Rockstown Castle

Map Reference: R623463 (1623, 1463)



Rockstown Castle is a tower-house sitting on a rocky outcrop behind the ruins of Rockstown House. It is almost intact with some damage around the doorway above which there are the remains of a machicolation. It is well equipped with narrow defensive slits most of which have square heads. Some of those at the upper storeys have ogee heads. There are some two-light windows at the top floor.



The first floor is missing but the ceiling is vaulted and the corner windows have deep recesses. A spiral stairway, lit by narrow slits, rises in the corner to roof level. Some of the slits have slopstones. The tower-house is similar to some Co Galway types with large rooms occupying the bulk of the building and small rectangular rooms leading off the stairway. The second floor room has a fireplace in the corner. The floor above is missing but above that is another vault. There are good hinge stones at the doorways leading from the stairs.



Three windows at the top floor have deep recesses with round heads. Two of them are two-light and the third may be similar but it is greatly ruined. There are some narrow windows also. The roof is missing but there are some corbels in place. A small tower rises above roof level in one corner. The castle stands near one edge of a rocky outcrop which is divided, just outside the door, by a deep rock-cut ditch.



Just beside Rockstown House is a ruined church with a good two-light window similar to the larger windows in the castle.

Here are some fresh views of Rockstown Castle taken by Liam Bennett.



View of the entrance wall showing the fragmentary machicolation



View of the room above the first vault



A latrine chute



The spiral stairway



The top floor above the second vault



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 Lydacan, Co Galway Ballymalis, Co Kerry Ballybur, Co Kilkenny Burnchurch, Co Kilkenny Foulksrath, Co Kilkenny 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