Castle — motte and bailey in Gortkelly

Located on a natural ridge which is scarped steeply along the E side of the site overlooking a river valley in an upland area. Described in the Civil Survey 1654-6 as an 'old decayed castle called Gortkelly' (Simington 1934, vol. 2, 124). A motte and bailey with the remains of a castle (TN040-013001) surmounting the motte. A circular flat-topped mound (top diam. 23m N-S; 19.4m E-W; base diam. c. 26m N-S; c. 21m E-W; H 3.4m) with evidence of stone walling along the W edge and stone revetting on the sides of the motte. The E edge of the site is formed by a steep natural scarp. The NE portion of the motte is lowest above the exterior, being only 1.73m above the bailey. A roughly triangular bailey area to the NW of the motte is enclosed by a broad flat-topped bank (Wth 3m; int. H 0.85m; ext. H 1.72m). An external fosse (Wth 3.4m; D 1.1m) is only evident in the SW quadrant. A modern gap (Wth c. 3m) was cut through the bank of the bailey c. 2 years ago according to the landowner. The W side of the bailey is overlooked by an opposing ridge. There is a possible original entrance at the apex of the triangular-shaped bailey. The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Tipperary. Vol. 1 - North Tipperary' compiled by Jean Farrelly and Caimin O'Brien (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2002). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 22 September 2008