Dungarvan

Situated on a low promontory on the W bank of the Colligan estuary, where the river narrows before entering Dungarvan Harbour. Dungarvan existed by 1175 when it became a Royal town, although it is possibly of Viking origin since there are references to Ostmen as late as 1250 (Curtis 1929-31, 14). The construction of the castle (WA031-040001-) had begun by 1215 and the Fitzgeralds (Earls of Desmond) were granted custody of it from 1260, although title to the town was disputed in the 14th century when the town went into decline. In 1463 a new grant of the town was made to the Earl of Desmond, with a daily market, the customs from which were spent on the town walls which were repaired or possibly built at this time (Berry 1914, 55-9). In the 16th century title to the town was again disputed between the Earl of Desmond and Piers Butler, Earl of Ossory, and in 1535 James Butler, with the Lord Deputy, besieged and captured Dungarvan. It was ruled directly by the Crown from 1543 onwards. Dungarvan received a Charter of Incorporation from James I in 1611 which established it as a parliamentary borough and in 1618 it was bought by Sir Richard Boyle, Earl of Cork. The town was captured by the Confederates in 1642 and regained later that year by William St Leger. Dungarvan was recaptured and held by the Confederates again in 1645, until it was besieged and captured by Cromwell's forces in 1649. (Bradley et al. 1989, vol. 1, 7-51) The town defences are centred on the 13th-century castle and formed a square (dims. c. 250m N-S; c. 230m E-W) extending S from the castle along the seafront to Jacknell St., W to St Augustine St., N to the seafront and E to the castle (Fraher 1995). Excavations at six points along the defences (WA031-040010-) confirm the line of the walls, and provide evidence of a fosse. The walls appear to be late 16th century or 17th century in date, and do not survive above ground level. There are two medieval houses, (WA031-040002-) on Castle St. and (WA031-040003-) on Church St., and the late 17th-century tholsel (WA031-040009-) is built on the site of the medieval market-house. The remains of St Mary's parish church (WA031-040004-) are outside the town wall at S, and a plaque (WA031-040013-) is incorporated in the wall of a house on Church St. Archaeological excavations within the town have recorded traces of medieval houses and other activity, but much of the stratigraphy in the enclosed area was robbed for clay. Archaeological remains in the suburb of Abbeyside, to the E across the Colligan estuary (Wth c. 90-250m), consist of the Augustinian abbey (WA031-040005-) and the site of a tower house (WA031-040006-). About 1.2km W of the castle is the motte on Gallows Hill (WA031-067----). (Bradley et al. 1989, vol. 1, 7-52) Berry, H. F. (ed.) (1914) Statute rolls of the parliament of Ireland, King Henry IV. Dublin. Bradley, J., Halpin, A. and King, H. (1989) Urban archaeology Survey of Waterford City and County, 2 vols. Unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public Works. Curtis, E. (1929-31) Sheriff's accounts of the house of Dungarvan, Twescard in Ulster and of County Waterford, 1261-63. PRIA 39C, 1-17. Fraher, W. (1995) Dungarvan's town walls, in C. Power (ed.) Excavations in Dungarvan; a medieval town wall. Tipp. Hist. Jour. 8, 183-191.