Castle — motte in Drumraney

Situated on natural rise of ground with good views of the surrounding countryside. Drumraney church (WM023-040----) and graveyard (WM023-040001-) located 300m to S with holy well (WM023-039----) 215m to SE. Anglo-Norman motte possibly constructed by Henry De Lion / Dillon c. 1185 who came to Ireland in this year as first gentleman and secretary to John, earl of Morton [later King John], who granted Henry MacCarron’s territory, called Corkoici, part of Annaly, now Longford, and a large part of Mac Geoghegan’s and O’Melaghlin’s territories, which he held with the service of 60 knights (Brydges 1817, 25-6). These granted lands became known as Dillion’s Country which during the reign of Henry VIII was divided into the barony of Kilkenny West and others. The Dillon’s constructed a castle and church (WM023-040----) at Drumraney which located roughly in the centre of Dillon’s Country. Situated on the landscaped estate of Drumraney House now levelled which was located immediately to SW as depicted on the first edition OS 6-inch map. The house was converted into a Constabulary Barracks as depicted on the current ed. OS 6-inch map. The motte may be the remains of Drumraney Castle depicted on the 1659 Down Survey map of Kilkenny West barony (NLI, MS 723-4). The castle is shown standing beside the medieval road depicted as the ‘Highway from Athlone to Dublin’ on the 1659 Down Survey map of Drumraney parish Ibid.). The terrier of the 1659 Down Survey map of Drumraney parish states that there was in ‘Donomony (WM023-016----) Ardnegragh (WM023-034----) Walterstowne (WM023-051----) Killineny (WM023-058----), Brinemore (WM023-070----) Lissenoyde (WM023-074----) & Highbaskin (WM023-046----) Lowbaskin (WM023-042----) and Dromrany at each a Castle’ (Ibid.). The 1659 Down Survey recorded that the lands of Drumraney belonged to Morris, Henry and John Dillon. Alternatively Drumraney House which has since been levelled may have been built on the site of the Dillon castle depicted on the 1659 Down Survey map. This late medieval stone castle may have replaced the earlier earth & timber motte castle. This motte is not depicted on the first ed. OS 6-inch map butis hachured on subsequent editions of the OS 6-inch maps. Present remains consist of a high steep sided sub-circular shaped mound of earth and stones with uneven summit which shows signs of disturbance in places. Motte was covered in scrub vegetation at time of visit. A tall tree rises from the summit of the motte. Farm laneway intersects base of mound from E to N as indicated on OS 25-inch map. Modern farm buildings are built into base of motte on SW side as shown on OS 25-inch map. No evidence of any enclosing fosse at base of mound or of any adjoining bailey area. A site inspection carried out in 1978 described a depression on the summit of the motte which was considered to of modern date along (SMR file 26/05/1978). Compiled by: Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 30 June 2015