Cashlaunbeg (in ruins) — Cappauniac (clonbullogue Par.)

The bawn extends E of 'Cappa Castle' tower house (TS075-022001-) which is located on the W edge of an E-W ridge. It is roughly rectangular in plan (dims. 51m N-S; 72m E-W). It is depicted on the 2nd (1901-5) ed. OS 6-inch map with a straight E and S side, while the N side curves to the E. These curving sides are also hachured indicating a steep fall externally. Along the S length of bawn there is a steep drop from interior to exterior (H 3-4m) with stone facing and largely collapsed stone wall c. 2m wide. The interior is fairly level on the S side and slopes down towards N edge. There is a similar drop to the exterior along the E edge. Toward the N end of the E wall there is a semi-circular turret (int. dims. 3.1m N-S; 1.6m E-W; wall T 0.94m) which is named 'Cashlaunbeg' on the OS 6-inch maps. It contains evidence for five gun-loops at ground-floor level, facing from N to S. Only two of the embrasures are intact, one facing NE, the other SE. The turret does not survive above ground-floor level, though a corbel projects out above the SE embrasure to support a first floor. It is built of randomly coursed, rubble built yellowish sandstone and some collapsed masonry lies within. On the E side of the bawn the natural ridge was cut into (H 1.36) to create a fosse and the E face of the bawn was revetted with stone. The bawn rises 2.36m above the fosse (Wth 3.45m). This fosse is most apparent at the highest point of the ridge. The NE angle of the bawn is well preserved with portion of stone facing intact. Along the outer N face a stone wall runs parallel for approximately half its length, creating a narrow lane (Wth 2.2m). The bawn wall at this point is c. 3m H. There is also an internal bank, the present N field boundary, which is quite substantial with a lot of collapsed stone. Further W this 'field boundary' becomes very substantial, either the bawn wall kinks in at this point or it is collapsed rubble from the wall, though the stones are very small. On the W side of bawn, N of the tower house, there is an inner bank/scarp (H 1.43m) of collapsed stone, an outer flat-bottomed fosse (Wth 2.1m; D 0.7m) and outer bank (Wth 1.6m). The outer edge of the latter continues to slope down with the natural steep slope. Directly W of the tower house the outer bank peters out, as does the fosse. The inner bank becomes a platform for the tower house. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 02 April 2014