What is recorded here

Naas West holds the vanished Black Castle, perhaps Lyard's Castle, beside its motte. Rescue digging in 1979 recovered little more than a thirteenth-century pit, a cess pit, part of a fourteenth-century wall and scattered pottery. The castle itself has given up almost nothing, as if it wanted to stay hidden beneath Naas.

The site of the Black Castle is shown immediately E of the motte (KD019-030009-) on the OS 6-inch map. According to Bradley et al. (1986 vol. 4, 350), it may also have been known as Lyard's Castle. In 1979 rescue archaeological excavations took place at Nos. 14, 15 and 16 Main Street North, an area of c. 1400 m-square adjacent to the motte, and in the environs of the suggested location of the castle. Previous site clearance of most of the area had exposed natural gravel and archaeological deposits survived only as a 13th C circular stone-lined pit, a cess pit and part of a 14th century wall. Finds included some one hundred pottery sherds of local ware including eleven sherds of 'Leinster cooking ware'. The ring from a medieval ring-brooch and three sherds of early 16th century Beauvais medallion jugs (both green and yellow) were found in disturbed contexts. (www.excavations.ie; Murtagh 1983-4, 355-61) Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy Date of upload: 10 June 2011

The Black Castle near Naas was likely built by the Lyard family in the 13th century. It is remembered as an example of early medieval fortification in the region and is associated with local historical and archaeological significance.

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