Courtyard

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. Rectangular four-storey high tower house standing in N quadrant of courtyard (approx. dims. 40m N-S; wall T 0.6m) partially enclosed by a poorly preserved wall of 19th century date (Ní Cheallacháin 2008, 1). Only short stretches of the lower wall courses of the courtyard wall survive immediately N of castle where the wall runs along the edge of the cliff overlooking the Shannon. Along the cliff edge there is a segmental arch cross a natural cavity in the cliff face which was built to carry the courtyard wall running along the cliff edge. The courtyard wall is best preserved at W where it runs S off the SW angle of the 18th/19th century artillery blockhouse built onto the W side of the castle. It is possible that this section of courtyard wall is contemporaneous with the blockhouse of the 18th/19th century but probably dates from the 19th century (Ní Cheallacháin 2008, 1). The S side of the courtyard wall has been replaced by a row of cottages and outbuildings possibly ranging in date from the 17th and 18th centuries (ibid.). There is no evidence for the courtyard wall on the E side of the castle .

See attached site plan of phased buildings provided courtesy of Cáit Ní Cheallacháin, Conservation Architect, O'Callaghan Architects

Compiled and revised by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of revised upload: 16 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 Unpublished report, O'Callaghan Architects, Limerick Co. Co., Planning Ref.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.

Westropp, T.J. 1906-7 The ancient castles of the county of Limerick. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 26, 54-264.

Simington, R.C. (ed.) 1938 The civil survey, AD 1654-1656. Vol. IV: county of Limerick, with a section of Clanmaurice barony Co. Kerry. Dublin. Irish Manuscripts Commission.