Scarawalsh is a barony of County Wexford, in the historical province of Leinster (Irish: Scairbh Bhailis), covering 432 km² of land. The barony records 455 NMS archaeological sites and 456 NIAH listed buildings, placing it at around the 15th percentile among 280 ROI baronies for sites per km². This means it is in the bottom fifth of all baronies for sites per km². Dated archaeological evidence runs from the Neolithic through to the Medieval, spanning 6 of 9 archaeological periods, placing the barony in the 17th percentile among 280 ROI baronies for chronological depth. This means it is in the bottom fifth of all baronies for chronological depth. The largest dated subset of recorded sites dates to the Iron Age. Logainm flags 49 placenames in the barony as carrying a recognised heritage root; the largest share — around 57% — 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 Scarawalsh
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 455 archaeological sites in Scarawalsh, putting it at the 15th percentile among 280 ROI baronies for sites per km². This means it is in the bottom fifth of all baronies for sites per km². Of these, 366 (80%) fall within a recorded monument protection zone. The record is dominated by defensive sites — ringforts, enclosures, hillforts, and stone forts (163 sites, 36% of the total), with ecclesiastical sites forming a substantial secondary presence (72 sites, 16%). Ringfort – rath is the most prevalent type, making up 16% of the barony's recorded sites (71 records), broadly in line with 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 (43) and Fulacht fia (26). 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; Fulacht fia is a horseshoe-shaped Bronze Age burnt mound built around a sunken trough beside a water source, traditionally interpreted as a cooking site. Across the barony's 432 km², this gives a recorded density of 1.05 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 | 71 |
| Enclosure a banked or ditched feature of uncertain type, used as a catch-all where the original function cannot be determined from surface evidence | 43 |
| Fulacht fia a horseshoe-shaped Bronze Age burnt mound built around a sunken trough beside a water source, traditionally interpreted as a cooking site | 26 |
| Excavation – miscellaneous | 26 |
| Moated site | 22 |
| Church a building used for public Christian worship, of any date from c. 500 AD onwards | 19 |
| Ringfort – unclassified a circular Early Medieval settlement enclosure where surviving evidence does not allow distinction between earthen and stone forms | 19 |
| Burnt mound a heap of fire-cracked stone, ash and charcoal, with no surviving trough, dated Bronze Age to early medieval | 18 |
Chronological distribution
The dated archaeological record for Scarawalsh spans from the Neolithic through to the Medieval, with activity attested across 6 of 9 archaeological periods. This is the 17th percentile across ROI baronies — a relatively narrow chronological band, with much of Irish prehistory not represented in the dated record. 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 (133 sites, 40% of dated material), with the Early Medieval forming a secondary peak (89 sites, 27%). A further 123 recorded sites (27% 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 455 total)
A representative sample of 25 recorded monuments drawn from the barony’s 455 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.
