Castle (in ruins) — Loughgur

On rock outcrop, at the base of Knockadoon Hill now standing on a narrow causeway between the S shoreline of Lough Gur 190m to N, and a small lough 155m to S. Black Castle (LI032-031----) lies 515m to SSW, dovecote (LI032-022029-) 160m to NW and Bolin Island which is a crannóg (LI032-027----) lies 230m to NNW. The interior of the castle was not accessible at time of site visit. Lough Gur Castle or Castle Doon belonging to the Earls of Desmond. The name of the castle was changed in the 18th / 19th century to ‘Bourchier’s Castle’ after the family who took possession of the building in 1588. A drawing of the castle by Thomas Dineley dating from around 1680 shows that the castle stood at the base of Knockadoon Hill which was an island surrounded by water. The island/promontory of Knockadoon was accessed from the E via a long bridge defended with drawbridges. A long two storey house stood between the bridge and the tower house, with a barn and stable building to the S and a second barn to the NE. The roofed pigeon house (LI032-022029-) is depicted standing to the NW. According to Dineley the water ‘which encompasseth this Island and Castle aboundeth in Fishes, Pike, Eeles, but Roches in vast quantity’ (Shirley et. al. 1867, 196). The location of this castle was described in 1536 when Crown forces attacked and captured the ‘manor of the Earl of Desmond’s [James of Desmond] called Loghgyrr’ which was described as situated on ‘an island of fresh water, which is a stronghold’ (Cal. Carew Mss., 101). The castle located was described in this year in a second letter which stated that it ‘standeth very pleasantly upon the foot of an Island, containing 80 acres, environed with a great water and mountains, and rocks without the same; munited and warded more by nature than by man's hand’ (ibid., 103). Rectangular shaped sectionally constructed lobby entrance five storey high tower house aligned roughly E-W with pointed doorway in centre of E wall. The walls are constructed with coursed masonry with base battered walls and alternating long and short cut quoin stones. The windows consist of single light ogee-headed windows with hood mouldings over along with a four light mullioned and transomed ogee headed window of 16th century appearance. The triple light flat headed windows with holding mouldings above probably date from the late 16th / early 17th century. A straight joint running up along the S wall of the tower with the occasional tie stone indicates that the lobby entrance section of the castle was built first with the larger section of the castle tied in to the smaller section in a second building phase. This type of tower house has been described as a sectionally constructed tower house. The doorway in the centre of the E wall leads into a lobby area protected by overhead murderhole. This lobby area is defended with a guard room or porters chamber in SE angle and access to upper floors of the castle is from a spiral stairs accessed off the lobby in NE angle. The spiral stairs is lit by a series of narrow flat headed single light windows. The guard room in the SE angle has a window with circular gun port in the E wall and a second window with similar gun port in the S wall. The ground floor is accessed off this lobby area and is lit by a single light window in the centre of the S, W and N walls. The window in the S wall has been replaced by a large broken out livestock entrance gap. A small wall cupboard is visible in SW angle and NW angle of the ground floor. A garderobe outlet is visible at the base of the N wall which served garderobes from first floor level upwards in the N wall of the castle. In 1536 the castle was described as a ‘strong castle of James of Desmond’ and ‘chief fortress of the said James in the County of Limerick’ which was captured by the Lord Deputy of Ireland (Cal. Carew Mss. 103). In 1583 the castle of Lough Gur was described as a ‘large and excellent castle , in a good state of repair ; a chief house of the late Earl of Desmond, with an iron door at the entrance, strongly situated at the foot of a round, rocky hill to the east. A fishery is included, called a ' Logh,' replete with river fish. The castle in itself includes nine separate rooms . . . and a barbican, built of stone, at an angle of which is a little round turret for defence. There are two entrances, that at the east by a narrow ‘causea' [causeway] and two doors; the other to the south-west, where is another small castle or peel. An island, an orchard, a garden, and divers other edifices or cottages, with gardens adjoining (where dwell divers tenants)’ (Westropp 1907, 179-80). Castle described in 1903 as following; ‘Castledoon is an oblong structure of the fifteenth century, and is built, like many castles of the period, in two sections, but on the same foundations, which have a considerable batter for about five feet [1.5m] over the surface. The portion of the castle containing the doorway and stair case, about one-third of the whole structure, springs clear and independent from the foundation, with quoin stones at the four angles. These quoins are, at intervals, bonded into the rest of the structure, and the interior walls are bonded by thorough stones where possible. All the storeys have grouted, arched floors. The stairs, as is usual, wind from right to left’ (Barry 1903, 196-7). In 1906-07 the castle was described as following; ‘Castledoon or Bourchier’s Castle. A peel tower, 49 feet [15m] by 33½ feet [10m] outside, 75 feet [22.85m] high, and well preserved. There are five stories in the usual two sections, the narrower with stairs and porch : each of the lower stories is vaulted; the third and fourth have rectangular, shafted windows. The causeway was 144 yards [131m] long across the boggy shallows of the lake’ (Westropp 1906-7, 180-1). In recent times the castle was described by Donnelly (1998, 28) as following; ‘Bourchier's Castle is a particularly fine example where a sectional tower house has survived without later alterations. The building displays the classic form of the genre. The spiral staircase and subsidiary chamber that occupies one-third of the castle is built as a unit, with its own corner quoins, and is bonded into the remainder of the building that accommodates the main chamber block by means of projecting stone slabs or 'through-stones'. Tower house described by Salter (1993, 67) as following; ‘It has five storeys, plus a chamber below ground, and measures 15.6m by 10.9m. The entrance lies in the south end wall containing a tier of chambers which was begun before the rest of the tower. Three and two light windows on the third and fourth storeys suggest a 16th century date. The castle covered the NE approach to Knockadoon, which was almost enclosed by Lough Gur’. In 1680 Thomas Dineley recorded the presence of an armorial plaque belonging to the Bourchier family located inside the castle which he described as following; ‘Thus blazon'd, he beareth Argent a Cross engrailed Gules, between four Water bowgetts sable. This was the coat Armor of John Bourchier Lord Fitz-warin of Tawstock in Devonshire (son of Foulke Bourchier Lord Fitz Warin, and of his wife Elizabeth, second sister and Coheire of John Lord Dinham, Lord High Trer of England under Henry VII, which Foulk was son of Richard Bourchier, Lord Fitz Warin, in right of his wife Thomasin, daughter and heire of Sr Richard Hankford and of his wife Elizabeth, daughter and heire of Foulke Fitz Warin, last Lord Fitzwarin, of that Family, which William Bourchier was younger son of William Bourchier Earle of Ewe in Normandy, and younger brother to Henry Bourchier first Earle of Essex) was the 9. of June 1536 created Earle of Bath, by Henry 8, in the 28. yeer of his reign; he died the 27. Ap. 1539, and 31 of Henry VIII., who marryed, &c. From hence is descended that truly noble Knt. Sr Henry Bouchier, or of this Family, & a carefull and diligent searcher