Castle — motte in Ballylarkin Lower

On a gentle N-facing slope in grassland. There are good views to the N and NW across the Nuenna River valley to the hills beyond and very good views to the W. The ground rises to the E and S, impeding the view in these directions. There is a church (KK013-018001-) and graveyard (KK013-018002-) c. 120m to the NE and a castle (KK013-017001-) c. 100m to the SSW. According to Phelan (1965, 8) Ballylarkin was granted to Robert Shortall between 1202 and 1218 and it became the Shortall's principal seat. A circular mound (diam. at top 13.8m N-S; 13.3m E-W at top; diam. at base 24.6m N-S; 19.7m E-S; H 2.9m at N) with a level top defined by scarp and slight traces of an external fosse (W 3m; D 0.3m) at the base. The top of the mound slopes downward (0.7m over 2m) towards the SE where the mound is lower (H 1.6m), perhaps indicating a former ramped entrance. There are hawthorn trees growing on the side of the mound which is otherwise grass covered. See attached photographs: KK013-016----_01 Motte from the N KK013-016----_02 Motte from the E KK013-016----_03 Motte from the S KK013-016----_04 Detail of stone protruding from S side of motte KK013-016----_05 Motte from the SW Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 12 September 2022