Earthwork in Kilmeadan

On the bank of the River Suir, with the NW-SE stream c. 10m to the E. The manor of Kilmeadan was the property of John Fitzthomas Fitzgerald in 1282. By the early 14th century it had passed into Le Poer hands, and John, the son of Benedict le Poer was styled Lord of Rathgormuck and Kilmeadan in 1328. Le Poer continued to be so styled into the fifteenth century. In the Civil Survey (Simington 1942, 138) Kilmeadan is a manor owned by John Power of Dunhill (WA025-045001-) in 1640. The ‘Castle’ indicated on the 1st ed. OS 6-inch map are the remains a large stone house (WA008-049----), dating to the early/mid-17th century which was reputedly built on the site of an earlier castle (WA008-049001-). The castle is not visible at ground level. The castle, overlooking the Suir, is located at the E end of a roughly rectangular area (dims. c. 200m NE-SW; c. 110m NW-SE), identified and reported by Simon Dowling. The land skirting the N side of this area is indicated on the 1st ed. OS 6-inch map as very rough, possibly waterlogged terrain, while the S is defined by Whelan’s bridge River which flows into the Suir at this point. Photogrammetric modelling has revealed sub-divisions within this rectangular area which are likely to be associated with the castle and subsequent 17th house. The SW portion of the rectangular area has been truncated by the Great Southern Fishguard-Rosslare Railway Line which curves southward at this point to run parallel with the Suir. See attached imagery: WA008-049002-_01 Photogrammetric model by Simon Dowling WA008-049002-_02 Photogrammetric model by Simon Dowling Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 1 November 2022