Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Castle - motte
Franckfort, County Offaly, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Franckfort
- County
- Offaly
- Country
- Ireland
- Latest-edition OS map
- Hachured
- Coordinates
- 52.91448, -7.90044
- SMR number
- OF045-022001-
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 4 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1790 "Composite: Ireland." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
The National Monuments Service's description
In 1185 Dunkerrin was granted to Theobald Butler by Prince John and by 1200 Theobald appears to have been in possession of these lands (Orpen 1911-20 ii, 102; Gwynn and Gleeson 1962 174-6). Dunkerrin became a manorial town in the Gaelic territory of Éile under Anglo-Norman rule in the thirteenth century. During this time a timber castle may have been built here. On the moat farm in the village of Dunkerrin there is a circular earthwork or ringwork that could have been the outer defences of an Anglo-Norman timber castle.
Situated at the E end of an esker ridge with good views in all directions. Present remains consist of a low elevated platform (diam. 26m) defined by a scarp (H 1m), fosse (Wth 3.3m; D 4m) and external bank (H 1-3.5m) best visible at S only. Possible ramped entrance at N.
Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien.
Date of upload: 23 May 2011
References
Orpen, G.H. 1911-20 Ireland under the Normans (1169-1216), 4 vols. Oxford. Clarendon Press.
Gwynn, A. and Gleeson, D. 1962 A history of the diocese of Killaloe. Dublin. Gill and Macmillan.
Nearby in the register
- Ringfort - rathunder 1 mi
- Ringfort - rathunder 1 mi
- Settlement deserted - medievalunder 1 mi
- Churchunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.