Castle - tower house

The National Monuments Service's description

Illauntinny / Oileán na Tine: This subaqueous site, locally referred to as 'An Caislean', comprises the possible remains of a castle (OSRNB Kilcrohane, 98) and occurs on a low rise of the lake bed near the S shore of Lough Currane. Generally only visible when the lake level is low, this monument was presumable built on a small island or spit before the rise in lake level, noted by Smith (1756, 100), commenced. A number of other subaqueous monuments are on record from Lough Currane (KE098-038----, KE098-110---- & KE098-114----).
The remains consist of the foundations of a strong building, c. 21m x 21m externally, which are preserved below the mean water level of the lake. The SE and SW sides survive best, standing to c. 1m in height. They are constructed of coursed sandstone blocks, some up to 1.5m in length, with a rubble core. A small section of the internal wall-face is visible at SE, where the wall is c. 2m in thickness. The walls at NE and NW have collapsed and survive only as spreads of blocks and rubble. No mortar or timber is visible in the structure. Approximately midway along the SE side is a regular gap, 2.85m in width, which may represent an entrance. This is now largely blocked by collapse, and the interior of the structure is filled with rubble and collapse to the level of the tops of the surviving walls. The lake bed in the immediate vicinity of the site is sandy and free of any large stones that may have derived from the structure (information: C. Breen, T. Cummins, M. Weigt).

The above description is derived from A. O'Sullivan and J. Sheehan (compilers), 'The Iveragh peninsula: an archaeological survey of South Kerry'. Cork University Press (1996), no. 1110. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 31 July 2013