What is recorded here

Clashagad Lower stands as a vanished tower house on a natural hillock in County Offaly, its rectangular footings and possible north-west corner tower still marking the ground above a northern stream. The site likely served a late medieval household, using the hill’s slope for defence while earthworks to the south may have enclosed a working bawn. Whatever life moved within those walls has dissolved, leaving only the ghost of a building that watched the water and waited for people who are no longer named.

Situated on top of a natural hillock in undulating countryside overlooking stream immediately to the N. Only the wall footings survive of a rectangular building (ext. dims. 13.3m N-S; 17.3m E-W; wall T 1.5m approx.) with possible corner tower (7m N-S; 5m E-W) at NW angle and earthworks immediately to the S which may indicate possible bawn area (OF045-040002-). The castle is naturally protected at N by the natural slope of the hill with possible traces of a defensive fosse at E and W. Surface remains are inadequate to classify site as a medieval building although the remains have the appearance of a late medieval tower house with bawn built on top of a natural hillock. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 23 May 2011

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