Castle (in ruins)

Adjacent to the site of an Augustinian abbey (WA031-040005-) and known as 'McGrath's Castle' with references dating from 1618. It was described by J. O'Donovan c. 1840 (O'Flanagan 1929, 45) as a square building (dims. c. 11.5m E-W; c. 9.5m N-S) of six storeys. Photographs from c. 1900 in the Lawrence collection (NLI, 3597 W.L.) and local collections confirm this and show two vaults with portions of the bawn wall surviving at the roadside. It collapsed in January 1916, and is not visible at ground level. (Bradley et al. 1989, vol. 1, 41-2; Fraher 1994) Bradley, J., Halpin, A. and King, H. (1989) Urban archaeology Survey of Waterford City and County, 2 vols. Unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public Works. Fraher, W. (1994) McGrath's castle, Abbeyside, Dungarvan. Decies, No. 49, 38-44. O'Flanagan, M. (Compiler) (1929) Letters containing information relative to the antiquities of the county of Waterford collected during the progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1841. Typescript. Bray. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Waterford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1999). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled by: Michael Moore. Date of upload: 25th August, 2011.

Built by the McGrath family, likely in the early 17th century, Castle Abbeyside is remembered for its historical association with the local Augustinian abbey and as a notable example of early Irish domestic architecture in the region.