Site of Castle — Ballinrath

Area of site of castle now covered by farmyard. No evidence of castle remains above ground level. Located on good pasture land with good extensive views. Not visible at ground level. Field where castle existed is known locally as the 'Castle Field'. Archaeological monitoring under licence no. 03E1412 by Martin Byrne was undertaken of topsoil-stripping/foundation works associated with the construction of a single dwelling at Ballinrath (NGR 258850/228780), Edenderry. There is a castle site (OF011-032----) located c. 100m to the west of the development area. There are no extant remains of this structure, but the field in which it stood is known locally as the 'castle field'. No features or finds of archaeological interest were uncovered during the course of the work (Bennett 2006, 407-08). Planning permission for a single residential development at Ballinrath (NGR 258830/228740), Edenderry, included a condition requiring testing which was carried out by Martin E. Byrne of Byrne Mullins & Associates. The site is located c. 80m to the east of a possible castle site for which there are now no extant or surface traces. Monitoring of development works of an adjacent site to the east undertaken by the writer in 2003 did not uncover anything of archaeological interest (Excavations 2003, No. 1508, 03E1412). Four trenches were excavated by machine fitted with a toothless ditching/grading bucket. Nothing of archaeological interest was uncovered (Bennett 2009, 447). 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/revsion : 7 November 2011