Decies Without Drum is a barony of County Waterford, in the historical province of Munster (Irish: Na Déise lasmuigh den Drom), covering 532 km² of land. The barony records 1,058 NMS archaeological sites and 452 NIAH listed buildings, placing it at around the 54th percentile among 280 ROI baronies for sites per km². This means it is in the upper half of all baronies for sites per km². Dated archaeological evidence runs from the Neolithic through to the Post Medieval, spanning 7 of 9 archaeological periods, placing the barony in the 45th percentile among 280 ROI baronies for chronological depth. This means it is in the lower half of all baronies for chronological depth. The largest dated subset of recorded sites dates to the Iron Age. Logainm flags 85 placenames in the barony as carrying a recognised heritage root; the largest share — around 66% — 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 Decies Without Drum
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 1,058 archaeological sites in Decies Without Drum, putting it at the 54th percentile among 280 ROI baronies for sites per km². This means it is in the upper half of all baronies for sites per km². Protection coverage is near-universal — 996 sites (94%) fall within a recorded monument protection zone, indicating an extensively surveyed landscape. The record is dominated by defensive sites — ringforts, enclosures, hillforts, and stone forts (362 sites, 34% of the total), with ecclesiastical sites forming a substantial secondary presence (173 sites, 16%). Ringfort – rath is the most prevalent type, making up 11% of the barony's recorded sites (118 records) — below the ROI average of 20% across all baronies where this type occurs. Ringfort – rath is an earthen ringfort enclosed by a bank and external ditch — the most common Early Medieval farmstead, broadly dated 500–1000 AD. Other significant types include Enclosure (99) and Ringfort – unclassified (77). Enclosure is a banked or ditched feature of uncertain type, used as a catch-all where the original function cannot be determined from surface evidence; Ringfort – unclassified is a circular Early Medieval settlement enclosure where surviving evidence does not allow distinction between earthen and stone forms. Across the barony's 532 km², this gives a recorded density of 1.99 sites per km².
Most common monument types
Hover or tap a monument type to see its definition.
| Type | Count |
|---|---|
| Ringfort – rath an earthen ringfort enclosed by a bank and external ditch — the most common Early Medieval farmstead, broadly dated 500–1000 AD | 118 |
| Enclosure a banked or ditched feature of uncertain type, used as a catch-all where the original function cannot be determined from surface evidence | 99 |
| Ringfort – unclassified a circular Early Medieval settlement enclosure where surviving evidence does not allow distinction between earthen and stone forms | 77 |
| Standing stone a deliberately set upright stone, used variously as a Bronze/Iron Age burial marker, route marker or commemorative monument | 67 |
| Fulacht fia a horseshoe-shaped Bronze Age burnt mound built around a sunken trough beside a water source, traditionally interpreted as a cooking site | 48 |
| Church a building used for public Christian worship, of any date from c. 500 AD onwards | 47 |
| Hut site a low stone or earthen foundation enclosing a small circular or oval area, generally interpreted as a former dwelling, of any date from prehistory to the medieval period | 46 |
| Burnt mound a heap of fire-cracked stone, ash and charcoal, with no surviving trough, dated Bronze Age to early medieval | 46 |
Chronological distribution
The dated archaeological record for Decies Without Drum spans from the Neolithic through to the Post Medieval, with activity attested across 7 of 9 archaeological periods. Every period from earliest to latest is represented in the record — an unbroken sequence of dated activity across the full chronological span. Activity concentrates most heavily in the Iron Age (261 sites, 31% of dated material), with the Early Medieval forming a secondary peak (252 sites, 30%). A further 224 recorded sites (21% 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 1,058 total)
A representative sample of 25 recorded monuments drawn from the barony’s 1,058 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.
Barracks
Situated on a bluff on the E bank of the N-S Finisk River between the Knockmealdown and Comeragh Mountains, guarding access to County Tipperary. It is at a point where a NE-SW stream enters the Finisk just 50m to the…
Situated on a bluff on the E bank of the N-S Finisk River between the Knockmealdown and Comeragh Mountains, guarding access to County Tipperary. It is at a point where a NE-SW stream enters the Finisk just 50m to the NW. Ballinamult barracks was built by 1714 as it features on a map of that date by Herman Moll (Andrews 1997, 163) and it is described as 'a redoubt for twenty men' (Smith 1746, 60). This is a rectangular yard (dims. 90m N-S; 80m E-W) with corner bastions and an entrance at the W. It survives complete with a Garda station on the site.
