Lohort Castle

In level terrain, within Castlelohort demesne. Five-storey rectangular tower (13.6m E-W; 10.2m N-S), with rounded corners. Stepped gable atop E wall and chimney stacks added in 1876 when structure renovated (Grove White 1905-25, vol. 4, 46); different roof-top arrangement shown in drawing of c. 1750, (Smith 1750, vol. 1, opp. 296); tower previously renovated shortly before 1750 by Earl of Egmont (ibid., 297) as residence for his agent; tower continued in occupation until burnt in 1922 (Ó Suilleabhain 1978-9, 10); subsequently renovated and now used as private residence.

Entered through ground-floor doorway near N end of E wall; lobby inside gives access straight through to ground-floor chamber, and S to base of straight flight of steps rising to SE corner, continuing upwards as spiral stairs. Ground-floor chamber has central pillar from which vaulted roof springs; this pillar probably inserted as part of 18th/19th century renovations. Interior of tower not further inspected at owner's request. However, exterior fenestration suggests interior has five main floors, each divided between main chamber to W and smaller mural chamber to E; also present is vault over main 2nd- or 3rd-floor chamber.

In centre of W wall, on each floor except ground, is large double ogee-headed window light with mullion and transom divisions and hood moulding (only head of light surviving on 2nd floor); these appear to be insertions of 18th/19th-century date, as do pairs of similar window lights high up on S and N elevations. Another pair of rectangular double-light windows high up on E face may be original or 17th-century insertion. Otherwise all window lights single narrow openings.

Top of tower has continuous machicolation, carried on series of slender tapering corbels, from N end of E wall along entire length of N and W walls to E end of S wall; at latter point machicolation continues at higher level around SE corner and ends near S end of E wall; gap in machicolation in centre of E wall.

Drawing of c. 1750 (Smith ibid.) shows tower surrounded first by circular water-filled moat (CO024-126002-), then outside that by bastioned fortification (three bastions are shown suggesting a square enclosure with a bastion at each corner), with a water-filled moat surrounding it. This fortification not listed by Gowen (1979) or Kerrigan (1980); probably constructed c. 1641 when Egmont placed a garrison here (Grove White 1905-25, vol. 4, 44); no visible trace of bastion now evident.

Though castle was 'reduced...by a battery of cannon' in 1650 (ibid., 45), no apparent evidence of damage on tower. In 1831 Windele described site as having 'a moat of about 8 feet broad and some depth, filled with water, access over a wooden bridge' (ibid., 46); 1842 OS 6-inch map shows water-filled circular moat but not bastioned fortification. Latter probably infilled when unusual octagonal demesne, with its central rectangular enclosures (1842 OS 6-inch map), laid out probably in conjunction with mid-18th-century renovation of the castle. Circular moat drained in 1876 (ibid., 45), wooden bridge replaced by one of stone; moat still evident (diam. c. 40m; Wth c. 4m; D c. 2m) though edges much collapsed and sod-covered.

Castle of the Mac Donogh Mac Carthy sept (Ó Murchadha 1985, 63); passed into possession of Sir Philip Percival (Egmont) 'in default' when Mac Carthy went into rebellion in 1641 (Grove White ibid., 44).