Kilbarron Castle in ruins — An Chlochbhuaile (tc Béal Atha Seanaidh)

Kilbarron Castle (DG103-043): Very little is known of the history of Kilbarron Castle and the surviving ruins of this O'Clery stronghold undoubtedly post-date the destruction of the site in 1390 (AFM). It is simply described in the Civil Survey, 1654-6, as 'the ruined walls of an Old Castle called Kilbarron belonging to Mr Francis Brassy' (Simmington 1937, 55). Situated on a precipitous promontory the site is protected by a cliff on the N and S, a steep slope on the W towards the sea, and a N-S fosse on the E. There are vestiges of a low outer bank on the SE. The remains are represented for the most part by lower wall courses and apart from the two short wall lengths of the S building, nothing survives of the upper storeys. The W side of the fosse was faced with stone and this not only added to its defence but also served to underpin the curtain wall (DG103-043003-); the surviving N section of facing averages c. 1.7m-2m in height. There is evidence for further facing at the W end of the causeway and there may have been some form of draw-bridge in this position. The curtain wall is here c. 2m high, though only the footings and core remain to the W and indicate the S limit of the entrance passage. On the N of the passage are the remains of a gate-house keep (DG103-043002-). Lockwood's plan (1903, 113) shows it to have been more extensive in the early years of this century. The best preserved section is on the N, c. 2m high, and incorporates a projecting garderobe angle, the shaft of which (now blocked-up) discharged over the cliff on the N. The ground-floor of the keep is divided by cross walls into three rooms. The entrance in the S wall (Lockwood 1903, 113) is now obscured by fallen masonry and there is no visible trace of the windows in the W wall, noted on his plan. The lower courses of the N wall are battered on the exterior base. The NE room was lighted by a deeply splayed loop in the N wall; the doorway in the W wall of this chamber preserves its drawbar hole. The E wall of this keep also serves as the N part of the curtain wall; the exterior facing has almost completely fallen away. Allingham (1879, 114) records that there were traces of an underground passage in the keep but it was then blocked-up with stones; no visible trace of this remains. The SE stretch of the curtain wall has fallen and a section lies at the bottom of the fosse. The building at the SE corner of the court is represented by two short lengths of wall, c. 5m high and the NE corner footings; some protruding stones at ground level indicate the line of a cross wall. Another building is recorded by Lockwood and marked on the earlier editions of the OS 6-inch maps at the SW corner of the court; only the SW angle remains, c. 1.75m high. There is no visible trace of the N extent of this building and a grass-covered mound probably indicates the line of the E wall. A modern drystone wall now delimits the court area of the promontory; the ground slopes away steeply to the sea on the W. Although the surviving remains are unquestionably medieval, it is possible that the strategic significance of this promontory had been previously recognised and the site inhabited at an earlier period. The above description was derived from the 'Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. A description of the field antiquities of the County from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century.' Compiled by: Brian Lacey with Eamon Cody, Claire Cotter, Judy Cuppage, Noel Dunne, Vincent Hurley, Celie O'Rahilly, Paul Walsh and Seán Ó Nualláin (Lifford: Donegal County Council, 1983). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Date of upload: 22 September 2008