Andrews, J.H. (1977) Shapes of Irealnd: maps and their makers 1564-1839. Geography Publications, Dublin.
Smith, C. (1746) The history of the town and county of Waterford. W. Wilson. Dublin
The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Waterford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1999). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Date of upload/revision: 23 December 2008
Cross – High cross
Situated in pasture on level ground at the top of an E-facing slope down to the N-S Finisk River c. 300m to the SE. The base of a stone cross (dims. c. 0.35m x 0.25m; H c. 0.23m) with interlace and fret patterns and…
Situated in pasture on level ground at the top of an E-facing slope down to the N-S Finisk River c. 300m to the SE. The base of a stone cross (dims. c. 0.35m x 0.25m; H c. 0.23m) with interlace and fret patterns and part of the shaft, which were recorded at the church site (WA013-023001-) by Du Noyer, are now missing (Harbison 1992a, 24)
Harbison, P. (1992a) The high crosses of Ireland: an iconographical and photographic survey, 3 vols. Royal Irish Academy, Dublin.
Compiled by: Michael Moore
Date of upload: 12 November 2010
Headstone
According to the ITA survey of 1943 'there are some very old headstones here, some dating back nearly 300 years'. There are no headstones pre-dating 1700 in the graveyard (WA013-034002-) of Knockboy church…
According to the ITA survey of 1943 'there are some very old headstones here, some dating back nearly 300 years'. There are no headstones pre-dating 1700 in the graveyard (WA013-034002-) of Knockboy church (WA013-034001-).
Compiled by: Michael Moore
Date of upload: 15 November 2010
Moated site
Marked as a circular Danish fort on a map of Lord Cremorne's estate (NLI: ms. 3201, 9), dated 1778-80), and as a rectangular embanked enclosure on the 1840 ed. of the OS 6-inch map. Situated towards the bottom of a…
Marked as a circular Danish fort on a map of Lord Cremorne's estate (NLI: ms. 3201, 9), dated 1778-80), and as a rectangular embanked enclosure on the 1840 ed. of the OS 6-inch map. Situated towards the bottom of a S-facing slope. Square scrub-covered area (int. dims. 27m NE-SW; 27m NW-SE) defined by an earthen bank (at NW: Wth 6m; int. H 1m; ext. H 2.2m), best preserved along NW and SW sides, and an outer flat-bottomed moat (at NW: Wth of top 8.6m; Wth of base 3.6m; ext. D 1.2m). An external bank (Wth 2m; ext. H 0.6m) survives at NW and SW, and a NE-SW stream forms the SE perimeter. There is a record of a rectangular house-site defined by low earthen banks at the centre and of a smaller feature inside the perimeter at SE from 1983 (SMR file), but these cannot be confirmed because of the growth.
The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Waterford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1999). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Compiled by: Michael Moore
Date of upload/revision: 19 October 2011.
Ring-ditch
Situated on a gentle SW-facing slope. Cropmark of a double enclosure (int. diam. c. 10m; ext. diam. c. 20m) visible on aerial photographs (MM (68) 1-4).
The above description is derived from the published…
Situated on a gentle SW-facing slope. Cropmark of a double enclosure (int. diam. c. 10m; ext. diam. c. 20m) visible on aerial photographs (MM (68) 1-4).
