Site of Knockane Castle — Knockane (nash)

Just off summit of a flat-topped hill, sloping gradually to S, on the highest hill in the vicinity. The Civil Survey (1654-6) refers to 'the stumpe of an old castle' in 'Knockanecanvoy' which in 1640 was under the proprietorship of 'Thomas Lord Baron of Cahyr. Irish Papist' (Simington 1931, vol.1, 365). Building is in a very ruinous condition, the walls have largely collapsed and grass covered. This long rectangular building (ext. dims. 20.6m x c. 9.6m; int. dims. 17.6m x 6.8m; wall 1.4m T), is aligned on an E-W axis. The W end is sub-divided by an internal crossing-wall (also grass-covered). This small chamber is filled with rubble and over-grown with nettles. The 'castle' is composed of limestone and sandstone rubble, roughly coursed. The E end is filled with brambles. The wall survives to a max. height of 1.7m at the W end of the N wall, most of the W wall, though in poorer condition, survives to this height. The E wall survives to a height of 1.55m. No evidence of a base-batter. No clear entrance, however there is a dip (Wth 1.6m) in the grassed-over wall on the S side, at the W end of the long chamber. The ground plan does not conform to a typical tower house, it is more likely to be a 17th-century house. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 26 August 2011