Slainstown Castle (in ruins) — Slainstown North

On a flat-topped ridge running N-S in undulating terrain, under pasture. The ground drops away to E and S beyond the enclosing bawn (TS062-122003-). A ringfort and holy well (TS062-121001-; TS062-121002-) are located c.100m to N and Knockkelly tower house (TS062-131001-) and bawn (TS062-131002-) is visible on a ridge c.1km to SE. A two-storey house (TS062-122002-) was built onto the E side of the tower house in the 17th century. Described in the Civil Survey (1654-6) as 'a little old Castle with walls of a stone house', the owner in 1640 is named as 'Thomas Vynn of Feathard Irish Papist' (Simington 1931, vol. 1, 189). This three-storey tower house (ext. dims. 7.12m E-W x 6.35m N-S; wall T 1.57m), surviving up to battlement level, is constructed of limestone rubble, roughly coursed, with a base-batter (H 2.4m; Wth 0.34m) and dressed limestone quoins. The SW angle has collapsed above first-floor level resulting in considerable collapse of the S and W wall at second-floor level. The collapse of both outer faces have exposed the garderobe chute, leaving a heap of rubble, now grass covered, at the base of SW angle. Corbels of angle machicolations survive at the SE and NW angles. According to the OS Letters there was a chimney at parapet level on the E wall (O'Flanagan 1930, vol.2, 166). Slop-stones project out from opes in the S face at first and second-floor level. The tower house was entered through a doorway in the E wall, protected by a murder-hole in the roof of the door embrasure. The doorway leads directly into the main ground-floor chamber, with no evidence of a lobby area, although an internal wall may be missing. This chamber is lit by two windows, one in the S wall and the other, broken out, at the N end of the W wall. There is a round-arched recess in the S half of the W wall. The E wall has a wall cupboard at the N end and a fireplace, probably inserted contemporaneously with the 17th century adjoining house, between this and the doorway. S of the main doorway a short passage led to a narrow mural stairs rising along the S wall, accessing the first-floor chamber which is lit by a broken-out window in the N wall and there is a blocked ope in the E wall. A single-light window on the mural stairs illuminated the doorway. A niche in the E wall gives access to the murder hole. The first floor was carried on a wooden floor and is roofed by a barrel vault in good condition. The second floor is now inaccessible and could not be seen from the stairs which only survives five steps above the doorway into the first floor. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 26 August 2011