Linkardstown burial
Marked as a scrub-covered feature (diam. c. 25m) on the 1839 and 1924 eds of the OS 6-inch map, and situated on a N-facing slope of the valley of the NE-SW River Bann with the stream c. 420m to the NW. A mound (diam. c.…
Marked as a scrub-covered feature (diam. c. 25m) on the 1839 and 1924 eds of the OS 6-inch map, and situated on a N-facing slope of the valley of the NE-SW River Bann with the stream c. 420m to the NW. A mound (diam. c. 35m; H c. 3m) was being removed in 1949 when a cairn of stones (diam. c. 8m; H c. 1m) surrounding a Linkardstown-type cist was uncovered, and investigated. The cist was alinged NE-SW and consisted of four stones leaning inwards (dims. of top 1.26m x 0.36m; dims. of base 1.6m x 0.5m; H 0.65m). Above the side-stones were corbels and a single oval roofstone (dims. 1.25m x 0.8m; T 0.1m). The cist contained the inhumed remains of a single individual, but it is not known whether the burial was crouched or extended, and fragments of a bowl, with incised decoration of Neolithic character (Eogan and Herity 1977, 107, Fig. 27,4). The cairn had been covered by the mound, which had been surrounded by a shallow fosse (Wth 2.5m; D 0.3m) that might not have been original. Nothing is visible now at ground level just outside the NE angle of a farm complex. The church (WX016-003—-) was c. 90m to the WSW, but completely unrelated. (Lucas 1950)
The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wexford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1996). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Compiled by: Michael Moore
Date of upload/revision: 12 April, 2012
Castle – Anglo-Norman masonry castle
Situated on top of a low hill, but with wide views across north Co. Wexford. The castle was built on the site of a possible ringwork castle (WX015-003007-) in the early thirteenth century, probably in 1224-26 by William…
Situated on top of a low hill, but with wide views across north Co. Wexford. The castle was built on the site of a possible ringwork castle (WX015-003007-) in the early thirteenth century, probably in 1224-26 by William Marshall the younger who was in Ireland at the time as Justiciar, the principal government officer. The castle was captured by Irish forces in 1315-16, 1331 and in 1357-8 but it fell finally to the Kavanaghs in 1360, who held it for two centuries. They surrendered it to the royal authority in 1543, and in 1583 it was part of a grant to Sir Thomas Masterson. The Mastersons appear to have held the castle throughout the 1640's, but in 1649 they surrendered it to the Cromwellian general Coote. It has been virtually abandoned since then until it was conserved by the OPW. (Hore 1910)
Only the SW and NE walls of a large keep (int. dims. c. 27.5m NW-SE; c. 18.5m NE-SW) with two drum towers remain. It was excavated by P. D. Sweetman (1979) who recovered the rock-cut fosse (Wth of top 5m; D 3.5m) with an entrance causeway at the S side and evidence of the curtain wall, a possible second entrance and a possible outer fosse on the E side. The walls at SE and SW may have been built on an earthen bank of a ringwork castle (WX015-003007-). Further evidence of the fosse was found (03E1813) on the NW side (McLoughlin 2006a), but excavation c. 20m to the SE (01E1182) failed to produce any related material (Tierney 2003). The keep has 3 storeys, but is lacking a cross-wal…
Cathedral
Situated towards the bottom of an E-facing slope. Ferns was established as a diocese at the Synod of Rathbreasail in 1111 AD, and it continues in this role down to the present. The cathedral church of Ferns was built on…
Situated towards the bottom of an E-facing slope. Ferns was established as a diocese at the Synod of Rathbreasail in 1111 AD, and it continues in this role down to the present. The cathedral church of Ferns was built on the site of St Mogue's church (WX015-003002-) in the 13th century, probably by John St. John, the first Anglo-Norman bishop of the diocese (1223-1253). Burnt by Fiach Mac Hugh O'Byrne in 1575, it was restored by him in 1577, possibly in its present form. The diocesan centre may have been moved to St. Mary's, New Ross for a period after this. The church was re-vamped in 1817 when the present tower and the chapter house to the W were built (McFall 1954, 10). Within the present cathedral is the effigy of a bishop, who might be John St. John (Hunt 1974, vol. 1, 237–8), or Adam de Northampton who died in 1346 (Hore 1910, 300).
