What is recorded here

Cloonmealane Castle is a ruined tower house in County Kerry, Ireland. Tradition attributes its construction to the Mac Carthys, though no surviving chamber, doorway or dated event records that claim. The remaining north wall rises four metres above level pasture, its limestone courses catching light from a wide horizon. A diagonal passage and probable garderobe void preserve the shape of a building that once watched the land before disappearing into grass and memory.

In level pasture, on top of a low rise with extensive views in all directions. Only a portion of the N wall (H c. 4m; L 11m; T 1.45m) now stands of the rectangular structure (c. 12m E-W; c. 5m N-S) indicated on the 1846 OS 6-inch map. The wall is built of roughly coursed limestone. The outer face of the wall stands on a stepped footing to compensate for the fall in ground on this side. In the centre of the N wall is a poorly preserved window embrasure with a single flat-headed light. A lintelled passage (Wth 1.08m; L c. 2m) runs diagonally through the NE corner. Towards the E end of the wall there is a rectangular void (1.03m x 0.7m) which is probably the remains of a garderobe shaft. According to Coleman (1908, 152), this is the remains of a castle built by the Mac Carthys. Compiled by: Elizabeth Byrne, Ursula Egan and Sheila Ronan, Archaeological Survey Unit, University College, Cork. Date of upload: 31 January 2011

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