Unofficial guide. Not the National Monuments Service, the OPW, Fáilte Ireland or the landowner. Disclaimer
At a glance
- TypeCastle - motte
- Date or period mentioned1954
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
In gently rolling terrain, at the W end of Dungarvan village, S of the public road, in pasture. A tributary of the River Nore flows c. 600m SE of the village.
Full archaeological record 159 words
In gently rolling terrain, at the W end of Dungarvan village, S of the public road, in pasture. A tributary of the River Nore flows c. 600m SE of the village. Carrigan (1905, vol. 3, 417) mentions, ‘The great circular dun or “moat,” from which the first part of the name [of the village] is taken, is situated in Dungarvan village’.
A flat-topped steep-sided mound (diam. at summit 29.5m x 21.5m) overgrown with trees and scrub (Farrelly et al. 1993 field notes). The summit is defined by a slight bank (ibid.). The motte has been quarried into around the base in the W sector and a Marian grotto was built into the N side in 1954 (ibid.)The N side, which runs along the road, has been landscaped above a retaining stone wall. A possible curving bank c. 27m to the W may be the remains of an associated bailey or could be upcast around the edge of quarrying (ibid.).
Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Compiled by Jean Farrelly · Updated 27 April 2021. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.
More castles nearby
Dungarvan Castle
Castle - tower house · Dungarvan (Gowran By., Bennettsbridge Ed) · Kilkenny · 0.2 km away
Castlefield Castle
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Ballynaboley Castle
Castle - tower house · Ballynaboley (Gowran By.) · Kilkenny · 2.6 km away
Stroan Castle
Castle - unclassified · Stroan · Kilkenny · 3.3 km away
Neigham Castle
Castle - tower house · Neigham · Kilkenny · 3.6 km away
Kilbline Castle
Castle - tower house · Kilbline · Kilkenny · 3.8 km away
Also recorded nearby
Named sites within 5 km with only a short entry in the Archaeological Survey.
- St. David's WellRitual site - holy well · Tullaherin · 0.8 km · official record
Indicated as 'David's Well' in Gothic script on the 1st (1839) ed. OS 6-inch map and on the 1899-1902 revision, though on the later map a pump house is also indicated at the location of the well.
- ToberatooRitual site - holy well · Castlegarden · 2.1 km · official record
In marshy ground, in rough pasture. Indicated as 'Toberatoo' in Gothic script on the 1st (1839) ed. OS 6-inch map and on the 1899-1902 revision.
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Around Dungarvan Motte
Other heritage nearby
- Dungarvan Church (site of)Ancient church · 0.1 km
- Ballynaboley ChurchAncient church · 2.4 km
- Tullaherin ChurchAncient church · 2.4 km
- Tullaherin II (Ogham Stone Concept by the Ogham in 3D Project)Ogham stone · 2.4 km
- Tullaherin Round TowerRound tower · 2.4 km
- Kilfane Glen and WaterfallWaterfall · 3.8 km
Recorded within 5 km
- 9 castlesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 6 ancient churchesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 4 holy wellsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 2 ogham stonesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 ringfortArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 round towerArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 waterfallArchaeological Survey of Ireland
Walks and trails
- East Kilkenny Cycle RouteRoad Cycling Trail · 62.6 km · nearest point 3.0 km
- South Kilkenny Cycle LoopRoad Cycling Trail · 43.2 km · nearest point 3.6 km
- O'Gormans LaneWalking Trail · 4.5 km · nearest point 4.7 km
Outdoors, towns and places to stay
- GowranWalled towns · 5.2 km
- ThomastownWalled towns · 7.3 km
Other attractions nearby
- Tullaherin Round TowerHistoric Houses and Castle · 2.4 km
- Kilfane Glen and WaterfallGardens · 3.8 km
- Kilfane ChurchHistoric Houses and Castle · 3.8 km
- St Mary's Church GowranHistoric Houses and Castle · 5.2 km
What's on nearby
- Pa Sheehy The Magic We Found Tour2026-11-05 · 13 km
- Kilkenomics2026-11-06 · 13 km
- Kilkenomics2026-11-07 · 13 km