Castle — motte in Castleruddery Lower

National Monument in state ownership No. 134. Situated on a marked S-facing slope with a very steep slope dropping to the marshy floor of the Slaney River (100m S), and overlooking the fording point at Ballyhubbock Bridge. Circular steep-sided platform (diam. 41m; H 4.5-5.5m) encircled by a fosse (Wth 3-4m; D 0.2-0.7m). There are two causeways, one of which at the NW (Wth 1m) crosses the fosse at an angle and runs into a narrow ramp which leads up to the motte summit. This may be an original feature. A largely natural, level, roughly rectangular, platform (dims. 25m E-W; 16m N-S) 28m S of the motte on the lip of the 15m drop to the river floor may be an associated feature. The motte is probably associated with the Anglo-Norman borough of Donaghmore c. 500m to the NE (WI021-069002-). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wicklow' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 17 December 2008 This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 109/1940).