House - fortified house

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated at the E end of and at the narrowest point of an old loop (dims c. 80m NE-SW; c. 40m NW-SE) of the Bonet River which has silted up but is still wet (Wth c. 10m; D c. 1m). Walter Harrison received a grant of 1500 acres in 1621-2 as the manor of Dunbrandon (Mac an Ghalloglaigh 1971, 254). The curving wall of a corner-tower (int. diam. 3.6m; H 5m; T 1.15m) survives with a small light and an internal recess (Wth 1.3m; D 0.6m; H 2m) at the ground floor, and a window at first floor level. There is part of a wall (L 1.2m) attached to N, with a putlog. The loop of the river would have served as a natural bawn or court. According to local tradition, the first-floor window is that through which Dervogilla, the wife of Tiernan O'Rourke, eloped with Diarmuid Mac Murrough (Faughnan 1943, file no. 140). (McDermott 2019, 115-6)

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

Faughnan, D. 1943 ITA topographical and general survey. Ballinamore Library, Co Leitrim, (file no. 140). Unpublished.

Mac an Ghalloglaigh, an t-Athair D. 1971 Leitrim 1600-1641. Journal of Cumann Seanchas Breifne (Breifne Historical Society) 4 (14), 225-54.

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