Castle - unclassified

The National Monuments Service's description

On a low natural rise of ground now incorporated into a post-1700 farmyard. On the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map the castle is depicted as an L-shaped freestanding building located a few metres to the S of a small garden plot or farmyard. On this map the castle is depicted as an upstanding structure with N end of castle aligned E-W with return running N-S off NW angle. On the 1910 ed. OS 25-inch map the castle is shown as a ruinous building the N portion of which is depicted an upstanding structure incorporated into a large farmyard, the S wing off the NW angle is depicted as an outlined structure projecting beyond the S wall of the farmyard boundary. Only two sections of the castle walls remain upstanding, the poor condition of the surviving remains makes it difficult to be certain about the original layout or ground plan of the castle. A portion of the W wall (L c. 2m; H c. 3.5m; Wall T 1.1m) survives covered in ivy and appears to be featureless. A section of the N wall (L c. 1m; H 2m) survives upstanding but no features are visible. The grass-covered footings of a wall (L c. 8m) can be seen running W off the SW angle of the castle and then returns NW (L c. 9m) where it has been incorporated into a field fence. The field fence running off the SE angle may also incorporate the footings of an earlier wall but it is not possible to be certain. The cartographic evidence would suggest that the wall running off the SW and SE angles are 19th century in date. The castle remains are now large incorporated into a post-1700 farmyard and it is difficult to ascertain the original layout of the medieval castle. The 1655 Down Survey map of Farbill barony depicts Porterstown Castle standing beside a medieval road connecting Mullingar to Dublin (NLI MS 723-4) In 1640 the lands of Porterstown belonged to Thomas Darcy, an Irish papist (NLI MS 723-4). After the Irish Confederate Wars of 1641-53 the forfeited lands of Porterstown were granted to Captain Robert Cooke, and Ensign George Eaton.

Compiled by: Caimin O’Brien

Date of upload: 14 August 2013

References

NLI, MS 723-4 - National Library of Ireland, The parish maps of the Down Survey for the County of Westmeath, attested by W. Petty, in 1659. Copied by Daniel O'Brien. A set of 67 maps with accompanying terriers in two volumes, 1786-7. Dublin.