Castle - motte and bailey

The National Monuments Service's description

Athneasy Fort located 50m N of Athneasy church (LI040-0104001-) and graveyard (LI040-0104002-) described in 1840 as following; 'To the north west of the burying ground and very close to it stands a moat or dun, which is called Dún Bhéal Atha na nDeisig (nDeiseach). A trench ran round the base of the dún, which was twenty one feet [6.4m] broad therefrom to the fosse (by fosse is meant here the circular rampart or earthen mound that ran round the trench at the base of the moat) that enclosed it. The fosse has been entirely destroyed. It enclosed the trench on the east, south and west by north sides and on the north east side a square flat which measures thirty eight yards = one hundred and fourteen feet [34.7m] from north west to south east and seventy two feet [22m] from north east to south west. The circumference around the base of this dun is one hundred and twenty eight paces — three hundred and eighty four feet [117m]. It measures twenty six feet [7.9m] on the east side in the ascent from the base to the summit. It is twenty five paces = seventy five feet [22.8m] in diameter at top' (OSL Athneasy Parish).

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 18 June 2019