Unofficial guide. Not the National Monuments Service, the OPW, Fáilte Ireland or the landowner. Disclaimer
At a glance
- TypeCastle - unclassified
- Condition (as surveyed)Ruined
What to look for
- Vaulted floor
Picked out from the Archaeological Survey description below.
Can you visit?
- No source says it is open to the public.Most monuments in Ireland stand on private farmland.
- Ask the landowner before crossing fields, close gates, leave the stones as you find them.Visiting responsibly
History and description
The Down Survey (1655-6) parish map of Powerstown, in the barony of Gowran, indicates a castle in Drumroe townland, which subsequently became Mountloftus townland (Hibernia Regnum, courtesy of Trinity College Dublin). The terrier accompanying this parish map mentions, 'There[i]s on Drumroe a Ruinous Castle' with the 'Earle of Ormond' listed as the proprietor in 1640 (ibid.).
Full archaeological record 91 words
The Down Survey (1655-6) parish map of Powerstown, in the barony of Gowran, indicates a castle in Drumroe townland, which subsequently became Mountloftus townland (Hibernia Regnum, courtesy of Trinity College Dublin). The terrier accompanying this parish map mentions, 'There[i]s on Drumroe a Ruinous Castle' with the 'Earle of Ormond' listed as the proprietor in 1640 (ibid.). According to O'Kelly (1969, 88) the castle was formerly a Cavanagh stronghold of which 'only the vaulted stone chambers remain'. O'Kelly (ibid.) also mentions a tradition that the castle was 'erected on a rath' (KK025-022002-).
Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Compiled by Jean Farrelly · Updated 1 March 2022. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.
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Cloghasty South Castle
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Dungarvan Castle
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Dungarvan Motte
Castle - motte · Dungarvan (Gowran By., Bennettsbridge Ed) · Kilkenny · 7.8 km away
Castlefield Castle
Castle - unclassified · Castlefield · Kilkenny · 9.2 km away
Also recorded nearby
Named sites within 5 km with only a short entry in the Archaeological Survey.
- TobernadeanRitual site - holy well · Pollagh (Gowran By.) · 0.9 km · official record
In a small wooded area. Indicated on the 1st (1839) ed. OS 6-inch map and the 1900 revision as 'Tobernavean', with a stream running eastward from the well.
- ToberkyleRitual site - holy well · Gorteen (Gowran By.) · 1.6 km · official record
Indicated as 'Toberkyle' in Gothic script on the 1st (1839) ed. OS 6-inch map and on the 1900 revision.
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Around Drumroe Castle
Other heritage nearby
- ToberboyHoly well · 1.1 km
- Powerstown Church ruinAncient church · 1.9 km
- Aughkiletaun Holy WellHoly well · 2.9 km
- Ballyellin ChurchAncient church · 3.1 km
- ToberanvallaghHoly well · 3.2 km
- Grange Upper ChurchAncient church · 3.7 km
Recorded within 5 km
- 8 holy wellsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 8 ancient churchesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 6 castlesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 4 megalithic tombsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 4 ringfortsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 2 high crossesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 abbey or friaryArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 standing stoneArchaeological Survey of Ireland
Walks and trails
- East Kilkenny Cycle RouteRoad Cycling Trail · 62.6 km · nearest point 2.1 km
- The Columban Way - St Mullins Feeder (River Route)Pilgrim Path · 30.9 km · nearest point 2.4 km
- Barrow WayLong Distance Waymarked Way · 117.0 km · nearest point 3.9 km
Outdoors, towns and places to stay
- GowranWalled towns · 6.0 km
- ThomastownWalled towns · 14 km
Other attractions nearby
- St Moling's Trail - Driving RouteHistoric Houses and Castle · 3.9 km
- St Mary's Church GowranHistoric Houses and Castle · 6.0 km
- Duiske AbbeyHistoric Houses and Castle · 7.4 km
- Riverboat AdventuresNature and Wildlife · 7.5 km
What's on nearby
- Pa Sheehy The Magic We Found Tour2026-11-05 · 19 km
- Kilkenomics2026-11-06 · 18 km
- Kilkenomics2026-11-07 · 18 km