What is recorded here
Kilcullen kept several ruined castles and stone houses within its medieval borough, yet the main fort vanished before 1607. Holy Trinity, Dublin owned one chambered tower while another belonged to the crown, creating a small cluster of competing stones beside the road. Men may have argued over boundaries, hidden loot or simply forgotten which wall belonged to whom. The castle is not lost because it never existed; it is lost because nobody recorded which room survived the demolition.
According to Bradley et al. (1986 vol. 4, 388-9), the Civil Survey (1654) records the presence at Kilcullen of ‘severall ruined Castles and Stone houses.’ They formed part of the medieval borough here (KD028-049----). A 1540 extent of Great Connell (KD023-016----) includes a ‘fortilage’ at Kilcullen, which was described in 1607 as ‘a castle or fort, almost demolished’ its precise location is unknown. A second castle (KD028-049007-) belonged to Holy Trinity, Dublin.
Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy
Date of upload: 17 May 2013
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
Ecclesiastical site in OldkilcullenEcclesiastical site · 153 yd
Stone CrossesCross, High cross · 205 yd
Church in Moortown (ballysax East Ed)Church · 1.2 mi
Castle in RuinsCastle, tower house · 1.4 mi
Castlefish (in Ruins)Castle, unclassified · 1.5 mi
Coillte ForestForest · 1.6 mi
New Abbey WoodsWood · 2.0 mi