Settlement deserted — medieval in Kilmacnevan

Situated on grassland with Kilmacnevan church (WM010-115----) 600m to SE and ringfort (WM010-039---) 60m to NW. These settlement earthworks are known locally as the ‘old town of Ballynacarrigy’. On the 17th century Down Survey map of Moygoish barony the present townland of Kilmacnevan was marked as Ballintur. The settlement earthworks are depicted as a cluster of dwellings and annotated as 'Ballintur towne' on the 1654-59 Down Survey map of Moygoish barony map (NLI, MS 723-4). On the 1654-59 Down Survey map of Kilmacnevan parish map a castle (WM010-040001-) is depicted standing beside the cluster of dwellings depicted as 'Ballintue towne' (WM010-040----). The terrier of this map recorded that in this parish there was a castle lately ruined 'in Ballintue' (ibid.). The precise location of this castle known as Ballintue Castle has not been identified. Not the same castle as the Site of Castle (WM010-019----) located 1.1km NNW of the settlement earthworks which is marked in Ballintue on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map. The earthworks are clearly visible on aerial photographs taken by Cambridge University in 1966 (CUCAP APG099/100). Present remains consist of a large complex of low banks, rectangular enclosures & possible hut sites covering an area of at least 3 hectares. There are a number of small house sites scattered about the complex. There is a laneway cutting through the site however, this appears to be more modern & there is no sign of a laneway or street connecting the house sites. The earthworks complex is bounded by a stream along its W side. These earthworks appear to represent the remains of a deserted medieval settlement associated with Ballintue Castle. See attached plan of monument surveyed and drawn by the ASI. Compiled by: Frank Coyne and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 9 June 2017