Bawn

The National Monuments Service's description

In grassland overlooking Lough Mannagh turlough to the SE. Named ‘Castle (in ruins)’ on the 1839 edition of the OS 6-inch map and depicted as a rectangular tree-planted orchard(?) with a possible circular turret on the NW wall. On the 1922 edition this feature is D-shaped and extends beyond the wall; the straight side (L c. 6m) is on the line of the wall. On inspection this proved to be a rectangular bawn in poor condition. Most of the NW wall (L c. 59m) but only short lengths of the adjoining NE (L c. 2m) and SW (L c. 12m) walls survive. Just SW of the mid-point along the NW wall are the remains of a defended rectangular gateway (L 12.10m, Wth 1.85m). This projects slightly beyond the line of the bawn wall and has a series of gun loops at the salient corners. A circular turret (diam. 3.8m), of at least two storeys, stands at junction of the NW and NE walls. There are a series of gun loops on the ground floor and a dovecote on first. No visible surface trace survives of the remainder of the bawn. A large barn and farmyard now occupy the SE part of the interior which is otherwise featureless.

Compiled by: Galway Archaeological Survey, UCG

Date of upload: 26 August 2021