Kilduff Castle (in ruins) — Kilduff

Kilduff Castle described in 1840 (OSNB, Ballynaclogh Parish, 244) as ‘a castlelike house with barbicans at the corners. Its east side is totally destroyed, and its north side nearly so; but its west and south sides are in tolerable preservation. Its windows would indicate it to be an erection of James I. The walls are 6 to 7 feet [2-2.1m] thick. The west and south walls are each surmounted by a chimney. There is a breach in the west gable, extending from near the ground to the top of the window which lighted the second floor. The house is 5 stories high. Q.[ery] Seat of O’Brien of Baile na Cloiche?’. O’Donovan (OSL Ballynaclogh Parish, 426) gave the following details about this structure; ‘the ruins of a Castle-like house said to have been built by the O’Brien’s of Coonagh. Its east side is totally destroyed as is also its north side nearly so, but its west and south sides are in tolerable preservation. The west side of this building is thirty seven feet [11.27m] in length on the outside, and its south side, which was originally something longer, is now forty seven feet [14.32m]. The walls of this building are six feet seven inches [2m] in thickness at the base and the two walls which remains perfect are surmounted with chimnies. There is a breach on the west wall extending from near the ground to the top of the window which lighted the second floor, but it is perfect from that to the top. This building was five stories high and its windows would indicate it an erection of the reign of Jac. I.’. Castle depicted on the 1657 Down Survey map of Coonagh Barony (Hib. Reg.) standing beside a medieval road running northeast connecting with Coonagh Castle (LI025-002002-) and a cluster of dwellings which are depicted standing close to Kilduff Castle. The 1654-56 Civil Survey of Limerick recorded that Sir Maurice Hurley of Knocklong an 'Irish Papist' was the owner of Kilduff with 'a castle in repaire and a mill [LI024-351----] thereunto belongeing' (Simington 1938, 43). Westropp (1906-7, 104-5) recorded the following details about Kilduff Castle; ‘Moriert Mergagh when slain in the rebellion of Gerald, Earl of Desmond, held Kyllduff C[astle]. (Des. R., 74; Peyton, 241b, in Kylduff Parish in the Toghe of Asgrenan). 1617 Maur[ice]. Hurley of Knocklong C[astle]. held Dromlare or Kilduff (Inq. Chan., 189). 1655 C[astle]. in repair, with a mill held by Sir Maur[ice]. Hurley (B.D., 49; O.S., xxiii., p. 30); confirmed to Edm. Harrison, and in 1667 to Erasmus Smith's trustees (Act Sett.)’. Classified by Donnelly (1999, 31) as a type 4 tower house which are late tower houses belonging to the last phase in the tradition with 'architectural features which tourelles with shot-holes, hood-moulded and mullioned windows, parapet water spouts and cruciform roofs'. Castle described by Salter (2004, 86) as; 'Parts of a tower about 14m long by 10.6m long stand to full height with evidence of four storeys of unvaulted rooms and an attic with windows in gables surmounted by chimney stacks on both the west and south walls. Only the corners had open wall-walks, with a circular bartizan on pyramidal corners at the NW corner. A very damaged square bartizan on the SW corner contained a roof at third storey level. There was a spiral stair in the SE corner and a tier of subsidiary rooms in the east wall. The Hurleys held Kilduff from 1617 until the 1650s, and in 1667 it passed to the trustees of Erasmus Smith's charity schools, from whom it would have been held by tenants'. Compiled by: Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 2 November 2020