Settlement deserted — medieval in Aghnananagh

Only the wall footings of the N, W and E walls survive with S wall best preserved. Late medieval tower house (OF016-004001-) built with roughly coursed limestone rubble with no evidence of a base batter situated on a slight rise in undulating countryside. The interior of the building consists of collapsed vaulting which fills the interior to first floor level. At this level there is evidence of two narrow rectangular slit windows on the S and E walls. To the E are a group of outhouses which were built with cut-stone from the Tower house. The cornerstones of the outhouses display punch dressed stone with drafted margins. These stones are very similar to the inscribed stone in the Blue ball pub which is dated 1641 and has similar dressing. According to local information there was a medieval village, which was bulldozed several years ago, located to the SW of the Tower house (OF016-004001-). Possibly a late 16th/early 17th-century Tower house with associated village. 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. Date of upload: 23 May 2011