Why this matters
Bawn in Stroan was likely held by a local landlord or gentry family during the 17th century, as evidenced by its inclusion in the Down Survey of 1655-56. Its strategic location on an east-facing slope with views to the northeast and southeast suggests it served both residential and defensive purposes, typical for castles of that era in Ireland.
What is recorded here
On the lower reaches of an E-facing slope with good views to the NE-E-S. A stream runs c. 125m to the SE. A castle (KK028-012----) is indicated on the Down Survey (1655-6) barony map of Gowran, County Kilkenny, shown in ‘Stragham’ within ‘Kileane Parish’ (Hibernia Regnum, courtesy of Trinity College Dublin). A more elaborate castle is indicated in ‘Strahan’ on the Down Survey (1655-6) parish map of ‘Killfane’ (National Library of Ireland MS720) and the accompanying terrier describes, ‘upon Straham a good Castle in repaire’ with John Cantwell listed as the proprietor in 1640 (ibid.). The castle is shown on the 1st (1839) ed. OS 6-inch map and 1948-9 revision and annotated, ‘Castle (in ruins)’. When visited in 1994 there was no upstanding masonry visible, only a low, irregular and hummocky platform which may indicate where the castle stood. A roughly square bawn (dims. c. 64m NE-SW; c. 70m NW-SE) is visible on satellite imagery (Google Earth, imagery date 27 March 2022).
Compiled by: Jean Farrelly
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