Castle in Ruins

On a very gentle S-facing pasture slope, overlooking a possible deserted medieval settlement site (KD008-008002-), with a medieval church (KD008-009----) and graveyard (KD008-009002-) some 350m away from the castle, to the SSE. Only the E-angle of a very poorly preserved, two-storied structure survives and comprises the SE wall (L 7m; wall T 1.22m) and a very short length of the NE wall (L 1.5m), together with a small rectangular corner tower (dims. L 2.65m E-W; Wth 2m) which projects SE from the SW end of the SE wall and which may be a later addition. There is a slight base-batter on the SE wall, but not on the corner tower. The walls are built of randomly coursed limestone blocks facing a rubble core of very angular, small stones in a dense mortar which contains numerous pebble, gravel and slate inclusions. Traces of a heavy, concrete-like render survive in patches. An irregular ope (Wth 1.8m) to E of centre in the SE wall is probably the remains of a robbed-out doorway. The inner faces of both walls carry the scar-lines of a robbed-out vault which was orientated NE-SW and covered the ground floor, and which may have carried a loft under it's arch. The corner tower contains a chimney flue in the SE wall, the base of which is robbed-out at ground-floor level, but which rises into first-floor level to run behind a second flue whose base flares out to NE and SW to accommodate a robbed-out fireplace. The flues contain some red brick. Traces of a probable bawn (KD008-008003-) are visible immediately to the SE. Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy Date of upload: 10 June 2011

Built in the 13th or 14th century, Castle in Ruins, Ardkill was likely held by a local Gaelic noble family. Its importance lies in its association with a nearby medieval church and deserted settlement, reflecting the religious and social landscape of rural medieval Ireland.