Castlecomer Plateau

Castlecomer Plateau
Plateau
Map showing Castlecomer Plateau located in the north of Kilkenny, which is itself located in south east of Ireland
Map showing Castlecomer Plateau located in the north of Kilkenny, which is itself located in south east of Ireland
Castlecomer Plateau
Coordinates: 52°49′N 7°10′W / 52.81°N 7.16°W / 52.81; -7.16
LocationCounty Kilkenny, Ireland extending into Laois and Carlow.
Formed byBaurnafea fault
GeologySandstone/shale[1]
Area
 • Total640 square kilometres (250 sq mi)
Elevation334 m (1,096 ft)
Highest elevation334
(Rossmore Plateau)
Surface elevation120 m (390 ft)

The Castlecomer Plateau, or 'South Leinster Coalfield', is an upland area in the North of County Kilkenny, Ireland, extending into County Laois and County Carlow at its northern edge. The plateau is bounded on the east and south by the R448 regional road, on the west by the N77. The River Nore flows southward past the plateau's western flank, the River Barrow past its eastern flank and it is dissected by the River Dinin, which flows through Castlecomer itself.

The landscape consists of the a large area of upland lying between the river valleys of the Barrow and Nore. The eastern section, which is the larger and more elevated part of the plateau is known as the Rossmore Plateau, after the village of Rossmore, County Laois, which is situated at the northeastern extremity near the highest point on the plateau (334 m) and is just five kilometres (3.1 mi) from the town of Carlow below, in the valley of the River Barrow.

The topography and soils of the area have long influenced its history. The plateau has remained sparsely populated but has also provided a refuge for the dispossessed. One of Ireland's few commercial coal deposits occurred in this upland area which has meant that it is one of the few places in Ireland that has a coal-mining history. The area is difficult for agriculture with lower temperatures, more exposure and heavier, wetter soils than the surrounding lowlands. However it has proved excellent for forestry and there are extensive plantations of Sitka spruce at the higher elevations.

The area falls into the domains of councils including County Kilkenny, County Laois and County Carlow. Parts of the area fall within the Barrow and River Special Areas of Conservation.[2] In the barony of Fassadinin, historically it was part of in the historic kingdom of Osraige (Ossory) and was the territory of the Uí Duach (Idough) clan.[3][4]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference LAP2018 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ River Barrow and River Nore (IE0002162). Site Synopsis Archived 2007-12-19 at the Wayback Machine - National Parks and Wildlife Service, Republic of Ireland. Natura 2000 (data set) - European Environment Agency.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference walshFassadinin was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference OHeerin1851 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).