Bawn

The National Monuments Service's description

Kilfinny Castle (LI030-048----) and bawn described in 1840 as follows; 'Its remains consist of 2 quadrilateral towers and a Court. The towers, standing, at the N. and S. ends of the Court, are roughly 20 ft. [6m] by 8½ ft. [2.6m], and contained 2 arched floors, over which were 2 other stories, 4 stories in all. The Court measures 32 ft. [9.75m] by 20 ft. [6m], and contains one arched floor, end over this 2 stories, 3 stories in all. Its walls are about 35 ft. [10.6m] high and 3½ ft. [1m] in thickness' (OSNB Kilfinny Parish, 949). The 1654-56 Civil Survey of Limerick recorded that LT. Coll. William Piggott was the owner of Kilfinny which contained 'a castle an orchard and a mill seate' (Simington 1938, 289).
Westropp (1906-7, 221-2) recorded the following details about Kilfinny Castle; 'Jan., 1642. The C[astle]. was besieged by the Confederates under Edy Lacy, of Bruree, who laid an ambuscade, but was driven off by ten "mosceters" on a windmill. Gen. Purcell next arrived, who took the mill and barns, whence he was driven, and the buildings were burned in a sally, 8th and 9th. Ric. Stephenson, the sheriff, next assailed the C[astle]. and was shot. An attempt was made to capture it by "sows," but they were pierced through. It was then so loosely blockaded that Lady Dowdall relieved Croom five times from it. The surrender of Limerick C[astle]. gave heavy guns to the Confederates, so that Purcell, with a great force, assailed Kilfinny. After three shots Lady Dowdall surrendered, and was brought off safely by Lord Inchiquin (Hist. Irish Confeds. ii., p. 69, Deps. 138, 376). 1655 Killfinie C[astle]. orchard, and mill seat held by Gerott FitzGarrold (C.S., p. 46). 1683 Gertrude, wife of J. Piggott and dau. of Sir T. Southwell, was buried at Kilfinny, and a monument erected in 1718 (FitzGerald i., p. 383).
Fabric - A court and two towers, the southern 20 feet by 8 feet inside; walls 3½ feet thick and 45 feet high, with two vaulted and two upper stories. The court is 32 feet by 20 feet, with three stories; the lower vaulted. The north tower has pointed windows and loops. It is traditionally a McEniry Castle (O.S.L., 8, p. 130)'.
Kilfinny Castle described by Salter (2004, 86) as follows; 'It has a bawn with flankers 4.2m square on the east corners. A 17th century range adjoins the SE flanker. On the west side is a 13th century hall house [LI030-048----] measuring 16.8m by 8.2m wide over walls 1m thick above a battered base and probably originally having an upper storey hall with a chamber at the north end, where there is straight service stair in a thick end wall. This part was later divided off by an inserted crosswall and built up as a tower with the second level vaulted whilst the hall was given a solid floor over two vaults supported on a longitudinal crosswall and some sort of porch was added at the south end'.

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 9 December 2020

References

OSNB - Ordnance Survey Name Books. Pro-forma books arranged by Civil Parish for recording townland and other name-forms and compiled in the course of the OS 6-inch survey 1824-1841. The name books also include minor names and incidental references to antiquities. National Archives of Ireland.

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

Salter, M. 2004 The castles of North Munster. Worcestershire. Folly Publications.

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.