Designed landscape — folly in Cloghmoyle

Situated on top of a steep hill overlooking the village of Shinrone with site of medieval church (OF042-026----) to N. Mistakenly identified by T. L. Cooke in 1875 as the remains of a possible castle in the 19th century. This structure appears to be the remains of an 18th century folly standing on top of a steep hill at the western end of the village of Shinrone [insert photo]. This folly known as Oldhams Tower overlooks the site of the medieval church of Shinrone that was situated 180m to the north. In the 19th century this castle was in the centre of a walled garden to the rear of a house then in the ownership of George Percy Poe. This building is depicted on the 1838-40 OS 6” map as 'Oldhams Tower' [insert 1st ed. OS 6-inch map]. Only one castle is shown on the 1654 Down Survey parish map of Shinrone which traditionally has been identified as the castle in the centre of the village which suggests that the structure at Cloghmoyle was subsequently constructed in the second half of the 17th century or more likely in the 18th century. This building or watch-tower was described by Sir Charles Coote in 1801 as 'At Shinrone are vestiges of some places of considerable strength, with the ruins of a watch-tower on an artificial eminence, at some distance, but I cannot learn any historical tradition of it; and in the neighbourhood are also strong circular buildings, all situate on gravelly hills, which are rapidly undermining; they were converted into cock-pits long since, but all are now in ruins'. Pre-development testing was carried out under licence no. 04E0883 at a development site in the townland of Cloghmoyle, Shinrone, Co. Offaly. The greenfield site is close to a fortified house (SMR 42:24), listed as 'Oldham's Tower' on the first edition of the OS 6-inch map (1837). It lies west of the site of a 16th-century castle (SMR 42:25) and south-east of the site of a medieval church (SMR 42:26). The immediate landscape is dominated by a number of high eskers, some of which show signs of quarrying. The proposed development comprises the construction of two detached dwellings and twelve semi-detached dwellings and associated ancillary works. In addition, the client proposes to remove an existing walled dwelling and outhouses on the site. Seven parallel trenches (oriented northwest/south-east) were excavated. A search of the spoil material was also carried out. No archaeological material was identified. Testing showed that the south-eastern portion of the site had been disturbed considerably by quarrying. Nothing of archaeological significance was recorded. Ellen O'Carroll, The Archaeology Company, 17 Castle Street, Dalkey, Co. Dublin. 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 April 2009