Bawn

The National Monuments Service's description

On rock outcrop at the edge of a steep precipice which falls sharply to the S and W, overlooking a valley. Bawn associated with house of sixteenth century date (TS081-041001-). The Civil Survey (1654-6) describes Roosca castle in 1640 as 'an old stone house coverred with thatch within a bawne' owned by Theobald Butler (Simington 1931, vol. 1, 367). The bawn (40.5m N-S; 22.35m E-W) is roughly rectangular in plan, the house forms the SW angle and there is no SE angle as the wall curves up towards the NE angle. It best survives on the W side where it survives to a max. height of 4.4m. At the S end of the W wall there is a musket loop (0.47m Wth). E of this there is a second opening, a wide-mouth musket loop (0.88m Wth x 0.63m H x 0.46m D). The W wall of the bawn abutts the N gable of the house, at this point the wall is 1.1m above the int. ground level and 2.4m above ext. ground level, which continues to drop steeply. At the NE angle there is a roughly circular tower (TS081-041003-). The base of the tower is probably built around bedrock, while appearing higher externally (6m H), internally it is two stories high (5m H). The tower was keyed into the existing bawn wall. It was entered from the SW at both ground and first-floor level. At ground-floor level there are three embrasures for musket-loops facing NE, E and SE. A series of small put-logs (c.0.2m in diam.) held the wooden timbers for the first floor. At first-floor level there are five embrasures for musket-loops, facing NW, N, NE, E and SE.

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 13 January 2014

References

Simington, R.C. (ed.) 1931 The Civil survey, AD 1654-1656. Vol I: county of Tipperary: eastern and southern baronies. Dublin. Irish Manuscripts Commission.