Castle - motte

The National Monuments Service's description

The following description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Carlow' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1993). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Date of upload/revision: 17 July 2007

Monument No. HM00318, this monument was entered in the Register of Historic Monuments on the 03 February 1960. Very large steep-sided flat-topped mound (H above fosse base at N c. 10m; summit diam. 38-40m) surrounded by large deep fosse (base Wth c. 3.5m) with large external bank except at W (H above base at N 5.7m; at E 3.3m; at S 1.2m). Situated at S end of gravel ridge and junction of two rivers to take maximum advantage of natural topography. Gaps in the bank at N and S probably modern. According to Giraldus Cambrensis, constructed in twelfth century (OKR 1985, 187-8). Price mentions discovery of skulls outside fosse and bank at N (Notebook 28, 1966, 26-9).

Aerial photograph (GB89.W.22) shows 'Dinn Righ' or 'Ballyknockan moat'

References

Price, L. 1928-66 Notebooks. OPW.