The surviving architecture is difficult to interpret, but the original cathedral may have been of a great size. Hore (1900-11, vol. 6, 165-6) thought the present church was built on the W end of the centre aisle of the nave, and that the structure E of the present church was the original chancel (total L c. 60m). O'Byrne rebuilt the original E windows in the foreshortened cathedral. Clapham (1952, 36-9), followed by Leask (1955, vol. 2, 99-101) and McFall (1954, 10-13), thinks the present church is built on the chancel of the cathedral. In this view the medieval church was cruciform in plan with an aisled nave and an aisled chancel. On…
Sundial
Within the graveyard (WX015-023002-) and at the W end of the S wall of the Romanesque church of Clone (WX015-023001-) was the sundial (H 1.18m; Wth of shaft 0.29m; T 0.11m) which has a semicircular head (diam. 0.5m),…
Within the graveyard (WX015-023002-) and at the W end of the S wall of the Romanesque church of Clone (WX015-023001-) was the sundial (H 1.18m; Wth of shaft 0.29m; T 0.11m) which has a semicircular head (diam. 0.5m), but its socket (Kinahan 1883-4, 39) is now missing. It was once with the cross-slab (WX015-024—-) c. 40m outside the graveyard to the SE (Ffrench 1895, 407). The sundial and the cross-slab (WX015-023006-) were moved to an OPW depot at Tintern Abbey (WX045-027001-) for safe-keeping during Summer 2018 while the church is being repaired, but the sundial is now temporarily on display in the Visitor Centre at Ferns Castle (WX015-003001-).
See the attached view from the National Monuments Service Photographic Archive
This is a National Monument in state ownership: No. 665.
Compiled by: Michael Moore
Date of revised upload: 13 August, 2018
Amended: 13 August, 2019
Barrow – unclassified
Located towards the bottom of a W-facing slope in the valley of the NE-SW River Bann with the stream c. 100m to the W and c. 600m from its confluence with the NW-SE River Slaney. This is an overgrown earth and stone…
Located towards the bottom of a W-facing slope in the valley of the NE-SW River Bann with the stream c. 100m to the W and c. 600m from its confluence with the NW-SE River Slaney. This is an overgrown earth and stone mound (diam. 15m; H 1.5–2m) with traces of a kerb protruding through the mound from W–N. The standing stone (WX020-002001-) is c. 10m to W, and the flat cemetery (WX020-001—-) is c. 300m to the NW on the other side of the River Bann.
The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wexford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1996). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Compiled by: Michael Moore
Date of upload/revision: 31 May, 2012
Field boundary
Situated on a steep SE-facing slope down to the NE-SW River Slaney that is c. 300m distant. The oblique aerial photograph (CUCAP, AJP 83) shows the cropmark of a line (L c. 125m NW-SE) of pits (diam. c. 2m) placed c. 5m…
Situated on a steep SE-facing slope down to the NE-SW River Slaney that is c. 300m distant. The oblique aerial photograph (CUCAP, AJP 83) shows the cropmark of a line (L c. 125m NW-SE) of pits (diam. c. 2m) placed c. 5m apart. These pits mark the line of a field boundary marked on the 1839 ed. of the OS 6 inch map and probably represent a line of ornamental trees close to a farmhouse.
The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wexford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1996). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Compiled by: Michael Moore
Date of upload/revision: 31 May, 2012
Mound
Marked as mound (diam. of top c. 10m; diam. of base c. 25m) on the 1839 ed. of the OS 6-inch map, and situated in a low-lying landscape with an E-W stream c. 30m to the S. No antiquity is visible at ground level in…
Marked as mound (diam. of top c. 10m; diam. of base c. 25m) on the 1839 ed. of the OS 6-inch map, and situated in a low-lying landscape with an E-W stream c. 30m to the S. No antiquity is visible at ground level in pasture.
