Derrin Castle (in Ruins)

In gently undulating countryside. Constructed in the early seventeenth-century its last occupant was traditionall believed to be Dorothy Hedges who died in 1675 (Carrigan 1905, 129). A T-plan single pile, triple bay building (L 11.2m N-S) built of roughly coursed rubble limestone, three storeys high with projecting gable ended chimney stacks at the N and S gables and a projecting stairs tower on the centre of the West wall. Main doorway in centre of E wall and entrance from ground floor into the projecting west tower. Fireplaces in first and second floor level in S wall and in first, second and third floor level in N Wall. Tall diagonal chimney stacks visible on the centre of the N and S gables. It has large splayed flat headed windows (Craig 1982, 134-5). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Laois' (Dublin Stationery Office, 1995) compiled by P. David Sweetman, Olive Alcock and Bernie Moran. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 17 December 2007