Castle - tower house

The National Monuments Service's description

Not visible at ground level. According to Davies (1942) the wall foundations of three walls of the castle were still visible. The foundations of three walls 2 feet 3 inches thick (0.7m) were constructed with rubble and mortar. The S wall is in places 3 feet high, the N wall is only a bank. Of the W wall some traces have been dug out; the E wall has gone, being probably absorbed into the lane, at the side of which there seems to be foundations. Internal dimensions N-S 20 yds by E-W 25 yds. Possible late medieval tower house. O' Flanagan (1933, vol. 1, 1-2) mentions the presence of a corner tower and portion of bawn wall. Davies in 1942 (ITA Survey) stated that the foundations of the castle wall were visible and that the S wall was 3 feet high (int. dims N-S 20yds, E-W c. 25yds). No surface remains now visible. OS letters (O'Flanagan 1933, Vol 1, 1) states that the castle had a bawn (OF026-044----).

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 23 May 2011

References

O'Flanagan, Rev. M. (Compiler) 1933 Letters containing information relative to the antiquities of the King's County collected during the progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1839. Bray.

Irish Tourist Association. Surveys undertaken in the 1940s for the Irish Tourist Association (now Fáilte Ireland) relating to ‘Natural features, antiquities, historic associations etc.' Extracts from these surveys were copied into the Topographical files of the Office of Public Works and these have been incorporated into the Sites and Monuments Record files (National Monuments Service).