Draft Carrickmines Castle Conservation Plan 2015-2025 For Public Consultation September 21, 2015 to November 6, 2015 Any comments or observations should be addressed to Tim Carey, A/Senior Parks Supt, Environment Dept, DLR Co Co, County Hall, Marine Road, Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin or email [email protected] and mark subject ‘Draft Carrickmines Castle Conservation Plan’ and the DLR County Council Consultation Hub see www.dlrcoco.ie or dlrcoco.citizenspace.com. Deadline 12:00 noon.

There are a number of reports that provided background information to the production of this plan. Due to the size of these reports they are only available upon request:

Carrickmines Castle Excavations Reports Carrickmines Castle Draft Ecological Report Carrickmines Castle Draft Health and Safety Report 'Carrickmines Castle' Draft Summary and Analysis Carrickmines Castle Ecological Report 19-08-2013 Carrickmines Draft Habitat map Carrickmines Castle-Draft –Building Survey

 

DRAFT CARRICKMINES CASTLE CONSERVATION PLAN September 2015 Text by Jason Bolton with the Carrickmines Castle Conservation Plan Steering Committee: Tim Carey, Heritage Officer, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council Gerry Concannon, Senior Executive Engineer, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council Ian Doyle, Head of Conservation, The Heritage Council Rónán Swan, Head of Archaeology and Heritage, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (formerly NRA) Pamela O’Connor, Senior Architect, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council Julie Craig, Conservation Officer, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.

Permission to use or reprint any of this publication must be obtained directly from Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council ©Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council 2015

 

CONTENTS PART ONE: BACKGROUND AND PROCESS 1.1 Introduction 1.2 The Conservation Plan process 1.3 Scope of the Carrickmines Castle Conservation Plan 1.4 Archaeological Investigations 1.5 Location and extent of the Conservation Plan Area 1.6 Statutory policy and protection 1.7 Current management PART TWO: UNDERSTANDING THE PLACE 2.1 Introduction 2.2 The Castle in Ireland 2.3 The Pale 2.4 Summary description of the site of Carrickmines Castle 2.5 History and archaeology 2.6 Excavation, Controversy and Legal Actions 2.7 Surviving structures at the site of Carrickmines Castle 2.7.1 The Gatehouse 2.7.2 The North Fosse 2.7.3 The East Fosse 2.7.4 The Farm Buildings 2.8 Natural heritage 2.9 Public engagement PART THREE: STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE 3.1 Assessment of Significance 3.2 Defending the Marches of the Pale 3.3 An Archaeological insight into life in medieval County Dublin 3.4 1642 – a moment in time 3.5 A legacy of controversy 3.6 An island within a motorway PART FOUR: CURRENT VULNERABILITIES 4.1 Understanding Carrickmines as a Castle 4.2 Lack of Maintenance of Structures 4.3 Misconceptions and Lack of Knowledge 4.4 Lack of Access 4.5 Security 4.6 Vegetation 4.7 Safety 4.8 Zoning

1 

 

 

PART FIVE : CONSERVATION PLAN POLICIES 5.1 Vision for Carrickmines Castle 5.2 Heritage policies and Actions Reports prepared for the Carrickmines Castle site Bibliography Endnotes

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PART ONE BACKGROUND AND PROCESS 1.1

Introduction

This Conservation Plan for the site of Carrickmines Castle has been prepared by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council in fulfilment of a Ministerial Directive issued by the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government dated 5th August 2004. One part of this directive stated that: ‘A Conservation Plan for the area containing the structures and features to be preserved in situ should be submitted to the NMS [National Monuments Service] before the completion of the archaeological mitigation works. The plan should include a detailed architectural assessment of the farmhouse and other structures. Proposals for the long-term conservation of the area of the monument to be preserved in situ should also be included'. The final report on the archaeological excavations at the site were submitted to the Council in August 2012, allowing the conservation plan process to begin with full knowledge of what has been discovered during archaeological investigations. To fulfil this Ministerial Directive the Council established a Steering Committee consisting of the following members1: Tim Carey, Heritage Officer, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council Gerry Concannon, Senior Executive Engineer, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council Ian Doyle, Head of Conservation, The Heritage Council Rónán Swan, Head of Archaeology, National Roads Authority Pamela O’Connor, Senior Architect, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council Julie Craig, Conservation Officer, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.

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1.2

The Conservation Plan process The Conservation Plan is a process that seeks to guide the future development of a place through an understanding of its significance James Semple Kerr2

A Conservation Plan is a document3 that states why a place is significant, and develops policies to ensure that significance is retained in the long-term. It is driven by the need to understand why a place is important, and it provides a framework for managing the place so that its cultural significance is not lost in the future. The Conservation Plan process was developed after the 1981 Burra Charter of ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites) which introduced the concept of cultural significance as the basis for conservation policy making and management. Conservation Plans were introduced to Ireland in 1998 by The Heritage Council as a useful tool to understand and protect historic sites, to secure funding for conservation works and particularly to achieve consensus for historic places where there are several elements of historic significance and conflicting priorities.

Above: The farmhouse at Carrickmines, c.1960 (left) and the site during archaeological excavations (right).

The Conservation Plan differs from other types of reports used for historic places such as management plans (which can have a wider scope and include financial planning and immediate works) and archaeological or architectural heritage reports (which are often prepared in response to a particular development proposal). A Conservation Plan instead

4 

 

 

focuses on understanding a place, and then translating that understanding into specific policies and actions to care for what is important about a site. Conservation, at its most basic, involves handing on to future generations what we value. Conservation advisors are not there to stand in the way of change, but to negotiate the transition from the past to the present in ways that minimize the damage that change can cause, and maximize the benefits. Kate Clarke 4 Conservation Plans are often the first step in a design process for a historic place. However, it must be stressed that the situation at Carrickmines is an atypical one. This plan has been produced at the end of an incomplete process of discovery about the site. There are limited upstanding remains and these upstanding remains tell, in and of themselves, an incomplete story. There remains almost a complete lack of knowledge of the archaeology of the unexcavated core of the site and there is no intention to recommence excavations. Despite all of this the Conservation Plan and the process of its production remains a useful to tool to re-assess the significance of the place, and provides a focus on the policies for the future of the Carrickmines Castle site. 1.3

Scope of the Carrickmines Castle Conservation Plan

The area that is covered by the Conservation Plan is the area that has been enclosed by the security fencing since the motorway works. This contains what is believed to be the unexcavated core of the Carrickmines complex. Most of the surrounding area has been archaeologically ‘resolved’ and is not dealt with in this document apart from its importance for providing access to the site. In accordance with the principles of the Australian ICOMOS charter for the Conservation of Places of Cultural Significance (the Burra Charter) as revised (2013) and other guidance documents, this conservation plan intends to: •

Understand the Carrickmines Castle site within the limitations set by the low level of knowledge about the site 5 

 

 

•

Assess the significance of the Carrickmines Castle site (including all values)

•

Explore and identify issues which threaten that significance

•

Set appropriate policy aims and objectives to guide the management of the heritage of the place

•

Agree a series of management actions to care for the site by implementing the objectives of the Conservation Plan and its agreed policies.

•

Monitor and review the plan

The Conservation Plan has drawn heavily on the information generated through previous historical and archaeological research arising from past development work at the site including a proposed realignment of Ballyogan Road c.1983, sewerage works c.1996, the laying of a gas pipeline c.1998, and especially the final excavation report arising from archaeological resolution of Carrickmines accompanying the construction of the M50 motorway c.1999-2005. These sources are listed in Table 1. It is fully recognised that there are gaps in our understanding of the site due to the absence of knowledge of the unexcavated core of the site, believed to contain the site of the castle.

Extensive efforts have been made to synthesis the very large body of

archaeological evidence collected during excavations at this location into a meaningful story which explains the history and significance of the place and the sequence of events and developments at the site. 1.4

Archaeological Investigations "…the most extensive rural settlement to have been excavated in the Dublin area…" Thaddeus Breen

Though a considerable amount of information has been generated about the site of Carrickmines Castle, only selected aspects have been published to date. Much of the area surrounding the site was excavated in advance of the construction of the M50 motorway after a series of desktop, aerial and geophysical surveys. This external area was excavated in two phases: first between August 2001 and July 20025, followed by a second phase from September 2002 until March 20056. Therefore most of the area surrounding the site 6 

 

 

was archaeologically investigated. The final report7 issued to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and the National Roads Authority by Valerie J. Keely Ltd. in 2012. Timeline of Historical and Archaeological Research Year

Report

1983

An archaeological report by P. Healy of July 1983 was commissioned by Dublin County Council in relation to a proposed realignment of Ballyogan Road. This identified 23 sites, including Carrickmines Castle8. Ten (10) archaeological reports and surveys produced by Valerie J. Keeley Ltd. on proposed routes, including: 1993, April: Archaeological Report as part of Environmental Impact Assessment REF: Keeley 1993b 1994, February: Revised Assessment based on revised maps. This report noted 'the remains of an old wall ... visible as part of a farm shed' tentatively suggested as part of the castle, and earthworks. 1996, February: Archaeological Assessment of three proposed routes (A, B & 5) Ref: Keeley 1996a 1996, July: 96E236 Archaeological Monitoring of Carrickmines-Shanganagh Main Drainage Scheme by Archaeological Services Unit on behalf of Valerie J. Keeley Ltd. noted post-medieval burning sites (2) and a post-medieval stone drain. 1996, August: Geophysical survey by Valerie J. Keeley Ltd. & Geoquest Associates (REF: VJKeeley & Geoquest 1997) indicated rectangular enclosures and a ditch south of the farmhouse. The earthworks were not surveyed. 1996? Intensive 3D topographical survey by Valerie J. Keeley Ltd. identified eleven (11) possible archaeological features9 1996? Aerial survey of route conducted by Michael Herity on behalf of Valerie J. Keeley Ltd. which noted earthworks north of the castle10. 1996, October: Additional archaeological assessment of routes A & 5 recommended archaeological investigation within vicinity of castle Environmental Impact Assessment published by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council which included the archaeological assessment by Valerie J. Keeley Ltd. The proposed route of the motorway was to pass south of the farmhouse with a link road north of the house affecting the then known earthworks. 98E0445. Archaeological monitoring of a Bord Gais pipeline by Margaret Gowen & Co. Ltd September-November 1998. The pipelines cut through the site, including the middle of the area enclosed by the revetted fosse and crossing the line of the early fosses. A pit containing burnt material was noted but no earthworks were recorded in the report. 00E0045 Archaeological investigation by Niall Brady, Valerie J. Keeley Ltd. opened twelve (12) trenches confirming earthworks and stone features of high archaeological potential. 00E0525. Phase 1 of the main excavations at Carrickmines by Mark Clinton, Valerie J. Keeley Ltd. undertaken August 2000 to July 2002 establishing that the defences comprised three conjoined enclosures. Geophysical survey by Valerie J. Keeley Ltd. & Geoquest Associates in July 2001 identified three parallel fosses, with damage to the site caused by the 1998 gas pipeline. 02E1532. Phase 2 of the main excavations at Carrickmines by Gary Conboy, Valerie J. Keeley Ltd. undertaken September 2002 to March 2005. C196 & Registration No. E3284. Archaeological monitoring of RPA property adjacent to Carrickmines Castle by William Frazer & Carina Errickson, September 2008 identified no significant archaeological features.

1993-6

1997

1998

2000 2000-02 2001 2002-05 2008

Table 1: Previous archaeological and historical research activity at Carrickmines Castle site.

A significant amount of artefactual material was recovered during the archaeological excavations and has been accessioned to the National Museum of Ireland and is held in their repository in Swords, Co. Dublin. These includes pottery, coins, weapons and ammunition, human skeletal remains, metal, glass, wood, leather and clay artefacts, 7 

 

 

agricultural stone artefacts, building materials, animal bones and a considerable amount of environmental evidence. The range and quantity of artefacts uncovered during archaeological excavations of the site led one of the excavators to state: "The site of Carrickmines Castle is among the most important medieval rural excavations ever to take place on the island of Ireland. The sheer scale of the site, coupled with the wide area of excavation and the volume of finds recovered cements its importance"11. All of this material is held by the National Museum of Ireland and forms a valuable source for research. However, while providing much of what we understand about the site this material is outside of the scope of the actions and policies of this Conservation Plan which is instead focused on the significance and preservation of the site.

Artefact finds from Carrickmines Castle

Above: Probable medieval Carrickmines, 02E1532:20141

key

from Above: Medieval turnshow sole with inner repair. 02E525:460:202

Above: Section of 15th/16th century stone Above: Irish penny of Elizabeth I, 1601-2, cusped window head. 02E525:2:8149 02E1532:588:195 Table 2: Sample of artefacts recovered from archaeological excavations at Carrickmines.

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1.5

Location and extent of the Conservation Plan Area

Carrickmines Castle is an archaeological monument in the care of Dún LaoghaireRathdown County Council, and is listed on the statutory Record of Monuments and Places and in the 2010-2016 Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Development Plan. The site lies adjacent to the M50 motorway, and part of the site is overlain by Glenamuck Road North which provides an exit from the M50 at Carrickmines at Junction 15.

