House - 17th century

The National Monuments Service's description

Beagh Castle (LI003-002----) stands directly atop short cliff which forms part of S shore of Shannon estuary, a short distance W of Beagh Quay. Tower house stands in N quadrant of 19th century courtyard with 18th/19th century artillery blockhouse (LI003-002006-) added onto W side of castle which stands in N quadrant of courtyard (LI003-002007-). A row of cottages running E-W are present running along the S side of the courtyard 25m S of the castle. This row of buildings contains multi-period structures possibly dating from the 17th century onwards (Ní Cheallacháin 2008, 1). At the W end of these building there is an outhouse dating from the 19th century with traces of destroyed courtyard wall return visible which formed the SW angle of the courtyard wall. The S wall of the courtyard appears to have been removed in order to construct the row of cottages which suggests that all of the cottages are post 1800 in date. Immediately E of the outhouse there is a large freestanding chimney stack of possible 17th century appearance which appears to be the earliest house in the row of cottages. To the E of this central block there is a row of dormer cottages which appear to date from the 19th century and may have served as coastguard cottages during the 19th century. Beagh Castle served as a coast-guard station during the 19th century.

Compiled and revised by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of revised upload: 17 April 2019

References

Ní Cheallacháin, C. 2008 Report on Phasing Beagh Castle, Ballysteen, Co. Limerick. Unpublished report, O'Callaghan Architects, Limerick Co. Co., Planning Ref. No. 08/1901. Limerick.