The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wexford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1996). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Compiled by: Michael Moore
Date of upload/revision: 31 May, 2012
Religious house – Franciscan friars
In 1460 Donal Reagh Kavanagh founded a friary for Observant Franciscans at Enniscorthy. Little is known about it except that it was supressed in 1541 when its buildings were leased to the Earl of Ormond. At that time it…
In 1460 Donal Reagh Kavanagh founded a friary for Observant Franciscans at Enniscorthy. Little is known about it except that it was supressed in 1541 when its buildings were leased to the Earl of Ormond. At that time it was described as a church with a bellfry, a chapter-house, dormitory, hall, four chambers, a kitchen, two orchards and three gardens. In 1582 Henry Wallop destroyed the house, and in 1595 it was granted to him with the Manor of Enniscorthy (Gwynne and Hadcock 1970, 250). A tower remained standing until 1839 (Ffrench 1895, 407-08). It was located in the block S of Abbey Square and between Mill Park Road and the river. There are no visible remains of it but a fireplace now built into the wall of a warehouse (WX020-070—-) c. 200m to the SW may have come from it, but it is more likely to have come from the castle (WX020-031002-). (Hore 1900-11, vol. 6, 354-5)
The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wexford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1996). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Compiled by: Michael Moore
Date of upload/revision: 31 May, 2012
Castle – tower house
Enniscorthy town developed around the caput of the manor of Duffry that extended from the River Slaney west as far as the Blackstairs Mountains, and was more or less co-terminus with the original parish of Templeshanbo.…
Enniscorthy town developed around the caput of the manor of Duffry that extended from the River Slaney west as far as the Blackstairs Mountains, and was more or less co-terminus with the original parish of Templeshanbo. This was probably an earthwork castle originally, but it cannot be known when and by whom it was built first (Grattan-Flood 1904; Hore 1905). Duffry was granted before 1172 by Strongbow to Robert de Quincy who married Strongbow's daughter, Basilia. As a widow Basilia married Raymond le Gros in 1175, and he may have built an earthwork castle at Enniscorthy as the stepfather and guardian of de Quincy’s daughter, Maud. A buried ditch was discovered in building the Athenaeum club c. 30m to the W of the castle in the late 19th century which might have been from it (Hore 1900-11, 6, 337). Maud married Philip de Prendergast in 1198, and in 1227 he acquired Templeshannon on the E bank of the river from the Bishop of Ferns. In 1251 the manor passed to the Rochfort family, who are still described officially as owners in 1391, although it had been described in 1326 as destroyed by the Irish. Murtagh (2010, 105) suggests that a strong masonry structure must have been built to withstand Irish incursions during this period. The MacMurroughs seem to have possession of Enniscorthy in the 15th century and in 1460 Donal Reagh founded the Franciscan friary (WX020-031002-). In 1585 Sir Henry Wallop acquired the lease of the town and set about re-building it and developing a t…
Gatehouse
Situated on a level landscape, with a N-S stream c. 160m to the NW. In 1583 the castle of Borrishamon was leased to Sir Thomas Materson (Jeffrey 1979, 219), and the the Civil Survey (1654-6) records a descendent,…
Situated on a level landscape, with a N-S stream c. 160m to the NW. In 1583 the castle of Borrishamon was leased to Sir Thomas Materson (Jeffrey 1979, 219), and the the Civil Survey (1654-6) records a descendent, Edward, as the proprietor of a 'small broken castle' together with 1000 acres in Borris, Kiltilly, Knocknalour, Ballynaberny adn Ballycadden townlands in Kilrush parish(Simington 1953, 261).
This is a rectangular moated site (WX010-002001-) defended by a wall and gatehouse on the N side. The gate-house is placed close to the NW angle and consists of two walls of a passage (int. Wth 2.5m; L 5.35m) but the vault is largely destroyed. One hinge stone from a draw bridge survives, and there is a long draw-bar socket (L 4m) on the E side. The wall on the N side extends beyond the gatehouse, and there is also a fragment of wall on the E side.
Compiled by: Michael Moore
Date of upload: 10 April, 2012
Amended: 13 May, 2014
Castle – ringwork
Dermot MacMurrough's house which was burnt in 1166 (Hore 1910, 299) may have been a ringwork castle and was probably located at the site of the present castle. Evidence of an earthen rampart which was probably…
Dermot MacMurrough's house which was burnt in 1166 (Hore 1910, 299) may have been a ringwork castle and was probably located at the site of the present castle. Evidence of an earthen rampart which was probably stone-faced is visible under the E and S walls of the later castle (WX015-003001-) and the SE angle tower which are built on it (Sweetman 1979, 218).
