Castle

Situated on top of an E facing ridge overlooking the river Slang. Dundrum Castle is a late 16th-17th century tower house (DU022-023001-) which incorporates part of a 12th-14th-century castle exposed during excavations in 1988-91 (O'Brien 1987, 14; O' Brien 1989, 136-137). Built by Sir John de Clahull c. 1187, the earliest feature exposed is a section of fosse (Wth 7m, D 1.40m) that enclosed the top of the ridge. Finds included Leinster cooking ware, a buckle and a socketed arrowhead. Associated with this moat was a triple-slotted drawbridge with an entrance to a gatehouse extending from the drawbridge to part of the outer wall of the early castle (Wth 2m). Part of a stone-lined watercourse runs under the base of the wall and the shaft of a garderobe was revealed within the wall. (Newman Johnson 2014) Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Updated by: Paul Walsh Revised date of upload: 16 April 2015

Dundrum Castle was originally built by the MacQuillan family in the 12th to 14th century and later rebuilt in the late 16th to 17th century, likely by the MacDonnell family. It is important as a historically significant stronghold in medieval Ulster and as a site that reveals layered architectural history through archaeological excavations.