Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Castle - unclassified
Gortnalee, County Laois, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Gortnalee
- County
- Laois
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Castle
- Latest-edition OS map
- Castle (in Ruins)
- Coordinates
- 52.88488, -7.62847
- SMR number
- LA028-018001-
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
Marked on the 1841 and 1908 editions of the OS 6-inch maps. Situated on a ridge immediately SE of ringfort (LA028-018002-). Constructed of green stone, it's remains stood to height of 1.2m only (Carrigan 1905, vol. 2, 140). No visible surface remains. Described by Carrigan as 'a castle in Gortnalee (field of the calf) near the road from Donnaghmore to Killismestia chapel. The walls, built of green stone, remain to a height of 4 ft., but are very ruinous; they are from 4 ft. to 5ft. Thick. Internally the building was 30ft. By 20 ft.' (Carrigan 1905, vol. 2, 140).
The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Laois' (Dublin Stationery Office, 1995) compiled by P. David Sweetman, Olive Alcock and Bernie Moran. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Date of upload: 17 December 2007
References
Carrigan, Rev. W. 1905 (Reprint 1981) The history and antiquities of the diocese of Ossory, 4 vols. Kilkenny. Roberts Books and Wellbrook Press.
Nearby in the register
- Ringfort - rathunder 1 mi
- Enclosureunder 1 mi
- Enclosureunder 1 mi
- Ringfort - rathunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.