Castle - tower house

The National Monuments Service's description

The site of a castle is indicated on the OS 6-inch map (1st ed.) at the junction of Green St and Main St where Siopa an Chúinne (Corner Shop) now stands today. This may be the castle reputedly built by Peter Rice. There is a datestone of 1586 (KE043-224030-) in the wall of the adjoining house but another datestone (KE043-224031-) with the inscription RICE ANNO 1563 which was recorded by Smith (1756, 177) is not now visible.

Rice House described in the Urban Survey of Kerry (Bradley 1987, 62) as follows; 'Smith (1756, 177) states that he saw a building with "an inscription, signifying that the house was built by one RICE, anno 1563 and on a stone beneath two roses, are carved these words, AT THE ROSE IS THE BEST WINE". This may have been located at the junction of Green St. and Main St. where the O. S. maps show a “castle" site. The present building on this corner is modern. A rectangular stone with the date 1586 is inserted at second floor level into the second house to the west of this site, in Green Street. The upper part of the stone is roughly dressed, indicating that it is not in its original position (Cuppage 1986, 380).

The above description is derived from J. Cuppage et al., 'Archaeological Survey of the Dingle Peninsula.' (Oidhreacht Chorca Duibhne, 1986)

Revised by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of revised upload: 19 April 2022

References

Cuppage, J. 1986 Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne.

Bradley, J., Halpin, A., and King, H.A. 1987 Urban archaeological survey - county Kerry. Unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public Works, Dublin.

Smith, C. 1756 (Reprint 1969) The ancient and present state of the county of Kerry. Cork. The Mercier Press.