Designed landscape - folly

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated in woodland at the NW end of a NW-SE drumlin ridge, overlooking the north part of Lough Muckno. It was on the demesne of Castleblayney. It is depicted as a hollow rectangular structure with projecting angles on the 1834 and 1907 editions of the OS 6-inch map where it is described in gothic lettering as a ‘Castle’ in ruins. It was described by Coote (1801, 91) as: ‘the ruins of an old building in the wood near the lake which has a curious whimsical appearance. It seems to be very ancient’, but this view is mistaken. It is also reputed to be a McMahon castle but this is unlikely (Livingstone 1966, 154).
This is a folly described by Delaney (1998, 3-4) as consisting of a stone building (dims c. 6m x c. 6m) with large circular towers (int. diam. 2.25m) centrally located in each wall (T 0.75m). There is an internal dividing wall and the original entrance and staircase were possibly located on the N side of this. The tower on the NW wall has an average H of 3m and contains two openings (Wth 0.6m; H 1.7m) with pointed brick arches. The other three towers survive to a height of c. 1m with lintel openings in NE and SE towers and possibly in the SW one although this is now destroyed. There are also lintel openings where the walls and towers join at NW and SE. (Delaney 1998, 3-4)

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Monaghan' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1986). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of revision: 27 February 2018

References

Livingstone, Rev. P. 1966 The Parish and Townlands of Muckno. Clogher Record, vol. 6, No. 1, 137-90.

Delaney, D. 1998 Archaeological assesment at Lough Muckno Leisure Park and Concra Wood, Castleblaney, Co Monaghan. Unpublished report, National Monuments Section, Heritage and Planning Division, Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Dublin.

Coote, C. 1801 Statistical survey of the county of Monaghan. Dublin. Graisberry and Campbell.