Castle - tower house

The National Monuments Service's description

On a slight rise in pasture overlooking an inlet of Lough Ree c. 320m to the NNW. Traditionally believed to be the residence of the O’Quinn family, who in the early medieval period were known as the ‘Lords of Rathcline’ (Farrell 1891, 329). By the 16th century it was in the hands of the O’Farrells (ibid., 31; Cal. S.P. Ire. 1509-73, 437). In 1627 it was granted to Sir Thomas Dutton (Cal. pat. rolls Ire., Chas. 1, 251) who built a fortified house (LF017-009003-) against its N wall. During subsequent remodelling of this house by Sir George Lane c. 1667 (Brown 1784, vol. 3, 227), the tower house was incorporated into the fortified house and it forms part the E wall of the bawn (LF017-009001-). The latter may be contemporary with the tower house but it was subsequently modified.
Only the E wall (T 2.2m) and a section of the S wall (ext. L c. 3.5m; wall T c. 3.5m), both standing three-storeys high, survive of this rectangular tower house (13.7m N-S; 8.3m E-W). The walls are constructed of random rubble limestone with alternating long and short punch-dressed quoin stones. A high pronounced base-batter (H c. 3.2m) is evident. It projects 0.8m beyond the wall-face. The external face of the E wall is ivy-clad making detailed examination impossible. However, the remains of a possible window are visible off-centre to the N on the ground floor. On the first floor a slit ope is evident near the NE angle and to its S, but at a higher level, there is a double garderobe exit chute, similar to that at Castlereagh (LF019-061001-). The internal face of this wall was refaced, possibly in the 17th century when the fortified house was added onto the N side. Joist-holes indicate that the floors were wooden throughout. On the ground floor, centrally located, there is a partially broken-out slit ope. To its N is the blocked-up ope that was noted externally. Large, centrally located, recessed embrasures on the first and second floors may be blocked-up windows. A blocked-up wall cupboard is also visible in the SE angle on the first floor.
The dating and classification of this tower house are problematic as so few architectural features survive. The presence of the high and prominent base-batter, its rectangular ground plan and the reuse of a capital with dogtooth ornament in the W gatehouse of the bawn could suggest that it dates from the late 14th or early 15th century. It is possible that it is a transitional-style castle which displays features of both the hall-house type castle and the medieval tower house. According to Brewer (1826, vol. 2, 276), there formerly was a memorial stone (LF017-009006-) ‘fixed in the wall of one of the rooms.’ (Lewis 1837, vol. 2, 491; ITA Survey 1944; Stalley 1991, 76-7)

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 5 July 2012

References

Brown, J. 1784 Reports of cases upon appeals and writs of errors in the High Court of Parliament from the year 1701, vol. III. Dublin. E. Lynch.

Irish Tourist Association. Surveys undertaken in the 1940s for the Irish Tourist Association (now Fáilte Ireland) relating to ‘Natural features, antiquities, historic associations etc.' Extracts from these surveys were copied into the Topographical files of the Office of Public Works and these have been incorporated into the Sites and Monuments Record files (National Monuments Service).

Stalley, R. (ed.) 1991 Daniel Grose (c. 1766–1838). The antiquities of Ireland, a supplement to Francis Grose. Dublin. The Irish Architectural Archive.

Cal. pat. rolls Ire., Chas I - Calendar of patent and close rolls of chancery of Ireland, of the reign of Charles I, years 1 to 8 inclusive, ed. James Morrin (Dublin, 1863)

Cal. S.P. Ire. - Calendar of the state papers relating to Ireland, 1509-1670 [etc.] (24 vols., London 1860-1911).

Brewer, J.N. 1825-6 The beauties of Ireland: being the original delineations, topographical, historical and biographical of each county, 2 vols. London. Sherwood, Jones and Co.

Farrell, J.P. 1891 History of the county of Longford. Dublin. Dollard Printinghouse.

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