Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Castle - ringwork
Rathangan (rathangan Ed), County Kildare, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Rathangan (rathangan Ed)
- County
- Kildare
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Latest-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Coordinates
- 53.22303, -6.99818
- SMR number
- KD017-011004-
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 4 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1790 "Composite: Ireland." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
The National Monuments Service's description
According to Bradley et al (1986 vol. 4, 416-7), after the burning of Rathangan in 1300, John Fitzthomas petitioned the King for help in rebuilding a 'fortalice' there. Sweetman (1999, 13-14) suggests that Rathangan rath (KD017-011001-) 'was altered to make it into a ringwork castle'. This may have been the 'fortalice' referred to by Fitzthomas, and also the 'castle' referred to in a later extent of 1331. The earliest, late-12 century, ringwork castle (KD017-011004-) was located on the older rath (KD017-011001-) and, according to O'Conor (1998, 35), may have continued to be used by the Fitzgerald's as a timber castle into the early-14 c. However, there was also a tower house (KD017-011002-) in Rathangan, c. 400m SW of the ringwork castle.
Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy
Date of upload: 10 June 2011
References
O'Conor, K.D. 1998 The archaeology of medieval rural settlement in Ireland. Discovery Programme Monographs 3. Dublin. Royal Irish Academy.
Sweetman, D. 1999 The medieval castles of Ireland. Cork. The Collins Press.
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 Unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public Works, Dublin.
Nearby in the register
- Ringfort - rathunder 1 mi
- Churchunder 1 mi
- Architectural fragmentunder 1 mi
- Graveyardunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.