Moat — Ballyboy (ballyboy By.)

Located on a slight rise in undulating countryside with river to the N. Small flat topped conical shaped mound (H 3.5m; top diam 12m approx.; base diam 22m) which is badly disturbed on all sides by the insertion of a lime kiln at N and a field wall at S. There is evidence of circular wall made of roughly coursed limestone rubble with mortar on the summit of the motte. This may be associated with the lime kiln which is built into the N face of the motte. There is no clear evidence of a bailey surrounding the motte, however there is a raised area to the N of the motte where once according to local information there stood a castle (JKAS 1946-7, 16). This may be the original bailey area. This motte was used as a last refuge of defence by Williamate forces in September 1690. The Williamite chronicler, George Story, has left the following account of the attack on Ballyboy by the Jacobites: ‘another Party burnt Balliboy, a village 8 miles from Birr [recte 20 miles or 16.5km], wherein there was then six companies of the Earl of Drogheda’s Regiment, who finding themselves very much outnumbered, and the village no ways tenable, they retired all to a mount nigh the middle of the same village, which they defended till the Irish were obliged to quit the place, have killed us about 28, themselves leaving 16 dead upon the streets, besides several more that were killed in plundering the houses.’ (1693, 46) The mount referred to in the above account clearly is the motte (OF031-015002-). 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. Revised by: Paul Walsh Date of upload: 22 February 2018