What is recorded here

Castle, motte and bailey in Ballysheehan (ballysheehan Par.) stands at the south end of a gravel ridge, dropping west into marsh and water. Its flat-topped mound still rises three or four metres above the grass, with a faint D-shaped bailey stretching north toward the church and graveyard. The view runs clear in every direction, which is why someone built there: to see, to be seen, and to keep the wet land at a distance.

In grassland on top of a low gravel ridge running N-S at with good views in all directions, deserted medieval village (TS053-042003-) 200m to NE, fortified church (TS053-042001-) 100m to N and graveyard (TS053-042004-) 80m to N and stream 30m to W. The motte is situated at the S end of this ridge which falls naturally to the W down to the stream and low lying wet marshy land. In 1953 the point of an iron spike, fragment of an iron horse-shoe and five sherds of medieval potery were found in the hummocky field near the motte and bailey (NMI Reg. No. 1953:9-15). Small low flat topped conical mound (H 3-4m; top diam. 13m N-S; 8m E-W; base diam 24m N-S; 20m E-W) with possible bailey area to N at base of mound now defined by a slight rise of ground which is barely visible enclosing a D-shaped area between motte and church and graveyard to N. Small quarry at base of motte on N side with possible wall footings of structure or wall running N-S from base of mound at N. No other features visible. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 26 August 2011

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.