Above: The location of the Carrickmines Castle site and the M50 motorway in the county of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown.

1.6

Statutory policy and protection

The site is protected under the National Monuments Acts 1930-2004. The site of Carrickmines Castle is protected as an archaeological site under the ownership and care of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. There are no designations for architectural heritage or natural heritage. The site is listed on the Record of Monuments and Places for the county in the County Development Plan 2010-2016 as DU-026-005. These set the context to the policies and actions contained within this Conservation Plan.

1.7

Current management

The Carrickmines Caslte site is in the ownership and management of Dún LaoghaireRathdown County Council. The site is in a peripheral location between the M50 motorway and a slip road. Physical access is severely restricted. Pedestrian access is at best restricted requiring the climbing of a crash barrier and a 250m walk and this is

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possible only if extensive vegetation is cut back. In this context, there is currently limited opportunity for public access. Between the time of the completion of the construction works until the production of the archaeological report the site was not actively managed aside from minimal vegetation control on the buildings. The farmhouse building openings were blocked up but some of these have been subsequently re-opened by persons unknown without permission. Part of the site has been secured from public access since completion of works on site, however, the security fencing has been broken through on occasion. Currently the site is overgrown and is suffering from vandalism and some anti-social behaviour.

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PART TWO UNDERSTANDING THE PLACE

2.1

Introduction

No castle stands at Carrickmines today, and there are significant difficulties in reconstructing how a castle at the site may have looked in the past. Carrickmines was held by a number of different families between the time it was first settled in the wake of the arrival of the Anglo-Normans in 1169-70 and the siege of Carrickmines in 1642. Within these five centuries, what kind of castle, or castles, could have been built? An early thirteenth century frontier fortification of the de Lissebon family, or possibly a tower house-style castle by the Walsh family (who also built nearby Kilgobbin Castle), or perhaps one of the new styles of castle fortifications which became common in the seventeenth century? Before describing the site of Carrickmines Castle in detail, it is useful to briefly review castles in Ireland in order to provide an architectural and archaeological context for discussing the significance of the fortifications of Carrickmines Castle. 2.2

The 'Castle' in Ireland

The word castle12 has been used to describe a wide range of fortified structures which developed in Europe in the ninth or tenth centuries linked with territorial estates and the feudal system of lordship. In Ireland, the introduction of castles is usually ascribed to the Anglo-Normans who constructed a range of different types and sizes of castles from the late twelfth century onwards to secure and administer their new lands. Prior to this, preexisting fortifications included ringforts, cashels, hill-forts, enclosures, crannogs and Scandinavian longphorts and fortified coastal towns. However, these are not normally considered castles13. While the Irish annals begin to use 'caistel' and 'caislen'14 to describe some pre-1169 sites, these do not appear to be definitely linked with any new type of fortification15. However, with the arrival of the Anglo-Normans in 1169, the greater Dublin area became one of the most encastellated regions in Ireland with a wide variety of castles erected from the twelfth to the seventeenth centuries. 11 

 

 

The Anglo-Normans fortified places during the first stage of settlement to oversee and administer their new fiefdoms in Ireland. Many types of stone and timber castle were constructed during the medieval period in Ireland, but they shared certain attributes. They were generally sited on a strategic location close to water, and often built at an established focal point such as a crossroads, fording point or ecclesiastical site, and could also be built on established sites with existing infrastructure. The main castle-building period in Ireland is generally considered to be c.1170-1320 accompanying the great changes in society and land ownership associated with the arrival of the Anglo-Normans. The fortifications of Carrickmines Castle form part of this early castle-building period in Ireland. The earliest castles were usually timber and earthwork castles, with a smaller proportion of stone castles. Many of these early timber and earth castles continued in use into the fourteenth century and later, after which they were gradually replaced by tower houses and other 'newer' forms of building16. Early Anglo-Norman fortresses appear in a number of forms. The great keep or donjon surrounded by high curtain walls and towers such as Trim, Co. Meath, Dunamase Castle, Co. Laois and Glanworth Castle, Co. Cork17 is one of the most well-known types of castle. Other castles dispensed with the donjon and had a great hall built against the defensive curtain walls, while other castles such as Dublin and Kilkenny appear to have incorporated all the main buildings and functions of the castle in the curtain walls, gates and towers. In general, the great Anglo-Norman fortresses were built to unique designs18 which often exploited natural defensive features but also reflected the wealth, power and aspirations of their lords. In this early period of castle building, while castles may have shared many of the same elements such as donjon, hall, gate and curtain walls, they tended to look completely different from each other. Earth and timber castles would have been similarly diverse in size, shape and in the number and complexity of structures contained within them19. In addition to the great stone fortresses, other smaller types of castle can be found throughout the greater Dublin area. For the Anglo-Normans, the castle acted as the primary building of a manor centre or farmstead which would have included a residence, 12 

 

 

garden, agricultural buildings and other structures such as mills, dovecots and warrens. The residence itself could range from a simple thatched hall to a complex castle, and a range of new castle types began to develop during this period. These include early thirteenth century hall-houses such as Kindlestown. Co. Wicklow, and hall-castles such as Coolhull, Co. Wexford20 and Oldcourt, Co. Wicklow21. There were also a variety of earth and timber castles such as mottes, motte-and-bailey castles, and ringworks built during this period. In addition to castles, farmsteads could also be defended by a moat. Moated sites such as Kilmahuddrick, Co. Dublin are typically rectangular areas enclosed by a water-filled ditch, and it has been suggested that many of these could have been defended manor houses and farmsteads for the minor Anglo-Norman gentry in the thirteenth and fourteenth century22. The later medieval period saw changes in the design of the larger stone fortresses23 and the introduction of new building types such as the tower house. Tower houses are a large group of small castles built mainly in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries which are generally small simple three to four storey towers in the east of Ireland, while those in the west may be more sophisticated and of larger dimension24. Different commentators have identified regional groupings of tower houses25 and different architectural sub-types26. A large number of these smaller towers survive in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown such as Kilgobbin, 'Puck's Castle', Bullock Castle, the urban tower houses of Dalkey as well as the surrounding areas of South Dublin and north Wicklow. Towards the end of the sixteenth and into the early seventeenth century, new castles were developed which provided more comfortable living conditions and became less overtly defensive, while retaining provisions for defence in the outer defences. These were fortified houses27, such as Rathfarnham Castle, Co. Dublin, and Kilruddery House28 and Killincarrig Castle, Co. Wicklow. After this period, the lands of lords generally lacked defence, and other postmedieval fortifications tended to be military structures such as star-shaped forts, batteries and other primarily military structures. There was a resurgence in faux castles in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries where manor houses were built or remodelled to appear as medieval castles, but these were not defensible structures.

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It should be noted that almost all castles in the greater Dublin area retain traces of change and alteration experienced by the buildings over the centuries. For example, the walls of Dundrum Castle are mainly of sixteenth century date but the building also incorporates parts of the thirteenth century castle including a moat and drawbridge which were uncovered during archaeological excavation29. Carrickmines Castle then forms part of what is a diverse range of castle building types, built to a wide range of designs over a relatively long period of time and which normally were changed or altered during the lifetime of their use. However, as the core of Carrickmines was not directly impacted by the motorway and was therefore not excavated and all the remains whether above ground (e.g. the upstanding gatehouse fragment) or any surviving below ground have been preserved in situ; it is not possible to definitively tell which category Carrickmines Castle may have belonged to. This then leaves us with the question of what a castle at Carrickmines may have looked like. Many commentators have suggested that a tower house was probably built on the site. Tower houses are certainly among the most common archaeological monuments in Ireland, with about 1200 tower houses remaining30 of anywhere between 3000 and 7000 erected in the past31. This type of castle could have been built by the Walsh family but there is currently no indications of a tower house on the site, though evidence may remain in the unexcavated core. What does survive at the Carrickmines site today are the stonerevetted enclosures built by the Lissebon family in the early thirteenth century and the fragmentary remains of a stone gatehouse; and the archaeological excavations uncovered evidence for a mural tower forming part of this enclosure and possibly a gate tower with a drawbridge. Consequently, the site of Carrickmines Castle does not have an identifiable castle structure, but does contain elements of medieval fortification. What follows is a series of castle typology images with comments as to whether they could be regarded as a potential model for what might have existed at Carrickmines.

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Overview of castles and fortifications in Ireland Type

Example

Potential Model for Carrickmines?

Stone Forts

Staigue Fort, Co. Kerry

No

Earth & Timber Castles

Motte and bailey castle,

Possible type

Moate, Co. Westmeath

constructed by the Lissebon family

Stone Fortresses

Carlow Castle, Co. Carlow

No

Hall-houses

Possible type

Shrule Castle, Co. Mayo

constructed by the Lissebon family

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Tower Houses

Possible type

Archbold's Castle, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown

constructed by the Walsh family

Fortified Houses

No

Rathfarnham Castle, Co. Dublin

Star-shaped Forts

No

Cromwell's Barracks, Inisbofin, Co. Galway

Later residential castles

Kilruddery, Bray, Co. Wicklow

No

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'Mock' Castles

Cliff Castle, Dalkey

No

Post-medieval

military

fortifications

Banagher Fort, Co. Offaly

No

Table 3: Overview of key types of castle in Ireland.

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2.3

The Pale

Carrickmines Castle is considered to form part of the Pale defences, a series of fortified places and ditches intended to form the boundary of the area centred around Dublin under the control of the Crown in the later medieval period.

Above: Map showing the position of Carrickmines, surviving sections of the Pale ditch (indicated in blue) and known medieval field monuments in the area.

The fourteenth century was a period of decline for the Anglo-Normans. Poor harvests, famine, war, the arrival of the Black Death in the 1340s and increasing integration between the Anglo-Normans and the Gaelic Irish all contributed to the gradual reduction of the area under the effective control of the Crown. This area centred around Dublin and became known as the 'English Pale'. The term comes from the latin palus or stake (modern words include palisade and impaling) and was also used in places outside Ireland to denote areas of English control. The Act of Marches and Marghery of 148832 defined the limits of the Pale boundary as stretching from Dundalk to Ardee, Co. Louth, to Athboy and Laracor, Co. Meath, and from Kilcock to Harristown and Ballymore, Co. Wicklow and then skirting the foot of the Dublin-Wicklow mountains (a Gaelic Irish stronghold throughout the medieval period) to terminate on the coast at Dalkey. 18 

 

 

Above left: The Pale Ditch was a movable boundary whose position changed over time. While sections of Pale Ditch are known close to Carrickmines, the boundary set in the Statute of 1488 indicated the Pale Ditch positioned well north of Carrickmines at that time (see above left33). Above right: Section of the Pale Ditch at Kilmashogue, Co. Dublin by Patrick Healy, c. 199234.

The Pale boundary was defined by strategic fortifications such as Carrickmines along its length, and by stretches of palisaded earthen ramparts and ditches35, fragments of which survive close to Carrickmines. The Pale boundary was not a continuous permanent fortified line of defence, but a flexible boundary which changed over time as lands were gained or lost from Crown control. The construction of the Pale 'ditch' was also accompanied by other initiatives such as the statute of 1429 which offered a £10 subsidy to build a stone castle36 – this was availed of in the building a stone tower at Jamestown in 147837. Over three hundred medieval castles were built within the Pale, with the greatest density along the southern frontier at the foot of the Dublin-Wicklow mountains38. Surviving stone castles within Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown include 'Puck's Castle' and Kilgobbin Castle, both of which are also on the Pale boundary. The fortifications of the Pale also included market towns with defensible urban tower houses at Dalkey and Ardee, Co. Louth, and a number of Pale towns erected town walls and defences in the fifteenth century such as Kells in 1468 and Kilcullin in 1478.

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The Pale 'ditch', where it survives, is commonly an earthen bank with a ditch on either side. Sections of Pale ditch are known at Balally39, Kilcross40, Jamestown41, Ballyogan42 and Woodside43. It has been argued that the Pale ditch at Jamestown was dug by the Walsh family 'to connect their castles at Kilgobbin and Carrickmines, which were some three kilometres apart'44. It now seems clear that there were two lines of the pale ditch in County Dublin. One ran from Dalkey via Merrion to the Dodder at Donnybrook and is documented in an act of parliament of 1488. Another section has been documented further west, between Tallaght and Saggart. No trace of the section of this line near the coast seems to survive, though some seems to have been visible near Ailesbury Road until the late nineteenth century. The other line of the Pale ditch ran further inland and while there is less evidence for it in medieval documentation, tangible remains have been found around the Ballyogan and Sandyford area. Along most of its length, however, it is not clear what route it took, or whether it was ever complete. There is a suggestion that part of it passed through Kilmashogue until the eighteenth century. The longest surviving section of the pale ditch identified to date runs parallel to Ballyogan Road, directly towards Carrickmines Castle, indicating that the castle was a significant element along the line of the pale defences. Carrickmines was a frontier fortification long before the Pale boundary was conceived, and was incorporated as part of a series of fortified places linked by stretches of earthen ditches along the base of the Dublin mountains as the Pale defences took shape in this area. While the boundaries of the Pale elsewhere may have changed over time as lands were gained or lost, Carrickmines appears to have consistently remained a frontier stronghold throughout the medieval period. The site of Carrickmines Castle should therefore also be considered as part of a much larger network of fortified places which formed the Pale defences of Dublin.

