Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Castle - tower house
Lackan, County Sligo, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Lackan
- County
- Sligo
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Castle Firbis
- Latest-edition OS map
- Castle Firbis (in Ruins)
- Coordinates
- 54.24181, -9.07322
- SMR number
- SL010-018001-
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
Situated on a slight rise overlooking the E shore of Killala Bay. The OS Letters (1836, 292 (119)) and O'Rorke (1890, 418-9) recorded that this castle was constructed in 1560 by the MacFirbis'. Wood-Martin (1882, 106) concurs with the latter date but asserts that it was constructed by the O'Dowds 'and in consequence of the events of 1641 was fortified by them, and granted to the family of Wood'. Present remains comprise a mound (10.5m E-W; c. 6m N-S; max. H 1.4m) of rubble and stone blocks, bisected by a modern E-W field boundary wall. The basal portion of the walls at S (H 0.6m) and at E (L 6m; H 1.1m; T 0.8m) are still visible. A low bank (7m E-W; Wth 2.8m; H 0.4m) may mark the line of the N wall. A break in centre of the S wall (Wth. 0.88m) may mark the location of the original entrance.
Compiled by: Patrick F. O'Donovan
Date of upload: 19 January 2011
Nearby in the register
- Kilnunder 1 mi
- Enclosureunder 1 mi
- Moundunder 1 mi
- House - medievalunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.