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Castlemore Moat

Castle, motte and bailey

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

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What is recorded here

The following description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Carlow' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1993). Large steep-sided, flat-topped mound (H 9m; summit diam. c. 20m) enclosed by large fosse (D at SW c. 5m; Wth 4m). Traces of approximately square bailey (dims. c. 32m x 32m; H at N c. 2m) outside fosse at NW. Granite pillar H c. 1.7m with double-ended Latin cross in relief found nearby, re-erected on summit of motte. Constructed in 1181, according to Giraldus Cambrensis. (Bradley 1989, 27)

From the National Monuments Service (Archaeological Survey of Ireland) record CW008-033001

Places near here

Photo credits
  • Mike Searle, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
  • National Inventory of Architectural Heritage
  • Smirkybec, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
  • liam murphy, Geograph · Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0
  • Willow, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.5
  • Jean-Pol GRANDMONT, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0
  • liam murphy, Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0
  • Elliot Tucker, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Castlemore HouseCountry house · 1112 yd

Explorer Tom Castlemore House burnt down in 1975 and just decided to stay as a ruin because it liked the aesthetic. It's got crenellations that are now mostly decorative, like a hat with no head. Practise your Irish on it, it won't correct you.

Hardymount HouseHouse · 1413 yd

Explorer Tom Hardymount House is a Regency stunner from around 1820. Giant pilasters, bowed ends, and original fittings inside? It’s basically a time machine. Take a peek if you can find the door, but don’t get too cozy.

forge/smithy1.1 mi

Explorer Tom Forge or smithy in Castlemore has swapped hammers for houseplants since the nineties. Those crow-stepped gables are just architectural eye-rolls at modern taste. Give it a pat on the way past, it’s had a long life.

Ladys Well (covered)Holy well · 1.3 mi

Explorer Tom Ladys Well in Tullowphelim is neatly kept with a concrete surround, looking very tidy for a place that used to host big events. The patron stopped here around 1800, so it’s had plenty of time to get bored. Tell it a joke, it's been a long time since anyone did.

CastleCastle, motte · 1.6 mi

Explorer Tom Castle in Tullowphelim gave up for Lent and disappeared entirely. Hugh de Lacey built it, but he clearly didn’t stick around to finish. A good place to forget your phone for ten minutes.

Graveyard1.9 mi

Explorer Tom Graveyard in Ardristan is square-shaped and has a church right in the middle, like it's trying to hold everything together. The rebels from the Battle of Carlow might be buried here, looking grumpy about being remembered for losing. Bring a camera and your most suspicious face, they love that energy.

Coppenagh CastleCastle, tower house · 2.0 mi

Explorer Tom Coppenagh Castle in Carlow is a tower house with a barrel vault that looks like it’s mid-sneeze. It’s got granite boulders doing their best impression of elegance. Ideal for a moody photo you'll pretend wasn't posed.

European ash2.1 mi

Explorer Tom European ash tree has a name that sounds like a bad hair dye brand called Fraxinus Excelsior. I think 'ash' really means 'sad but stylish' in ancient tree language. Go on, count the windows and get it wrong like I did for fun.

Kilmurry Church (in ruins), GraveyardChurch · 3.2 mi

Explorer Tom Kilmurry Church, Graveyard in Ballynunnery is basically a rectangular box that someone forgot to finish decorating. It’s got dimensions written down to two decimal places, which is insane for a ruin. Go before the tourists find out.

Cork oak4.3 mi

Explorer Tom Cork oak tree is basically a giant sponge wearing a suit and tie. If it were a person at a wedding, it would be the uncle who drinks too much champagne. Tell it a joke, it’s been a long time since anyone did and it needs the laugh.

Church (in ruins), GraveyardChurch · 4.7 mi

Explorer Tom Church, Graveyard in Templepeter is a simple rectangular structure made of large granite boulders that aren’t cored, so they’re just hanging out. It’s aligned East-West, which means it’s facing the right way for no reason. Toast it with a cup of tea and move on to the next.

Brownshill Portal TombVisitor information · 4.8 mi

Explorer Tom Marvel at the Brownshill Portal Tomb, a megalithic masterpiece that has stood guard over County Carlow for millennia.

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