Castle

Situated in a low-lying paddock S of the church at Kilsallaghan (DU011-011001-). This castle was the scene of a major engagement between the Royalists led by Lieut. General Byrne and the Parliamentarians under Sir Charles Coote in 1642 (D'Alton 1838, 391-4; Joyce 1890, 40-41; Clinton 2005, 30). Only the W end of the tower house survives (L 3.66m), incorporating a SW turret and an ivy covered NW stair turret with a portion of the ground floor. It is built of squared blocks with roughly dressed quoins and a base- batter. The SW turret (int. dims. L 2.65m; Wth 2.3m; H 2.6m) is vaulted with wickerwork centering and is entered through a short passage. The S wall extends E (T. 0.97m). At the eastern extremity of the wall are what was described in 1897 as the remains of a 'small tower or very strong doorway'. Two windows were then in evidence, the large arched example is still extant. There is a large wall-press on the NW side. The interior is lit by a slit ope in the W wall. The main chamber was vaulted with a segmental arched opening in S wall and has a featureless opening in W wall. There are traces of springing for an arch on the W wall. The remains of the stairwell in the NW turret is lit by slit opes. The recessed west wall has been re-pointed on the exterior and the window opening is on the verge of collapse. . Ivy growth and wash out of mortar an issue. The owner believes the harsh winter of 2010 had resulted in some collapse. A 19th account of the towerhouse describes a three storey building with at least three windows in evidence in the W wall; the first floor had a circular chamber with wall presses in the N and S wall and two large windows in the N and E walls (Clinton, M.2005, 30). Today, the ground falls away sharply W (5m) of the tower indicating the possible line of a former bawn. There is an associated field system W of the tower house defined by drains and scarped banks. Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Updated by: Christine Baker Date of upload: 02 January 2015

Built during the 17th century, Castlefarm was held by Royalist forces led by Lieut. General Byrne during the Irish Confederate Wars. It is remembered for a significant battle against Parliamentarian troops under Sir Charles Coote in 1650, marking a key event in the Confederate struggle during the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland.