What is recorded here

Kilgawny Castle vanished before it was properly named, leaving only a marker on a 1655 survey and a claim by Theobald Dalton in 1641. It joined Piercetown as one of two local strongholds, yet evaded every later map and human memory. The land may still hide its bones beneath ordinary grass, waiting for someone to stop asking permission and start listening.

The precise location of Kilgawny Castle has not been identified. The castle is depicted on the 1655-9 Down Survey map of Piercetown parish (NLI, MS 723-4). The terrier of the 1654-7 Down Survey map of Piercetowne parish recorded that 'The Improvements are on Culgany [Kilgawny] & Piercetowne (WM017-011----) on each a Castle' (NLI, MS 723-4). In 1641 Theobald Dalton, an Irish papist is listed as the owner of the lands of Culgany (ibid.). Kilgawny Castle is not depicted on any edition of the OS 6-inch maps. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 5 October 2016

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