Friday 20 November 2020

Grantstown Castle, Laois

Tower Houses are usually percieved as upright rectangular structures resembling a small Castle. In fact they are more often than not called Castles rather than Tower Houses.

There are however a few circular exceptions to the usual rectangular shape we associate them with. I have no idea exactly how many circular Tower Houses there are in Ireland but I've come across at least three that spring to mind.

Given their unusual shape and presumably rare occurance in the Irish architectural landscape it would be reasonable to believe that their preservation would be of the utmost priority but unfortunately that doesn't seem to be the case.

I'm not even sure circular Tower House is the right description for them. Perhaps to be geometrically correct I should refer to them as tubular Tower Houses. That sounds like a good name for a Mike Oldfield composition, a surefire hit.

Leaving my waffling quickly behind I'll get to the topic of this post. Grantstown Castle in Laois is an example of an unusual circular Tower House. It is located on private land but the owner was very welcoming and was happy to let me cross his land to have a look at the Castle.

Viewed from the road the Tower House looks in good shape but on closer inspection while walking around it there was very obvious evidence of a large amount of bad structural damage.

The walls have completely collapsed in places and there is no roofing at all.

It was described as "roofless" but in good condition in 1905 (Carrigan 1905 vol. 2, 63).

The Tower House at Grantstown is beside a lake, Grantstown Lake.

It appears to offer recreational angling and looks like a nice place to visit in its own right though I didn't visit it myself.

Archaeological records show a Crannóg existed here on the lake at Grantstown.

A Crannóg is a man made Island usually constructed by driving wooden wedges and stakes into a lake bed and dropping further material onto that base.

Small huts and houses can then be constructed on the Crannóg and the surrounding water acts as a natural defensive barrier.

They are usually associated with the Iron age but were used in certain places right up until the early medieval period.

At one time Grantstown Castle belonged to Gilbert Rawson Quartermaster of his Majesty's Regiment of Guards in Ireland.

It then came into the possesion of Edmond Morris who was killed at the Battle of Aughrim in Galway and his estate was forfeited.

Edmond's wife and children petitioned for the Castle and land but their plea was dismissed before finally the Castle was granted to the Fitzpatricks by William of Orange in 1696. It may originally have been a Fitzpatrick Castle before Rawson occupied it in the first instance.

There is a troubling feature of Grantstown Castle that is not unique to this particular Tower House and which is the disturbing lack of conservation materials or works that appear, or should I say don't appear, to have taken place in order to avoid the total collapse of the building.

The landowner has taken time and effort to fence off the structure and keep cattle out. State investment in the preservation and protection of these type of buildings would be of help I should imagine.

Tangible physical intervention would be nice to see alongside the existing statutory protections which are already in place but can do little to stay the tide of decay and eventual collapse.

The establishment of the Irish Georgian Society saved and preserved many fine Georgian buildings throughout Ireland which might otherwise have been lost to future generations forever.

Perhaps it is entirely possible that some day one of Ireland's many homegrown philanthropic Billionaire developers will come to the rescue in an altruistic fugue and organise an "Irish Tower House Society" dedicated to their restoration and preservation so that future generations can enjoy these beautiful buildings too.

One lives in hope.

Coordinates here:

52°52'06.4"N 7°30'34.7"W

52.868436 - 7.509637

Sunday 15 November 2020

Killinagh Cursing Stone, Cavan

Killinagh Cursing Stone

Just outside the village of Blacklion in County Cavan is a wonderful example of a Bullaun Stone, the Killinagh Cursing Stone.

The area is also known as Termon and lies beside Lough MacNean. It's signposted with an easily missed sign marked "Killinagh Old Graveyard and 12th Century Cemetery."

Also known as Saint Brigid's Stone this is a large multiple Bullaun stone with two smaller Bullaun stones lying alongside.

It's one of a few Bullaun stones in Ireland which have a large number of depressions carved into them and is well worth taking time out to visit. I counted at least 15 depressions in the bullaun stones here.

The Killinagh Cursing Stone is of unknown origin and may predate christianity. It was possibly used during the Iron age by Celts or Druids for some type of pagan ritual.

This is just supposition on my behalf or anyone elses for that matter. At present there is no definitive proof for the origins or purpose of Ireland's Bullauns.

These enigmatic stones are still shrouded in mystery and mystique.

The stones may also have had other uses, perhaps used as vessels for grinding grains etc. The many Bullauns on this particular stone make that proposition seem unlikely in this particular instance.

There are a remarkable number of depressions/sockets in the Bullaun stones at Killinagh and each socket holds it's own little stone which would have been turned in a particular direction as part of an ancient ritual.

Local tradition has it that the stones were used if you wanted to place a curse on your enemy although apparently the curse could backfire on the spell caster if the correct procedure wasn't followed carefully.

There is a nearby ruined Church here which has inverted heart or spade shapes carved onto two stones on an exterior wall of the Church.

I have no idea what these particular carvings represent but they are very unusual. I'm sure there must be an interesting story behind these stones in the wall though just what it is is anyone's guess.

I'm not an architect but I presume it's a late medieval Church with later additions.

There is also an overgrown circular enclosure on the site which is surrounded by a low stone wall.

Inside there are two small upright stones on the edge of the circle which look like they might have acted as some type of entrace stones. The interior of the enclosure is slightly below ground level.

It was very overgrown when I visited but still easy enough to enter and visually get some idea of the layout. The enclosure is known variously as

"Saint Brigids House" or "The Queen's Bed."

Previously it has been suggested that the enclosure may have once been an unclassified Megalithic Tomb of some type. No one can be sure of that though it is an intriguing little oasis nonetheless.

Between the ancient 12th Century Cemetery, Church ruins, unclassified enclosure and the Killinagh Cursing Stone there is every reason to visit the Cavan town of Blacklion for a pleasant day out and to see some nearby mysterious and historical artifacts.

Killinagh Cursing Stone in County Cavan is a particularly fine example of a large multiple Bullaun Stone and probably one of the nicest in Ireland. Do go and see it if you ever get the chance....