What is recorded here

Bawn in Bellanacargy is a lost castle where an O'Reilly family defended a rocky plateau above the Annalee River during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Its rectangular courtyard, corner towers and cut ditches have vanished, leaving only a story that Cromwell finally destroyed it. The river still flows past the hidden stones, carrying the shape of that forgotten stronghold into the water.

An O'Reilly castle built in the 16th century, reoccupied in the 17th century and according to legend finally destroyed by Cromwell (ITA Survey 1942). Also known as Castle Carrick, it was formerly situated on a low plateau of rock on S bank of Annalee River. A keep once stood here on a mound (H 1.8m) and was surrounded by a roughly rectangular bawn (53m x 32m) with projecting towers at SE and SW corners on landward side. Rock-cut fosses featured on its E (Wth c. 4.2m) and W (Wth c. 5.1m) sides and a narrower and more shallow fosse on S side, where entrance is likely to have been. Bawn rose c. 1.6m above fosses and level of river. No visible remains at ground level. (Davies 1947a, 99-100) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cavan' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1995). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 13 April, 2016

The Bawn in Bellanacargy was built by the O'Reilly family in the 16th century and reoccupied in the 17th century; it is remembered for its association with the O'Reillys and its eventual destruction, traditionally attributed to Cromwellian forces.

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