Castle - Anglo-Norman masonry castle

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated on the landward side of a coastal promontory (dims. c. 60m E-W; c. 40m N-S) jutting E into Dunmore Bay between Dunmore Strand to the N and Ladies Cove to the S. This, or the promontory fort (WA027-035001-), c. 800m to the S, could be the caput of the manor of Dunmore, granted to Heverbricht by Henry II and confirmed by King John in 1203, after which it is frequently mentioned. By the early 14th century much of the manor was owned by the de Boitler and Le Flemming families, the latter becomming embroiled with Robert de Stapleton, the sheriff of Waterford, over possession, (Westropp 1914-16, 212-13). It is described as the 'stump of a ruined castle' and the property of Lord Power of Curraghmore (WA08-005001-) c. 1640 (Simington 1942, 158).
This is a circular structure (ext. diam. 10.5m; int. diam. 5.3m) surviving to the first floor (H 7.7m), with evidence of a base-batter (H 1.35m) NE-E. The outer stonework is dressed back NW-N to accommodate a later building. A rebuilt entrance at E, with part of the original S door-jamb, leads to a lobby protected by a murder-hole with a guardroom to the S. A round-headed doorway leads to the ground floor which has three plank-centered, segmental-arched embrasures with single lights, one of which is round-headed. A double garderobe chute exits the wall at SSE and mural stairs lead from the lobby to the upper floors. A pointed doorway leads to the first floor which was supported on a rebate and has four plank-centered, segmental-arched embrasures with single lights (all now partly destroyed).
Casey (2001, 136) noted that the nature of the promontory and the location of the castle on it suggested that it may have been the site of an earlier promontory fort. However, apart from traces of a bank around the perimeter and faint surface undulations, there was not enough evidence to accept it as the remains of promontory fort.

Simington, R. C. (ed.) (1942) The Civil Survey AD 1654-1656, vi, the County of Waterford. Irish Manuscripts Commission. Dublin.
Westropp, T. J. (1914-16) Fortiified headlands and castles on the south coast of Munster. PRIA C vol. 32, 188-227.

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Waterford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1999). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Updated by: Olive Alcock

Date of revised upload: 9 January 2015

References

Casey, M. 2001 The coastal promontory forts of Ireland: interim report for the Heritage Council. Unpublished specialist report, National Monuments Service, Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.