Settlement deserted - medieval

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated on high ground adjacent to a tower house (LI013-101006-) and bawn (LI013-101006-), and c. 50m W of a medieval church and graveyard (LI013-101004/-005-). The bawn of the tower house may have been an earlier ringfort or Anglo-Norman ringwork (LI013-101002-). Several banks and walls are visible to N and S of the tower house and bawn. Fanning and O' Brien (1973-74, 31) suggested that these earthworks may represent 'medieval rural settlement of Anglo-Norman character'. The earthworks are confined to a single field in the area immediately N and S of the castle. However the area to the S of the tower house and bawn appears to be an area of rock outcrop which has been partially quarried with no evidence of any house sites in this area of outcrop. In the area immediately N of the castle there are the remains of a sunken earthwork (approx. dims. L 27m; Wth 4m) running NW-SE which appears to be the remains of a medieval roadway running towards the castle and church. The hollow way is clearly visible on Digital Globe aerial photograph where it is shown 25m N of the castle and bawn. Immediately S of this possible roadway are the remains of a rectangular area defined by an earthen bank which may represent the remains of a small medieval field or paddock possibly associated with medieval settlement. In this area rock outcrop protrudes above the surface of the ground with evidence of some quarrying in this area as well. No clear evidence for any house sites in this area.

See attached plan of castle and earthworks taken from Fanning and O'Brien 1973-4.

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 26 October 2018

References

Fanning, T. & O'Brien, K. Earthworks at Raheen Castle, Co. Limerick. North Munster Antiquarian Journal 16, 29–32.