Kilgainy Castle (in ruins) — Report the wrong picture

What is recorded here

Kilgainy Castle is a ruined tower house at the western end of a low ridge in County Waterford, probably built in the 17th century. Thomas Prendergast owned it in 1640, and the Down Survey marked it as decayed by 1656. Its thin walls, broken eastern edge and faint stair turret suggest a small defensive home rather than a grand palace.

Situted at the W end of a low E-W ridge. Marked as a 'decayed castle' on the Down Survey (1655-6) map, it was owned by Thomas Prendergast in 1640 (Simington 1942, 101). Rectangular structure (int. dims. 7.15m E-W; 5.5m N-S) surviving to a height of 1.5-3m, except the E wall which is destroyed. A semicircular protrusion at the E end of the S wall originally contained the newel stairs. The walls are thin (Wth 0.35-0.5m) and there is one light in the W wall. The foundations of internal walls, and an oven in the SW angle, are secondary. There is no evidence of an entrance or vaulting. It is probably 17th century in date. Simington, R. C. (ed.) (1942) The Civil Survey AD 1654-1656, vi, the County of Waterford. Irish Manuscripts Commission. Dublin. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Waterford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1999). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 23 December 2008

Thomas Prendergast owned Kilgainy Castle in 1640, and it was noted as a 'decayed castle' on the Down Survey map of 1655–6. Its remains are important as a historical marker of 17th-century landholding and conflict in the region.

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