Castle — motte and bailey in Oldcastle

Situated on a low rise in a fairly level landscape. The motte is a circular flat-topped mound of earth (diam. of top 13m N-S; diam. of base 27.5m N-S; H 3m) planted in coniferous trees. It is defined by a fosse (at N: Wth of top 7m; ext. D 1.5m) surviving against the bailey W-ENE and with a stone wall at the base elsewhere. There is a raised crescent-shaped bailey (dims of top 35m E-W; 16m N-S) planted in trees and defined by scarps (at N: H 2m) attached W-ENE. There is a subrectangular enclosure (int. dims c. 4.5m N-S; c. 5m E-W) defined by low earthen banks (Wth 1.5-4m; H 0.2-0.7m) with an entrance at W on the summit of the motte, but this is known to be a modern feature. There are old farm buildings outside the bailey at W and a house is adjacent the motte at E. Archaeological testing (03E1400) by B. Halpin immediately to the N produced no related material (excavations.ie 2003:1445). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of revision: 7 June 2016 Amended: 15 December 2022, 13 October 2025