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2.4

Summary description of the Carrickmines Castle site

Above: Extract from the first edition Ordnance Survey map c.1840 showing the site of Carrickmines, with an overlay of the the limits of the archaeological desktop research in blue and the archaeological excavations at the site (in yellow).

The first edition Ordnance Survey map recorded ‘Site of Castle’ in the townland of Carrickmines Great adjacent to the Carrickmines River, which today forms part of the M50 motorway at Junction 15. The name Carrickmines is believed to derive from Carraigh Mhaighhin 'rock of the little plain'. The site today consists of three areas, connected by modern half-round tunnels, effectively rendering it an island within a motorway. The site consists of post-medieval farm buildings and the fragmentary remains of part of a medieval gatehouse positioned between the M50 motorway and Glenamuck Road North. A post-medieval masonry bridge is located within a timber-walled enclosure in the roundabout at the bottom of Glenamuck Road North. Both areas are connected by halfround concrete tunnels which house the remains of the looping defences of Carrickmines including the surviving revetted stone fosse45. 21 

 

 

Information about Carrickmines has been gained through a number of previous studies: especially the two phases of archaeological excavation of the lands surrounding the farm buildings undertaken August 2000 to July 2002 (Phase I) and September 2002 to March 2005 (Phase 2)46, and published historical studies47.

Above: Labelled GoogleMaps image indicating the key upstanding remains at the Carrickmines site.

22 

 

 

Above: Location of the numbered sections of archaeological excavations at Carrickmines. Note the absences of excavations at the core of the site, in the area around the gatehouse.

23 

 

 

2.5 History and archaeology

From the historic record relating to ‘Carrickmines Castle’ and the excavations around the site Carrickmines Castle site is best known for its medieval period there is evidence of a history of activity at the site that stretches from prehistory to the post-medieval period. Prehistory Archaeological investigations shows that there was some Neolithic and Bronze Age activity at the Carrickmines Castle site. However, the site did not form a significant continuous prehistoric settlement, though there is significant evidence for prehistoric settlement in the surrounding area48. Archaeological excavations at Carrickmines Castle discovered a Neolithic habitation area, a Bronze Age pit and three cup-marked granite boulders49 also thought to date to the Bronze Age. These finds are consistent with the existing record of prehistoric human settlement in the county, including Neolithic50 and Iron Age51 activity within Carrickmines Great and the extensive Bronze Age remains discovered at Laughanstown52. This activity is also reflected in the surviving burial monuments in the surrounding landscape53. Decorated Beaker-type pottery was found at a hearth and flint-working site at Carrickmines Great54. No Iron Age remains were discovered at Carrickmines Castle. It appears that the site was abandoned until the ninth or tenth century AD.

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Above: Rock A (00E526:3:104) carved with 24 cupmarks.

Above: Rock C (01E364:45 from Site 19) showing four definite and two possible cupmarks.

Medieval The Pre-Norman Period In the early medieval period, the area was within the zone of influence of the Uí Briúin Chualann who held sway over lands from Dalkey to Glencullen to Newcastle55. With the rise of Scandinavian Dublin in the ninth century, the area became part of Dyflinarskiri the hinterland of Dublin. Scandinavian activity in the surrounding landscape is reflected in the concentration of stone churches and Rathdown slabs, and a ninth-century settlement at Cherrywood56. Archaeological excavations at Carrickmines did not uncover any significant early medieval remains, and the only activity in this period was a charcoal pit of ninth- or tenth-century date, suggesting that the site was likely to have been in a woodland area on the periphery of settlements57. The Anglo-Norman Period The Carrickmines Castle site was settled in the early thirteenth century by an AngloNorman family. The arrival of the Anglo-Normans in 1169 significantly changed land ownership and land use in the Dublin area, with large tracts of land coming into royal, ecclesiastical and private ownership - these ‘lay lands’ were normally divided into 25 

 

 

manors. Grants of land were made to reward loyal service and also to secure future military service. The land granted was referred to as a ‘knight’s fee’, and the size of the plot of land granted varied from place to place. The first documentary reference relating to Carrickmines occurs in the thirteenth century58 when a fief (a heritable property subject to feudal obligations) was held by military service to Aungerus de Lissebon, lord of Carrickmines. His father, known simply as Lissebon, was part of the first group of Anglo-Normans to settle in the Dublin region, and Lissebon and his three sons had been in Ireland since the late twelfth century and had accumulated lands and interests in the Carrickmines area. At this time, Carrickmines was a small manor centre with demesnes of arable and pastoral lands and tenants. It is also part of the ‘marchlands’, the interface between Anglo-Norman controlled lands and the lands held by the Gaelic Irish in the mountains. From the 1270s, periodic raids by the Gaelic Irish led to expenditure on defences in the Dublin area. A document dated c.12708059 records that Aunger de Lissebon of Carrickmines (Carecmayn) owed a foot serjeant or five shillings to fulfil military service. This was a small sum, estimated at one eighth of a knight’s fee, suggesting that Carrickmines lands were quite small, c.150 medieval acres (c.300 statute acres) in size60.

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Above: General view of the medieval defences discovered during archaeological investigations at Carrickmines. The motorway and association roads are overlaid in red and the excavated areas in orange. The key standing built features surviving today are the remains of the gate house and the two stretches of surviving revetted stone fosse which are preserved beneath the new slip road.

Above: The defences of Carrickmines consist of three earth and stone ditches. The earliest is the northern enclosure, possibly a moated site defended by a broad ditch and containing at least one substantial stone building61. Another enclosure was later added to the south-west which had two probable entrances - a causeway or bridge on the south side, and a causeway on the east side. The south-east enclosure was added last and was defended by three sets of defences (i.e. 27 

 

 

trivallate) with the innermost and central ditch cut into bedrock, and sections of the defences revetted in granite. The south-eastern enclosure had the foundations of a rectangular structure which has been suggested as a gate tower.

The earliest defences of Carrickmines date to the thirteenth century. However, the phasing of the defences of Carrickmines are open to interpretation. The excavation report considered that the three conjoined defensive enclosures (north, south-west and southeast enclosures) were built within the space of a few generations by the Lissebon family. These three enclosures extend north, east and west of the farmhouse and barn buildings at Carrickmines. However, an independent study of the excavation report suggested that the northern enclosure was the earliest site, and probably a moated site62 built in the thirteenth century, and considered the south-west and south-eastern enclosures more likely to have been built in the late fourteenth century as Carrickmines developed from a defended farmstead to a military stronghold as it formed part of the fortalice system of defences at the edge of the Pale. At the time of the settlement and fortification of Carrickmines, large castles such as Trim in Co. Meath had a central keep with enclosing walls, while small castles could be earthand-timber castles within defensive earth ringworks or motte-and-bailey castles. However, there was a rapid move away from the design of a central keep or donjon to one where the core buildings and functions of the castle were transferred to the surrounding walls, and particularly the entrance gateway, with examples surviving at Dublin Castle and Swords Castle.

Moated sites, of which 1155 are known in the

Republic of Ireland, were common in the medieval rural landscape and similarly focused on enclosing walls63 and a defended entrance. Other types of defensive works64 associated with the frontiers of lordship and areas of tension are also known to defend an area from raids by Gaelic Irish while forces were prepared for counter-attack. In the absence of knowledge of any structures which may survive in the unexcavated core of Carrickmines, the specific type of fortification at the site remains speculative. However, some form of defences would have protected the probably lightly defended wooden buildings erected by the Lissebon family from the 13th century onwards. 28 

 

 

The known fortifications at Carrickmines consisted of three phases of defence. Firstly, the northern enclosure was built, possibly a moated site defended by a broad ditch and containing at least one substantial stone building. Another enclosure was later added to the south-west with two probable entrances - a causeway or bridge on the south side, and a causeway on the east side. The south-eastern enclosure was added last, and this re-used the eastern causeway of the south-western enclosure to allow passage between both areas. The south-eastern enclosure had three sets of defences (i.e. trivallate) with the innermost and central ditch cut into bedrock, and sections of the defences extending 217m in length65 revetted in granite. The south-eastern enclosure had the foundations of a rectangular structure which has been suggested as a gate tower controlling access into the site. This was the strongest of the three enclosures, and probably the ‘bawn’ later recorded by the Civil Survey in the seventeenth century. This area appears to have been used as an occasional market66 and also probably for temporary camps by garrisons67. Two fourteenth-century workshops were found during excavation in the area between these fosses, though the fosses of both the rectangular enclosure and the northern enclosure continued in use until the post-medieval period.

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Above: Plan showing a triple-ditched or trivallette fosse of the south-eastern enclosure uncovered during archaeological excavations.

Above: Reconstruction showing the probable earthen bank/defence heights of the east-facing section of the south-eastern defences of Carrickmines.

Entrances are a key element of any defensive enclosure. They provide an insight into the tactics of attack and defence employed at the time, and also to understanding how traffic was controlled in and out of the enclosure. The defensive triple-ditched enclosures at Carrickmines had three entrances: a revetted causeway in the north-west corner which may have had a drawbridge between the inner and middle fosse68; the gate house which formed part of the revetted stone fosse, a segment of which is still visible to the north of the farm buildings; and a staggered entrance at the south side of the rectangular enclosure crossing all three fosses, possibly with a wooden gate tower. In the 14th century, Carrickmines is mentioned as the site of a defensive ward on the borders between Dublin and the Gaelic Irish of the Wicklow mountains, but the archaeological excavations were unable to shed light on the nature of a castle at the site:

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"Carrickmines position at the gateway into these rich cereal lands made it a target for

attack but also an obvious location for a fortification. The government started off the 1350s by pursuing a policy of accommodation with some branches of the Leinster Irish families but this broke down in 1354 ... undertaking to revive the fortalice system first used in the 1270s, embarked on a policy of protecting the Dublin hinterland with a complex of defensive wards. Carrickmines is mentioned as the site for a ward for the first time in 1355-6 when John de Troye, Baron of the Exchequer was appointed 'to supervise wards placed by the king and the communities of those parts at Killoughter, Kilmartin, Newcastle McKynegan, Kylrothery, Bray, Carrigmayn, Dundrum, Tallaght, Saggart in Co. Dublin (IEP, 47269). The documents give no clear indication of the type of fortification at Carrickmines and whether it was a newly erected on or an improved or rebuilt one. There was no typical ward in Leinster as frequently an existing defensive structure was adapted and used. The form that the ward took was determined by what was there already"70.

As the core of the Carrickmines Castle site was preserved in situ, it is not possible to determine the form of any structures in this unexcavated area, or how these may have changed or been adapted over time. Parts of the foundation levels of medieval castles can survive even where a fortification has been levelled; sections of the thirteenth-century building and drawbridge were discovered during excavations at Dundrum Castle71, and the foundation of the fourteenth-fifteenth-century east wall and part of the north wall of one of the 'lost' castles of Dalkey was uncovered during archaeological investigations in the town72. However, due to the geology at Carrickmines it has not been possible to successfully carry out any geophysical surveys. A number of built defensive features at the site of Carrickmines Castle, including the stone fosse, and the fragmentary remains of a gatehouse. The stone fosse which formed an integral part of the Carrickmines defences appears to be a dump or glacis rampart73 formed of mortared stone. The surviving gatehouse fragment74 at Carrickmines contains a single window opening consisting of a slit opening in a splayed embrasure with a flat granite lintel beneath a relieving arch. The excavations of the defensive enclosure of Carrickmines also uncovered evidence at one corner of the northern enclosure of a 31 

 

 

substantial rectangular structure with a circular tower, possibly having a staircase, though the date for this structure is unclear75. It had no foundations, thin walls c.0.8m thick and were probably only one or two storeys high76. In addition to the defences, Carrickmines Castle functioned as a working manor throughout the medieval period. Excavations uncovered abundant evidence in the form of structures and artefacts reflecting this activity. Evidence for a series of four medieval structures (probably houses, with one probable industrial building containing furnaces), a thirteenth-century horizontal water-mill77 and a pair of corn-drying kilns were also uncovered during archaeological excavations.

Above: The thirteenth century horizontal watermill excavated at Carrickmines Great.

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Above: Map showing the location of the mill-race and the wheel pit containing the watermill, with an insert (top left) showing millstone 02E1532:352:2 found in the tail-race at the Carrickmines Castle site.