The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Waterford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1999). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Date of upload/revision: 23 December 2008
Concentric enclosure
Situated on the summit of a broad E-W spur overlooking the N-S Glenshana stream c. 550m to the W. It has been described as having three banks and fosses (FitzGerald 1858m 23-4). This is a circular grass-covered area…
Situated on the summit of a broad E-W spur overlooking the N-S Glenshana stream c. 550m to the W. It has been described as having three banks and fosses (FitzGerald 1858m 23-4). This is a circular grass-covered area (diam. 36.4m E-W; 36.1m N-S) defined by an overgrown earthen bank (Wth 5.8-7.6m; int. H 0.2-0.7m; ext. H 1-1.6m) with an outer fosse (D 0.3-1m). The entrance (Wth 5m) and causeway are at ENE. This is eccentrically placed within a larger enclosure (dims. 74m E-W; 72m N-S) defined by an overgrown earthen bank (Wth 3-5m; max. int. H 1m; ext. H 0.6m at W to 2m at E) with some stone-facing and a modern entrance at NNE. Three radial banks connect the inner and outer enclosures; two at SSE may represent a roadway (Wth 5.5m). A souterrain (WA021-008002-) is in the interior of the inner enclosure.
Anon. (1897) Proceedings, JRSAI 27, 270-72.
The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Waterford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1999). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Revised by: Michael Moore
Date of upload: 21 February 2011
Cliff-edge fort
Located in mixed woodland at the top of a S-facing cliff (H c. 20m). This is a semicircular area (dims. 32m E-W; 25m N-S) backing onto the cliff-edge and defined by an earthen bank (at W: Wth 3.7m; int. H 0.4m; ext. H…
Located in mixed woodland at the top of a S-facing cliff (H c. 20m). This is a semicircular area (dims. 32m E-W; 25m N-S) backing onto the cliff-edge and defined by an earthen bank (at W: Wth 3.7m; int. H 0.4m; ext. H 1.3m) and outer fosse (at W: Wth of top 4.7m; Wth of base 2.5m; ext. D 0.2m). The defining features are best preserved at N (Wth of bank 7.5m; int. H 1.6m; ext. H 2m) where the fosse is rock-cut (Wth of top 6.6m; Wth of base 1m; ext. D 2.4m). The fosse declines to a berm (Wth 2m) at E with the entrance (Wth 1.5m) and causeway at NE. The site is overlooked by the summit of Carrigmoorna Hill c. 100m to the NW. Standing stone (WA023-019002-) is just outside it to the N. (Jackson 1988)
Jackson, J. (1988) Inland cliff-top fort in Co. Waterford, Decies, No. 37, 21-9.
The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Waterford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1999). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Date of upload/revision: 25th March, 2011. Compiled by: Michael Moore
Barrow – pond barrow
Situated at the N edge of a col between Cnoiceen Hill to the SW and the Monavullagh Mountains to the E. This is a circular dished grass-covered area (diam. 24.5m) with some heather and ferns defined by an earth and…
Situated at the N edge of a col between Cnoiceen Hill to the SW and the Monavullagh Mountains to the E. This is a circular dished grass-covered area (diam. 24.5m) with some heather and ferns defined by an earth and stone bank (Wth 2.2-4.3m; int. H 0.3-05m; max. ext. ext. H 0.3-0.5m but 1.3m at N) S-N-SE, which is reduced to a scarp down to the interior SE-S. A gap at SW (Wth 0.7m) may be original but a gap at NE (Wth 4.5m) is not. (Moore 1995, 210, 213, 220-23, 243, Q3)
This monument forms part of the national monument complex at Coumaraglinmountain (National Monuments (Preservation) Order No. 4 of 1996).
The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Waterford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1999). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Compiled by: Michael Moore
Date of upload/revision: 29 April 2011
Boundary stone
Situated on the SE bank of the NW-SE Deehil River, c. 550m NW of the point where it joins the River Tay. This is a large glacial erratic that has split into two portions, and it is known as Clogh Leabhrais – the…
Situated on the SE bank of the NW-SE Deehil River, c. 550m NW of the point where it joins the River Tay. This is a large glacial erratic that has split into two portions, and it is known as Clogh Leabhrais – the speaking stone. Traditionally, it confirmed truths pronounced before it, but it was confounded by an adulterous woman on one occasion and spit in frustration. The story was well known in the 17th century (Walton 1987, 29). (Ryland 1824, 304; O'Flanagan 1929, 29-30; J.C. 1908)
Compiled by: Michael Moore.
Date of upload: 26th September, 2011.
