Unofficial guide. Not the National Monuments Service, the OPW, Fáilte Ireland or the landowner. Disclaimer
At a glance
- TypeCastle - unclassified
- Recorded sizeext. 15.7m NE-SW x 8.5m NW-SE
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
Midway down an E-facing slope in marshland. This castle is indicated on the Down Survey (1655-6) barony map of Gowran, in what was then the townland of 'Grangecoolepople' and on the Down Survey parish map of Teiscoffin (Hibernia Regnum, courtesy of Trinity College Dublin).
Full archaeological record 170 words
Midway down an E-facing slope in marshland. This castle is indicated on the Down Survey (1655-6) barony map of Gowran, in what was then the townland of 'Grangecoolepople' and on the Down Survey parish map of Teiscoffin (Hibernia Regnum, courtesy of Trinity College Dublin). The terrier which accompanied the parish map does not survive so there is no information on who the proprietor was in 1640.
A very ruinous rectangular castle (ext. dims. 15.7m NE-SW x 8.5m NW-SE) largely visible as grass-covered wall-footings, with the NW and NE wall-footings of an adjoining annex at the W angle (L 2.6m and 3m respectively). The walls of the main structure have collapsed and slumped outwards (Wth 2m; max. H 1.1m). Where visible, remnants of extant masonry indicate randomly coursed limestone rubble construction. There is an associated well (KK020-022002-), known as 'Castle Well', c. 110m to the SW of castle on the E bank of a stream. The earthworks of a deserted settlement (KK020-022004-) are visible immediately E and S of the castle.
Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Compiled by Jean Farrelly · Updated 24 November 2020. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.
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Blanchvillestown Castle
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Castlewarren Castle
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Ballyshanemore Castle
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Lavistown Castle
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Also recorded nearby
Named sites within 5 km with only a short entry in the Archaeological Survey.
- Freneystown CastleCastle - tower house · Freneystown · 2.5 km · official record
Visitors' notes
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Around Moonhall Castle
Other heritage nearby
- Tobar NeaskaHoly well · 0.4 km
- Churchclara ChurchAncient church · 1.8 km
- Saint Colman's WellHoly well · 1.8 km
- Freneystown Church (site of)Ancient church · 2.7 km
- Saint Scoheen's WellHoly well · 2.7 km
- Kylebeg ChurchAncient church · 3.1 km
Recorded within 5 km
- 9 ringfortsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 8 ancient churchesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 7 castlesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 6 holy wellsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 3 ogham stonesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 hillfortArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 monastic siteArchaeological Survey of Ireland
Walks and trails
- East Kilkenny Cycle RouteRoad Cycling Trail · 62.6 km · nearest point 5.0 km
- South Kilkenny Cycle LoopRoad Cycling Trail · 43.2 km · nearest point 5.2 km
- Nore Valley Walk - Kilkenny to Bennetsbridge SectionLong Distance Waymarked Way · 8.2 km · nearest point 5.8 km
Outdoors, towns and places to stay
- Coill an FhaltaighForests · 14 km
- JenkinstownForests · 14 km
- Ballykeefe Nature ReserveNature reserves · 19 km
- GowranWalled towns · 5.0 km
- KilkennyWalled towns · 8.9 km
Other attractions nearby
- St Mary's Church GowranHistoric Houses and Castle · 5.0 km
- Hawkeye School of FalconryNature and Wildlife · 5.3 km
- Hurling Tours IrelandAttraction · 7.8 km
- Nowlan Park Gaelic StadiumAttraction · 8.0 km
What's on nearby
- Pa Sheehy The Magic We Found Tour2026-11-05 · 9.1 km
- Kilkenomics2026-11-06 · 8.5 km
- Kilkenomics2026-11-07 · 8.5 km

