Kill Castle (ruins) — Kilclonfert

Situated on a low natural rise in undulating countryside with church (OF10-021002-) to N. Present remains consist of grass covered wall footings of a destroyed castle which may represent a tower house from the sixteenth century. It is possible to estimate that the tower house had internal dimensions measuring approximately 10m E-W by 9m N-S. There may have been corner towers on the SW and NE corners. Remains of a rectangular shaped bawn (OF010-021003-) area (int. dims. 53m E-W; 80m N-S) to the S of the tower house. This area is defined by a partially destroyed L shaped bank. To the N of this enclosure there is a low bank which adjoins the graveyard wall and runs out in an E direction to form a roadway or laneway of unknown date and origin. Overall this site may have consisted of a tower house with bawn to the S and church with roadway to the N. There is also evidence of a possible enclosure in the adjoining field to the W of the tower house. In 1942 the site of the levelled castle (OF010-021001-) was described as, 'There is a flat-topped mound, irregular and a little eroded by digging, measuring about 23 [21m] x 27 [24m] yds. Sunk in it is a rect.[angular] enclosure about 11 [10m] x 7 [6m] yds. int.[ernal] dim., lined with stone wall grassed over, probably a keep. On S. of mound seem traces of another wall, and beyond it at a rather lower level an entrenched area rectangular and perhaps a baun [bawn] (OF010-021003-). The banks are however too obscure to plan without excavation, and it is not clear how much is old. Both church (OF010-021002-) and castle are approached from east by an avenue of very old thorns, and there is another such track on S side of castle' (ITA Survey 1942, SMR File). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled by Caimin O'Brien Date of upload/revision: 23 December 2011