The buildings within the enclosures at Carrickmines no longer survive, but excavations uncovered architectural stone and tiles which are considered to be from the former buildings on the site. Finds included fifteenth-century floor tiles, a fourteenth century window arch stone or voussoir, a fifteenth or sixteenth-century cusped window head, a mullion from a two-light window, and sixteenth- or seventeenth-century floor tiles. Two fragments of fifteenth-century rib vaulting suggest that the site may have contained a chapel or hall. There is no evidence for a chapel building, though it could have been incorporated into another building such as a hall or gatehouse78. The fragments of architectural stone led the excavators to also suggest that the original wooden house of the de Lissebons was replaced at some later time by “a stronghouse, hall house or tower house”. However, the few fragments of architectural stone and tile were insufficient to reconstruct the location, extent and appearance of any medieval house at Carrickmines, and the excavation report further noted the lack of evidence uncovered during the archaeological investigations regarding the nature of the castle: "The establishment of a ward at Carrickmines in the fourteenth century and the stationing there of substantial garrisons strongly suggests that there was a significant

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fortified structure there at that time. However, there appears to be a perplexing lack of early documentary evidence relating specifically to a 'castle'". Margaret Murphy79. "We can infer from the historical record and the results of the excavation that the original building when the Lissabons settled at Carrickmines was an undefended or lightly defended wooden house. When the successive enclosing moats were dug in the 13th century, the house which they defended is still likely to have been built of wood. This, perhaps, is why it was not referred to as a castle, although the word 'castle' was often applied to substantial earthworks. The choice of vocabulary in the historical sources is, of course, not strictly based on architectural criteria, but on the perception of the writer ... it was called a castle in the descriptions of military actions". Thaddeus Breen80.

The most likely location for a castle or any stone fortification or other substantial building is in the area of the existing farm buildings, as this is the only substantial area which was not excavated between 2000 and 2005. However, it is possible that while Carrickmines Castle was certainly a fortification defended by earthworks and with a mural tower and gatehouse, it may not have had a hall house or tower house. Despite the great deal of information recovered during archaeological investigations at Carrickmines, it is not possible to determine how the core of the site appeared during this period, or to state with any certainty what type of castle may have stood here. Later Medieval Period There are numerous references to Carrickmines in the historical references during the later medieval period in relation to conflict with the Irish from the Dublin and Wicklow mountains comprising raids and reprisals. The Carrickmines lands were leased by the Lissebons to Roger FitzDavid in the late thirteenth century and changed hands a number of times over the centuries. Carrickmines formed part of a network of small strongholds, termed a fortalice system, which were the backbone of the Pale defences during the later medieval period, and may have first been conceived in the 1270s. Carrickmines was the scene of a number of confrontations during the fourteenth and fifteenth century, and a 500m discontinuous section of the Pale ditch is located west of Carrickmines Castle81.

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Above: Extract from the final archaeological excavation report showing the position of sections of Pale Ditch adjacent to Carrickmines Castle.

In the fifteenth century, Carrickmines passed into the ownership of the Walsh family, who also owned Kilgobbin castle and property in Dalkey, and the site continued to form a buffer between the Pale and the Leinster Irish. The Walshes of Carrickmines and Killincarrig, Co. Wicklow appear to have wielded considerable authority in Dalkey during this period, with two of Dalkeys castles held by Henry Walsh of Killincarrig82. During this period, the Walshes and other families such as the Archbolds, Harolds, Howels and Lawlesses were increasing in prominence as they took on abandoned lands and manor centres, organised resistance and strengthened or built fortifications.

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Post-Medieval Carrickmines There is no mention of a castle specifically at Carrickmines in the early seventeenth century prior to the siege of 1642. In Bulkeley’s visitation of 1630, Theobald Walsh’s residence is described as a ‘mansion house’ and not a castle, and the 1641/2 depositions83 record ‘the house of Carrickmayne’ and not a castle.

Above: Carrickmines (Carrickmaine) depicted on the Down Survey, c. 1656-5884.

The Siege of 1642 The 1642 siege of Carrickmines is well-known to historians85, and the archaeological excavations carried out at this location offer a rare insight into events that can be attributed to a specific event. It is during the siege that Carrickmines is first referred to as a castle. The siege of Carrickmines took place during the Irish Confederate Wars 1641-53 which was part of a series of civil wars in Ireland, England and Scotland which were then under

36 

 

 

the rule of Charles I. The Irish Confederate Wars86 were fought over who would govern Ireland, who would own most of the land, and which religion would predominate. Date 1641

Outbreak of the Irish Rising on 22nd October

1642

12th February

Defeat of Confederate party at Deansgrange by Dublin forces

26-27th March

Siege of Carrickmines

Confederate Assembly holds inaugural meeting in Kilkenny on 24th October James Butler, 1st Earl of Ormonde given command of English Forces 1643

Armistice signed between Ormonde and the Confederates

1644

1647

Ormonde appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and seeks to maximise Irish support for Charles I. As a result of ongoing raids and skirmishes, Ormonde finds his military position untenable and negotiates with the English Parliament to hand over Dublin, Drogheda, Dundalk, Trim and other towns in return for political and military guarantees. Ormonde surrenders Dublin and the office of Lord Lieutenant, and leaves Ireland.

1648

Ormonde returns to Ireland to lead a Royalist-Confederate alliance.

1649

29th January

1646

1650

30th January

Prince Rupert. commander of Royalist fleet, arrives at Kinsale with Royalist warships Charles I executed in London

1st June

Ormonde marches on Dublin

22 June

Cromwell accepts nomination of Lord General of Ireland

2 August

Ormonde and Confederate army defeated at Battle of Rathmines

15 August

Oliver Cromwell and New Model Army land at Ringsend

Sept - Oct

Cromwell takes Drogheda (11 Sept) and Wexford (11 Oct)

Mar-May

Surrender of Kilkenny (27 March) and Clonmel (18 May)

27 May

Cromwell leaves Ireland

Dec 1651-3 1654-6 1656-8

Ormonde is replaced as commander-in-chief by Earl of Clanricarde Surrender of Waterford, Limerick and Duncannon in 1651 and Galway in 1652 results in ongoing guerilla warfare and small-scale violence. Civil Survey of Ireland provides details of boundaries and valuations of properties. Down Survey of Ireland surveys and maps Ireland to allow redistribution of land confiscated from Catholic Irish landowners.

Table: Chronology of Carrickmines and the Irish Confederate Wars, 1641-53.

The Walshes had joined the confederacy and raided Booterstown, Jamestown and Deansgrange and took a small bronze cannon from Bullock. The Civil Survey of 1654-6 noted that Theobald Walsh had “acted in the Irish army, as Captaine of a foote company”87. On the 12th February 1642, a party of the rebel army consisting of 37 

 

 

insurgents from Wicklow and Wexford was defeated by government forces under the command of Lord Charles Lambart88 at Deansgrange89, and retreated to ‘several old castles as near [Dublin] as they could to hinder our markets and to cut off such as we should send abroad”. The Dublin administration considered that if the rebels were forced from one castle “they would quickly abandon the rest”90, and it is perhaps for this reason that a expedition under the command of Sir Simon Harcourt set out from Dublin for Carrickmines on 26 March 1642. Sir Simon Harcourt and a company of horses arrived at Carrickmines on Saturday 26 March, reinforced later that day by 800 foot, about half of which consisted of 'Firelocks' (troops armed with new flintlock guns91) under Sgt Major John Berry92. Sir Simon laid siege to Carrickmines while awaiting further reinforcements. William Owen, in a contemporary deposition written later in 1642, described a fire lit on ‘the battlement of the castle’ and that rebels who attempted to escape into the mountains on the morning of Sunday 27 March were forced back into the ‘fort’. However, he did not provide a clear description of the castle93. Reinforcements consisting of 400 foot and a single eleven-foot long demi-culverin94 cannon arrived on Sunday. The walls were breached on the 27 March, though descriptions vary as to whether the cannons breached the wall (i.e. directly demolished the walls) or they were undermined (i.e. the foundations damaged by military engineering works), while another record states that the soldiers enraged at the mortal wounding of their commander Sir Simon Harcourt ‘fell on with exceeding great fierceness to the castle and …with axes broke open the gate”95. The list of casualties in the historical records varies though it is generally agreed that the soldiers killed c.200-300 people inside, with casualties among government forces ranging from hundreds of Harcourt’s troops killed96 to only seven dead and nine ‘shott and sore wounded”97. However, the archaeological excavations uncovered two mass graves and associated individual burials containing a total of 18 or 19 skeletons, which led to some suggestions in the final excavation report that the siege was exaggerated for dramatic effect:

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"It is rare that features on an archaeological site can be attributed to an event which is historically recorded as having happened on a specific day. At Carrickmines, however, it is very likely that the mass graves in Trench N result from the massacre of 27 March 1642, which followed the fall of the castle. Ironically, this is the first occasion when the building here is called a 'castle' in the historical record ... The mass graves and associated individual burial contain between them 18 or 19 skeletons. This is at variance with some of the historical reports which talk of three hundred inhabitants being massacred. Like the small number of cannon balls, this shows that the event was less spectacular than might be imagined, and that reports of such operations were often exaggerated for dramatic effect"98.

However, as the area within the enclosing ditches was not fully excavated there may well be other burials elsewhere. Contemporary records note that Harcourt’s soldiers subsequently ‘blew up the castle with powder as a mark of terror to the rebels’, castles were normally ‘slighted’ by destroying one or more walls of the castle to render it defenceless without extensive repairs99.

Above: Plan of Burial 1

After the Siege Theobald Walsh was not present at the massacre, and was outlawed in October 1642 but emigrated to Spain where he served under Sir Walter Dungan. Other members of the 39 

 

 

Walsh family went into exile in Austria, while some remained in Shankill and Shanganagh. Carrickmines is noted in the terrier which accompanied the Down Survey parish maps c.1656-58 which stated: There stands only the Walls of a ffayre Stone House in which are on Carrickmaine. A Castle in Repaire and two farme Houses, in Leperstowne. A Stone House in Repaire. In Brennanstowne. And another Castle in repaire in Logherstowne".

Above: Document accompanying the 1656-8 Down Survey parish map which describes Carrickmines as a " a ffayre Stone House"100.

The Carrickmines lands were subsequently granted to Edward Brabazon, the 2nd Earl of Meath in 1669, who sold the lands in 1685. In the late seventeenth century, there was no substantial dwelling at Carrickmines, but there were a number of small houses or cottages with one or two fireplaces recorded in the Hearth Tax returns of the 1660s. The Carrickmines lands continued to change hands and Carrickmines was absorbed into the Allen/Carysfort estate and were leased out. Eighteenth and nineteenth-century descriptions of Carrickmines note the local fair101, the hamlet and ruined castle of Carrickmines102 but there is no evidence of any large house or family seat103. Austin Cooper visited Carrickmines in 1781 and recorded ‘here is a farmer’s house with a few cabins; formerly a castle stood here, a kind of pier only, which they call the castle gate”104. 40 

 

 

The castle was not rebuilt or replaced with a prestigious residence, rather a rural settlement developed in the twenty years after the siege of Carrickmines. The Hearth Roll of 1664 recorded 27 modest households with one or two fireplaces in Carrickmines townland. The site changed ownership in the late seventeenth century and was absorbed into the Allen/Carysfort estate. The farmhouse may have been built during the eighteenth century, and the Carrickmines fair continued until the nineteenth century105. However, there was a continuing association of the place with Carrickmines Castle as recorded by Joyce in 1921: " On approaching Carrickmines Station by the road already referred to, on the right will be seen a farmhouse entered from the Glenamuck road. The castle stood on the site of this house and adjacent buildings, and although no definite trace can now be discovered of the foundations other than the great quantity of stones about the place, there still remains, incorporated with one of the outhouses, portion of the western wall containing a light or window and constructed with great strength and solidity. Some fifty yards to the south-west is the remnant of a square watch tower that evidently formed part of the outworks. Portion of the moat lies eastward of the farm buildings, and still contains water supplied from the stream that flows through the adjoining fields. An old lane, now closed, probably the original entrance to the castle, leads to the Kilgobbin road106" The nineteenth century saw the construction of the Glenamuck Road and bridge which connected Carrickmines with Golden Ball, and settlement developed along this new road. Carrickmines continued in use as a farmstead until the late twentieth century.

