What is recorded here

Castle, motte in Kilsheelan stands at the Clonmel-Waterford road junction, guarding the River Suir fording point where William de Burgh received the manor from Henry II. Its compact pudding-bowl shape rises six metres above the bank, steepest on the south and west while the north and east have slipped into the earth. A grotto cut into the northwest face in 1946 and a shallow hollow on the crest hint that the mound has always been more than a military marker, perhaps a place for prayer, memory or quiet observation of the water below.

At the junction of the main Clonmel-Waterford road and Kilsheelan Bridge, on the N bank of the River Suir, guarding the fording point. The manor of Kilsheelan was granted to William de Burgh by Henry II (1154-1189) (Power 1989, 15), therefore it is likely that the motte was erected in the late twelfth century. A compact, pudding-bowl shaped motte (diam. c. 7.7m at crest; H c. 6m), grass-covered and well maintained. It is steepest on the S and W sides, the N and E sectors having slipped. According to Power (1989, 15) there was an accompanying bailey but there is no surviving evidence of this or any enclosing earthwork. The N and W sides of the motte are enclosed by a low stone wall. In 1946 a grotto was inserted in the NW face. An area 8m x 5m and 3.4m deep was excavated out to facilitate its construction. There is also a small hollowed out area (dims. 4.4m N-S; 6.1m E-W; D 1m) on the top of the motte in the SE. (Farrelly and FitzPatrick 1993). Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 26 August 2011

Built by William de Burgh in the late 12th century, following his grant of the manor of Kilsheelan from King Henry II. The castle was strategically important for controlling river crossings and trade along the River Suir.

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