Kilgobbin Castle (Dublin)

Last updated

Kilgobbin Castle
Native name
Irish: Caisleán Chill Ghobáin
Sesson Castle
View of Kilgoben (Kilgobbin) Castle, 5 miles from Dublin - RIA MS 3 C 3115 - From Watercolour by Gabriel Beranger - ca.1729-1817.jpg
18th century sketch of Kilgobbin Castle by Gabriel Beranger
Type tower house
LocationKilgobbin Road, Stepaside,
Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown, Ireland
Coordinates 53°15′35″N6°12′47″W / 53.25966°N 6.21311°W / 53.25966; -6.21311 Coordinates: 53°15′35″N6°12′47″W / 53.25966°N 6.21311°W / 53.25966; -6.21311
Builtc. 1476
Architectural style(s) Norman
Dublin map.png
Red pog.svg
Location of Kilgobbin Castle in Dublin
Ireland adm location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Kilgobbin Castle (Dublin) (Ireland)

Kilgobbin Castle is a 15th-century tower house in Dublin, Ireland.

Contents

Location

Kilgobbin Castle is located to the north of Stepaside and east of Two Rock, guarding the southern approach to Dublin from County Wicklow.

History

Archeological excavations have shown that the site of the tower house was inhabited long before it was built; there is evidence of 11th–12th century metalworking, a 13th-century "plough pebble" and 13th–14th century pottery. [1]

Kilgobbin Castle was built by the Cambro-Norman [2] Walsh family c. 1476, as one of the Pale towers built after King Henry VI, in 1429, awarded a grant of ten pounds to any man who built a castle on the edge of the Pale; it was one of several on the southern edge of The Pale. [3] In 1476 the castle was sacked by the O'Byrnes. [3]

In 1641 the Walshes were dispossessed, with the castle going to Adam Loftus, who then rented it to Mathew Talbot, an officer in the Confederate Irish Army, and the castle was an important site in the Irish Confederate Wars of the 1640s, including a skirmish near the castle in January 1642. After that war it was granted to Dr. John Harding of Trinity College, Dublin. [4] In the 19th century it was owned by the Eustaces, the McDonnells and the judge and scholar Richard Nutley. [5]

It was occupied by several further owners until falling into ruin by the early 19th century. [6] [7] Antiquarian John Lee visited Kilgobbin Castle in 1806–7 and noted it was formerly called Sesson Castle. [8]

Local legend claimed Kilgobbin Castle was haunted by a man in a suit of armor and a woman who carried a bucket of water and rattled coins in her apron. [9]

Building

Early 19th century description of castle, from the Dublin Penny Journal Kilgobbin Castle, County of Dublin (IA jstor-30004185).pdf
Early 19th century description of castle, from the Dublin Penny Journal

The castellated fortification is a tall square tower. Only two of the walls are still standing, the north and east walls having collapsed in 1832. The entrance is in the west wall. [7] It is three storeys high with thick granite walls, arrow slits and a vaulted ground floor ceiling. A service tower on the southeast corner contains a spiral staircase and garderobe. [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Pale</span> Part of Ireland controlled by England in the Late Middle Ages

The Pale or the English Pale was the part of Ireland directly under the control of the English government in the Late Middle Ages. It had been reduced by the late 15th century to an area along the east coast stretching from Dalkey, south of Dublin, to the garrison town of Dundalk. The inland boundary went to Naas and Leixlip around the Earldom of Kildare, towards Trim and north towards Kells. In this district, many townlands have English or French names, the latter associated with Norman influence in England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trim Castle</span> Largest Norman castle in Ireland (ruin), Trim, County Meath

Trim Castle is a castle on the south bank of the River Boyne in Trim, County Meath, Ireland, with an area of 30,000 m2. Over a period of 30 years, it was built by Hugh de Lacy and his son Walter as the caput of the Lordship of Meath. The Irish Government currently own and are in charge of the care of the castle, through the state agency The Office of Public Works (OPW).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roscrea</span> Town in County Tipperary, Ireland

Roscrea is a market town in County Tipperary, Ireland, which in 2016 had a population of 5,446. Roscrea is one of the oldest towns in Ireland, having developed around the 7th century monastery of Saint Crónán of Roscrea, parts of which remain preserved today.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swords Castle</span>

Swords Castle is an early medieval castle located in Swords, Dublin. Originally built for the Archbishops of Dublin in the early 13th century near the Ward River, some of the castle estate had fallen into disrepair by the 14th and 15th centuries. At least partially occupied through the 16th and 17th centuries, the castle was used as a place of rendezvous by Anglo-Irish Catholic families during the 1641 Rebellion. The site was afforded protection as a national monument and placed under the guardianship of the Office of Public Works in the early 20th century. As of the late 20th and early 21st century, the site was subject to a program of "long term phased restoration", and is partially opened for tours. The site is listed on Fingal County Council's Record of Protected Structures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stepaside, Dublin</span> Suburban village on outskirts of Dublin, Ireland

Stepaside is a village in the townland of Kilgobbin, on the southern edge of Dublin, in Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown, Ireland. The area is 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) south of Dundrum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newcastle, County Wicklow</span> Village in County Wicklow, Ireland

Newcastle is a village in County Wicklow, Ireland. It is situated on the R761 and is about 45 km (28 mi) south of Dublin city. Newcastle had a population of 924 as of the 2016 census. The ancient barony of Newcastle, which surrounds the village, takes its name from the village and its Norman castle.