Ford
According to Power (1908b, 5) there was a ford here called Áth Mheadhon – the middle ford – on the N-S River Blackwater (Wth c. 250m) where there are numerous islands at a place called Casán na Naomh – the Saint's path.…
According to Power (1908b, 5) there was a ford here called Áth Mheadhon – the middle ford – on the N-S River Blackwater (Wth c. 250m) where there are numerous islands at a place called Casán na Naomh – the Saint's path. The ford connected a section of what he considers an ancient road (WA020-016—-) from Lismore with Affane on the E bank of the river. (Power 1905, 123)
Power, Rev. P. (1905) The Rian bó Phadruig (the ancient highway of the Decies) JRSAI 35, 110-29.
Power, Rev. P. (1908b) Dromore to Lismore – with notes on the antiquiteis to be visited on the society's annual excurstion, WAJ 12, 1-16.
Compiled by: Michael Moore
Date of upload: 26 July 2011
Walled garden
Situated on the floodplain of the S-N Finisk River, on the E bank with the river c. 20m to the W. This is reputedly a house of the Knights Templar (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 329), but there are no medieval sources.…
Situated on the floodplain of the S-N Finisk River, on the E bank with the river c. 20m to the W. This is reputedly a house of the Knights Templar (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 329), but there are no medieval sources. Attached to N of the church (WA029-024001-) is a rectangular enclosure (dims. 62m E-W; 40m N-S) defined by the remains of a stone wall (Wth c. 1m; max. H c. 3m at NE angle), with evidence of a wall-walk and slight traces of an outer fosse (Wth 3.5m; D 0.2m; L 23m) at the E end of the N wall. This enclosure was divided by a N-S masonry wall, now reduced to the foundations. The enclosure functioned as an orchard but it has a medieval origin, and buildings (WA029-024002-) within it were removed by 1898 (Power 1898a, 95) . There is a bullaun stone (WA029-024005-) but an inscribed stone (WA029-024006-) found c. 1890 is lost without record. (O'C. Redmond 1895, 154; Power 1898a, 94-5)
Gwynn, A. and Hadcock, R. N. (1970) (reprint 1988) Medieval religious houses in Ireland. Irish Academic Press, Dublin.
O'C. Redmond, G. (1895) Notes on the history, antiquities, archaeological remains and legends connected with the western end of the county Waterford, part II.WAJ 1, 119-32, 147-61.
Power, Rev. P. (1898a) Ancient ruined churches of Co. Waterford, WAJ 4, 83-95, 195-219.
Compiled by: Michael Moore
Date of upload: 26 July 2011
Decorated stone
A rectangular doorway (Wth 0.82m H 1.43m) was inserted in the N wall of Kilmolash church (WA029-027001-), with a fragment of a 12th-century rosette motif on a stone (Wth 0.33m; H 0.27m) above the lintel externally…
A rectangular doorway (Wth 0.82m H 1.43m) was inserted in the N wall of Kilmolash church (WA029-027001-), with a fragment of a 12th-century rosette motif on a stone (Wth 0.33m; H 0.27m) above the lintel externally (Power 1898a, 91; O'Keeffe 1994, 129-32).
Power, Rev. P. (1898a) Ancient ruined churches of Co. Waterford, WAJ 4, 83-95, 195-219.
O'Keeffe, T. (1994) Lismore and Cashel: reflections on the beginnings of Romanesque architecture in Munster. JRSAI 124, 118-52.
Compiled by: Michael Moore
Date of upload: 26 July 2011
Cross-inscribed stone (present location)
Located in mixed woodland on the floor of the Cappagh valley. The cross-inscribed stone, possibly an altar stone, from Knockmaon church (WA030-042001-) is now outside the E wall of the bawn (WA030-006002-) attached to…
Located in mixed woodland on the floor of the Cappagh valley. The cross-inscribed stone, possibly an altar stone, from Knockmaon church (WA030-042001-) is now outside the E wall of the bawn (WA030-006002-) attached to Cappagh tower house (WA030-006001-) (Power 1918a, 90). It is a granite block (min. dims. 2.25m x 0.7m; T 0.25m) with a ringed-cross in relief at the centre of one side. (Redmond 1895, 262; O'Connell-Redmond 1918-19, 102)
O'Connell-Redmond, G. (1918) The castles of north-east Cork and near its borders. JCHAS 24, 1-6, 62-6, 93-103, 145-51.
