Mellisson Castle)

In grassland, atop natural rock outcrop on the N facing slope of the Slieveardagh Hills with panoramic views from W through N to E and higher ground to the S. A church (TS048-026002-) lies 100m to the SW. A tower house (TS048-026001-) and bawn are situated on the W side of a public road with quarries opposite on the E side of the road. The Down Survey map (1655-6) illustrated a castle, church and 2 dwellings one of which may be located across the road from the castle. It is described in the Civil survey (1654-6) as the 'castle and bawne of Moylessane inhabited' and the proprietor in 1640 is listed as Pierce Croake (Simington 1931, vol. 1, 127). It was formerly the residence of the Cantwells who resided here until the 17th century (White, 1892, 104). In 1532 John Cantwell, Lord of Mellisson died and was buried in Kilcooley Abbey (McCormack 1989, 31-7). A possible bawn wall (Wall T 0.5m; H 1.3m) returns off the circular stair tower at the SW angle of the rectangular tower house in a westerly direction towards the church. It is also possible that this wall is associated with a ruinous 18th century house to the NW. The bawn wall appears to have run S parallel to the modern road. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 26 August 2011

Mellisson Castle is a 16th-century tower house built by the O'Kelly family, a prominent Gaelic Irish dynasty in the area. It is important as a surviving example of early modern defensive architecture in the Slieveardagh region and reflects the historical presence and influence of the O'Kellys in west Leinster.