Bawn in 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 (LA018-039) situated in the garden of a 19th 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 house was protected by a bawn wall (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. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 17 December 2007