Rathmacknee Castle

Map Reference: T031140 (3031, 1140)



Rathmacknee Castle was probably built by John Rossiter who was made Seneschal of the Liberties of Wexford in 1451. The Rossiters remains Catholic after the Reformation and retained the property until the Cromwellian era. The castle is a good tower-house set at one corner of a five-sided bawn.



The bartizan at the corner of the bawn

The bawn is almost complete and has a machicolation over the east gateway and a round bartizan at the north-east corner. There are remains of a second bartizan at the north-west corner. The wall-walk which is intact on two sides may be reached by a flight of steps.



Most of the south wall is missing and there is a house built against the west and south-west walls. The tower rises to five storeys.



Underneath the vault

The ceiling of the first floor room is vaulted. There is a murder-hole over the doorway. The top of the hole seems to come from above first floor level but this is not clear. There is a secret chamber, entered from second floor level through a hole in the floor of a small mural chamber. A good latrine chute leads from a garderobe at this level. A straight mural stairway rises to roof level. The roof walk is intact and three corner towers rise above the roof level. The tower has a good batter and traces of crenellations.



The mural stairway



The fireplace above the vault



The roof walk or allure







One of the corner turrets



View of the corner of the bawn from the top of the tower-house



One of the small windows with seats



Some of the two-light windows in the east wall

For more photos of Rathmacknee Castle click HERE

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 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 Taghmon, Co Wexford Threecastles, Co Wicklow