Castle — Killenure

In grassland on top of a low rise of ground with good views in all directions. Described in the Civil Survey (1654-6) as 'one demolished castle irrepairable & one thatcht house' and 'Charles Dwyer of Cullyneur Irish Papist' is listed as proprietor in 1640 (Simington 1934, vol. 2, 91). Impressive well-preserved remains of an early 17th-century rectangular four-storey high three-bay fortifed house with circular flanking towers at each angle built with roughly coursed limestone rubble. No base-batter visible. House entered through pointed doorway in centre of N wall which gives access to the ground floor, all floors were wooden carried on wall offsets. The N and S walls of the central block (ext. dims. 7.45m N-S; 12.9m E-W; wall T 1.05m) are twin gable fronted with crenellated circular towers (int. diam. 3.8m; wall T 1.05m) on all four angles. The towers which are three storeys high contain the private chambers of the castle dwellers and are accessed at each floor level from the main central block. Evidence of fireplaces at upper floor levels in each angle tower. No evidence for any garderobe. Large pointed archway inserted into the centre of the W and E walls in the 19th century. During same period the SE angle tower was converted into a residence with the insertion of sash windows. 18th-century house added onto NE angle of castle with NE tower incorporated into the 18th-century house. Fireplaces at ground floor and first-floor level in N wall off centre to W and in S wall off centre to W. Chimney stack on top of gable on S wall located off centre to E acts as a dummy stack which serves no fireplace but maintains the symmetery of the S face of the castle. Fireplace at second-floor level off centre to N in W wall and joggled fireplace in centre of E wall at first-floor level. Gun loops visible on ground, first and second floor levels on all four angle towers but none on the main rectangular block. String course on external face of castle at ground and upper floor levels acts as a decorative feature of the castle, large water spouts protrude from S face at second-floor level. Ground floor windows on S and N walls are narrow single-light round-headed windows, with large transomed windows of single, twin and triple lights with hood-mouldings for the upper storeys. The gable fronted third storey has a single light in both gables while the large triple-light transomed windows are kept for the second floor which appears to have been the main floor of the castle. At first-floor level there are twin-light transomed windows. Tall rectangular chimney stacks rise high above the wall-walk of the angle towers while all six gables on the N, E, S and W facades are surmounted by tall stacks, two on the N and S walls and one on the E and W walls. Eight chimney stacks still visible, may originally have had ten tall chimney stacks rising high above the roof line of the fortified house. Only four gables survive and eight chimney stacks, may originally have ten stacks rising above the roof line of the castle. Water spouts directly over second-floor level still visible on the N and S facades. 18th-century two-storey house to E of fortified house may be built around the remains of the 17th-century thatched house mentioned in the Civil Survey. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 15 October 2012