Castle - tower house

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture at the W edge of a low terrace (on the 50’ contour) overlooking the broad Toormore River which flows N c. 35m to the W. Depicted and labelled ‘Carn Castle’ on the first edition (1837) of the OS 6-inch map but named ‘Corraun Castle’ on the later, Cassini edition (1920) of the map.

The poorly preserved and totally ivy-clad remain of a three-storied rectangular structure (int. L 15m N-S; Wth 7.5m E-W) is built of regularly coursed mortared masonry. The N gable wall (wall T 2.5m) contains a large centrally placed window embrasure (H 2m; Wth 2m) at ground-floor level and narrow opes are visible on its first and second floor levels with a wider window opening centrally placed at second-floor level. The E sidewall wall is collapsed (L c. 4m) at its S end and contains a window embrasure (H 1.9m; Wth 2.05m) at its N end which has a partly damaged slightly arched vaulted roof and a splay on the S side of the window ope. Above this embrasure and slightly to the S is a similar one and there is a wider window opening at second-floor level. None of S gable wall can be made out as whatever survives of its lower courses is concealed by collapsed rubble (H 2m) and vegetation. Only a short section of the W sidewall at its N end survives and this wall may have contained the entrance doorway as one is not obviously visible elsewhere.                                                                                                                                                                            The ruins are fenced off with post-and-wire and later field walls run off the monument at the NW, NE and SW corner angles.

An earlier motte (MA070-109----) stands c. 70m to the NE and the site of a possible ‘Abbey’ (MA070-111001-), a Children’s Burial Ground (MA070-111002-) and a graveyard (MA070-111003-) lie c. 160m to the ESE.

Date of visit: 27-9-2025

Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy and Leo Morahan