Carrickabraghy Castle

Carrickabraghy Castle: Probably 16th century in date this tower-house was occupied by Phelemy Brasleigh O'Doherty in 1600. Granted to Chichester at the time of the Plantation in 1611, it was let to 'Liuetent Hoan, who is bound to rebuild the castle. He hath already finished a good bawne (DG003-002002-) of lyme and stone' (Davies and Swan 1939, 195-7; Hunter 1975, 82). It is prominently sited on a high promontory of outcrop on the seashore. The keep is small and built of rubble with ashlar quoins laid in a coarse sea-sand mortar; the walls are of uneven thickness and are battered to first-floor level. A ragged opening in the E wall is probably the site of the door and some protruding stones at ground level are probably the footings of the splayed ingoings. There is a splayed window (jambs missing) in the S wall and a wall-press at the SW comer. The N section of the embrasure in the N wall has been completely rebuilt and incorporates a small loop. There is a scarcement at first-floor level and the opposing holes for three joists survive in the E and W walls. Centrally set in the W wall is a large wall-press, 1.15m high with a smaller extension to the S .35m high, built in the thickness of the wall. The segment-headed embrasure in the S wall preserves impressions of the wicker centering on the soffit; it has a small loop. There is another splayed loop in the E wall and a doorway and window (jambs missing) in the N wall. The stairs in the thickness of this wall led to the floor above. This second-floor was probably a secondary addition, as the masonry is different at this level; only a few courses survive. A rudimentary sketch among the OS memoirs shows that this floor was more extensive having two possible windows in the S wall.

Abutting the SE corner of the keep is a secondary subcircular tower with adjoining wall and doorway (period 2 on plan). This wall undoubtedly extended E across the promontory and its outline can be traced for c. 12m. Some 1.5m of faced underpinning survives on the precipice of the promontory in line with this wall; it may have supported a wall or tower (DG003-002003-) in this position. Most of the SE section of the subcircular tower has fallen since Davies and Swan's survey (1939, 196). It still preserves the remains of 3 gun-loops and has a lintelled door on the N with drawbar hole in the E splayed ingoing. The door in the adjoining wall on the E was also lintelled; the lintel fell in 1980. The draw-bar hole and socket (pecked lines on plan) still remain. There is a gun-loop immediately W of this door. It is partly blocked by a short stretch of wall which runs N-S (Period 3). The upper courses are bonded into the E-W wall and it has two gun loops; the S protects the doorway. These loops are partly blocked by fallen masonry. There may have been a jamb at the N end of this wall; a door in this position would have effectively sealed off the keep and tower.

A pile of rubble 11m N of the keep is probably the remains of some other structure (DG003-002004-). Some .42m SSE of the keep is a stump of a subcircular tower (DG003-002005-). Only a small W segment remains, c. 1.75m high, preserving one complete loop and the N ingoing of another. It is depicted in the early 19th century sketch as being two storeys in height and crenellated. It is, without doubt coeval with the subcircular tower at the SE corner of the keep and may once have formed part of a more extensive bawn (DG003-002002-). The loop in the E wall of the keep at first floor level is unquestionably in a primary position. If it was intended for musketry, then a date in the 16th century is probable for the tower house (Period 1). Periods 2 and 3 are likely to be contemporary, the latter being simply a secondary defensive addition; they are probably the work of Lieutenant Hoan.