Site of Castle

On the S end of a low-lying natural ridge with its long axis N-S, occupying a central position in a field at the lower east end of the town, NE of River Street. It is not particularly commanding as it is situated at the very western foothills of the Slieveardagh Hills. It is surrounded by marsh on its N, E and S sides with a river running N-S forming the townland boundary 20m to the W. Church (TS054-050001-) and graveyard (TS054-050002-) 173m to the SW. In 1441 the castle in Killenaule belonged to Stanon, the first Lord of Knight (Hassett 1990, 26-7). Walter De Burgo was held in the Earl of Ormond's prison "in the Castle of the town of Killenayl" in 1442 (ibid.). In 1482, Walter, son of William Hackett was also threatened with imprisonment in the castle prison (COD, vol.3, 1413-1509, 246-7). Flat-topped earthen mound (top diam. 16m N-S; 24m E-W; H 3m max.), not a typical motte, being relatively unimpressive in size and non-strategic in its location, with only limited views of the hinterland. The motte is accompanied by a low sub-rectangular bailey (dims. 16m N-S; 24m E-W; H 1.05m above fosse on W side; H 1.15m above surrounding field level) on its E side. It is quite precipitous on its S and W faces with a more gentle gradient to the N and E. Cattle scratching post in bailey. The stone castle, first mentioned in 1441, is not visible at ground level. The motte and bailey are separted from each other by a berm or trackway 4m wide outside of which there is a fosse 6m wide runnning N-S. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 26 August 2011