Bawn in Ballymaddock (stradbally By.)

The remains of external angle square towers, of no great altitude, are yet to be seen, on the angles of what constituted a courtyard of quadrangular shape. This bawn extended in front of the entrance door to the old mansion. Walls yet standing in a parallel direction with the gables of the old house, communicated between the latter and the external towers. On the outer angles of both these towers, may yet be seen chimneys, characteristic of the style which prevails in the standing gable. These towers are now used as farm offices; ranges of houses extending in a line between them. Without, the inner court appears to have bee a larger quadrangular bawn, which must have been used for the out-offices pertaining to the castle (LA014-026). The walls which enclosed this bawn have not entirely disappeared and even yet remaind in a well preserved state on one side of the quadrangle. There appears to have been only one large gateway entrance to this bawn, which was towards the east, and nearly opposite the front of the old mansion (O'Hanlon and O'Leary 1907, vol. 1, 275-6). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Laois' (Dublin Stationery Office, 1995) compiled by P. David Sweetman, Olive Alcock and Bernie Moran. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 17 December 2007