalised in the 17th century, and have not been redrawn for statistical purposes. They vary enormously in area, from compact urban baronies in Dublin to vast upland baronies in Connacht, and should not be compared by raw site count without accounting for area differences.
What counts as a site?
This profile combines three distinct heritage registers, each with its own definition of what constitutes a recordable site:
- Archaeological sites (NMS). The National Monuments Service Sites and Monuments Record (SMR) catalogues every known archaeological monument or site of archaeological interest in the Republic, from prehistoric burial mounds and ringforts to medieval churches and post-medieval defensive works. Inclusion does not require legal protection — only that the site has been identified, surveyed, and assessed as having archaeological value. A separate subset of these sites lies within a recorded protection zone, which gives them statutory protection under the National Monuments Acts.
- Listed buildings (NIAH). The National Inventory of Architectural Heritage records buildings of architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, social, or technical interest. Each surveyed structure is appraised on a five-tier scale: International, National, Regional, Local, and Record-Only. The NIAH appraisal is informational rather than strictly statutory, but it underpins local-authority Record of Protected Structures (RPS) listings.
- Heritage placenames (Logainm). Logainm is the authoritative database of Irish placenames maintained by the Placenames Branch. This profile applies a heritage-diagnostic classifier to the Irish-language form of each townland name, flagging roots that signal defensive sites (ráth-, lios-, dún-, caiseal-, cathair-), ecclesiastical foundations (cill-, teampall-, domhnach-, mainistir-), prehistoric burial-ritual features (tuaim-, carn-, leaba-), or Norse-contact settlement (gall-). Townlands without one of these diagnostic roots are not flagged here — they may still carry historical significance, but that significance is not encoded in the name itself.
Editorial principles
The narrative sections of this profile follow several explicit principles:
- Evidential. Every claim about this barony’s heritage character is anchored in the underlying register data. Where a site count, a placename count, or a percentile rank is cited, it is computed from the source datasets at export time, not estimated.
- Comparative. Counts and metrics are reported alongside their percentile rank against the other 279 ROI baronies. A barony with 50 ringforts in absolute terms could be unusually high or unusually low depending on its size and regional context; percentile ranking removes that ambiguity.
- Transparent on limits. Where a register has known coverage gaps, survey biases, or data-quality issues that affect this barony’s figures, the profile flags them rather than presenting the numbers as definitive.
- No interpretation beyond what the data supports. The narrative does not speculate about historical events, social dynamics, or cultural meaning beyond what the recorded heritage and placename evidence directly attests.
Data caveats and limits
- NMS Sites and Monuments Record is the product of survey campaigns conducted at different intensities across different counties and decades. Some baronies have been surveyed more thoroughly than others, and absolute counts should be read in that light. Sites destroyed by development before survey are typically not represented; sites in heavily forested or upland terrain are sometimes under-recorded.
- NIAH coverage is broadly complete for the Republic of Ireland but the survey was conducted on a rolling county-by-county basis, and the most recent appraisal date varies. Buildings demolished or substantially altered after their original survey may still appear in the register; conversely, recent buildings of merit may not yet have been appraised.
- Logainm classification applies a deliberately conservative pattern-matching approach to the Irish-language townland forms. The classifier prioritises true positives over recall: a townland may carry a heritage signal that the classifier doesn’t recognise, particularly where the diagnostic root has been heavily anglicised or where the townland name draws on a less common term. The 60,000+ townland records and ~9,800 classified placenames give a substantial signal at barony scale, but individual townland names should be checked against Logainm directly for definitive interpretation.
- Period attribution. The chronological distribution reflects only those NMS sites that carry a recognised period attribution in the source data. Sites listed as “Unknown” period are excluded from the dated subset.
- Boundary changes. Some baronies have undergone minor boundary adjustments since their 19th-century definition; the OSi 2019 generalised boundaries used here are the current statutory definition and may differ slightly from historical maps in border areas.
- Bedrock geology is mapped at 1:100,000 scale, which means local variation within a barony — small pockets of different rock type, mineral veins, alluvium overlying bedrock — is generalised. The dominant-system and rocktype figures are area-weighted, so a barony reading “70% Carboniferous limestone” may still contain small but archaeologically important pockets of older or younger rock. Around 3% of GSI polygons do not match the lexicon and contribute no rocktype or system attribution.
Data sources
- National Monuments Service — Sites and Monuments Record (SMR) https://data.gov.ie/dataset/national-monuments-service-archaeological-survey-of-ireland
- National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) https://data.gov.ie/dataset/national-inventory-of-architectural-heritage-niah-national-dataset
- Logainm — Placenames Database of Ireland https://www.logainm.ie/
- Ordnance Survey Ireland — National Statutory Barony Boundaries 2019 https://data-osi.opendata.arcgis.com/
- EURODEM — European Digital Elevation Model https://www.mapsforeurope.org/datasets/euro-dem
- ESA WorldCover https://esa-worldcover.org/en
- Geological Survey Ireland — 1:100,000 Bedrock Geology https://www.gsi.ie/en-ie/data-and-maps/Pages/Bedrock.aspx
Explore more: Search any of the 280 ROI baronies, browse by historical province, or read the methodology and data sources for the full Republic of Ireland Heritage Tool.