Castle - tower house

The National Monuments Service's description

Constructed by Sir Thomas Ridgeway between 1606 and 1612. It was taken by the Confederate forces under Preston in 1642 and taken by the Cromwellian forces afterwards and it was destroyed. Situated in undulating countryside. Another castle was constructed by the Dunne family in 1680 which according to local tradition was never inhabited (O'Hanlon and O'Leary 1907, vol. 1, 233-234). From a nineteenth century photograph of the castle it is clear that originally the castle was five storeys high (Bradley et. al. 1986, 15). Current remains of the N gable (L c. 5.3m) surviving three storeys high constructed of roughly coursed pink shaley stone with dressed limestone quoins and remains of short returns on the E and W sides. Two gun loops visible on the ground and first floor and large window on the second floor. NW of the tower house is a round arch which may have been the original gateway into the bawn (Bradley et. al. 1986, 15). Remains of original bawn (LA030-018005-) wall attached to the external face of the W wall.
Described in the OS letters as 'The ruins of a castle yet remain, which was battered by Fairfax from a hill adjoining Heywood Demesne and bravely defended by the garrison. The ruins of the old castle are still visible at the town and a short distance from the town lies a burial ground with the vestiges of a Church, which gave name to the T.L. in which it stood being called Cill Cronain, which means the Church of St. Cronan. Ballinkillin and Kilcroennnen (Kilcroannen) appear marked on the Engraved Map of the Down Survey' (O'Flanagan 1933 vol. 2, 84-5). All Saints church and graveyard (LA030-018003-) is situated 233m to the NW of the castle. In 1642 the castle was described as 'seated among woods in a place soe watered with springs as afforded the Earle convenience to make many fish ponds neare the Castle hee built there; which hee likewise fortified with a strong wall, and that with turrets and flankers; besides that the towne since it had been planted was well inhabited, the iron mill there kept many lustie men at work' (Feehan 1983, 377).

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 17 December 2007

References

O'Hanlon, Rev. J. and O'Leary, Rev. E. 1907 (Reprint 1981) History of the Queen's county, vol. 1. Kilkenny. Roberts Books Ltd.

Bradley, J., Halpin, A. and King, H.A. 1986 Urban archaeological survey - county Laois. Unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public Works, Dublin.

O'Flanagan, Rev. M. (Compiler) 1933 Letters containing information relative to the antiquities of the Queen's County, collected during progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1838. Typescript in 2 vols. Bray.

Feehan, J. 1983 Laois, an environmental history. Stradbally. Ballykilcavan Press.