What is recorded here
Bremore castle stands beside a narrow lane and the sea, but its deepest shadow fell on a slate sundial buried in the earth. The dial may have remained unfinished when it broke or was discarded, leaving time itself incomplete at the edge of the field. It is not easy to imagine a room bright enough to need such a marker, yet the possibility suggests more life around the castle than stone alone records.
Pre-development investigations in 2001 by Finola O'Carroll under licence No. 01E0370 identified part of a field system adjacent to Bremore castle (DU002-002002-) along with a slate sundial. The results of this excavation was summarised as follows; 'Excavation of an area adjacent to the site of Bremore Castle commenced in April 2001 in advance of a large-scale housing development to the north of a medieval complex. The site consists of a large open field covering approximately 4.5ha, the eastern quarter of which is to remain as parkland. The castle lies immediately to the south, surrounded by a number of modern farm buildings, and is currently being restored. The modern N1 road borders the field to the west, and a lane running from this road to the castle yard forms the field’s southern boundary. The sea lies 300m to the east.
Closer to the castle a pit was excavated, contemporary with the cobbling and containing a large amount of late medieval pottery. A second pit excavated adjacent to the southern ditch also contained a large quantity of medieval pottery and a handsome slate sundial, possibly unfinished, of late medieval date. The possible footprint of a small structure, of either medieval or early post-medieval date, was also exposed in the vicinity, between these two pits' (www.excavations.ie 2001:324).
See attached photograph of sundial courtesy of M.J. Harley (https://www.sundials-ireland.com/amedieval/medbremore.htm)
Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien
Date of upload: 27 May 2022
The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.
- What survives
- Recorded monument
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