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2.6

Excavation, Controversy and Legal Action Carrickmines Castle in the Newspaper Headlines

Above: The Irish Times, Monday 2nd September 2002, Page 4

Above: The Irish Times, Tuesday 17th September 2002

Above: The Irish Times, Saturday 17th January 2004

Above: The Irish Times, Monday 13th December 2004

Above: The Irish Times, Monday 1st June 2005

Above: Selection of newspaper headlines on the site of Carrickmines castle 2002-5

The South-eastern Motorway scheme commenced construction in October 2001 after planning and pre-development archaeological research between 1993 and 1997 (see Table 1). Construction work was prefaced by the first phase of archaeological excavations work based on desktop studies, geophysical investigation, aerial survey and test trenching of the site. However, the excavation revealed that the site was considerably 42 

 

 

larger than had been previously thought. Partially as a result of this, conflict arose regarding the future of the site, as recounted by the archaeologist Tadgh O'Keefe: "As the deadline for completion of the archaeological work approached, the site excavators, supported by a coalition of other parties and interest groups under a broad heritage-history-conservation-environment umbrella argued that the site ... to be of the greatest historical and archaeological importance, should be preserved and that the line of the motorway should therefore be steered away from it. The irony of this claim for the sites preservation after two years of excavation is inescapable. Archaeological excavation is a destructive process since it involves the permanent removal of layers of history. Here was an insistence that a site substantially revealed through the permissible destructive process of excavation, and then revealed to be largely destroyed above foundation level, to be preserved from destruction"107.

The archaeological and historical importance of Carrickmines Castle was used as the basis of legal action against the continuation of construction work of the motorway at the site.

Meanwhile the second phase of archaeological excavations continued amidst

continuing public and media attention, controversy and a series of legal actions about the motorway scheme. In 2002 and 2003 the Carrickmines site was occupied for 155 days by campaigners108, terming themselves 'Carrickminders', who sought to prevent road building while simultaneously pursuing legal action to halt or divert construction works from the site. Other groups including the ‘Friends of Carrickmines’ were also set up to campaign for the preservation of the Carrickmines Castle site. From 2003 to 2005 a series of court cases were brought. The first case was Dunne versus Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council (February 2003) and challenged the validity of the scheme, as no Section 14 consent had been granted. The High Court rejected the claims, however the interlocutory injunction was granted in the Supreme Court. This injunction was lifted when the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government granted the consent on foot of application by the Council. The second case was Mulcreevy versus Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government (January 2004). The Supreme Court quashed the Minister’s approval of the joint consent on the basis that the transfer of relevant functions and powers from the 43 

 

 

Commissioners of Public Works to Minister for Arts Culture and Gaeltacht the Commissioners of Public Works (Functions and Powers) Act, 1996 was carried out ultra vires. Later that year the Government introduced the 2004 amendment to the National Monuments Acts.

This amendment remedied the problem regarding the transfer of

powers. It also introduced a new regime for archaeology on approved schemes, whereby these works are carried out under the Directions of the relevant Minister. Finally, it also introduced specific provisions for the South Eastern Route whereby the archaeological works had to be done in accordance with the Directions of the Minister. In a final case Dunne brought a plenary proceedings against the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government seeking a declaration that section 8 of the 2004 Act was invalid. However this was rejected on all grounds in the High Court (September 2004) and this rejection was upheld on appeal to the Supreme Court (18th March 2005).

Above: Remains of 'Carrickminders' dwelling surviving in the crook of a tree overlooking the farm buildings. September 2013

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Above: Newspaper cut-outs109 and signage erected by the 'Carrickminders' during protests at road development110.

While there were extensive archaeological investigations at Carrickmines between 2001 and 2005 to allow road development, the core of the site was not impacted upon. Any archaeological remains in the core are therefore preserved in situ.

Date 1992-7 2000-02 Oct 2001 2002 - 03

Events Ten (10) archaeological reports and surveys produced culminating in an Environmental Impact Assessment published by Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council Phase 1 Archaeological Works (00E0045 & 00E0525)

Construction work begins Site occupied for 155 days by 'Carrickminders' to prevent construction work during legal action. Feb 2003 Interlocutory injunction granted on appeal to Supreme Court Dec 2003 Interlocutory injunction discharged as Section 14 consent had been submitted Jan 2004 Supreme Court quashes Ministerial Order on basis of transfer of powers being ultra vires. Jul 2004 Introduction of amendment to National Monument Acts Sep 2004 High Court rejection of appeal that Section 8 of National Monument Act invalid Mar 2005 On appeal Supreme Court upholds High Court rejection. 2002-05 Phase 2 Archaeological Works (02E1532) 2005-12 Post-excavation works Aug 2012 Submission of final excavation report 2012-2013 Accession of artefact and archive to Collection Resource Centre, National Museum of Ireland Table 4: Timeline of events at the Carrickmines Castle site.

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2.7

Surviving structures at the Carrickmines Castle site

There are a number of surviving structures at the Carrickmines Castle site. These were the subject of an architectural survey in 2001. A further survey was carried out in 2014 (the full survey is provided in the appendix) which described eight surviving structures: a) b) c) d) e) f) g) h)

Farmhouse Stone Outbuilding Stone Outbuilding Farm Outbuilding (incorporating the fragment of the medieval gatehouse) Medieval walls exposed during archaeological excavation 2000-2002 Medieval walls exposed during archaeological excavation 2000-2002 Medieval walls exposed during archaeological excavation 2000-2002 Wall from the old Glenamuck Road

Above: Extract from the 1843 Ordnance Survey map and modern mapping of the site showing the location of upstanding structures recorded during the 2014 survey.

2.7.1 The Gatehouse: The former gatehouse survives as the southern end of a range of outbuildings ('structure D') to the north-west of the farmhouse, with the northernmost end of the range demolished in February 2001. The structure consists of the massive granite rubble masonry of the former medieval or early modern gatehouse at the southern end, abutted by two phases of granite rubble outbuildings extending to the north. The section abutting the gatehouse fragment is shown on the first edition Ordnance Survey map of 1843 and is probably of late eighteenth or early nineteenth century date, while the northern section is first shown on maps from the 1860s. The gatehouse fragment contains 46 

 

 

a north-facing splayed opening, indicating that the exposed south face of the wall was originally an internal wall. A springing stone from a former arch survives adjacent to the splayed window.

Above: The gatehouse recorded by Patrick Healy ,c 1977111 (left) and c.1983112 (right).

Above: The gatehouse, drawn 2001 by Gabriel Downey. A springing stone (which would have formed the base of an arch) was noted left of the opening during site visits, September 2012. 47 

 

 

Above: Detail of the splayed opening in the former gatehouse fragment.

Above: General view of Structure D showing the remains of the gatehouse at the south end (right of photo), 48 

 

 

with the overpass containing the northern fosse (see Section 2.6.2) shown on the left.

2.7.2 The North Fosse: A stretch of fosse survives to the north of the farm buildings (indicated as 'structure E' on the map above), and extends beneath the Glenamuck Road overpass. The remains consist of a stone-revetted fosse wall with the remains of the foundations of a possible square mural tower beneath the overpass tunnel. The masonry is heavily overgrown.

Above: The fosse to the north of the gatehouse in April 2013 showing ponding.

Above: The fosse to the north of the gatehouse in September 2013 drying out of the northern end of the pond but >1m of water at the south end.

Above: General view of the face of the granite masonry wall of the fosse.

Above: Foundations of a square mural tower forming part of the fosse.

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Left: Appearance of part of the revetment during archaeological excavations (F0023) of fosse F0636 in Trench S11 (undated).

2.7.3 The East Fosse: The eastern fosse consists of a stone-revetted fosse, extending from the south-east corner of the site and beneath the roundabout on Glenamuck Road (noted as structures F and G on the map above). The fosse is heavily overgrown with most of its length obscured by mature vegetation. The exposed granite masonry below the overpass tunnel is loose and requires consolidation.

Above: Detail of a c.6m section of the east fosse; almost totally obscured by vegetation, September 2013

Above: The fosse at the east end of the site within the shallow underpass.

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2.7.4 The Farm Buildings The farm buildings consist of a two storey probably nineteenth century farmhouse with a series of outbuildings forming the farm complex. The front of the farmhouse contains an oval garden containing a creamery built into the garden wall. A range of smaller structures including the fragment of the gatehouse, and former piggeries and sheds (see Section 2.6.1) are found northwest of the farmhouse. Most of the structures within the farm complex are obscured by vegetation. However, none were considered to retain any special architectural heritage values which would make them worthy of addition onto the Record of Protected Structures113.

Above: The farm buildings, April 2013

Above: The fragmentary remains of a gatehouse incorporated into a later farm building.

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Above: The farm buildings, September 2013.

Above: Representative views of the interior of the farm house at ground (left) and first floor (right) levels.

The farmhouse ('structure A'), occupied until c.2001, is a two-storey single-pile gabled rubble granite masonry building with granite quoins, having a modern cement render on the facade, with a lime render on the rear. Brick has been used to form parts of some window openings and as an eaves course. The roof has Blue Bangor slates with fired clay ridge tiles, having part of the roof repaired using fibre-cement tiles, and with all three brick stacks rebuilt in modern brick and concrete blockwork. The probably nineteenthcentury farmhouse building shows a legacy of past alterations and repairs, and is currently in a derelict condition, with blocked up windows at ground and first floor levels, areas of missing slate, and later additions including a single-storey outbuilding 52 

 

 

abutting the south-east gable and a concrete shed against the north west gable. Internally, the ground floor is laid out as three rooms with a W.C. and a dog-leg staircase, with five modest rooms at second floor level. A range of outbuildings ('structure B') lies c.10m south of the farmhouse composed of lime-washed granite, schist and brick rubble masonry, probably raised in height in the past, and with a later concrete addition at the gable end. The building shows structural cracking extending from roof to ground level. Outbuildings B and C touch at their westernmost corners to form an L-shaped range. Outbuilding C adjoins the south gable of the farmhouse, and appears to have housed carts or other vehicles, and is of rubble masonry with a lime-washed exterior having blocked-up openings and mostly collapsed slate roof, with collapse of a section of the outer leaf of masonry on the west side of the building. A small section of boundary wall from the old Glenamuck Road (indicated as 'structure H' on the map above) survives with the green area within the roundabout. 2.8

Natural heritage

Carrickmines castle is not a designated nature conservation area. A field survey of the site in 2013114 noted good diversity of habitats and species of local ecological value, but no rare or unusual fauna or flora on the site. The buildings form potential roosting sites for birds and bats, though no evidence of roosting was noted at the time of survey this cannot be confirmed until a survey has been carried out. 2.9

Public Engagement

There has been little significant public engagement with the Carrickmines Castle site since the completion of the motorway. Today, arguably, most members of the public would find it difficult to identify the location of the site, or to understand the significance of what remains. Most public engagement with the site has been via the media reports on planning and zoning issues. Professional engagement with Carrickmines Castle has largely been in the form of the dissemination of archaeological information through 53 

 

 

articles in the annual archaeology magazine of National Roads Authority Seanda, sessions and papers at the World Archaeological Congress held in University College Dublin in 2008, and papers in Unearthing the Archaeology of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown published by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.

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PART THREE STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE 3.1 Assessment of significance: The assessment of significance is an essential part of the Conservation Plan process, and reflects the cultural and ecological aspects of the site of Carrickmines Castle as a whole. The 1988 ICOMOS Charter for the Conservation of Places of Cultural Significance (the Burra Charter) defines cultural significance as: ‘the aesthetic, historic, scientific or social values for past, present or future generations’. Finding the balance of significance is a complex task and the general approach to establishing the significance of the site of Carrickmines Castle is adapted from that set out by James Semple Kerr115. The significances of Carrickmines Castle have so far been identified under the following broad headings: The significances of Carrickmines Castle have so far been identified under the following broad headings: • • • • • 3.2

Defending the ‘marches’ of the Pale An archaeological insight into life in medieval County Dublin 1642 - A moment in time A legacy of controversy An island of history within in a motorway

Defending the ‘marches’ of the Pale: Carrickmines formed part of the Pale

defences of the Dublin region during the medieval period. From a survey carried out to support this Conservation Plan it now seems clear that there were two lines of the pale ditch in County Dublin. One ran from Dalkey via Merrion to the Dodder at Donnybrook and is documented in an Act of Parliament of 1488. Another section has been documented further west, between Tallaght and Saggart. No trace of the section of the line near the coast seems to survive, though some seems to have been visible near Ailesbury Road until the late nineteenth century.

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The other line of the Pale ditch ran further inland and while there is less evidence for it in medieval documentation, tangible remains have been found in the Ballyogan and Sandyford areas. Along most of its length, however, it is not clear what route it took, or whether it was ever complete. There is a suggestion that part of it passed through Kilmashogue until the eighteenth century but the longest surviving section of the Pale Ditch identified to date runs parallel to Ballyogan Road, directly towards Carrickmines Castle thereby indicating that the castle was a significant element along the line of the Pale defences. Carrickmines was part of the fortalice system of a chain of 'wards' or walled enclosures. A ward at Carrickmines is first mentioned in the historical sources in 1355-6 and was able to accommodate a large armed force in 1374.