The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wexford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1996). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Compiled by: Michael Moore
Date of upload/revision: 30 April, 2012
Tomb – effigial
Within the present St Edan's cathedral (WX015-003003-) is the effigy of a bishop (Hunt 1974, vol. 1, 237–8), who might be Bishop John St. John (1224-1253) (McFall 1954, 7-9) or Adam de Northampton who died in 1346…
Within the present St Edan's cathedral (WX015-003003-) is the effigy of a bishop (Hunt 1974, vol. 1, 237–8), who might be Bishop John St. John (1224-1253) (McFall 1954, 7-9) or Adam de Northampton who died in 1346 (Ffrench 1904-06; Hore 1910, 300).
Compiled by: Michael Moore
Date of upload: 30 April, 2012
Stone head (present location)
According to a plaque at St. Mogue's Well (WX015-003006-) stone from Clone Church (WX015-023001-) c. 2.7km to the S and Ferns Cathedral (WX015-003003-) was used in constructiing the superstructure of the well in 1847.…
According to a plaque at St. Mogue's Well (WX015-003006-) stone from Clone Church (WX015-023001-) c. 2.7km to the S and Ferns Cathedral (WX015-003003-) was used in constructiing the superstructure of the well in 1847. The material from Clone is thought to include the stone head facing the road (Ó Broin 1983-4, 33-4),
Compiled by: Michael Moore
Date of upload: 30 April, 2012
Architectural fragment
Located in a slight fold on a W-facing slope with the headwaters of a small NE-SW stream just S of the graveyard. Some cut stone, probably from a pointed doorway, was recorded from the graveyard (WX019-008002-) of…
Located in a slight fold on a W-facing slope with the headwaters of a small NE-SW stream just S of the graveyard. Some cut stone, probably from a pointed doorway, was recorded from the graveyard (WX019-008002-) of Kilsthorne church (WX019-008001-) in the 1940s (SMR file), but it could not be identified in 1987.
Compiled by: Michael Moore
Date of upload: 22 May, 2012
Font
There is local knowledge that what is called a font from Killabeg church (WX020-004001-) that was taken to the County Wexford Museum in Enniscorthy (WX020-031015-).
Compiled by: Michael Moore
Date of upload: 31…
There is local knowledge that what is called a font from Killabeg church (WX020-004001-) that was taken to the County Wexford Museum in Enniscorthy (WX020-031015-).
Compiled by: Michael Moore
Date of upload: 31 May, 2012
Font (present location)
According to local reports, what is described as the font from Killabeg church (WX020-004001-) was placed in the County Wexford Museum in Enniscorthy (WX020-031003-), but it cannot be identified now.
Compiled by:…
According to local reports, what is described as the font from Killabeg church (WX020-004001-) was placed in the County Wexford Museum in Enniscorthy (WX020-031003-), but it cannot be identified now.
Compiled by: Michael Moore
Date of upload: 31 May, 2012
Tannery
Situated on a steep E-facing slope down to the NW-SE River Slaney, c. 250m to the NE. Archaeological testing (04E1697) recorded a number of wooden uprights and a base-beam associated with fills that included animal hair…
Situated on a steep E-facing slope down to the NW-SE River Slaney, c. 250m to the NE. Archaeological testing (04E1697) recorded a number of wooden uprights and a base-beam associated with fills that included animal hair and are interpreted as the fill of tanning pits. They are preserved in situ beneath a modern structre. (McLoughlin 2008)
Compiled by: Michael Moore
Date of upload: 31 May, 2012
House – indeterminate date
Located on a slight NW-SE spur of the foothills of the Blackstairs Mountains between river valleys with a NW-SE stream c. 80m to the S. The foundations of a rectangular building (dims. 16m NE-SW; 8.5m NW-SE), visible as…
Located on a slight NW-SE spur of the foothills of the Blackstairs Mountains between river valleys with a NW-SE stream c. 80m to the S. The foundations of a rectangular building (dims. 16m NE-SW; 8.5m NW-SE), visible as a stone spread (Wth c. 2m), are within the interior of rectangular enclosure (WX014-037001-).
