Castle - tower house

The National Monuments Service's description

On top of a prominent rise in an undulating landscape and in a position to guard the ESE-WNW Drowse River, c. 1-1.5km to the E, and the gap (L c. 5.5km) between Lough Melvin and Donegal Bay. This is a castle of the McClancys, probably a tower house and bawn, where Cahir Mac Flannchadha, heir to William McClancy and the chieftainship of Dartry, died in 1538 (AFM, vol. 5, 1449). A gable with an arched doorway survived into the 19th century (Lewis 1837, 2, 537). It is now a rectangular grass-covered platform (dims 28m E-W; 17m N-S) defined by a collapsed wall (Wth 2m; H 0.45m generally to 2.25m at S) around the perimeter. The remains of a rectangular structure form a mound (dims 5.9m N-S; 9.5m E-W; H 1.95m), probably the tower house, at the NE angle. No wall-facing or architectural features are visible. (McDermott 2019, 106)

The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Leitrim' compiled by Michael J. Moore (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2003). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 23 September 2008

References

AFM - Annals of the kingdom of Ireland by the Four Masters from the earliest period to the year 1616, ed. and trans. John O'Donovan (7 vols., Dublin, 1851; reprint New York, 1966)

Lewis, S. 1837 A topographical dictionary of Ireland, 2 vols. London. Lewis and Co.

McDermott, J. J. 2019 Late medieval strongholds of the Gaelic Irish in County Leitrim. in In Kelly, L. and Scott, B. Leitrim: History and Society, 103-27. Dublin, Geography Publications