Gortnacushlaun

Marked similarly on the 1837 and 1914 eds of the OS 6-inch map, and situated on a level landscape overlooking the S-N Owennaforeesha river to the W. In 1635 the castle of Bellanagare was owned by Ellinor viscount Dillon, the widow of Theobold Dillon (O'Sullivan W. 1958, 6). Described as a large chimney in the remains of a wall (L c. 3.5m; T c. 2.4m) (O'Flanagan 1931, vol. 1, 74; OS Name Books). A cairn of building rubble, locally described as containing brick, was removed c. 1980, and nothing is now visible at ground level. The architectural fragments (RO015-048003-) at Bellanagare Castle may be from here. Archaeological testing (01E0072) failed to reveal any associated features (Read 2003a, 354), and archaeological testing (08E0312) c. 160m to the WSW on the other side of the stream failed to produce any related archaeological material (Purcell 2011b). Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 20th June 2011

Bellanagare Castle, also known as Gortnacushlaun, was held by Ellinor Viscount Dillon in 1635 and is notable for its continuity in mapping from the 1837 and 1914 Ordnance Survey maps, indicating its enduring presence in the landscape. Its strategic position overlooking the Owennaforeesha river suggests it may have had defensive or regional significance.