
What is recorded here
National Monument in state ownership No. 491. Situated on an E-facing slope overlooking the River Liffey. Rectangular three-storey tower house with a projecting stair turret at the NE angle. It originally had a structure attached at the W side, where the springing of a barrel vault is visible. A doorway above the present entrance gave access from the original building to the later addition. Another barrel vault roofs the third floor in the surviving portion. Ascent to the first floor appears to have been by stairs in the W structure. This floor level has a large fireplace, decorative mouldings on the windows, and a garderobe with a chute built into the wall thickness of the stair turret. The site of another castle (WI005-032----) is indicated on the OS 6-inch map 300m to the E.
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
This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 149/1940).
Built in the late 15th or early 16th century, Threecastles is a well-preserved tower house that reflects the defensive and domestic architecture of the late medieval period in Ireland. Its importance lies in its structural integrity and its status as a National Monument, offering insight into regional building practices and landholding patterns of the time.
The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.
- What survives
- Recorded monument
Places near here
Enclosure in CrosscoolharbourEnclosure · 971 yd
Site of CastleCastle, unclassified · 1171 yd
Catholic Church of Our Lady of Mercypresbytery/parochial/curate's house · 1.4 mi
Church in Kilbride (talbotstown Lower By.)Church · 1.5 mi
Rock WoodForest · 2.0 mi
Dame Ninette de ValoisMemorial · 2.0 mi
Blessington DemesneWood · 2.3 mi
Lacken – Mass Path LoopWalking route · 2.6 mi
Castle (in ruins)Castle, tower house · 2.9 mi
Sorrel HillMountain / peak · 3.0 miOther information
Photo: Hamish Bain · CC BY-SA 2.0