What is recorded here

Moyvannan Castle stands on a slight slope above Lough Ree, its four storeys marked by a 1501 quoin and a spiral stair that still catches light through ogee-headed openings. Feogh O'Kelly lost the place to Irish rebels by 1596, yet a chapel built beside the tower in the 18th century suggests the land kept attracting people who needed shelter, prayer or both. The castle was renovated as a dwelling in the 1980s, continuing its life as a home rather than a ruin.

The castle of Moyvannan had been lost by Feogh O'Kelly to Irish rebels by 1596 (Cronin 1980, 117), and there is a graveslab of William Kelly of Moyvenen in Kiltoom graveyard (RO045-199002-), c. 1km to the N. Situated on a slight NE-facing slope overlooking Lough Ree. Rectangular structure (ext. dims. 8m N-S; 7m E-W) of four storeys with a base-batter and good quoins which was renovated in the 1980s as a dwelling. One quoin has an inscribed date of 1501. The original entrance, now replaced, is on the S side and a spiral stairs with some ogee-headed lights is at the SE angle. Two original double-light rectangular windows and three original rectangular lights are in the W wall. A chapel, now renovated as a dwelling, was added to N of the tower in the 18th century (Nash 1949, 10) when a pointed doorway was inserted into the E wall and other pointed windows were inserted into the tower. The present parapet was probably added at this time. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 24 August 2010

Moyvannan Castle was held by the O'Kelly family in the late 16th century, as evidenced by Feogh O'Kelly's loss of the castle to Irish rebels by 1596. It is remembered for its historical association with the Gaelic aristocracy during the Nine Years' War.

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