Cullenagh Abbey (in ruins) — Cullenagh (cullenagh By.)

In 1646 Owen Roe O'Neill marched from Ballyshean in Laois where he stayed four nights to Coilleadh a Laois and Caislean na Cuilenthoi (Cullenagh). The general treated the captain of that place very leniently and placed a garrison of his own there. Cullenagh castle at the time was probably in the hands of the Barringtons (O'Hanlon and O'Leary 1981, 195). On the slope of the Black Mountain, the Barringtons, who had acquired a large estate in Cullenagh barony, built a castellated mansion the remains of which are still to be seen (O'Hanlon and O'Leary 1907, vol. 1, 187). Early to mid seventeenth century fortified house (int. Dims. 6.15m E-W x 1.7m N-S; wall T 0.95-1.2m) situated in the garden of a nineteenth century house on the upper reaches of a gentle E facing slope affording extensive views of the countryside from NNE to E to S. Clear view of Dysart Hill to the NE, Gallows Hill to the E and Fossy Hill to the SE. Cullenagh Mountain rises up to the SW of the site. House comprises of the ivy-clad N gable and rudimentary remains of the N ends of the E and W walls of a four storey fortified house built with roughly coursed limestone rubble with larger stones used for the quoins. The gable is surmounted by a tall chimney stack, with a broad external chimney projection (Wth 3.45m; D 0.8m) running the length and greater part of the width of the gable. At first floor level, flanking either side of the chimney projection there are two finely executed cut and dressed limestone rectangular single-light windows with glazing bar holes and beneath each window there are small rectangular opeinings which may have acted as gun loops. A slop-stone occurs at ground floor level, and internally there are three staggered fireplaces at first, second and third floor levels. The house was protected by a bawn wall (LA018-039001-) (wall T 1m) which extended to the S and was equipped with at least two and perhaps originally four angle towers (int. dims. 2.5m x 1.9m ; wall T 0.6m). Of these defensive features, only modified portions of the S wall, scanty remains of the S end of the E wall of the bawn, the E half of the SE corner tower and two rectangular towers which appear to be later constructions on the site of the original SW corner tower, remain upstanding. Portions of the W and S walls of a small featureless building lie outside the bawn area to the SE. The SE corner tower has two small rectangular opes looking N and E and a line of flat coping stones at the roofline. Remains of a stone vault over the ground floor still survives intact. 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