Castle (in ruins) — Rathculbin

On the summit of a low hill with good views to the N and W. The Down Survey (1655-6) barony map of Kells, Co. Kilkenny, depicts a substantial castle in 'Rathculbyne' with an adjacent gabled house with a chimney at one end (Hibernia Regnum, courtesy of Trinity College Dublin). It is shown on the 1st (1839) ed. OS 6-inch map and the 1948 revision as, 'Castle (in ruins)' and the 25-inch OS map indicates the N gable. Only the N gable (wall T 0.83m; surviving L 5.5m - E end is missing) and a short length of the W wall (L 1.55m) at the NW angle survives of a rectangular three-storey house, composed of roughly coursed limestone rubble. It has a externally projecting chimney (Wth 3.4m; D 0.35m) roughly centrally placed in the gable, which is heavily ivy clad both internally and externally. Internally at first-floor level there are the remains of a small fireplace flanked to the E by a rectangular wall-cupboard. At second-floor features there are two poorly preserved windows (now collapsed) one on either side of the chimney breast and the fragmentary remains of a fireplace. According to local information the greater part of the E side of the house had collapsed in 1954 and the rubble subsequently removed. Also there had been a small archway adjoining the E side of the N gable and the area around the house was formerly cobbled (local information). The depiction on the Down Survey map would suggest that there is also a castle at this location which is no longer visible at ground level. See attached: KK027-025----_01 Extract from the Down Survey (1655-6) barony map of Kells, Co. Kilkenny (Hibernia Regnum, courtesy of Trinity College Dublin) KK027-025----_02 N gable - exterior KK027-025----_03 N gable - interior KK027-025----_04 N gable - interior - location within yard Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 28 March 2023