Drombanny Castle (in ruins)

Drombanny Castle also known as Thomas Power's Court (OSNB Cahernarry parish, 333-4) stands on top of a hill with a dovecote (LI013-239---) 100m to ENE. Brown's Stone (LI013-055----) and a castle also called Drombanny Castle (LI013-053----) lies 530m and 800m to the N respectively. Cahernarry church (LI013-062001-) stands 1.4km to the E. Westropp (1906-7, 89) recorded the following details about Drombanny; 'Two C[astle].s marked, one in Donaghmore [LI013-053----] and one in Caheravally to south. 1584 Donnell Mac Canna, the lands (Fi., 4615), and in 1587 the C[astle], which he entailed on his sons (Inq. Cha. Car. I., 90). 1621 H..Holcroft granted the ruined C[astle], late estate of Edm. McCany (Pat. R.). Yet in 1629 livery on Drombanny was granted to Edm. McCanny on death of Donough, his father. (lb.). 1655 Piers Creagh, f. Andrew, held the broken C[astle]. (C.S., xxix., p. 21, D.S.A., 7, 9). 1669 Granted to Duke of York (Act Sett.)'. This castle is depicted on the Down Survey map of South Liberties Barony as a house with central chimneystack rising above the roofline standing in the townland of 'Brownestowne' in the parish of Cahernarry (Hib. Reg.). On this map the second castle of Drombanny (LI013-053----) is depicted as a tower house type castle standing in the parish of Donaghmore to the NNW. The terrier of the Down Survey map of Cahernarry parish stated that there was 'a good stone house at Brownestowne' (NLI, MS 718). See attached Down Survey map of South Liberties Barony showing the house in Brownestowne Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 3 July 2020

Drombanny Castle was built by the Power family in the 17th century and is remembered as a historic seat of the local Anglo-Irish gentry. Its importance lies in its association with the Powers, a prominent family in the region, and its architectural features, including a dovecote.