Lydacan Castle

Map Reference: M438080 (1438, 2080)

Lydacan Castle has a doorway which is round-headed on the outside and pointed on the inside in a similar fashion to that at Newtown Castle.



It is in the west wall. At the top of all four walls there are corbels which carried some form of machicolation. To the left of the doorway is a small guard chamber and to the right is a short passage, which leads to a spiral stairway, which rises to roof level. The gap between the two sections of the doorway is accessible from the first floor and presumably serves the same function as a machicolation or a murder-hole. There is also a fine murder-hole protecting the lobby. There is the usual pointed inner door leading from the lobby to the ground floor room. This is a large rectangular room, which is lit by one small slit in the south wall. A slit in the opposite wall has been partly blocked and a fireplace inserted in the wall. There is no chimney and the smoke exits via the remains of the slit. There are good wicker marks in the vault.



There is a second vault above the second floor and one storey above that. The narrow western section of the castle has a vault above the ground floor, another above the second floor and another above the third floor. Thus this part of the castle appears to have five levels and the main section has four levels. At the level below the roof storey a passage runs between the larger and smaller sections to a latrine near the north west corner.



The castle is lit mainly by small single-light windows with a two-light window at the first floor. There are several cross-shaped loops throughout the building. A small turret rises at the southwest corner.













For details of some other Tower Houses click on the following links

Ballynalacken, Co Clare Ballyportry, Co Clare Cratloemoyle, Co Clare Gleninagh, Co Clare Smithstown, Co Clare Ballinacarriga, Co Cork Carrickadroichid, Co Cork Dunmanus, Co Cork Buncrana, Co Donegal Audley’s Castle, Co Down Jordan’s Castle, Co Down Kilclief, Co Down Narrow Water, Co Down Dunsoghly, Co Dublin Ardamullivan, Co Galway Drumharsna, Co Galway Feartagar, Co Galway Ballymalis, Co Kerry Ballybur, Co Kilkenny Burnchurch, Co Kilkenny Foulksrath, Co Kilkenny Rockstown, Co Limerick Castlerea, Co Longford Ardee, Co Louth Killincoole, Co Louth Dunmahon, Co Louth Roodstown, Co Louth Termonfeckin, Co Louth Kildavnet, Co Mayo Kinlough, Co Mayo Rockfleet, Co Mayo Donore, Co Meath Lynch’s Castle, Co Meath Clonony, Co Offaly Shrah, Co Offaly Ballyfinboy, Co Tipperary Ballyvada, Co Tipperary Grallagh, Co Tipperary Graystown, Co Tipperary Lisronagh, Co Tipperary Moycarkey, Co Tipperary Tombrickane, Co Tipperary Syonan, Co Westmeath Tyrrelspass, Co Westmeath Kilcloggan, Co Wexford Rathmacknee, Co Wexford Taghmon, Co Wexford Threecastles, Co Wicklow