Castle - motte

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated on high ground with extensive views, particularly over Lough Owel, c. 80m to E. Nugent’s Castle (WM018-023----) lies c. 130m to N and Portloman House c. 200m to NW. Depicted on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map as a roughly oval-shaped tree-planted earthwork. Annotated ‘Mote’ on the revised 1913 ed. OS 25-inch map and depicted as a steep-sided mound which is partially enclosed by a fosse.
Described in 1983 as a high steep-sided flat-topped earthen mound (diam. 20m; approx. H 7m) the base of which is enclosed by a fosse (Wth 4.5m) and external bank. The outer bank rises c. 0.5-1m high above the fosse. The fosse and outer bank are best preserved from SE-SW, although they are visible from SW-N. According to Salter (2004, 158) two fragments of a masonry structure possibly a castle, were visible on the summit of the motte. Earthworks to E of mound visible on aerial photographs may indicate location of a bailey. Monument is visible today as a substantial tree-lined mound enclosed by a fosse, on Digital Globe aerial photography.

Compiled by: Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien

Date of upload: 11 January 2019

References

Salter, M. 2004 The castles of Leinster. Worcestershire. Folly Publications.