Indicated — Mosstown Demesne

Situated in undulating pasture on the demesne land of Mosstown Ho. located 250m to the N. The townland of Mosstown Demesne formed part of Ballinkeeny [Ballenkeny] in the medieval period. Ballikenny Castle was depicted as a tower house type castle standing close to the townland boundary with Ballyclogher on the Down Survey map of Killare parish (NLI, MS 723-4). The terrier of this parish map stated that in 'Clare, Dooneild, Rathskeagh, Killinbrack, Bishopsland Ballikenny on each of them stands a Castle' (ibid.). On this map the castle stood on lands belonging to Thomas Coffy who is listed as an 'Irish papist' (ibid.). The ruins of a castle or tower are shown on Larkin’s 1808 map of Co. Westmeath (NLI, MS 46,580). The castle is depicted on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map as a rectangular structure with its long axis aligned NE-SW. Shown as a circular structure on the revised 1913 ed. OS 25-inch map. A circular-shaped tower is visible at this location today on Digital Globe aerial photography. Punch dressed stonework from this medieval castle has been reused in the building of a structure standing in the centre of a ringfort (WM024-110----) located 400m to the N. Architectural fragments of this castle includes a punch dressed chamfered stone possibly part of the arch of the doorway into the castle along with a punch-dressed quoin. Compiled by Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien. Date of upload: 28 August 2019