Castle (in Ruins) — Garranmaconly

Built in sixteenth century by The Lords of Upper Ossory. In 1601 it was occupied by John Fitzpatrick and in 1665 by 'Peter Buckley and by the Vicars family towards the end of the 1600's (Carrigan 1905, vol. 2, 138). Situated at the N edge of a plateau, land falls away to W and N with extensive views to N towards Slieve Bloom Mountains. This is a four storey tower house with attic, it is built on rock outcrop from roughly coursed limestone rubble with good quoins. There is a quarry to the NW from which the stone probably came. There is a base batter on the N and E walls but that on the N has fallen away. The tower house is a rectangular structure (dims. 10.5m E-W; 8.3m N-S) with a projecting garderobe tower in the N wall close to the NW angle and there was also a projecting entrance tower on the W wall at the NW angle which has completely collapsed and the dimensions of which cannot be ascertained. It had no vault. Ground floor (int. dims. 7.75m E-W) was entered from the NW angle now destroyed, there are four corbels in the N wall and two beam holes in the E wall for the ceiling. First Floor accessed from stairs in NW angle now destroyed only the hanging eye survives. The N wall had one embrasure with a single round-headed light. There are four corbels in the N wall and two beam holes in the E wall for the ceiling. Second floor is accessed from stairs at the NW angle now destroyed. A pointed doorway leads off the stairs to a garderobe in the N wall but the entrance to the second floor does not survive. There is a large rectangular fireplace in the N wall and to the E of it there is a flat arched embrasure with wicker centring and a single light. In the E wall there is a twin light window set into a flat arched embrasure the side wall of which has a small wall cupboard. Three corbels survive in the N wall and there is a corbel in the E wall all of which were support for the wooden ceiling. Third floor accessed from spiral stairs in NW angle. Off this stairs there is a pointed doorway which gives access to a garderobe in the N wall. There is a fireplace with a flat Tudor arch and a chamfered edge at the E end of the N wall. There is a twin light rectangular window with leading bars at N end of E wall with a doorway to a mural chamber at E end. This chamber commands a double machicolation which is like a bartizan. It is a rectangular projection which is covered with musket loops. There are four corbels and a rebate in the N wall and a rebate in the E wall to support a wooden ceiling. Attic is accessed off spiral stairs which also gives access to wall walk. Half of a light survives in the N wall but no doorway survives. Most of the roof space of this floor was in the pitched roof but there is a single light in the N wall for it and a rectangular twin light window with a flat rear arch in the E gable. A large chimney stack rises over the N wall which would have blocked the N wall walk but the wall walk was carried inside the chimney on two corbels. The parapet does not survive but a circular bartizan was entered from the wall walk at the NE angle. There is a small chimney stack over the E gable but it is a false chimney as there are no fireplaces in this wall. According to Carrigan it is also called Garranmaconly, that is, the Grove of the Son of Conghalach. The N and E walls collapsed to the foundations, about 1863, leaving the remaining walls still perfect (Carrigan 1905, vol. 2, 138). (O'Hanlon and O'Leary 1907, vol. 1, 316-7). 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