Power, Rev. P. (1898a) Ancient ruined churches of Co. Waterford, WAJ 4, 83-95, 195-219.
Redmond, G. (1885-6a) Notes on the history, antiquities, archaeoloical remains and legends connected with the western end of the county Waterford, JRSAI, 17, 394-405.
Date of upload/revision: 11th August, 2011. Compiled by: Michael Moore.
Crannog
Situated at the N apex of a small triangular lake (dims. c. 190m E-W; c. 150m N-S), in an area of mixed woodland. Marked only on the 1927 ed. of the OS 6-inch map. It is believed to have been discovered in the 19th…
Situated at the N apex of a small triangular lake (dims. c. 190m E-W; c. 150m N-S), in an area of mixed woodland. Marked only on the 1927 ed. of the OS 6-inch map. It is believed to have been discovered in the 19th century during land drainage, but it is not visible at ground level.
The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Waterford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1999). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Date of upload/revision: 11th August, 2011. Compiled by: Michael Moore.
Cross
Situated at the bottom of a S-facing slope. A small cross-socket (ext. dims. 0.3m x 0.2m; H 0.15m) is on top of the N roadside bank c. 150m to the S of St Conlon's well (WA030-061003-), (Power 1952, 144).
Power, Rev.…
Situated at the bottom of a S-facing slope. A small cross-socket (ext. dims. 0.3m x 0.2m; H 0.15m) is on top of the N roadside bank c. 150m to the S of St Conlon's well (WA030-061003-), (Power 1952, 144).
Power, Rev. P. (1952) The placenames of the Decies. (second ed.) Cork University Press.
Date of upload/revision: 11th August, 2011. Compiled by: Michael Moore.
Hilltop enclosure
Situated at the SE end of a NW-SE ridge or spur, at the S end of the Monavullagh Mountains. It overlooks Dungarvan Bay and the E end of Cappagh valley. This is a large circular grass-covered area (diam. 108m N-S; 103m…
Situated at the SE end of a NW-SE ridge or spur, at the S end of the Monavullagh Mountains. It overlooks Dungarvan Bay and the E end of Cappagh valley. This is a large circular grass-covered area (diam. 108m N-S; 103m E-W) defined by a scarp (Wth 5-6m; H 0.3-0.7m), but with no evidence of a fosse or entrance. It is depicted on the 1840 and 1927 eds of the OS 6-inch map as a wooded area having the townland boundary with Cloncoskoran on the perimeter SE-W-NW. Rath (WA031-019002-) is in the interior.
The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Waterford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1999). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Compiled by: Michael Moore. Date of upload: 25th August, 2011.
Historic town
Situated on a low promontory on the W bank of the Colligan estuary, where the river narrows before entering Dungarvan Harbour. Dungarvan existed by 1175 when it became a Royal town, although it is possibly of Viking…
Situated on a low promontory on the W bank of the Colligan estuary, where the river narrows before entering Dungarvan Harbour. Dungarvan existed by 1175 when it became a Royal town, although it is possibly of Viking origin since there are references to Ostmen as late as 1250 (Curtis 1929-31, 14). The construction of the castle (WA031-040001-) had begun by 1215 and the Fitzgeralds (Earls of Desmond) were granted custody of it from 1260, although title to the town was disputed in the 14th century when the town went into decline. In 1463 a new grant of the town was made to the Earl of Desmond, with a daily market, the customs from which were spent on the town walls which were repaired or possibly built at this time (Berry 1914, 55-9). In the 16th century title to the town was again disputed between the Earl of Desmond and Piers Butler, Earl of Ossory, and in 1535 James Butler, with the Lord Deputy, besieged and captured Dungarvan. It was ruled directly by the Crown from 1543 onwards. Dungarvan received a Charter of Incorporation from James I in 1611 which established it as a parliamentary borough and in 1618 it was bought by Sir Richard Boyle, Earl of Cork. The town was captured by the Confederates in 1642 and regained later that year by William St Leger. Dungarvan was recaptured and held by the Confederates again in 1645, until it was besieged and captured by Cromwell's forces in 1649. (Bradley et al. 1989, vol. 1, 7-51)
The town defences are centred on the 13th-century…
Castle – Anglo-Norman masonry castle
