What is recorded here

A substantial castle stood centrally in Ballydaniel when the Down Survey mapped Crannagh in 1655-6, yet no precise marker remains to show where its walls rose. Thomas Rooth held the land in 1640, and recent earthworks with building traces and a possible bawn may reveal the lost structure. The terrier misnamed the place Killydonnell, adding to the confusion. Whatever rooms or defences existed there have surrendered their shape to soil and time, leaving only a shadow on an old map and a ridge in the ground.

The Down Survey (1655-6) barony map of Crannagh and parish map of ‘Bannogh alias Bannonough’ (Hibernia Regnum, courtesy of Trinity College Dublin), depicts a substantial castle roughly centrally placed in the middle of the townland of ‘Ballidonell’ which corresponds to the modern townland of Ballydaniel. In the accompanying terrier the castle is incorrectly described as being in ‘Killydonnell’. The proprietor in 1640 is listed as Thomas Rooth, Irish Papist. The precise location of this castle within Ballydaniel townland is unknown, however, recently earthworks (KK014-154----) have bee identified in the townland, with indications of buildings and a possible bawn, which may be the location of this castle. See attached extracts: KK013-098----_01 (also KK014-085----) Extract from the Down Survey (1655-6) barony map of Crannagh (Hibernia Regnum, courtesy of Trinity College Dublin) KK013-098----_02 (also KK014-085----) Extract from the Down Survey (1655-6) parish map of ‘Bannough or Bannonough’ in the barony of Crannagh (Hibernia Regnum, courtesy of Trinity College Dublin) Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 1 April 2020

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