Kilteel Castle

Part of a National Monument (No. 275), abutting the SW gable wall of a tower house (KD020-006----) on the W side of a possible bawn (KD020-006002-). A three-storied, rectangular structure (ext. dims. L 4.35m NE-SW; Wth 2.55m) comprises a fine, vaulted archway (Wth 2.55m NE-SW) over which a two-storied guard house is roofed by a second vault, with battlements above. It is built of randomly coursed limestone blocks and flags with well-dressed quoins and voussoirs. First-floor level is accessed from the adjoining tower house's spiral stairs via a short flight of steps carried on a small squinch at the junction of the two buildings. This level (int dims. L 3.85m NE-SW; Wth 1.43m) is lit by two loops in opposite walls, looking NW and SE, and has a small garderobe alcove in the SW gable wall. Opposing corbels on the NW and SE walls mark second floor level which was accessed through a doorway from the tower house, and the NW and SE walls each contain a loop. The wall-walk was also accessed from the adjoining tower house. In 2005, an archaeological assessment (Licence No. 05E0681: 'Excavations 2005' 2008, (No. 761) 186) and subsequent monitoring of topsoil removal in 2006 (Licence No. 06E2475, C159: 'Excavations 2006' 2009, (No. 965) 246) at a single-house development c. 80m SW of the monument uncovered some 20 sherds of pottery, 14 of which were medieval date in date, including Leinster cooking ware, Dublin-type coarse ware and Dublin-type fine ware, with the remainder being post-medieval in date. (Killanin and Duignan 1967, 408; Harbison 1975, 123) Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy Date of upload: 10 June 2011