Bawn in Castleforbes Demesne

Associated with a castle (LF008-012001-), the barrel-vaulted remains of which are incorporated into the entrance gateway to ‘Castle Forbes’ house. The wall c. 10m to the N of this gateway may be part of the original bawn associated with the castle (Casey and Rowan 1993, 192). The 1641 depositions record an attack on the castle and bawn by Irish rebels during which all the windows were 'shott in' and people were 'killd some there in the howse & some on the walls, And on the other syde those of the Castle discharged out of the Castle against the Rebells and killd many of them' (TCD, MS 817, fol. 178r). During the siege the people inside the castle were so short of water that they dug ‘a hole 40 foote [c. 12m] deep in the bawne of the Castle & recovered water which refreshed them much’ (ibid.) (see LF008-012007-). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 3rd October 2012

The Bawn in Castleforbes Demesne was associated with a medieval castle, likely built in the 15th or 16th century by the Forbes family, who were prominent landowners in the region. It is remembered for its historical connection to the Forbes estate and the preservation of its vaulted remains within the entrance gateway of Castle Forbes house.