Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Castle - tower house
Castlefarm, County Kerry, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Castlefarm
- County
- Kerry
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Castle (in Ruins)
- Latest-edition OS map
- Castle (Remains of)
- Coordinates
- 52.18240, -9.59270
- SMR number
- KE048-039----
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
In the SW quadrant of a possible ringwork (KE048-038----). Only the SE corner of the tower now stands, the remainder having been demolished in 1809 during the construction of the adjacent Castlefarm House (OSNB, Molahiffy 1, 44). The corner has dressed limestone quoins, and the wall (thickness c. 2.6m) has a base batter. Most of the structure, which stands to at least second-floor level, is heavily encased by ivy. There appears to be a window in the E wall at second-floor level and the side of a window is evident in the S wall at the same height.
Molahiff Castle belonged to the Coshmang branch of the MacCarthy More (Bary 1994, 184). After the Desmond Rebellion it was repaired by Valentine Browne (MacCarthy-Morrogh 1986, 127). In the 1840s it was estimated that the surviving SE corner of the castle stood to a height of at least 55ft. [16.76m] (OSL, 202). Molahiffe graveyard (KE048-036----) and church (KE048-03601-) are c. 100m to the S.
Compiled by: Elizabeth Byrne, Ursula Egan and Sheila Ronan, Archaeological Survey Unit, University College, Cork.
Date of upload: 31 January 2011
Nearby in the register
- Castle - ringworkunder 1 mi
- Country houseunder 1 mi
- Ringfort - rathunder 1 mi
- Churchunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.