Site of Dungrot Castle — Knockanebrack

Castle annotated 'Dungort Stumpe' on the Down Survey map of Coshlea Barony where it is shown standing on top of a hill (Hib. Reg.). The 1654-56 Civil Survey of Limerick recorded that in 1640 John Cantwell of Galbally an Irish Papist was the owner of 'The Mannor of Dungrot, four plowlands and a halfe, where on stands a Castle, a Grist Mill, a Tucking Mill, with a Courte Leete and Baron' (Simington 1938, 229). Westropp (1906-7, 197) recorded the following details about Dungrot (Dún gCrot) Castle in the townland of Knockanebrack (An Cnocán Breac); 'The Galtees were originally known as Crotta cliach or Sliabh Crot (see notes on O'Huidhrin, ed. O'Donovan, 753). 1002 King Brian repaired Dungcroit fort (Wars G. and G.). 1578 Donegrot and Ardlaghe, possessions of Morrough O'Brien, of Cloughkeating, to G. Moore (Fi. 3317). 1587 Granted to Sir E. Fyton (Fi. 5032). 1604 The Manors and C[astles].s of Galbally and Dungrott to Don., Earl of Thomond, as demised to M. Roche and J. Burgett (Pat. R.), 1611 Dungrott, a fair and a court of piepowder, to T. Cantwell (ib.). 1655 J. Cantwell, Dungrot manor, C[astle], grist mill, tucking-mill, and courts leet and baron (C.S., xxv., p. 4; D.S.A., 50). Westropp (1920, 381) described the bailey or bawn of Dun Grot Castle as follows; ‘On its angle, over a deep, bushy stream glen, rises a little fragment of wall, in curious outworks, the last relic of Dungrot Castle. The outworks [LI050-004001-] are a notable instance of the ingenuity of the old fort-makers in adapting natural features. The platform was naturally precipitous to the south and east, so they made a dry-stone revetment along it, and scarped and raised the landward faces into a high and efficient rampart, with a fosse along its foot. They carved and adapted a knoll in the south-west bend the same way, and levelled its summit. Examining the outer defence, we note the fosse, 9 [2.7m] to 12 feet [3.6m] wide, a few feet deep, but deepening eastward towards the gully. In the reach from the eastern edge is the gap of the old gateway, the entrance ramp rising to the platform; it is 6 feet [1.8m] wide, and lies to the north-east of the Castle. To either side of this are large, shallow, oval hollows, or house rings on the platform; that to the south-east abutting against the wall at the precipice. The other site lies to the north-west of the entrance. The garth here is 13 feet [4m] above the field; the rampart from 12 feet [3.6m] to 18 feet [5.5m] high outside, and about 25 feet [7.6m] thick at the base, and 6 feet [1.8m] to 12 feet [3.6m] wide on top. At the north it turns sharply to the south-west, curving back to the upper garth, and, as the natural rise of the field is not counterbalanced in the wall, the latter is rarely over 6 feet [1.8m] high at the neck, where it joins the upper ring fort. This has a bold scarp, 20 feet [6m] to 30 feet [10m] high, till it returns to the gully, and is somewhat irregular, generally speaking oval, about 100 feet [30m] east and west and 90 feet [27m] north and south. Its revetment is from 3 [0.9m] to over 6 feet [1.8m] thick, and on the side of the outwork it usually rises about 10 feet over the fosse, which is rarely 3 feet [0.9m] deep and from 9 [2.7m] to 12 feet [3.6m] wide. Near the centre of the platform on the summit of the knoll stood the castle tower. The whole foundation is featureless, but of fair masonry, about 9 feet [2.7m] high, 15 feet [4.5m] long, and 6 feet [1.8m] thick. There is a fair and extensive view down the glen and the wide valley of Slievenamuck, the open plain and the blue distances of Co. Tipperary’. See attached Down Survey map of Coshlea Barony Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 7 October 2021