Compiled by: Michael Moore
Date of upload: 26 April, 2012
Inscribed stone
Built into the N face of the S pier of a gate from a public road into a field. A green stone (dims 0.33m x 0.23m) with a chamfer at one edge has an incised image like a bird on its outer face. It is probably from Clone…
Built into the N face of the S pier of a gate from a public road into a field. A green stone (dims 0.33m x 0.23m) with a chamfer at one edge has an incised image like a bird on its outer face. It is probably from Clone church (WX015-023001-) c. 350m to the NE.
Compiled by: Michael Moore
Date of upload: 2 May, 2012
Stone head
Seven heads and a stone with dogtooth decoration adorn the outer face of the W wall of Clone Romanesque church (WX015-023001-) above the head of the doorway. An eight head from the church is now (WX015-003020-) at St…
Seven heads and a stone with dogtooth decoration adorn the outer face of the W wall of Clone Romanesque church (WX015-023001-) above the head of the doorway. An eight head from the church is now (WX015-003020-) at St Mogue's Well (WX015-003002-) in Ferns.
Compiled by: Michael Moore
Date of upload: 2 May, 2012
Ogham stone (present location)
An ogham stone (dims. c. 0.85m x c. 0.23m x c. 0.22m) was recovered from an unknown location on the Great Saltee Island (Macalister 1925). The inscription has been read as: LONAMNI AVI BARI Macalister 1945, vol. 1, 48).…
An ogham stone (dims. c. 0.85m x c. 0.23m x c. 0.22m) was recovered from an unknown location on the Great Saltee Island (Macalister 1925). The inscription has been read as: LONAMNI AVI BARI Macalister 1945, vol. 1, 48). It is now in the County Wexford Museum, Enniscorthy.
Compiled by: Michael Moore
Date of upoad: 6 June, 2012
Barrow – mound barrow
The Linkardstown-type cist (WX011-016001-) was within a cairn of stones (diam. c. 8m; H c. 1m) and this was beneath an earthen mound (diam. c. 35m; H c. 3m), which may have been added at any time, and which had been…
The Linkardstown-type cist (WX011-016001-) was within a cairn of stones (diam. c. 8m; H c. 1m) and this was beneath an earthen mound (diam. c. 35m; H c. 3m), which may have been added at any time, and which had been surrounded by a shallow fosse (Wth 2.5m; D 0.3m) that might not have been original. Neither the mound nor the cist survies. (Lucas 1950)
Compiled by: Michael Moore
Date of upload: 12 April, 2012
Round tower
A round tower with a square base (Anon. 1910-11, 3-4; Barrow 1979, 196) is attached to the W wall of the nave of St. Mary's Abbey (WX015-003004-). It is entererd from the nave and a newel stairs rises to a doorway…
A round tower with a square base (Anon. 1910-11, 3-4; Barrow 1979, 196) is attached to the W wall of the nave of St. Mary's Abbey (WX015-003004-). It is entererd from the nave and a newel stairs rises to a doorway overhead, probably leading to a gallery. From the roof level the tower is round and divided into two levels, the upper with four square lights (Anon. 1864-8, 132). It is a National monument. (Ffrench 1895, 403; Leask 1955, vol. 1, 163–4; Harbison 1975, 247; O'Keeffe 1997, 57-60)
O’Keeffe, T. (1997) Diarmait Mac Murchada and Romanesque Leinster. JRSAI, vol. 127, 52-79.
