Eglish Castle — Eglish

Situated on a natural rise on the floodplains of the river located to the S of the site and site of medieval church (OF030-016----) to SE. Poorly preserved tower house constructed with roughly coursed limestone rubble with only portions of its N and W walls remaining with a later 18th century house attached to its N wall. The tower house is almost square in plan (ext. dims. 10.4m N-S; 9.9m E-W; wall T 1.9m) with slight base batter evident and stands two storeys high with original entrance probably located in the E wall. From a rebuilt door in the W end of the N wall at ground floor a mural stairs was accessed running upwards from W to E which gave access to the first floor now destroyed in the NE angle. Evidence of a wall walk support on the N wall above first floor. Mural passage in the W wall and possible guard room were also accessed from the rebuilt door in the W end of the N wall. First floor guardroom with musket loop directly above guard room in the NW angle at ground floor level. Running S from the SW angle and returning E the bawn wall is largely intact with several outhouses attached to the bawn (OF030-015001-). Evidence of cobblestone paving in the SW corner of the courtyard. The arrangement of medieval church (OF030-016----) and tower house with later 18th-century house displays an interesting continuity in settlement and architecture similar to Garrycastle (OF029-006001-). (Cooke 1875, 25-6; O' Flanagan 1933, vol. 2, 2-6) 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