Settlement deserted - medieval

The National Monuments Service's description

Oughterard formed part of the area granted to Adam De Hereford, which passed subsequently to the Pippards in the 13 century (Gilbert 1889, 102-3). The borough was established here before 1276 in the vicinity of a possible early monastery (KD015-007002-), and in 1318, the bailiffs and men of the town of Oughterard received a royal charter granting them a weekly market and a fair there (Tresham 1828, 21: No. 27). Subsequent history is obscure: an undated, but possibly early-14th century, extent refers to 58 burgesses holding 132 acres at a rent of £5 0s. 5d. The borough may have still existed in 1608 when a William Browne is mentioned as provost of the town of 'Woughterard' (Russell and Prendergast 1874, 577). Hall, Hennessy and O'Keeffe (1985, 16-25) identified possible traces of medieval arable activity to the S, W and N of the church (KD015-007005-). Other known monuments here are; a round tower (KD015-007003-), a graveyard (KD015-007004-) and a tower house (KD015-007006-). A rock-cut ditch (Wth 1.5m; D 2m) of uncertain function runs SW from the graveyard then turns SE to pass the tower house and continues on as a shallow ditch beyond the road to the S -traceable length c. 800m. (Bradley et al. 1986 vol. 4, 400-12)

Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy

Date of upload: 10 June 2011

References

Gilbert, J.T. 1889 Register of the abbey of St Thomas the Martyr, Dublin, 2 vols. London.

Bradley, J., Halpin, A., and King, H.A. 1986 Urban Archaeological Survey - County Kildare (4 vols.). Unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public Works, Dublin.

Tresham, E. 1828 Rotulorum patentium et clausorum cancellariae Hiberniae calendrium Hen II - Hen VII. Dublin.

Hall, D. N., Hennessy, M. and O'Keeffe, T. 1985 Medieval Agriculture and Settlement in Oughterard and Castlewarden, Co. Kildare. Irish Geography 18, 16 – 25.

Russell, C. W. and Prendergast, J.P. 1874 Calendar of State Papers, Ireland, 1606-1608. London.