These frontier fortifications,

sometimes termed 'castles of ward' do not conform to any strict typology. The known remains of the defensive earthworks and fosse at Carrickmines could be described as a polygonal stone enclosure. However, as the core of the site remains unexcavated, it is not clear what the enclosure was erected to defend, or how any structures may have been adapted or even replaced over time. In summary, in addition to being a medieval farmstead, Carrickmines also acted as a frontier fortification and a buffer between the Gaelic Irish and English Pale. 3.3

An archaeological insight into life in medieval County Dublin: Carrickmines

acted as a frontier farmstead in the hinterland of Dublin which has produced a significant assemblage of artefacts and environmental remains, including the largest assemblage of medieval pottery from any rural site in Ireland. These artefacts, now held in the care of the National Museum of Ireland, can provide important insights into life in the medieval and post-medieval periods in this part of Dublin. 3.4

1642 - A moment in time: Carrickmines is associated with a notable historical

event - the siege of Carrickmines during 26/27 March 1642: the first time that the site is referred to as a 'castle' in the historical record. Human remains, coinage, cannonballs and

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musket balls recovered during the archaeological investigations are considered to date from this historical event. 3.5

A legacy of controversy: The site of Carrickmines Castle became of the most

well-known and arguably infamous archaeological sites in Ireland of the 'Celtic Tiger' era due to tensions between development pressures and heritage values. The highly publicised and politicised story of the controversy surrounding the excavations to remove archaeological material from the site to allow the construction of the motorway is an example of archaeology's occasional tense relationship with building and road development. Arguably, there may be greater public awareness of the controversy than the archaeological significance of the place itself. 3.6

An island of history within a motorway: The archaeological site has been

subsumed by the complex engineering works constructed to preserve a portion defences of the site, but without any clarity as to its future amenity value. What remains of the core of the site, which may or may not include traces of a castle, hall or other building, has been preserved in situ for the future. Any archaeological remains which survive in situ below ground will most likely remain untouched, invisible and unknowable for the present but perhaps retaining considerable future research potential.

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PART FOUR: CURRENT VULNERABILITIES 4.1

Understanding Carrickmines as a Castle: Carrickmines is widely known as the

site of a castle. However, it is difficult to understand Carrickmines when basic information about the type, nature, date etc. of the castle remains unknown. The surviving earthworks and the fragmentary remains of a gatehouse and revetted stone fosse attest to the defensive nature of the site, but are difficult to decipher without interpretative aids. Despite the extensive archaeological excavations undertaken at Carrickmines between 2001 and 2005, there are significant limitations to our current knowledge of the site and its significance. The final archaeological excavations report considered the site to be "the most extensive rural settlement to have been excavated in the Dublin area". However, as the core of the site was preserved in situ and unexcavated, fundamental questions about the nature of the castle during the medieval period remain unanswered and unanswerable for the foreseeable future. A key vulnerability is how can the significance of the site be understood when even the most basic knowledge about the castle remains unknown. 4.2

Lack of Maintenance of Structures: The ruined remains of the gatehouse are in

poor condition and require conservation work. The farm house and associated buildings (which are not considered to have any special architectural heritage value116) are also in poor condition and without a maintenance programme can be expected to deteriorate significantly in the short-term. Adequate assessment of their current condition and their vulnerabilities are obscured by the vegetation enveloping the structures. The stone-revetted fosses will also deteriorate if management of trees and vegetation is not carried out at regular intervals. Access to parts of the site currently necessitates climbing down the face of the stone-revetted fosse, an activity which is not only a health and safety issue, but will cause wear on the structure if no alternative access is provided.

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4.3

Misconceptions and Lack of Knowledge: There is lack of knowledge among the

general public as to the nature, significance and vulnerabilities of the site. Given the lack of wide dissemination of the results of the excavations, there is potential for adverse comment about the perceived value-for-money of the archaeological works and continued maintenance of the site. 4.4

Lack of Access: The site does not have direct physical access. Currently, access

is gained by climbing over the crash barrier at the Glenamuck Road roundabout, walking along the Glenamuck Stream, passing through the underpass and through the locked security gates at the edge of the site. Access to the remains within the roundabout can be gained through the underpass at the east end of the site, or via a wooden door in the timber palisade fence in the green area of the roundabout. The site is visible to pedestrians from the public footpath to the west of the site. However, the site is also relatively noisy due to proximity to the motorway. There is no parking immediately adjacent to the site, but public parking is available at the LUAS Park-and-ride on Glenamuck Road North. Access to the south-eastern section of the fosse-wall is possible by climbing down the face of the fosse wall. This action, over time, has the potential to damage the fosse wall. Access within the entire site is also limited by plant growth which inhibits access to parts of the site.

Above: The growth of plant species between April (left) and September (right) 2013 obscured and hindered access to the farm buildings, and illustrates the need for active management of vegetation at the site.

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4.5

Security: The site is vulnerable to unauthorised access and anti-social behaviour.

A modern fencing system prevents access into the main part of the site, while the site within the roundabout has a modern timber palisade fence, however a limited amount of uncontrolled access continues to be a vulnerability for the site. 4.6

Vegetation: The site is vulnerable to uncontrolled plant growth which has the

potential to both obscure and damage the archaeology of the site. Both surviving stretches of the stone fosse feature well-developed vegetation which, if left unattended, will lead to the disruption and collapse of sections of fosse wall in the short- to medium-term. The remains of the gatehouse is similarly vulnerable to invasive plant growth. The removal and on-going management of vegetation, particularly species such as gorse, buddleia, brambles and other scrub also need to be carefully considered to avoid affecting both the character of the site as well as the surviving archaeological structures of the gatehouse and fosse walls. 4.7

Safety: The site is not currently considered safe for public access. The ponds

forming adjacent to the fosse wall are considered to pose a drowning hazard for any unauthorised persons trespassing on the site. 4.8

Zoning: The core of the Castle site is unzoned land. The field to the north of the

site between the slip road and the Glenamuck Stream is currently zone for ‘Residential Development’. This land is owned by the Council and there are currently no proposals to provide housing on this site. 4.9

Stone Recovered during Archaeological Excavations: A relatively large

amount of granite stone was uncovered during investigations at Carrickmines. After considerable discussion between Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and the National Museum of Ireland, this stone was not considered to be archaeological material, and consequently was not accessioned to the National Museum of Ireland. This stone is stored at the Carrickmines Castle site and nearby at Laughanstown. Removing this material to landfill was considered inappropriate, and reburying the material in a new 60 

 

 

hole at Carrickmines or elsewhere was also considered inappropriate as it could contaminate the archaeological record. A potential solution considered was to rebury the material within the Carrickmines Site within the areas which have formed ponds thus also addressing a health and safety issue at the site. A procedure and specification for depositing this material would need to be developed to address this. Two granite stones bearing prehistoric boulder art was also uncovered during the course of archaeological excavations at Carrickmines. The National Museum of Ireland has suggested that a local heritage property where the boulders could be placed outdoors in a secure environment would be an appropriate long-term means of preserving the rock art. A suitable location within the grounds of nearby Cabinteely House has been identified to house the Carrickmines rock art. 4.10

Farm Buildings: The farm house and a number of ancillary buildings and

structures survive at the Carrickmines Castle site. These are in poor condition with the roofs of the farm house and the adjacent barn in varying stages of failure, and the ancillary buildings obscured and hidden by mature vegetation. These structures pose a number of health and safety issues and need to be secured if they are to be retained on the site.

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PART FIVE : CONSERVATION PLAN POLICIES

5.1

Vision for Carrickmines Castle

This is an unusual heritage site. It is located between a motorway and a slip road, it has few visible features, its archaeological story cannot be adequately told, it is relatively inaccessible and is best known for the controversy relating to the excavations undertaken around it during the construction of the motorway and slip road. Never-the-less the Carrickmines Castle site was once an important frontier fortification defending the 'marches' of the Pale, and the artefactual and environmental remains discovered during archaeological excavations around the site provides a valuable insight into life in medieval County Dublin. Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council will raise awareness of the history of Carrickmines Castle, conserve the upstanding remains, provide supervised access to the site to members of the public where possible and facilitate reasonable access to the site for academic research.

5.2

Policies and Actions

Policy 1: Preserve the surviving archaeological structures Action 1 Necessary conservation and maintenance works to the gatehouse and revetted fosse will be undertaken following best conservation practice. Action 2 This will encompass careful treatment and removal of plant growth from the gatehouse and revetted fosse, and selective repointing, consolidation and stabilisation where this is necessary to secure the gatehouse from deterioration. Action 3 The necessary control of vegetation will be carried out at the gatehouse, fosse (and also the farm house and other standing structures) to prevent the site becoming overgrown, obscured and prevent any damage to the archaeological monuments. Action 4 Put in place a schedule of inspection of archaeological remains and carry out conservation works as required. 62 

 

 

Policy 2: It is the policy of this Conservation Plan to raise awareness of the history of Carrickmines Castle

Action 5 The final archaeological report on the excavations at Carrickmines will be made available online for general public. Action 6 The Council will produce an exhibition on the history of Carrickmines Castle for display in County Hall/other appropriate venues. This will be complemented by an exhibition brochure, on-line educational material and reconstruction images based on our current knowledge as to what Carrickmines Castle may have looked like at different points in time. Action 7 The Council will facilitate talks/presentations/seminars on the history of Carrickmines Castle. Action 8 The Carrickmines Castle Site forms part of the Pale Ditch defences and the Council will carry out further work in the area to investigate the evidence of the pale ditch and to the relationship of the site of Carrickmines Castle with the medieval defences of the Dublin hinterland. Action 9 Should funds be made available a formal publication of the archaeological report will be commissioned.

Policy 3: The site will be maintained in such a manner to protect biodiversity while allowing safe reasonable access and safeguarding the archaeology of the site.

Action 10 To carry periodic tree surveys and implement pruning/felling work as required. Action 11 To formulate an annual grass cutting programme for designated areas. Action 12 It may be necessary to overlay an informal path in certain areas to facilitate access. This will not involve any below ground work.

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Policy 4: It is the policy of this Conservation Plan to provide intellectual and physical access where possible to the site of Carrickmines Castle Action 13 Where possible limited physical access to the site will be provided on a periodic and advertised basis such as the Council’s 'Summer of Heritage' programme or during Heritage Week. Due to the nature of the site these visits will have to be supervised. Action 14 The Council will endeavour, where possible, to provide access to the site for academic research purposes on a ‘by appointment’ basis. Action 15 The provision of suitable steps will be investigated in order to facilitate better access to the south-east section of the site in order to preserve the revetted stone fosse in this location and allow vegetation management. Action 16 Requests from relevant institutions, organisations and agencies to carry out nondestructive archaeological work on the site will be considered by the Council, in consultation with the relevant statutory bodies. Action 17 Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council will not commission or carry out any archaeological excavations. However, the Council will facilitate the National Museum of Ireland or National Monuments Service should they wish to carry out excavations at the site or should they approve excavations at the site.

Policy 5: To permanently store archaeological material not accessioned to the National Museum of Ireland below-ground at the Carrickmines site. Action 18 The archaeological material not accessioned to the National Museum of Ireland, mainly comprising granite building stone, will be stored below-ground adjacent to the revetted fosse in a manner that will preserve the material for future researchers.

Policy 6: It is the policy of this Conservation Plan to manage and maintain the shells of the remaining the farmhouse and outbuildings in a manner consistent with the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Advice Series "Ruins, The conservation and Repair of Masonry Ruins", in its guidance recommends preventative maintenance with regular works of small scale maintenance to secure ruined structures.

Action 19 Removal of roof and floors of these buildings. Opening of door opening to allow access. Soft capping the top of the remaining walls to prevent deterioration of the masonry. A regular maintenance programme shall be established for these structures.

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Policy 7: Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council to implement the Conservation Plan in consultation with relevant stakeholders. Action 20 Funding permitting put in place annual work programme and implement. Action 21 Review the Conservation Plan with relevant stakeholders in 2020.

