
What is recorded here
May have been an O'Carroll castle that is described in the 1605 Inquisition post mortem of Mulrony McTeig O'Carroll as 'de Castr' Vill' et Campis de Castleton Keneleage [Castletown]' (Loeber 1998, 312). Only the bawn (OF038-045002-) survives of what appears to be an early medieval castle of possible thirteenth century date. The bawn wall encloses a square-shaped area that once provided protection for a castle building now levelled. Only the south and east walls of the bawn are still upstanding. The base batter of the bawn wall has been robbed out to show that the walls were built on top of a mud or earthen bank that formed the inner core of the base batter. The wall was then built on top of and encapsulated the earthen bank in a manner similar to Ballykilmurry castle. This construction feature has been noted at other thirteenth century castles such as at Shrule castle, Co. Mayo and at Ballylusky, Co. Tipperary.
Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien.
Date of upload: 23 May 2011
Castletown was likely held by the O'Carroll family in the early 17th century, as noted in the 1605 Inquisition post mortem of Mulrony McTeig O'Carroll. It is remembered as part of the historical estate holdings of this prominent Gaelic family in the region.
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
Castletown Housefarm house · 26 yd
farm housefarm house · 1622 yd
Ballymooney Castle in RuinsHouse, fortified house · 1.0 mi
Fulacht fia in OakleyparkFulacht fia · 1.1 mi
Big WoodWood · 1.4 mi
Cave (Site of)Man-made underground passage · 1.4 mi
HawthornHawthorn · 1.6 mi
Saint Kieran's WellSpring · 1.8 mi
James Franklin FullerMemorial · 3.8 mi
Waterfall PointViewpoint · 3.8 miOther information
Photo: Credit not shown in the picture search · Rights wording not checked; contact us if this picture should be removed