Bawn

The National Monuments Service's description

On an flat island (c. 240m N-S x c. 95m E-W) in the middle of the River Suir, under pasture. The Civil Survey (1654-5) refers to 'two thatcht houses with chemnyes and a Bawne about them, some cabbins and an orchard. The River Sewer runeth by the sd lands' in the 'colpe of Cloghcully' under the proprietorship of 'Edmond Butler of Cloghcully Esqr & his ffather Thomas Lord Barron of Cahyr Irish Papists' (Simington 1931, vol.1, 342). Though this reference may be associated with Clocully Castle, 250m to the NE, there is definite evidence of a bawn on the island. An roughly diamond shaped bawn (dims. 200m NW-SE; 90m NE-SW) is clearly visible as a cropmark on an aerial photograph taken in May 1977 (GSI S. 716/15). An internal rectangular structure, presumably a house (TS088-023002-), is located in the N apex, the NW angle of the bawn forming two sides of the structure. The bawn wall runs to a point at the most south-easterly portion of the island where there appears to be a circular turret. None of these features are visible above ground. This island is subject to flooding.

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 02 December 2013

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.