Castle (in ruins)

Situated within the graveyard (WI005-070005-), on the edge of Blessington Reservoir and being undermined by periodic rises in the water level. A four-storey tower house of uncoursed rubble with dressed granite quoins (int. dims. 4.65m E-W x 5.05m N-S; max. H 8m), of which only the N and W walls survive. Wooden floors were supported on granite corbels. There is a two-centred arch over the doorway in the W wall, lintelled windows at first- and third-floor level, and a round-arched window at second-floor level. Described in the OS Letters (O'Flanagan 1928, 105) as being in ruins. Fitzgerald (1913-16, 395-6) noted a stairs in the SE corner. Part of the medieval borough of Burgage More (WI005-070----). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wicklow' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 17 December 2008

Burgage More Castle was built in the late 15th or early 16th century by the Fitzgerald family, the Earls of Kildare, as part of their extensive network of defensive and administrative buildings in the region. It is remembered for its strategic location and as an example of medieval tower house architecture in Ireland.