Kilcolman Castle

On sloping ground, overlooking Kilcolman bog to S. Rectangular tower (8m E-W; 7.8m N-S) with added garderobe tower (3m E-W; 1m N-S) projecting from E end of S wall (see plan Cotter 1994, 91-6). Most of structure now stands only to 2nd-floor level, but S wall and SE corner survive to 3rd-floor. Extensively renovated in 1850s (Newman Johnson 1990, 420). External facing stones of W wall robbed out, exposing rubble core of wall and outline of internal vault.

Entrance via rebuilt ground-floor doorway in E wall, leading into short passage which gives access straight through to ground-floor chamber. Doorway in S wall of passage gives access to spiral stairs leading to 2nd-floor chamber.

Ground-floor chamber (5.8m E-W; 3.8m N-S) lit by rebuilt ope with straight ingoings in N wall; light missing. Inserted doorway in S wall with straight ingoing on E side, splayed on W; spud-stone for door at ground level on E side. First floor is attic chamber covered by vault (long axis E-W), lit by lintelled slit window in S wall; access probably through wooden floor. At 2nd-floor level pointed-arch door leads from stairs to main chamber (c. 7m E-W; c. 5.2m N-S), which has concrete floor. Only S wall survives, with wide segmental-arched window embrasure with stone seats, and single cusped ogee-headed light. In SE corner of chamber pointed-arch door leads into small lobby from which spiral stairs rise to upper levels, and doorway leads S to garderobe chamber. Latter lit by lintelled slit window in S and W walls.

At 3rd-floor level is garderobe chamber (2m E-W; 1.8m N-S), entered from stairs via collapsed doorway; lit by lintelled slit windows in E and S walls; slab over garderobe chute is upturned window sill.

Traces of bawn wall survive, enclosing area c. 50m N-S, 35m E-W (see plan, Cotter 1994, 93); stretch of wall (L c. 30m; H c. 1.5m; T c. 1m) begins 4m S of SE corner of tower-house, and extends E for c. 30m; corner tower (3m x 3m) at E end with traces of garderobe chute on E side; from corner tower low grass-covered ridge extends N for c. 50m, to outline of possible second rectangular corner tower.

Recent excavations by Dr. Eric Klingelhofer uncovered remains of latter tower; evidence of structure attached to SE corner of tower house, identified by excavator as Elizabethan 'parlour'; rectangular structure to E along S bawn wall identified as medieval hall (Klingelhofer 1996, 7-8; 1997, 13-14).

Castle of the Earl of Desmond, who acquired Kilcolman from Barrys in 1430 (Nicholls 1993, 190); granted to Edmund Spenser in 1590 (Grove White 1905-25, vol. 3, 264); Spenser ousted and castle burned in 1598 (ibid., 267). Described in 1750 as being 'now almost level with the ground' (Smith 1750, vol. 1, 333).