Ballydoogan Castle — Ballydoogan (leitrim By.)

In pastureland, immediately to the NW of 'Ballydoogan House' (GA106-020001-). In existence in 1574 when 'Bealladugane' castle was in the possession of 'Tege Mc Gill patrick' (Nolan 1901, 111). Evidently still standing at time of the 1838 edition of the OS 6-inch map (see O' Flanagan 1927, Vol. 1, 495), but demolished by the time of 3rd edition (1933) when the words 'Site of' are appended. A photograph taken c. 1892 indicates that the tower house was in a ruined state and was at least three storeys high (O'Riordan 2015, 24). When initially visited by the Galway Survey in April 1983, it was noted that traces of a wall (L 1.95m; H 2.9m) with a base-batter (H 1.65m; splay 0.07m) were incorporated into the SE corner of the wall on outhouse. Another section of walling (L 4.1m; H 2.9m) also appeared to be incorporated into the E wall of an adjoining garden to the S of this building. It was concluded that the two sections of walling may have been the remains of the NE angle of the castle (SMR file). However, on re-inspection in June 2017, it was noted that the wall with the batter most likely continued further to the E as the digging of a trench (5m N-S; 2m E-W; D 2m) immediately to the rear of Ballyduggan House revealed the foundations of a wall (D c. 1m; Wth 0.4-5m), in line with this wall, in the W face of the trench. It is more likely that this the SW angle tower on an associated bawn wall. No visible surface trace of the tower house survived. However, a possible external wall-face (L c. 3m) was also evident running along the E side of the trench. The latter probably marks the site of the tower house and ties in with the evidence of the photograph. Architectural fragments including an arch stone of a doorway and the top of an ogee-window head, now located on the W wall of the garden, are most likely from the tower house. Other pieces of dressed stone from it have been reused in the outhouses to the rear of the house. A number of massive timber beams that have been reused as joists in an outhouse to the W are also likely to be from the tower house. Compiled by: Olive Alcock Date of revised upload: 28 August 2017