Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Castle - motte
Naas West, County Kildare, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Naas West
- County
- Kildare
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- North Moat
- Latest-edition OS map
- North Moat
- Coordinates
- 53.21897, -6.66464
- SMR number
- KD019-030009-
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, 354-5), there is no historical record of the construction of the motte, which stands on the highest point of a gravel ridge to the W of North Main Street, possibly on the site of a pre-Norman fort - the 'Dún' of Naas, first referred to in 705 AD. It was presumably erected by Maurice Fitzgerald, to whom Naas was granted by Strongbow. This large, conical, flat-topped mound (base diams. 70m N-S; 58m E-W; summit diams. 29m E-W; 27m N-S) is sharply scarped at the NE, E, and S. A modern house and garden are built on the summit and steps lead E down the side of the mound. A second motte, the 'South Moat' (KD019-030023----) may once have stood at the S end of the town.
Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy
Date of upload: 10 June 2011
References
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 Unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public Works, Dublin.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
- Castle - unclassifiedunder 1 mi
- Religious house - Dominican friarsunder 1 mi
- Castle - unclassifiedunder 1 mi
- Graveyardunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.