The Black Dog was a prison in Newhall Market, now Cornmarket, in Dublin, Ireland. Built as a square tower and originally known as Browne's Castle, the site became a tavern and was in use as a prison from at least the 17th century. It was in use up until the late 18th century, when it was replaced by a number of new prisons, including Newgate Prison and a new Sheriff's Prison on Green Street.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kilgobbin Cross</span> High cross in Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown, Ireland

Kilgobbin Cross is a high cross and National Monument located in Stepaside, County Dublin, Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tully's Castle</span> Castle in South Dublin, Ireland

Tully's Castle is a castle and a National Monument in Clondalkin, Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slade Castle</span> Tower house in County Wexford, Ireland

Slade Castle is a tower house and National Monument in County Wexford, Ireland. It is located in the village of Slade on the Hook Peninsula and primarily dates to the late 15th or early 16th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King John's Castle (Carlingford)</span> Enclosure castle in County Louth, Ireland

King John's Castle, also known as Carlingford Castle, is an enclosure castle and National Monument located in Carlingford, County Louth, Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drishane Castle</span> Tower house in County Cork, Ireland

Drishane Castle is a MacCarthy tower house and National Monument located in County Cork, Ireland. In modern times the name is also used to refer to the adjacent house which dates from the 18th century. It is located 2.2 km (1.4 mi) northeast of Millstreet, on the south bank of the Munster Blackwater.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tallaght Castle</span> Former castle founded in the 14th century in Tallaght, Ireland

Tallaght Castle was a castle in Kilnamanagh, Tallaght, County Dublin, Ireland. It dates from the 14th Century. It became an official residence of the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin until 1822. It was taken over by the Dominican Order in 1856.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ratass Church</span> Church in County Kerry, Ireland

Ratass Church is a medieval church with ogham stone inscriptions in Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland. It is a National Monument.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ballymalis Castle</span> Tower house in County Kerry, Ireland

Ballymalis Castle is a tower house and National Monument located in County Kerry, Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King John's Castle (Kilmallock)</span> Tower house/peel tower in County Limerick, Ireland

King John's Castle or King's Castle is a tower house and National Monument located in Kilmallock, Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Desmond Hall and Castle</span> Castle and great hall in County Limerick, Ireland

Desmond Hall and Castle, also called Desmond Castle and Banqueting Hall or Newcastle West Medieval Complex and Desmond Hall, are a set of medieval buildings and National Monuments located in Newcastle West, Ireland. For over 200 years, it belonged to the Fitzgerald family, Earls of Desmond.

Rathdown Castle is a ruined castle and ancient settlement site located in County Wicklow, Ireland.

Reeves Castle is a 14th-century tower house (castle) located in County Kildare, Ireland. On the Record of Monuments and Places it bears the codes KD015-001 (enclosure) and KD015-002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White's Castle</span> Castle in Athy, Ireland

White's Castle is a 16th-century tower house in Athy, County Kildare, Ireland. Built on the site of an earlier 15th-century castle, White's Castle was built to guard the main river crossing in Athy and was extended over successive centuries.

References

  1. ↑ "Final Excavation Report, Landsdown Old Wesley Grounds, Kilgobbin, Co. Dublin" (PDF).
  2. ↑ Gresley, John Morewood (1860). "Anastatic drawing society - Google Books" . Retrieved 21 May 2022– via Books.google.ie.
  3. 1 2 3 "Kilgobbin castle, Co. Dublin | Irish Archaeology". Irisharchaeology.ie. 1 March 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  4. ↑ Hone, Joseph Maunsell (2002). The New Neighbourhood of Dublin - Joseph Maunsell Hone - Google Books. ISBN   9781899047789 . Retrieved 21 May 2022– via Books.google.ie.
  5. ↑ Fennell, Paul (10 May 2016). "Haunted: A Guide to Paranormal Ireland - Paul Fennell - Google Books" . Retrieved 21 May 2022– via Books.google.ie.
  6. ↑ Fitzachary, John Christopher (1884). "The Bridal of Drimna: And Other Poems - John Christopher Fitzachary - Google Books" . Retrieved 21 May 2022– via Books.google.ie.
  7. 1 2 "Ireland In Ruins: Kilgobbin Castle Co Dublin". Irelandinruins.blogspot.com. 7 August 2011. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  8. ↑ Byrne, Angela (26 October 2018). A Scientific, Antiquarian and Picturesque Tour: John (Fiott) Lee in Ireland ... - Google Books. ISBN   9780429762352 . Retrieved 21 May 2022– via Books.google.ie.
  9. ↑ "Kilgobbin Castle, Stepaside. South County Dublin 1476 > a spooky castle on the border of the Pale | Curious Ireland". Curiousireland.ie. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.