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Reports prepared for the Carrickmines Castle site. Breen, T. (2012) Report on the findings of the archaeological excavations at Carrickmines, Co. Dublin carried out under licenses 00E0525, 02EE1532 and Ministerial Directions. M50 South-eastern Motorway Scheme. 4 Volumes. Unpublished report by Valerie J. Keeley Ltd. prepared for Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and the National Roads Authority. Downey, G. (2001) Architectural Survey. Farmyard, House & Outbuildings, Carrickmines Castle Complex, South Eastern Motorway, Co. Dublin. Unpublished report prepared for Valerie J. Keeley Ltd. March 2001 Duff, K. (2013) Assessment of the nature conservation value of lands around Carrickmines Castle historic site, Co. Dublin. August 2013. Unpublished report prepared for Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council Frazer, W.O. & Erikkson, C. (2008) Archaeological Monitoring: Priorsland, Glenamuck Road, Brennanstown townland, Carrickmines, Dublin 18. Ministerial Consent C196. Registration No. E3284. Unpublished report b Goodbody, R. (2014) Carrickmines Castle Dun-Laoghaire Rathdown Building Survey. Unpublished report, October 2014. Margaret Gowen & Co. for the Railway Procurement Agency. Unpublished report. September 2008. Munby, J & Hinge-Christensen, S. (2003) Kampsax Report [Carrickmines Castle Complex and the M50: The adequacy of the Environmental Impact Assessment. Unpublished report O’ Neill, J., 1999 Carrickmines - Bray Gas Pipeline Preliminary Report, unpublished report by Margaret Gowen & Co. Ltd Scott and MacNeill (2014) Carrickmines Castle Safety Report. Unpublished report, October 2014. Sherlock, R. (2014) Carrickmines Castle, Co. Dublin. A medieval fortification in context. Unpublished report, October 2014. V.J. Keeley Ltd. (1996a) Archaeological Assessment of Routes A, B and 5, SEM, Final Draft. Valerie J Keeley, February 1996. V.J. Keeley Ltd. (April 1996b). South Eastern Motorway, Sites identified on the Basis of New Maps. Unpublished report. V.J. Keeley Ltd. (1996c) Additional Archaeological Assessment of Route A and 5, SEM, Volume 1. Valerie J Keeley Ltd., October 1996. V.J. Keeley Ltd. (1993a) South Eastern Motorway, Modified Route B and Route A, Archaeological Draft Report 1”. Valerie J Keeley, November 1993 V.J. Keeley Ltd. (1993b) Archaeological Survey, Environmental Impact Study, South Eastern Route Motorway. Valerie J Keeley, April 1993. V.J. Keeley Ltd. (1992). Archaeological Paper Survey South Eastern Route Feasibility Study. Unpublished report. September 1992 V.J Keeley and Geoquest Associates (2001). Geophysical Survey of an area of land at Carrickmines, South Eastern Motorway, Dublin. Unpublished report. V.J Keeley and Geoquest Associates (1997). Geophysical Surveys on the route of the proposed South Eastern Motorway, Dublin. Stage 2. Unpublished report. V.J Keeley and Geoquest Associates (1996). Geophysical Surveys on the route of the proposed South Eastern Motorway, Dublin. Unpublished report.

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Bibliography Ball, F.E. (1901) "The Castle of Carrickmines and its History", Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, Vol. 31, 195-203 Barry, T. (2000) "Rural settlement in medieval Ireland", in Barry, T. [ed] A history of settlement in Ireland. London. Routledge. Pp.110-123 Berry, H.F.[ed] (1910) Statute rolls of the parliament of Ireland, reign of Henry VI. Dublin. Bolton, J. & Carey, T. (2014) Dalkey Islands Conservation Plan 2014-2024. Dublin. Dun LaoghaireRathdown County Council. Bolton, J. & Pavia, S. (1999) “Oldcourt Castle, Co. Wicklow” Archaeology Ireland Vol. 13, No. 2., Issue No. 48, pp 15-18. Bradley, J. (1995) ‘Scandinavian rural settlement in Ireland’, Archaeology Ireland, 9:3, Pp. 10-12 Brady, N. (1998) "Carrickmines and Jamestown" in Bennett, I. [ed] Excavations 1998. Bray. Wordwell. Pp.39-40 Breen, T. (2012) "Farming and Fighting on the frontier", Seanda, No. 8. pp. 24-27. http://www.nra.ie/Archaeology/Seanda-NRAArchaeologyMagazine/file,18295,en.pdf accessed 10th Sept 2012 Carroll, E. (2001) "Ballyogan recyling park, Jamestown", in Bennett, I [ed] Excavations 2001. Bray. Wordwell. Pp.123-4 Clarke, C.M. (2001) Informed conservation: understanding historic buildings and their landscapes for conservation. London. English Heritage Clinton, M. (2002) "Current excavations at Carrickmines Castle", Rathmichael Historical Record: the Journal of the Rathmichael Historical Society, 2002, Pp.13-14 Clinton, M, Fibiger, L & Shiels, D. (2013) "The Archaeology of the 1642 Siege of Carrickmines Castle" in C. Corlett (ed) Unearthing the Archaeology of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown. Dublin. Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. pp147 - 152 Clinton, M, Fibiger, L & Shiels, D. (2010) "Archaeology of massacre: the Carrickmines mass grave and the siege of March 164"’, in D Edwards, P Lenihan & C Tait (eds), Age of Atrocity: violence and political conflict in early modern Ireland (2nd edn), Pp. 192–203. Four Courts Press, Dublin Clinton, M., Fibiger, L. & Shiels, D. (2007) "Archaeology of massacre: the Carrickmines mass grave and the siege of 1642", in Edwards, D., Lenihan, P. & Tait, C. [eds] Age of Atrocity: Violence and Political Conflict in Early Modern Ireland. Dublin. Four Courts. Clinton, M & Shiels, D. (2013a) Excavations at Carrickmines Castle, Carrickmines Great in C. Corlett (ed) Unearthing the Archaeology of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Dublin. Dun LaoghaireRathdown County Council pp 133 – 139 Clinton, M & Shiels, D. (2013b) "The History of the 1642 Siege of Carrickmines Castle" in C. Corlett (ed) Unearthing the Archaeology of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Dublin. Dun LaoghaireRathdown County Council. pp147 - 152 pp142-146 Connolly, P. (1998) Irish exchequer payments, 1270-1446. Dublin. Irish Manuscripts Commission. Corlett, C. (1999) Antiquities of Old Rathdown. Bray. Wordwell. Donnelly, C. (2010) " The Tower Houses of Co. Limerick", in Stalley, R. (ed.), Limerick and SouthWest Ireland: Medieval Art and Architecture . British Archaeological Association Conference Transactions. Maney Publishing, p. 189-201 Donnelly, C. (1999) "A typological study of tower houses in County Limerick", Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, Vol. 129, Pp.19-39 Edwards, D. (2004) "Carrickmines Castle and the heritage war", History Ireland, Vol. 12, No. 1 (Spring, 2004), pp. 5-6 Fibiger, L., Shiels, D. & Clinton, M. (2008) " 'A mighty rage...', Carrickmines Castle and the events of March 26th/27th 1642", poster presentation, WAC-6 Ireland 2008: Sixth World Archaeological 67 

 

 

Congress, Dublin P.366; also http://www.wac6.org/livesite/posters/poster_files/ WAC_098_Fibiger_Shiels_Clinton.pdf, accessed August 2011). Frame, R. (2013) "Ireland after 1169: barriers to acculturation on the 'English' edge", in Stringer, K.J. & Jotischky, A. [eds] Norman expansion: connections, continuity and expansion. Surrey. Ashgate. Pp.332-56 Goodbody, R. (1993) On the borders of the Pale: a history of the Kilgobbin, Stepaside and Sandyford area. Bray. Pale Publishing. Goodbody. R. (1993) "Pale ditch in south County Dublin", Archaeology Ireland, 7:3(Autumn 1993), Pp.24-5 Gracie, C.D. (1996) "Central bank of Ireland, Balally", in Bennett, I. [ed] Excavations 1996. Bray. Wordwell. P.16 Graham, B.J. (1988) "Medieval timber and earthwork fortifications in the west of Ireland", Medieval Archaeology, 32, Pp.110-129 Grogan, E. & Kilfeather, A. (1997) Archaeological inventory of County Wicklow. Dublin. Stationery Office. Hanna, M. (2006) The National Cathedral and Collegiate Church of Saint Patrick, Dublin: Conservation Plan. Dublin. Saint Patrick's Cathedral. Harbison, P. (1998) Gabriel Beranger's drawings of the principal antique buildings of Ireland. Dublin. Harding, D.W. (2012) Iron Age Hillforts in Britain and Beyond. Oxford. Oxford University Press. Highham, R. & Barker, P. (2004) Timber Castles. London. Exeter. University of Exeter Press. Kavanagh, J. (2013) "A rediscovered castle in Dalkey", in Corlett, C. [ed] Unearthing the archaeology of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, Dublin. Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. Pp. 124-8 Kenny, N. (2010) "Charcoal production in medieval Ireland", in Stanley, W., Danaher, E. & eogan, J. (eds), Creative Minds: production, manufacturing and invention in ancient Ireland. Dublin. National Roads Authority, Pp.99-127 Kerr, J.S. (2013) The Conservation Plan: a guide to the preparation of Conservation Plans for places of European cultural significance, 7th ed., The National Trust of Australia (NSW), Sydney. Kerr, J.S. (1999) ‘Opening address: the conservation plan’, in Clarke, K. [ed] Conservation plans in action, Proceedings of the Oxford Conference. London. English Heritage, Leask, H. (1944) Irish Castles and Castellated Houses. Dundalk. Dundalgan Press. 1999 reprint edition. Liversage, G.D. (1968) “Excavations at Dalkey Island, Co. Dublin, 1956-59”. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 66C, Pp.53-233. Lyttleton J, (2012) "Natives and Newcomers: Plantation-era archaeology on Irish road schemes" in Stanley et al (eds) Encounters between Peoples, NRA Monograph Series No. 9, NRA, Dublin. McCabe, B. (2003) "Carrickmines: A Note from the Past", Dublin Historical Record, Vol. 56, No. 1 (Spring, 2003), pp. 71-77 McNally, M. (2009) Ireland 1649-52: Cromwell's Protestant Crusade. Oxford. Osprey. McNeill, C. (1950) Calendar of Archbishop Alen's Register, c.1172-1534. Dublin. Falconer. McNeill, Tom (1997) Castles in Ireland: Feudal Power in a Gaelic World. London. Routledge. McNeill, T.E. (1996) “Castles of Ward and the changing pattern of Border conflict in Ireland”, Château Gaillard XVII Pp.127-133 Manning, C. (2009) "Irish tower houses ", in Perbellini, G. [ed] Towers and smaller castles: Europa Nostra Bulletin Scientific Bulletin, 63, Pp. 19-30 Manning, C. (2009) The history and archaeology of Glanworth Castle, Co. Cork: Excavations 19824. Dublin. Stationery Office. Murphy, M. & Potterton, M. (2010) The Dublin Region in the Middle Ages: Settlement, Land-use and Economy. Dublin. Four Courts Press. 68 

 

 

Naessans, P. & O’Conor, K. (2012) “Pre-Norman fortification in eleventh and twelfth-century Connacht”, Château Gaillard 25, PP. 259-268 Nylund, S. (2009) "Artist or Specialist?"Archaeology Ireland, Vol. 23, No. 2 (Summer, 2009), pp. 18-21 O'Brien, E. (2013) "Excavations at Dundrum Castle", in Corlett, C. [ed] Unearthing the archaeology of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, Dublin. Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. Pp. 114-123 O'Brien, E. (1989) "Excavations at Dundrum Castle, Dundrum, Co. Dublin", Archaeology Ireland, 3:4 (Winter 1989), Pp.136-7 O’Byrne, Emmett, (2002) 'On the frontier: Carrickmines castle and Gaelic Leinster', Archaeology Ireland 16:3 , 13-15 O’Byrne, Emmett, (2003a) ‘A much disputed land: Carrickmines and the Dublin Marches’ in Duffy (ed.), Medieval Dublin IV (2003), pp 229–52. O’Byrne, Emmett, (2003b) ‘The Walshes and the massacre at Carrickmines’, Archaeology Ireland, 17:3, pp 8–11. O'Connor, J. (2002) "Ballyogan Road, Jamestown", in Bennett, I. [ed] Excavations 2002. Dublin. Wordwell. P.162 O'Conor, K.D. (2002) "Motte castles in Ireland: permanent fortresses, residences and manorial centres", Chateau Gaillard, 20, Pp.173-82 O'Conor, K.D. (1992) "Irish earthwork castles", Fortress, 12, P.1-12 O'Conor, K.D. (1987-1991) "The later construction and use of motte and bailey castles in Ireland: new evidence from Leinster", Journal of the County Kildare Archaeological and Historical Society, 17, Pp.13-29 O'Corrain, D. (1974) "Aspects of early Irish history", in SCott, B.G. [ed] Perspectives in Irish Archaeology, Belfast. AYIA. Pp.64-71 O’Drisceoil, C. (2007) “Life and death in the Iron Age at Carrickmines Great, Co. Dublin”, Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries, Vol. 137, Pp.5-28 O’Drisceoil, C. (2006) “A Neolithic disc-bead necklace from Carrickmines Great, Co. Dublin”, Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries, Vol. 136, Pp.141-156 O'Keeffe, T.; (2005) ''Heritage, rhetoric, identity: critical reflections on the Carrickmines Castle controversy'' In: M. McCarthy (eds). Ireland's Heritages: Critical Perspectives on Memory and Identity. Aldershot: Ashgate. Pp. 139-151 O'Keefe, T. (1992) "Medieval frontiers and fortifications: the Pale and its evolution", in Aalen, F.H.A. & Whelan, K. [eds] Dublin city and county: essays in honour of J.H. Andrews. Dublin. Geography Publications. Pp.57-78 O’Néill, J. (2006) “Excavation of pre-Norman structures on the site of an enclosed early Christian cemetery at Cherrywood, county Dublin” in Medieval Dublin VII ed. S. Duffy Four Courts. Dublin, Pp. 66-88 Shaffrey Associates Architects (2005) St. Luke's Conservation Plan. Dublin. Dublin City Council. Sherlock, R. (2006) "Cross-cultural occurrences of mutations in tower house architecture: evidence for cultural homogeneity in late medieval Ireland?", Journal of Irish Archaeology, Vol. XV, 2006, Pp.73-91 Shiels, D. (2008) "Identifying and Interpreting Ireland's Post-Medieval Conflict Archaeology", Journal of Irish Archaeology, Vol. 17, (2008), pp. 137-152 Sweetman, D. (2009) "The tower houses of County Louth", in Perbellini, G. [ed] Towers and smaller castles: Europa Nostra Bulletin Scientific Bulletin, 63, Pp. 31-4 Sweetman, D. (1999) Medieval Castles of Ireland. Dublin, Collins Press. Wallace, A. (2003) "Woodside", in Bennett, I. [ed] Excavations 1996. Dublin. Wordwell. Pp.186-7

