Bawn

The National Monuments Service's description

Located on the NW side of a tower house (DG105-014001-) and associated with a settlement cluster (DG105-014002-). The lands of Termon McGrath were granted to James, son of Archbishop Myler McGrath in 1610 (Hill 1877, 183-4). In 1611 Carew records that the 'Archbishop of Cashill hath begune a prittie castle at Termon Magragh w'ch he entends speedily to finish, havinge his materials ready at the place wher he meanes to buyld a bawne and finish the castle' (Hunter 1975, 82). In the campaign of 1649-50 Termon McGrath Castle was bombarded by Cromwellian troops and the N wall of the tower-house destroyed; it has remained a ruin ever since (Rowan 1979, 453). The ruins comprise a tower-house (DG105-001-) and bawn (DG105-014003-) sited where the Waterfoot and Termon rivers enter Lough Erne. The bawn (DG105-014003-) is roughly L-shaped in plan, the maximum dimensions being c. 27m x 27m; it is enclosed by a wall of roughly-coursed blocks and split stone rubble laid in mortar, and abuts the NE and SW corners of the tower-house. It was protected by two circular two-storey towers at the NE and NW corners; these were entered from the bawn by lintelled doorways with drawbar holes. They were fitted with gun-loops on both levels. Only the lower courses of the SE corner of the bawn wall remain. The E wall is c. 3m-4m in height and preserves indications for seven gun-loops. There is a splayed opening at ground level at the N end of this wall; its function is unclear. At the S end of the wall, opposite the tower, the wall is off-set 2.1m above present ground level which together with a corbel-like projection of mortared stones indicates a possible wall-walk or super-structure in this area. There are traces of a shallow fosse outside the E and SE bawn wall. The SW section of bawn wall is represented by footings. The W wall c. 2.5m-3.5min height has five gun-loops and had a small contemporary building near its S end; no visible trace of the E extent of this structure survives. The foundations of the N wall remain with traces of a central gate. A road, c. 4.3m wide and delineated by rubble blocks, leads N from the gate for c. 100m.

The above description was derived from the 'Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. A description of the field antiquities of the County from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century.' Compiled by: Brian Lacey with Eamon Cody, Claire Cotter, Judy Cuppage, Noel Dunne, Vincent Hurley, Celie O'Rahilly, Paul Walsh and Seán Ó Nualláin (Lifford: Donegal County Council, 1983). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated.

Date of upload: 08 December 2011