Settlement deserted - medieval

The National Monuments Service's description

The precise location of possible medieval settlement associated with Moylish Castle (LI005-050001-) has not been identified. A tower house-like structure surrounded by a cluster of dwellings is depicted in 'Mollish' on the 17th century Down Survey map of the Barony of North Liberties (NLI, MS 718; Westropp 1906-7, 82). The RMP map for Co. Limerick identified Moylish House [ITM 556038/658717] as the possible site of the castle and settlement. No surface remains visible of any tower house or settlement earthworks at this location and no supporting cartographic evidence to suggest that this was the precise location of Moylish Castle. Archaeological testing carried out at Moylish by Ken Wiggins under licence No. 01E0101 was summarised as following; 'Extensive stripping and grading work relating to the construction of three playing pitches on a fourteen-acre field at the rear of the Limerick Institute of Technology at Moylish was monitored over several weeks from November to December 2001. The work did not uncover any archaeological features or contexts. No artefacts of archaeological interest were noted in the topsoil. Two spreads of blackish clay on the surface of the boulder clay were uncovered at a point towards the northern end of the site, associated with steel nails and other metal pieces, possibly derived from construction activity around 30 years ago on the nearby housing estate of Cliona Park' (www.excavations.ie).

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 09 January 2020

References

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

NLI, MS 718 - National Library of Ireland, Parish maps with terriers, showing forfeited lands in County Limerick, commonly known as the "Down Survey", executed under the direction of Sir William Petty, 1657, and copied by Daniel O'Brien, 1786.