Castle - unclassified

The National Monuments Service's description

No surface trace visible of castle depicted on 1st. ed. of OS 6-inch map.

Situated on top of high ground in the Slieve Bloom Mountains with commanding panoramic views in all directions. Interesting upland castle site of which nothing substantial survives above ground today. It is possible on a clear sunny winter's day to make out the possible wall footings of a stone building in the area marked on the 6-inch map. The castle is now situated in an area of coniferous plantation which prevents the visitor from appreciating the commanding views the castle possessed of the surrounding countryside when it was first constructed. This castle may have been constructed to control an old mountain roadway or pass running through the Slieve Bloom Mountains. Running E-W immediately to the south of the castle is a low sandstone wall demarcating the townland boundary between Castletown and Glinsk and the adjoining townland of Pigeonstown. Marked 'Castle (Site of)' on the 1912 edition of the OS 6-inch map. However on the 1838 edition the outline of a rectangular castle is indicated immediately south of the townland boundary. If the 1838 map is correct the castle of Pigeonstown was originally located in the townland of Castletown and Glinsk. It is not known when this castle was first constructed. It is located in the ancient territory of Éile that was ruled by the O'Carroll's.

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