What is recorded here

Castle Barnagh stands as a ruined tower house and bawn on an Offaly rock outcrop, likely the earlier O'Conor stronghold later replaced by Fort Governor. In the 1550 survey it appeared as Castelberne, an old castell nowe waste, suggesting the family had already abandoned the stone before Philipstown grew elsewhere. The low earthen banks still mark where guardians watched the land, while the empty chamber echoes with the forgotten rhythm of a dynasty that moved on.

Rectangular area (c. 21m E-W, c. 20m N-S) defined by low earthen banks and sited on an elevated area on rock outcrop. Large rectangular area (c. 31m N-S, c. 40m E-W) attached to E side of smaller enclosure (OF018-009002-). The two areas probably represent the remains of a tower house and bawn. This may be the castle site that is often referred to as the earlier fort of Daingean (OF018-006001-) which was an important O'Conor stronghold, with its associated church of 'Cill O Duirthi' [Killaderry] (OF010-035002-). It has been suggested that Fort Governor was built on the site of the earlier O'Conor fortification, however Castle Barnagh may have been the earlier O'Conor castle that was later replaced by Fort Governor (OF018-006001-) at a new location around which the sixteenth century settlement of Philipstown grew up around. Referred to in the 1550 survey of Offaly as 'Castelberne' and described an an 'old castell nowe waste' (Curtis 1929, 332; Loeber 1988, vol. 1, 79) . The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 23 May 2011

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