Castle - motte and bailey

The National Monuments Service's description

At the NE end of the NE-SW esker known as Esker Riada. This territory was held by De Costentin until AD 1215 (Cal. doc. Ire., No. 590), but the motte was garrisoned by Aed Ua Conchobair in 1226 (Doran 2005, 368-70). This is a flat-topped, grass-covered gravel mound (diam. of top 12.7m E-W; 13.4m N-S; diam. of base 46m E-W; H 8m at W to 11.5m at E) with a slight fosse (at ENE: Wth of base 2m; D 0.4m) and outer bank or field bank (at ENE: Wth 2.8m; H 0.6m) at the base. The fosse is most pronounced (Wth of top c. 15m; Wth of base 2m; D 4.5m) at W where there is a subrectangular grass-covered bailey on the esker (dims 45m N-S; 24m E-W) defined by an earthen bank (Wth 11m; int. H 1.2-1.5m; ext. H 2.6-3m) and outer fosse (Wth of top 11.7m; Wth of base 3m; D 1.3m) at W with a scarp (H 3.7m) and an outer fosse (Wth of top 10.5m; Wth of base 3.5m; D 0.3m) at N and a scarp (H 3.8m) and fosse (Wth of top 8.6m; Wth of base 2m; D 1m) at S . There is a central E-W rib (Wth 7.5m; max. H 0.5m) in the bailey, which is probably the remains of a later field bank, but there is no evidence of an original entrance. Archaeological testing (07E0365) c. 60m to the NE produced no related material (Connell 2007). (Graham 1988b, 25)

See the attached aerial view taken from the SE.

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of upload: 18th October 2011

This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 4/2007).

References

Graham, B.J. 1988b Medieval settlement in county Roscommon. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 88C (2), 19-38.

Cal. doc. Ire. - Calendar of documents relating to Ireland 1171-1307, ed. H.S. Sweetman (5 vols., London, 1875-86).

Connell, T. 2007 Archaeological and visual impact statement for Cloonburren, Oldtown, Athlone, Co. Roscommon. Unpublished report, National Monuments Service, Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.