Castle - Anglo-Norman masonry castle

The National Monuments Service's description

Located on a natural prominence west of the present Vincentian College. The W side of a polygonal keep with it's W section of curtain wall stands at the E end of a motte (DU017-012001-). The keep rises to two storeys. It is built of regular blocks of coursed limestone masonry with slate packing. Traces of a staircase were visible to first floor level (wall Wth 2.25m). An opening through the W section of keep is supported by concrete additions. Traces of machiolation survive above this opening. The base of the castle appears to have been damaged by ivy removal and there are substantial stone missing. Massively overgrown with ivy.
Built by Sir Hugh Tyrell Governor of Trim in c.1174. In 1316 Edward Bruce brother of Robert laid seige to it. A 1698 sketch shows a substantial structure four storeys high with battlements, a base batter and large windows at first floor level (Sweetman 1999, 85). There is a straight seam between the curtain wall and keep which indicates two phases of construction. The area enclosed by the curtain wall (H 2.6m) is irregular in plan (dims. c. 30m E-W, c. 20m N-S, 2.60m). It serves as a cemetery for the Vincentian Order. In the junction between the keep and curtain wall there are traces of a vaulted opening overlooking the earthen defences. The inner face of the curtain wall is under-cut. There is a base batter around the exterior in the W section and remains of garderobe chute. An arched recess in the interior of the curtain wall is probably a later addition (Ball 1920, 2-5, Leask 1941, 43).

Compiled by: Geraldine Stout

Updated by: Christine Baker

Date of upload: 29 January 2015

References

Leask, H.G. 1941 Irish castles and castellated houses. Dundalk. Dundalgan Press.

Sweetman, D. 1999 The medieval castles of Ireland. Cork. The Collins Press.

Leask, H.G. 1995 (reprint) Irish castles and castellated houses. Dundalk. Dundalgan Press.