Curraghcloney Castle (in ruins) — Curraghcloney (newcastle Par.)

On natural outcrop falling sharply to NNW, on edge of break of NW-facing slope. The Civil Survey (1654-6) describes how 'the sd lands are putt out of lyne, for being neere mountaines and woods where Tories usually frequent. Upon the lands of Curraghclony aforesd stands the walls of a ruinous castle, & noe more by the reasons aforementioned' and lists 'Edmond Prendergast of NewCastle Esqr Irish Papist' as the proprietor in 1640 (Simington 1931, vol. 1, 331-2). A circular tower house (int. dims. 4.6m NE-SW; wall T at base 2.6m), but only the NE-NW-SW part survives upstanding. It is rubble built, of red sandstone and quartz, randomly coursed and with good external lime render. The coursing improves towards the base, which shows a slight base-batter (H 3.6m; Wth c.0.3m). At NNW a short length of basal stones projects outwards (H 0.6m; Wth 0.2m). Three storeys survive with a string-course near the top, the wall rising for a further six courses above. The original entrance does not survive. At ground floor level are the partial remains of embrasures at N and SW, and at the NW there is a round-headed window with a circular gun-loop on either side. The first floor was carried on wooden beams, evidenced by beam-holes at SW though partially broken out. No features are visible on the W side but there are the remains of an embrasure at SW and at NNW there is a round-headed window with circular shot-hole on either side. Over the first floor was a circular corbelled vault but only the W side remains, showing the imprint of wicker-centring. The second floor is heavily overgrown with ivy, but on the W side the remains of an ogee-headed window are visible, the lower jambs and sill of which are missing. A chunk of collapsed masonry lies E of the remains, with a portion of facing evident. Externally on the W side, 0.7m above ext. ground level, there is a garderobe chute exit. There is an ogee-headed window head from the tower house on a gate pier at the roadside 120m N of the tower house. According to the OS Letters, the castle belonged to the Prendergasts and, while the E and S sides were destroyed when visited in 1840, slightly more may have survived than at present as the diameter given is 19 feet (5.8m) and two storeys survived above the vaulted floor (O'Flanagan 1930, vol.1, 23-4). Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 25 February 2014