The royal castle of Dungarvan was in existence by 1215, but building work was renewed in the 1260s and 1270s. It was granted to the Fitzgeralds in 1285 and they retained possession until 1535 when the castle was taken…
The royal castle of Dungarvan was in existence by 1215, but building work was renewed in the 1260s and 1270s. It was granted to the Fitzgeralds in 1285 and they retained possession until 1535 when the castle was taken over by the Earl of Ossory. It changed hands four times during the Confederate Wars before Cromwell captured it in 1649. The castle continued in use as a garrison throughout the 17th century, and the barracks were built within it before 1746. It was used as a Garda station until 1987 (Bradley et al. 1989, vol. 1, 24). The remains are in good condition and include a shell-keep at the NW angle of a subrectangular ward with a curtain wall surviving complete at S and W. The curtain wall (H c. 5.5m) has gun loops and blocked arrow loops at wall-walk level. A gatehouse at the SE angle has two D-shaped towers linked by a vaulted passage with a portcullis groove and a murder-hole.
A polygonal shell-keep at the NW angle partly survives to the first floor. The entrance was at the first floor, on the E side, and the ground level inside the keep was naturally high, except at the N side where a large building with a plank-centered vaulted chamber (dims. 17.4m x 5.2m) was built at ground-floor level. The loops in this chamber were later adapted for artillery. The keep has an original garderobe passage in the NW wall and a window embrasure at SW. An inserted mural passage through the wall at SW leads to the wall-walk of the W curtain wall. Excavation by D. Pollock (1996…
Religious house – Augustinian friars
Situated on the E side of the Colligan estuary c. 400m from Dungarvan castle (WA031-040001-). An Augustinian abbey was founded c. 1290 by Thomas Fitzmaurice Fitzgerald. By the Suppression in 1541 it served as a parish…
Situated on the E side of the Colligan estuary c. 400m from Dungarvan castle (WA031-040001-). An Augustinian abbey was founded c. 1290 by Thomas Fitzmaurice Fitzgerald. By the Suppression in 1541 it served as a parish church and it was in ruins by 1654.
The remains consist of the chancel and crossing-tower within a subrectangular graveyard (dims. c. 50-80m E-W; c. 60m NE-SW) defined by a masonry wall, with the sea on the E side. The tower is incorporated into the modern St Augustine's RC church which is built on the site of the N transept. The chancel (int. dims. 13.5m E-W; 6.25m N-S) survives complete with a large window in the E gable and three pointed windows in the S wall, all of which are destroyed. There are numerous putlog holes in the walls. A small rectangular window survives above the E window, with a round-arched doorway in the N wall and traces of a triple sedilia in the S wall. The graveslab of Donald McGrath is set in the ground in this doorway.
The four-storey tower at the transept is complete (H c. 16m) with an external string course over the second floor. There is a groin vault over the ground floor and the remains of newel stairs are visible at the NW angle of the first floor. Three lights survive at second-floor level and the third level, or belfry stage, has tall single-light, ogee-headed opes in the N and E walls, with similar double opes in the S and W walls.
Some architectural fragments (WA031-040008-) in the graveyard indicated that it had a c…
Market-house
Situated at the junction of Parnell St., Castle St. and Church St. This is a two-storey, two-bay building with the ground-floor arcade now filled in. It was built in 1694, according to a medallion on an external wall,…
Situated at the junction of Parnell St., Castle St. and Church St. This is a two-storey, two-bay building with the ground-floor arcade now filled in. It was built in 1694, according to a medallion on an external wall, on the site of the medieval market house, and was converted into a public library in 1984. (Bradley et al. 1989, vol. 1, 16)
Bradley, J., Halpin, A. and King, H. (1989) Urban archaeology Survey of Waterford City and County, 2 vols. Unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public Works.
The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Waterford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1999). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Compiled by: Michael Moore. Date of upload: 25th August, 2011.