Compiled by: Michael Moore
Date of upload; 30 April, 2012
Cross-inscribed stone (present location)
The cross-inscribed stone (dims 0.4m x 0.33m; T 5cm) from Killell Church (WX036-012003-) in Bulgan townland is now in the County Wexford Museum in Enniscorthy castle (WX020-031003-). (Kelly 1988, 96)
Compiled by:…
The cross-inscribed stone (dims 0.4m x 0.33m; T 5cm) from Killell Church (WX036-012003-) in Bulgan townland is now in the County Wexford Museum in Enniscorthy castle (WX020-031003-). (Kelly 1988, 96)
Compiled by: Michael Moore
Date of upload: 23 October, 2012
Ringfort – rath
Situated in the deep valley of the N-S Derry River, with the stream c. 30m to the W and c. 70m S of where a smaller E-W stream joins the river. It is marked as a large mound or muilti-vallate feature on the 1839 ed. of…
Situated in the deep valley of the N-S Derry River, with the stream c. 30m to the W and c. 70m S of where a smaller E-W stream joins the river. It is marked as a large mound or muilti-vallate feature on the 1839 ed. of the OS 6-inch map (ext. diam. c. 50m) and is described by Kinahan (1879-88, 158) as Garry Hasten 'moat' that was then reduced to a low mound. It is not visible at ground level in pasture, but a circular enclosure is visible as a circulasr cropmark (diam. c. 30-40m) defined by a fosse feature with an attached subcircular enclosure (WX004-001001-) (dims c. 50m x c. 50m), also defined by a fosse feature, on its N side on an OSI series of aerial photographs (2000). It is proababy a rath with an annexe attached. The abbey site (WX004-002—-) is c. 50m to the E.
The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wexford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1996). 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 February 2012
Amended: 15 May, 2014
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 456 listed buildings in Scarawalsh, placing it in the top 5% of ROI baronies for listed-building density. Among these, 5 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 (163 examples, 36% of the listed stock).
Terrain and environment
Mean elevation across the barony is 107m — the 64th 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 792m at its highest point — a vertical span of more than 685m within its boundary, indicating significant topographic diversity. Mean slope is 5.0° — the 74th percentile among 280 ROI baronies for slope. This means it is in the top third of all baronies for slope. 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. The Topographic Wetness Index averages 10.1, the 24th percentile among 280 ROI baronies for wetness. This means it is in the bottom third 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 (50%), arable farmland (33%), and woodland (15%), giving a mixed agricultural and semi-natural landscape.
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 Scarawalsh is predominantly slate (39% of the barony by area), laid down during the Ordovician period (94% by area, around 485 to 444 million years ago). Slate weathers to thin upland soils but provides high-value building and roofing stone, which often shows in surviving 19th-century rural and ecclesiastical architecture. A substantial secondary geology of slates (28%) and rhyolite (15%) adds further variety to the underlying landscape. The single largest mapped unit is the Oaklands Formation (28% of the barony's bedrock).
Rock type composition
Largest mapped unit: Oaklands Formation (28% of the barony)
Placename evidence
Logainm records 49 heritage-diagnostic placenames for Scarawalsh, 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- (22 — church), tuaim- (14 — burial mound), and carn- (4 — cairn). This is above the ROI average of 30.7 heritage placenames per barony. The presence of multiple heritage strata side by side indicates layered occupation of the landscape across successive prehistoric and historic periods. Logainm records 262 placenames for Scarawalsh (predominantly townland names). Of these, 49 (19%) 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 |
|---|---|---|
| ráth- | 1 | earthen ringfort |
| dún- | 1 | hilltop or promontory fort |
| caiseal- | 1 | stone ringfort |
Early Christian Ecclesiastical
| Root | Count | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| cill- | 22 | church (early) |
| tobar- | 3 | holy well |
| teampall- | 2 | church (later medieval) |
| mainistir- | 1 | monastery |
Burial, Ritual, and Norse-Contact
| Root | Count | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| tuaim- | 14 | burial mound |
| carn- | 4 | cairn |
Other baronies in Wexford
- Bantry
- Ballaghkeen South
- Forth
- Gorey
- Shelmaliere East
- Shelburne
- Ballaghkeen North
- Naas South — Kildare
- Ferrard — Louth
- Moygoish — 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.