Lissamota Castle (in ruins) — Lissamota

Lissamota Castle stands on S side of farmyard with stream 35m to W which marks townland boundary with Bealduvroga. Site of enclosure (LI029-118002-) lies 26m to NNE. Lissamota Castle was described in 1840 as following; ‘The walls are still perfect and are about 60 feet [18.3m] high and 5½ ft. [1.67m] in thickness. It measures 14½ ft. [4.4m] by 11 ft. 10in. [3.6m] on the inside. There are two stone arches still remaining, over the first and second floors; it originally contained 3 other floors, i.e. in all 5 floors. This is a very strong castle; it was surrounded by a lios or earthen rampart (LI029-118003-), when the name Lios a Móta. Of this lios not a vestige now remains, it having been entirely carried away for manures. Lissamota Castle belonged to the Desmond family’ (OSL vol. 2, 68-9). The Ordnance Survey Letters suggests that the castle had a bawn (LI029-118003-) which was enclosed by an earthen bank known as a Lios or fort. This earthen enclosure was removed in 18th or early 19th century. Westropp (1906-7, 224-5) recorded the following details about Lissamota; '1296 Suit of Ger. Bishop of Limerick and J. de Penrys about Lisnemotie (Plea R, 22, p. 3d). 1583 Ric. mac T. Reylie, of Lissenvotye, held the C[astle]. (Des. R, 19B; Peyton, 59; Inq. Exch., 16). 1588 Granted to Billingsley (Fi. 5171; Carew i., p. 450). 1599 It was taken from J. Roe Lacie by Carew's forces. 1606 Capt. Cullum's rents not to be distrained for his Seignory off Lysmote and Calloe (Rev. Exch. Order I., P.R.O.I.). Suit concerning Jas. Listin (father of Ric. and grandfather of Garrett Listin) and Ellinor, widow of his son Ric. f. Rob. Cullum, of Lissinvotty, as to Liskannitt (Eq. Exch. Order, Feb., 1606). 1611 "Cullen" had granted it to Billingsley, who granted it to Jas. Goulde, whose son Thomas held it (Inq. Chan., 6b). 1623 Sir J. Dowdall owned it and Kilshane Abbey (Inq. Chan., 15). 1641 W. Collum, of Lissamota, joined the Confederates (Dep., 134), and it was confiscated, 1655 (C.S., p. 41). 1653 Quartermaster H. Lee held the C[astle]. (Hartwell Acct.). 1665 Liosamhota granted to Sir Allen Broderick, ancestor of Lord Middleton. It was inhabited till the end of the eighteenth century, when a Mr. George Cornwall lived in it, whence its good repair. Fabric - It is 14½ feet [4.4m] by 12 feet [3.65m] inside the walls, 5½ feet [1.67m] thick, and 60 feet [18.3m] high. The first two stories vaulted, and three others. It is a conspicuous landmark; the ring of the mote had, in 1840, been recently removed for top-dressing (O.S.L., 8, p. 36). Well preserved four-storey high rectangular tower (ext. dims. 8.4m x 6.8m; wall T 1.65m] with its long axis aligned roughly E-W, with walls upstanding to battlemented parapet level. This tall, slender castle has rubble built walls with alternating long and short cut stone quoins with a base batter. A later house possibly of 17th century date was built onto W face of castle. A stone vault is visible over the first and third floor of the castle. Ground floor entered through a cut-stone pointed doorway with rebated jambs in centre of E wall which gives access to lobby area protected by overhead murder hole. A spiral stairs in SE angle gives access to upper floors. The ground floor (int. dims. 4.4m x 3.65m) is lit by a single light window in centre of S wall, with possible broken out window at S end of W wall, no evidence for a window in the N wall. This broken out opening in W wall gave access to a two storey high house that was attached to the W face of the castle. The steeply pitched crease line of the roof from this house of possible 17th century date is still visible on the W face of the tower house. Garderobe chute outlet visible in external face of E wall located off centre to N. The first floor with a stone vaulted roof is accessed off the spiral stairs in SE angle with evidence of a broken out window in entre of S wall and similar broken out window in N wall. A doorway located off centre to S in E wall gives access to a mural garderobe chamber which is lit by two single light slit opes in the E wall. The second floor is accessed off spiral stairs in SE angle and is lit by a window in centre of S wall and a similar window in the N wall, no evidence of a window in the W wall. A fireplace is visible off centre to N in E wall with mural garderobe chamber in E wall lit by two slit opes. The third floor with stone vaulted roof was heated by a fireplace in the E wall and there is evidence of a small attic room above (Salter 2004, 91). Classified as a type 5 castle which are a group of castles all of which have rectangular floor plans (Donnelly 1999, 32-3). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 02 August 2019 See attached ASI aerial photographs ASIAP – taken on 04/03/2006.