What is recorded here

Oldtown Castle stands as a grass-covered rectangular ruin on a western slope in County Westmeath, its low walls enclosing collapsed rubble and faint outlines of adjoining buildings. The structure appears on a 1913 map as a doomed shadow in pasture, suggesting a busy household reduced to earthworks and memory. Cows may still walk the larger enclosures that extend from the castle, unaware they graze the remains of a tower house that once commanded the land.

Situated on W facing slope of a low rise, in pasture. Depicted as a rectangular-shaped structure and annotated ‘Oldtown Castle (in Ruins)’ on the 1913 ed. OS 25-inch map. Castle described in 1978 as a rectangular-shaped area (dims. 8m NW-SE; 6m NE-SW) defined by low grass-covered walls (H 2-2.5m), the interior is partly filled with collapsed rubble. There are low banks and wall footings in the immediate vicinity, some of which form the outlines of low buildings adjoining the castle. Larger enclosures extend out from the castle on all sides. These earthworks are clearly visible on oblique aerial photographs (CUCAP AOZ005/006/AYR022) taken 12/07/1966 and 11/07/1969 respectively Compiled by Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien. Date of upload: 10 September 2019

Oldtown Castle was likely built during the late medieval period, possibly by a local Gaelic or Anglo-Irish lord, though specific builders remain unidentified. It is remembered as a historical site reflecting the regional castle-building traditions and landholding patterns of early modern Ireland.

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.