Road - road/trackway

The National Monuments Service's description

Raised stone causeway (LI032-031001-) built as an access route or road onto Knockadoon Hill and Lough Gur Castle (LI032-022034-) that was defended by Black Castle (LI032-031----) and the waters of Lough Gur which were lowered by drainage works carried out in the 18th century by Henry Baylee of nearby Lough Gur Castle (Bourchier's Castle) (LI032-022034-).
The stone causeway formed the roadway leading to the gatehouse which formed part of the fortifications of the castle known locally as the 'Black Castle'. Access onto this stone causeway was protected by a castellated gatehouse located approx. 110m S of the curtain wall (LI032-031003-) of the castle.
The Ordnance Survey Letters of 1838 described the road leading from the gatehouse of Black Castle to Lough Gur Castle as following; ‘In this parish at the foot of Knockadoon Hill at the south side of Lough Gur lake are the ruins of a castle called “Black Castle”. It is a mere ruin but it can be ascertained that it was a square tower on a strong wall which fortified this hill and rendered access to Lough Gur Castle on this side almost impossible. There is a gateway on the strong wall above alluded to a short distance to the east of this tower, and through this gateway the road to the great castle of Lough Gur leads’ (OSL Vol. 1, 234-5).
Evidence of a cobbled stone roadway can be seen inside the curtain wall of the castle directly in line with the gatehouse entrance. This road was an access road to Lough Gur Castle running along the base of Knockadoon.

This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 34/1976).

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 3 October 2018

References

OSL - Ordnance Survey Letters. Letters written by members of the Ordnance Survey's 'Topographical Department' (T. O'Conor, A. O'Curry, E. Curry, J. O'Donovan and P. O'Keeffe) sent to headquarters from the field (1834-41). MSS in Royal Irish Academy.