Castle - motte and bailey

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated atop low rise of ground with church (WM002-028---) and graveyard (WM002-028001-) 135m to SE. Good views of the surrounding countryside in all directions. Anglo-Norman motte and bailey castle known as the castle of Magh-Breacruighe [Caislén Moighe Brecroige/Moybrekry] belonging to John de La Mare [Delamarr/Delamer]. In 1295 the castle was, ‘razed to the ground by Jeffrey O’Ferrall’ (AFM, 465). O’Donovan incorrectly suggested that the castle (LF023-076----) in the townland of Barry, Co. Longford may have been the castle of Magh Breacruighe. In 1297 the castle of ‘Moybrekry’ in Co. Westmeath was in the possession of John de La Mare (Cal. justic. rolls, Ire. Edw. I, 78). In 1455 ‘Caislen-na-Sraide’ [castle of the street] was demolished by O’Farrell; and the son of Mac Herbert was slain by him while taking the castle’ (AFM, 995). It is not clear if this is a reference to a stone castle located on the summit of the motte and bailey castle or to a second castle (WM002-029----) at a different location in the village of Street which has not been precisely identified. In 1464 the Annals recorded that the ‘Sraid of Moybrecray [was] burnt by Baron Delvna, both churches and houses, and many preying and burning committed betwixt them, to witt, the Nugents and Herberts’ (AFM, 1036).
Present remains consist of a tree-covered high steep-sided mound or motte (H 7m; base diam. c. 42m) the base of which is enclosed by a fosse (Wth 5m-7.5m; ext. D 0.7-1.1m) with remains of a much degraded rectangular-shaped bailey (dims. C. 30m NE-SW; 21.5m NW-SE) visible as a low rise of ground defined by a scarp (H 0.5-1m) to SE. The top of the motte (diam. 14m) has a slightly concave shape. There is evidence of external stone facing visible along the steep sided faces of the motte which is visible in places where mortared stone can be seen protruding from the face of the motte. There is also evidence of mortared stone protruding from the perimeter of the summit of the motte which is suggestive of an enclosing wall or structure standing on top of the motte.

See attached profile of monument surveyed and drawn by the ASI.

Compiled by: Caimin O’Brien

Date of upload: 16 June 2015

References

Cal. justic. rolls, Ire. Edw. I - Calendar of the justiciary rolls, or proceedings in the court of the justiciar of Ireland preserved in the Public Record Office of Ireland. 1: 23-31 Edw. I, 1295-1307; 2: 33-35 Edw. I, 1305-7, ed. J. Mills (2 vols., Dublin, 1905, 1914)

AFM - Annála ríoghachta Éireann: Annals of the kingdom of Ireland by the Four Masters from the earliest period to the year 1616, ed. and trans. J. O'Donovan (7 vols., Dublin, 1851; reprint Dublin 1990, de Búrca Rare Books.)