Town defences
The town defences centred on the 13th-century castle (WA031-040001-) and formed a square with the castle on the N side close to the NE angle. The wall ran SE from the castle (L c. 35m) to a C-shaped tower. From here it…
The town defences centred on the 13th-century castle (WA031-040001-) and formed a square with the castle on the N side close to the NE angle. The wall ran SE from the castle (L c. 35m) to a C-shaped tower. From here it ran S to a square tower, and further S along the seafront to Jacknell St. (L c. 200m), W to St Augustine St. (L c. 230m), N to the seafront around Carbery's Lane (L c. 250m) and E to the castle (L c. 140m) (Fraher 1995). Excavations at six points along the defences (WA031-040010-) confirm the line of the walls, and provide evidence of a fosse. The walls appear to be late 16th century or 17th century in date, and no part of the defences are preserved above ground level.
Excavation by C. Power (1990; unknown licence) at the N end of St. Augustine St. revealed a well (diam. 0.8m; min. D 1.35m) 3m W of a section of a wall (Wth 1m; L 2.7m). The wall is on the site of the town wall and may be part of it. At the Junction of Augustine St. and Emmet St. a section of a ditch (L 3.5m) was uncovered with 17th to 19th century deposits in its upper levels, and what may have been an earthen bank. (Power 1995)
Excavation (97E0126) at Davitt's Quay, W of Dungarvan castle (WA031-040001-), revealed part of the town wall (Wth 1.3m) built at the high water mark, with stratified deposits suggesting a 17th century date for its construction (Pollock 1997a).
Excavation (96E0306) at the site of the tannery just S of Dungarvan castle (WA031-040001-) recovered the town wall e…
Sarcophagus
Located inside the perimeter of the graveyard (WA031-043002-) of Kilrush church (WA031-043001-). A sandstone block (H 1.2m; Wth 0.32m; T 0.36m) is set up as a grave-marker, but its E face has been hollowed out in an…
Located inside the perimeter of the graveyard (WA031-043002-) of Kilrush church (WA031-043001-). A sandstone block (H 1.2m; Wth 0.32m; T 0.36m) is set up as a grave-marker, but its E face has been hollowed out in an incomplete fashion.
Compiled by: Michael Moore. Date of upload: 25th August, 2011.
Castle – motte
Located on the summit of a hill in a low-lying landscape. A standing stone (WA031-075—-/WA031-076—-) is located c. 110m to the SW. Flat-topped, grass-covered and subcircular earthen mound (dims. of top 13.5m N-S; 8m…
Located on the summit of a hill in a low-lying landscape. A standing stone (WA031-075—-/WA031-076—-) is located c. 110m to the SW. Flat-topped, grass-covered and subcircular earthen mound (dims. of top 13.5m N-S; 8m E-W; dims. of base 39m N-S; 35m E-W; H 5.5-7m), with slight traces of a fosse (max. Wth c. 15m) SW-NW that might be curtailed elsewhere by a masonry wall 4-7m from the base of the mound. It may be a barrow, although some medieval pottery was recovered in the surrounding area (Tracey 1983a).
Tracey, C. M. (1983a) Gallowshill, Dungarvan: a report on the site and recent finds. Decies, No. 22, 5-14.
The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Waterford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1999). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
See attached photographs:
WA031-067—-_01 From W
WA031-067—-_02 From SW
WA031-067—-_03 From NW
Compiled by: Michael Moore
Date of upload: 25 August 2011
House – 16th/17th century
In 1643 when a party of Royalists under Sir Charles Vavasour was scouring the coutryside east of the Comeragh and Monavullagh mountains, a sub-group of 40 musketeers under the command of a man called Broughton took…
In 1643 when a party of Royalists under Sir Charles Vavasour was scouring the coutryside east of the Comeragh and Monavullagh mountains, a sub-group of 40 musketeers under the command of a man called Broughton took Woodhouse from John Fitzgerald (Anon 1906, 76). The house is described as in ruins in the Civil Survey (1654-6) (Simington 1942, 71). The location is not known exactly, but it may have been on the site of the 18th century Woodstown House.
Compiled by: Michael Moore.
