Coolbanagher Castle (in ruins) — Coolbanagher

Located on flat elevated pasture with good views in all directions, the castle stands on the N side of a driveway leading up to a post-1700 house located 35m to the ENE. The medieval ruins of Coolbanagher church (LA008-014001-) are located 90m to the SW. On the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map the castle is shown standing midway along the S boundary wall of a walled orchard. Today there are no upstanding remains of the S wall of the orchard but the N wall remains intact 50m to the N of the castle. The historic fabric of Coolbanagher Castle displays multi-phasing with evidence for at least three different building events, the floor levels of the castle were altered, wall fireplaces were inserted, narrow medieval windows were blocked up and tall brick lined windows were inserted into the S wall. An earlier site inspection of the castle (Wheeler 1969 SMR File) suggested that the castle was first built in the 13th century then modified in the 16th century with later 18th century insertions. In 1551, a 21 year lease was granted to Sir Ralph Bagenal which included the 'lands in Eyen [Eyne], Scrobo [Straboe], Syan [Shaen], the burgages of Raetyvyn [Ratheven] and a castle in decay and land in Cowlbaughell [Coolbanagher], parcel of the lordship of Irre, in Leix' (Nicholls 1994, 161). In the same year a second 21 year lease was granted to Ralph Bagenal which included the lands 'of Eyen (Eyne), Scrobo (Straboe), Sian (Shaen), Kilbanen, Kylenewarre (Ballydavis), Davidstown alias Ballydae (Ballydavis), Rabreny (Rathbrennan), the Buryes (Borris Great/Litle), and Raetevin (Ratheven), parcel of the lordship of Twomelegan, and Cowlbangher [Coolbanagher], parcel of the lordship of Irre in Lexe, possessions of the O'Mores' (Nicholls 1994, 181-2). This reference to a 'castle in decay' suggests that Coolbanagher Castle was built before the 16th century. The statement of its antiquity in 1551 would suggest that the castle was first built in the 13th or 14th century. In 1563 Coolbanagher passed into new hands, as on the 6th May a grant was made to Robert Hartpole, of Carlow, Gent., of ‘an old Castle in Colvanacre, alias Coolbanahore [Coolbanagher], in the Queen’s County, and the lands of Colvanacre [Coolbanagher], Ballarighan, Killgenne [Killimy], Ballenebeg, and Sheanbeg [Shaen], containing 200 acres of the country measure known as ‘Trry acres’; and also Ballimoironey, together with a parcell thereof called Ballinstraghe. These and other lands were to be held by Robert Hartpole and his heirs by knight’s service for ever; on condition of their maintaining six English horsemen in the service of the Crown, and of their attending all hostings or risings out when summoned, and of their giving a plough-day for each plough on their lands whensoever it should be required by the Constable of the Castle of Maryborough [Portlaoise]’ (Fitzgerald 1904, 301). In 1576 Robert Hartpole of Carlow was granted the ‘manor of the Blackeforde (LA014-045----), a castle in Monyferricke (LA014-100----), Rathmadocke alias the Blackeforde, the lands of Moniferick, Rathmadock alias the Blackeforde, Kilteighan, Garrans, Kilgessin, Ballekilkavan, Dromlin alias Killiclery, Inche alias Ballicowley, and Bavon an old castle in Colvanacre (LA008-015----) alias Colbanahore [Coolbanagher], the lands of Colvanacre alias Colbanahore, Ballarighan, Killgenne, Ballenebeg, Shanebeg, Ballemolrone, and Ballenestraghe, the lands of Shrowle [Shrule] (LA032-012001-), Ballyhormer, Ballecollin, Rathduf, Garribriken, Aghatenan, and Cappescribedor, in the lordship of Slemarge, a ruinous castle and lands in Clonrere [Clonreher] (LA013-019----) alias Merickeston, lands in Cultwerin, Killclonhoberd, Ballekillkaraghe, Knockandiere, Rathnemanaghe, and lands of Killehide, Ballehide, Garrenoe, Ballinecard, Farrinduf, Rossemore, and Ballim’Kegane, in the lordship of Slemarge, the lands of Ballirahen, Rossenalgan, Garroughe, Dormoile, and Capoile, or Cappahoile, in the same lordship; the advowson of the rectory of S. Fenton [Fintan], of Clowenenaghe [Clonenagh] (LA017-003001-), diocese of Leighlen, all in Queen’s co.. To hold for ever, by the service of a fouth part of a knight’s fee; rent £26 1s. 2d., Maintaining six English horsemen’ (Nicholls 1994, 376). In the second half of the 16th century Coolbanagher Castle was the residence of Sir William Hartpole, who succeeded his father as Constable of Carlow Castle (Fitzgerald 1904, 30306). In 1586 he is listed on a Crown Jury as ‘William Harpoole, of Coolbanagher’. On the 2nd of October 1603, William Hartpole of Coolbanagher was knighted in St. Mary’s Abbey by the Lord Deputy, Sir George Carey (Ibid., 307). Sir William Hartpole was probably responsible for the insertion of the pointed cut stone doorway in the N wall and for the wall fireplaces visible in the E wall. At this time the floor levels of the ‘old castle’ may have been changed. In 1658 the Books of Survey and Distribution recorded that the castle and lands of Coolbanagher were granted to Sir Richard Parsons of Birr Castle, Co. Offaly. In 1903 the castle was described as consisting of ‘an oblong butt of considerable height, but so hid under ivy as to be uninteresting. It measures outside 36 feet by 26 feet [11m x 7.9m]. The interior has been destroyed by modern alterations; openings have been made here and there with lintels formed of timber, fast rotting to decay. In the middle of the north wall remains the original entrance (now built up), which is a pointed arch of cut limestone. The groove runs round it in which 'the grate', or outer iron-barred door, fitted. And at the top and the right-hand side in the grove are holes through which the chains securing the door were passed and fixed on the inside’ (Ibid., 310). The castle consists of the remains of a tower house (max. ext. dims. 11m E-W, 7.50m N-S) standing four storeys high with the remains of a string course visible at roof level. A line of drainage holes are visible immediately above the string course. The walls of the castle are built of rubble limestone with alternating dressed limestone quoins, there is evidence of a slight-base batter. The N, S and E walls are best preserved standing to string course level. There is a horizontal line in the masonry above the doorway in the N wall along with some possible putlog holes and some unusual robbing out of the masonry located off centre to the E which may suggest that a second building or structure had been built up against this face of the castle. The horizontal line in the masonry visible at first floor level in the N wall of the castle may be the remains of a levelling course which represented a building break in the construction of the castle. There is evidence of at least seven blocked up windows in the external face of the N wall of the castle visible from first floor level upwards. A large gap in the centre of the E wall represents the remains of a broken out window. Two large cracks can be seen running up along the face of the wall from first floor to string course level. A narrow single light ogee-headed window can be seen at second floor level located off centre to N in the E wall. The external face of the S wall of the castle was covered in ivy at time, the remains of a broken out window in the centre of the S wall at first and third floor levels. At ground floor level in the centre of the S wall there is a large gap which appears to be the remains of a broken out window. The W wall is poorly preserved and stands to second floor level with a large central section of this wall missing from first floor level upwards. Externally on the W wall located off centre to N there is possible evidence of a crease line of a roof belonging to a building of uncertain date that was once built up against the W wall of the castle. The masonry in the external face of the W wall appears to have been patched and rebuilt possibly when a building was added on to the external face of this castle. The cast