The Black Castle, Leighlinbridge



Map reference: S692652 (2692, 1652)



A castle was erected in 1320 the control the bridge at Leighlinbridge. The remains today are mainly of 16th century date and consist of a rectangular tower with the SW corner collapsed.



The castle appears to be five storeys high. The ground floor is now only a half storey above present ground level. There is a vault over the first floor. At the top floor there are traces of a mural passage on all sides.



At the eastern wall there is a machicolation which guarded the entrance.



In the adjoining garden there are fragments of a bawn wall with defensive loops. Hugh deLacy may have built a castle on this site in 1180 but it was superseded by a Carmellite friary in 1260. the present structure is said to have been built by Sir Edward Bellingham in 1547. Leighlinbridge was captured by Cromwellian forces under Colonel Hewson in 1650.





Return to County Carlow List
Return to Gazetteer