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
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