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Situated towards the bottom of an E-facing slope, with the S-N Ballymoat stream c. 200m to the E. Loughdeheen was originally owned by the Knights Hospitallers of Kilbarry (WA017-003001-), but after the Suppression it passed to the Wyse family who probably built the gatehouse and bawn. It was owned by the Sherlock family of Butlerstown castle (WA017-008----) in the 17th century (Decie 1978, 15; Carroll 1985, 22-3).
It consists of a rectangular gatehouse (ext. dims. 12.45m NE-SW; 7.55m NW-SE; H c. 6m) of two-storeys with an attic at the NW side of a large bawn. The entrance passage (Wth 2.85m) with rounded arches of uncut stone is at the SW end with a double-splayed loop in the SW gable. A barrel-vaulted chamber (int. dims. 5.9m NE-SW; 4m NW-SE) with four loops, three of which are double-splayed, is entered from the entrance passage. Access to the first floor was probably by stairs (now destroyed) in the SW gable. The first floor has a garderobe at the N angle in a projecting tower, a large destroyed window in the NE wall, a fireplace (now destroyed) in the SE wall and evidence of two possible windows in each long wall. The attic was supported on joists set directly into the long walls with windows in each gable and a machicolation over the N angle.
The subrectangular bawn (int. dims. 40-58m NE-SW; 50m NW-SE) is defined by a mortared stone wall (int. H 1m; ext. H 1.8-2.4m; T 1m) on the NE, SE and the S part of the SW sides. A stone-faced earthen bank (Wth 5m; H 1.2-1.7m) completes the N part of the SW side. The bawn is now divided into three fields and covers c. 0.3ha.
Carroll, J, S, (1985) Antiquities of Lisnakill parish. Decies, No. 30, 20-24.
Decie (ed.) (1978) Some castles of east Waterford - 26th July 1977. Decies, No. 7, 14-15.
The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Waterford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1999). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Date of upload/revision: 23 December 2008
This remains an important historical record, but the official description says the monument is no longer visible or has been destroyed.
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