Date of upload: 26th September, 2011.
Ringfort – rath
Situated on a NE-facing slope overlooking the N-S Tay River c. 100m from the stream. Subcircular scrub-covered area (dims. 54m N-S; 48m E-W) defined by an overgrown earthen bank best preserved at W (Wth 4m; int. H…
Situated on a NE-facing slope overlooking the N-S Tay River c. 100m from the stream. Subcircular scrub-covered area (dims. 54m N-S; 48m E-W) defined by an overgrown earthen bank best preserved at W (Wth 4m; int. H 0.95m; ext. H 1.55m) but incorporated into an E-W field bank SE-SW. The original entrance could not be identified and there is no visible fosse. A bullaun stone recorded by Power (1952, 148-9) was not located.
The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Waterford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1999). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Compiled by: Michael Moore.
Date of upload/revision: 9th May, 2011.
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 National Inventory of Architectural Heritage records 452 listed buildings in Decies Without Drum, placing it in the top 6% of ROI baronies for listed-building density. Among these, 13 are graded National — buildings of interest to the whole of Ireland rather than only its region. The Republic holds 937 National-graded buildings in total, so this barony accounts for around 1% of the national total. Construction dates concentrate most heavily in the Victorian (1830-1900) period. The most-recorded building type is house (260 examples, 58% of the listed stock).
Terrain and environment
Mean elevation across the barony is 123m — the 75th percentile among 280 ROI baronies for elevation. This means it is in the top third of all baronies for elevation. This is a relatively elevated landscape by ROI standards. 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 742m at its highest point — a vertical span of more than 618m within its boundary, indicating significant topographic diversity. Mean slope is 5.3° — the 76th percentile among 280 ROI baronies for slope. This means it is in the top third 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 16°, typical of stream-cut valleys, escarpments, or coastal bluffs within the wider landscape. The Topographic Wetness Index averages 10.1, the 26th percentile among 280 ROI baronies for wetness. This means it is in the bottom third of all baronies for wetness. 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 is dominated by improved grassland (76%) and woodland (19%). 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 Decies Without Drum is predominantly mudstone (19% of the barony by area), with much of the rock dating to the Devonian period. Mudstone breaks down into heavy, often poorly-drained clay soils that historically limited intensive arable use. The lower density of ploughing tends to preserve subsurface archaeology better than in sandstone or limestone terrain, though waterlogging can be a factor for site survival. A substantial secondary geology of limestone (18%) and sandstone (15%) adds further variety to the underlying landscape. With 10 distinct rock types mapped, the barony sits in the top third of ROI baronies for geological diversity (91st percentile) — typically a sign of complex tectonic history or coastal mosaics of differing rock units.
Rock type composition
Largest mapped unit: Ballytrasna Formation (16% of the barony)
Placename evidence
Logainm records 85 heritage-diagnostic placenames for Decies Without Drum, 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- (50 — church), dún- (11 — hilltop fort or promontory fort), and lios- (8 — ringfort or enclosure). This is well above the ROI average of 30.7 heritage placenames per barony — around 2.8× the typical figure. The presence of multiple heritage strata side by side indicates layered occupation of the landscape across successive prehistoric and historic periods. Logainm records 527 placenames for Decies Without Drum (predominantly townland names). Of these, 85 (16%) 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- | 11 | hilltop or promontory fort |
| lios- | 8 | ringfort or enclosure |
| ráth- | 6 | earthen ringfort |
| cathair- | 2 | stone fort |
Early Christian Ecclesiastical
| Root | Count | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| cill- | 50 | church (early) |
| teampall- | 3 | church (later medieval) |
| tobar- | 2 | holy well |
| gráinseach- | 1 | monastic farm / grange |
Burial, Ritual, and Norse-Contact
| Root | Count | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| leacht- | 2 | grave monument |
| gall- | 2 | foreigner — Norse settlement marker |
Other baronies in Waterford
- Middlethird
- Upperthird
- Decies Within Drum
- Coshmore And Coshbride
- Glenahiry
- Gaultiere
- Iveragh — Kerry
- Kenry — Limerick
- Kinatalloon — Cork
- Muskerry West — Cork
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.