Bastioned fort in Rathedmond

Built on the site of the existing de Burgo caslte (SL014-065006-) this bastioned fort was constructed in the late 1650s to house a garrison. It is referred to as the ‘new fort’ in 1659 and again in 1663, although it appears that it was not then properly finished since the bastions were left hollow. When completed, the Stone Fort comprised high stone curtain walls, flanked by four corner bastions. Phillips’s view of c. 1685 shows a substantial castellated structure with the four bastions rising above the adjoining curtain walls. Repaired at the time of the Williamite War in 1689 part of the site was leased to the Crown for use as a barracks in 1700. It was damaged by storm in 1757 and described as the ‘Old fort leased’ in 1781. Part of it was converted to stores in 1800 and the site was purchased by the corporation in 1861. It was partly demolished when Quay Street was widened in 1861 and a Town Hall was constructed on the site in 1865. Remains this fort were uncovered in the course of excavations undertaken on the site in 2002 (licence number 02E0651; Halpin 2002). (Gallagher and Legg 2012, 3, 14). Compiled by: Paul Walsh Date of upload: 15 February 2018