Monastic Castle

Situated at the E end of a W-E ridge or spur overlooking the Blackwater River to the N, E and S. A preceptory of the Knights Templar is traditionally thought to have been founded by Raymond le Gros (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 330), but there are no contemporary references to its foundation or subsequent history. The remains consist of an ivy-clad undifferentiated structure (int. dims. 17.75m E-W; 8.1m N-S) of which only the E end of the long walls (Wth 1.1-1.3m; max. H 4m), with evidence of two large windows in each, survive. Abutting the church to the S is a raised platform (dims. 20m E-W; 17m N-S; H 0.4m). A barrel-vaulted building (int. dims. 12.6m N-S; 6.2m E-W int. H 3m) adjacent to the NE corner of the church has three double-splay lights in the E wall and two doorways in the W wall. A light in the N wall is partly blocked by the vault, which must be inserted, and only the W wall, with evidence of a chimney at the first floor, survives partially to first-floor level. Attached to the N wall is a later two-storey building (int. dims. 9.2m N-S; 4.1m E-W), with two windows in its E wall, and a window and doorway in the W wall. No decorative stonework is present anywhere, and there is no brick. The church and vaulted building are probably 13th century in date. (Fitzgerald 1856-7, 289- 91; Power 1898a, 207-9; Buckley 1903; Stalley 1991, 54-5) Buckley, M. J. C. (1903) Rincrew Preceptory, JRSAI 33, 312-13. FitzGerald, E. (1856-7) Proceedings – “Jottings in archaeology”, JRSAI 4, 40-49, 289-91. Gwynn, A. and Hadcock, R. N. (1970) (reprint 1988) Medieval religious houses in Ireland. Irish Academic Press, Dublin. Power, Rev. P. (1898a) Ancient ruined churches of Co. Waterford, WAJ 4, 83-95, 195-219. Stalley, R. (1991) Daniel Grosse (c. 1776-1838): the antiquities pf Ireland. The Irish Architectural Archive. 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. Revised by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 07 October 2011

The Monastic Castle at Rincrew was built by the Knights Templar, traditionally founded by Raymond le Gros, in the 12th or early 13th century. It is significant as a preceptory associated with the military and religious order active during the medieval period in Ireland.