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ENDNOTES 1

An invitation was extended to the National Monuments Service but no nomination was forthcoming  Kerr, J.S. (1996) The Conservation Plan: a guide to the preparation of Conservation Plans for places of European cultural significance, 4th ed., The National Trust of Australia (NSW), Sydney.  3 Further information on the conservation plan process can be found in ‘Conservation Plans for Historic Places’ , Heritage Lottery Fund, 1998 and ‘The Conservation Plan’ by James Semple Kerr, National Trust of Australia, 1996.  4 Clarke, C.M. (2001) Informed conservation: understanding historic buildings and their landscapes for conservation. London. English Heritage  5 License 00E0525 directed by Mark Clinton  6 License 02E1532 directed by Gary Conboy  7 M50 South-Eastern Motorway Scheme Archaeological Resolution – Final Report Sites 16-20, Carrickmines, Co. Dublin. Prepared by V.J.Keeley Ltd.  8 Keely 1993a  9 Breen, 2012, 2  10 Breen, 2012, 2  11 Clinton & Shiels, 2013, 138  12 The word 'castle' is generally used to describe private fortified residences of lords or other nobility which appeared in Europe in the ninth or tenth century. The word comes from the Latin castellum which is a diminutive of the word castrum.   13 Tom McNeill pointed out that crannogs posed particular problems for defining castles, as crannogs were fortified residences which combined administrative and judicial functions but where military considerations were paramount but were not linked to feudalism.; and also "The second argument against the crannog as castle is even cruder, if more powerful. It is that they are found far earlier than any castle, and they do not look anything like what we think of as a castle; this is, of course, a classic circular argument". McNeill, 1997, 6  14 new loan-words from the Latin castellum  15 The documentary evidence for pre-Norman castles was assembled by O'Corrain (1974) and analysed by Graham (1988) and McNeill (1997).  16 O'Conor 1991, 2002  17 Manning, 2009, 136-9  18 However, there are exceptions to this such as Ferns, Carlow, Enniscorthy and Lea castles which are broadly similar, and which Harold Leask described as 'towered keeps'.  19 Earth and timber castles are treated in detail in MacNeill 1997, Sweetman 1999, & Highham & Barker 2004  20 The term was coined in Sweetman, 1999, P. 100  21 Grogan & Kilfeather, 1997, 190-1; Bolton & Pavia 1999  22 Murphy & Potterton, ibid. 202  23 Sweetman devotes an entire chapter to later medieval stone fortresses.  24 Sweetman 1999, 137 notes that this is only a general tendency, and that small tower houses such as Rockfleet, Co. Mayo can be found throughout the country while larger more sophisticated tower houses such as Dunsoghly are also found in Dublin.   25 Donnelly 1999, 2010  26 Sherlock 2006  27 Other castle types such as stronghouses are also known from elsewhere in Ireland but do not appear to be present in the greater Dublin area.   28 Kilruddery House was extensively remodelled c.1820 and again in the 1950s but is very likely to retain c.1618 fabric which appears to be a fortified house as seen a painting held in Kilruddery House.  29 O'Brien 1989 & 2013; Harbison 1998  30 Manning, 2009  31 Manning ibid. has suggested around 3000 tower houses were originally built, while David Sweetman suggested c.3800 were erected (Sweetman 2009:31)., while Terry Barry, on the basis of the evidence of the seventeenth century Civil Survey information, suggested that 7000 tower houses could have been erected, making Ireland one of the most heavily castellated places in Europe.  32 McNeill, 1950, 250-1  33 Map taken from The Neighbourhood of Dublin by Weston St John Joyce (1921). Source: http://source.southdublinlibraries.ie/handle/10599/1134  34 Source: http://source.southdublinlibraries.ie/handle/10599/4776. Accessed 14 October 2013  35 Banks and ditches would not have been particularly effective at preventing an armed incursion, but were useful in thwarting cattle raiding which was an important aspect of Gaelic Irish society.   36 Berry, 1910, Pp.17, 33-5  37 Murphy & Potterton, ibid. 268  38 O'Keefe, 1992, 68-70; Murphy & Potterton, 269  2

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39

Healy 1978; Goodbody 1993; Gracie 1996  Murphy & Potterton, 275  41 SMR 26:1  42 Brady 1998; O'Connor 2002  43 Wallace 2003  44 Carroll 2001  45 A fosse is a defensive ditch. At Carrickmines, the wall of the ditch was revetted with a stone retaining wall.  46 Breen 2012  47 The history of Carrickmines Castle was first presented by Ball (1901) and more recently by Goodbody 1993; O’Byrne 2002; McCabe 2003; and O’Byrne 2003a &2003b  40

48

e.g. possible early Mesolithic flint assemblage from Glebe townland, 2.18km south-east (Finlay 2003); Mesolithic and Neolithic finds at Dalkey (Liversage 1968); and 'Bann' flakes at Loughlinstown (Corlett 1999)  49 Clinton 2003, 01E0364, 'Prehistoric Rock Art - Dr Muiris O'Sullivan', in Breen, 2012, 397-402  50 O’Drisceoil, C. (2006) “A Neolithic disc-bead necklace from Carrickmines Great, Co. Dublin”, Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries, Vol. 136, Pp.141-156  51 O’Drisceoil, C. (2007) “Life and death in the Iron Age at Carrickmines Great, Co. Dublin”, Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries, Vol. 137, Pp.5-28  52 Seaver, M. (2004) “From mountain to sea – excavations at Laughanstown Glebe”, Archaeology Ireland, Spring 2004. Pp. 8-12  53 E.g. the megalithic wedge toms at Laughanstown, Kilmashogue, Carrickgollogan and Ballyedmonduff. Another possible wedge tomb was excavated in Shankill (O'Neill 1999)  54 Carrickmines Great Site 63, Conboy 2004:134  55 Simpson (1994), P.191  56 John O’Néill, “Excavation of pre-Norman structures on the site of an enclosed early Christian cemetery at Cherrywood, county Dublin” in Medieval Dublin VII ed. S. Duffy Dublin 2006, 66-88  57 Kenny 2010: 111-113  58 Breen 2012: 15  59 Bateson 1903:503  60 " The fact that Carrickmines was assessed at one foot serjeant or 5s indicates that it was not a large holding as this equated with one eighth of a knight’s fee. In Co. Dublin, a knight’s fee of ten ploughlands or carucates (about 1,200 medieval acres and approximately 2,700 statute acres) seems to have been the average. Breen, 2012, 16  61 It has been suggested that the foundations of the D-shaped projection of this stone rectangular building was the stair turret of a tower house. However, the surviving walls are 0.8-1m thick which is very thin for a medieval tower house.   62 Moated sites are defensive but are not classified as castles. 1155 moated sites are known in the Republic of Ireland  63 It is generally believed that moated sites did not generally have defensive walls, but were enclosed with a ditch and a bank, the latter carrying a stout wooden palisade.  64 For example, polygonal stone enclosures, McNeill 1997: 155; McNeill, T.E. (1996) “Castles of Ward and the changing pattern of Border conflict in Ireland”, Château Gaillard XVII Pp.127-133 A handful of polygonal stone enclosures are known in Ireland, mostly in Ulster, but with an example surviving at Ballyvolan, Co. Wicklow (Grogan & Kilfeather, 1997, P. 184) indicating that they were used in the Dublin area as a frontier fortification.  65 Clinton & Shields, 2013, 135  66 "Although the annual fair at Carrickmines is first historically attested in 1685, it is likely to have existed long before this", Breen, 2012, 271  67 The excavation report noted that much of the interior had been disrupted by the sewer and gas pipelines.  68 A drawbridge is known from nearby Dundrum castle.  69 IEP refers to Irish exchequer payments, 1270-1446 (Connelly 1998)  70 Breen 2012, 21  71 O'Brien, 2013  72 Kavanagh, 2013:128 stated "Only the lowest foundations of this building survived, which had been comprehensively demolished in the middle of the 18th century. Therefore, there is no direct evidence to indicate what form the castle may have had, though in all likelihood, it was quite similar to the two surviving castles in Dalkey".  73 This differs fundamentally from wall construction in abandoning the principle of presenting a vertical face to the assailant, and dispenses with a berm as the outer face of the rampart and the inner face of the ditch effectively form a single continuous slope. Wall ramparts may use virtually any combination of stone, timber of turf to revet the front and rear faces of the wall, or to stabilise the core material. The purpose of this work is to present a steeper, taller and more impressive obstacle 71 

 

 

than could be obtained by piling earth or stone at its natural angle of rest. Whether the rampart provided a fighting platform for defence or a vantage point, the summit may have been crowned with a walkway with breastwork along the parapet, from which guards would have had a considerable height advantage in spotting and repelling any assault. The ramparts at Carrickmines are faced with drystone. Timber revetments are known, but would have required periodic replenishment due to deterioration of the timber, and would have been vulnerable to firing.   74 The surviving wall fragment was first described as a ‘gatehouse’ by Austin Cooper (1759-1830), possibly on the basis of local tradition.  75   This may have been built as early as the thirteenth century, or perhaps a few centuries later but continued to be developed into the eighteenth century.  76 The excavation report raised a query that this structure may have guarded an entrance across the moat.  77 This consisted of a horizontal mills and two ‘houses’. The mill, one of 130 examples known in Ireland, had a headrace with a sluice, a tail-race and a wheel pit with the original wooden base dated by dendrochronology to the twelfth century but by the stratigraphy of the mill-race to the thirteenth century.  78 Gatehouses were sometimes favoured for chapels as they were readily accessible from the courtyard, with a notable example at Prudhoe Castle in Northumberland.  79 'Historical Background - Dr Margaret Murphy', in Breen, 2012, 12  80 Breen, 2012, 275  81 License 04E0773 directed by Franc Myles  82 Murphy & Potterton, ibid. 252  83 Examination of Thomas Fox and Owine Deane, 25th March 1642, MS 810 147r. Source: Trinity College Dublin  84 http://downsurvey.tcd.ie/down-survey-maps.php#bm= Rathdown&c= Dublin&p= Killeny+Tully+and+Whitechurch. Accessed 9th December 2013.  85 e.g. Ball 1901; Clinton et al 2007, 2010 & 2013; O'Byrne 2002;   86 The Confederate Wars originated in Ulster with the Rebellion of October 1641, and which quickly spread southwards into Leinster and throughout the country with the Association of the Confederate Catholics of Ireland formed in Kilkenny in 1642 to organise the war effort of the Catholic landed gentry. Military support for the Dublin administration was slow in arriving due to conflicts in England between king and parliament, but Sir Simon Harcourt and 1100 armed men landed in Ireland on New Year's Eve 1641 to support the Lord Justices in Dublin. From January to March 1642, military engagements developed from minor clashes to expeditions to secure Naas, to relief forces to break sieges at Kilsallagh Castle in north Dublin and the town of Drogheda in Louth before the army returned to Dublin on 17th March 1642, and state forces began to look to secure south Dublin. 87 Civil Survey, 270  88 Charles Lambart, 1st Earl of Cavan was born April 1600, Privy Counsellor, and commander of the forces of Dublin in 1642. He died on 25th June 1660 and is buried in St. Patricks Cathedral, Dublin  89 Ball, 1901, 200  90 Ormonde Mss NS 2, 99  91 Flintlocks were invented in France after 1610 and remained in use until the mid-19th century. Ireland had a long history of firearms and matchlocks, wheellocks, snaphances and other gun types would have been widely available to those who could afford them.  92 Clinton & Shiels, 2013:143  93 Owen, 1642, 5  94 These were medium-sized cannon about 3.4 metres in length and weighing 1500 kg, and firing an 8 pound shot.  95 Ormonde Mss NS 2, 99-100  96 History of Affairs, 24-5  97 Ormonde Mss I, 131  98 Breen, 2012, 274-5  99 Margaret Murphy notes in her historical section within the final archaeological report that “The date of the Carrickmines buildings at the end of the siege is problematic .. it seems unlikely that, in the middle of a campaign, the soldiers would have had the time, or sufficient surplus gunpowder, to completely raze a castle” and notes that the concept of the castle ‘blown up and the walls levelled with the ground’ appears was solidified with Ball’s 1901 interpretation of historical descriptions of the siege.  100 http://downsurvey.tcd.ie/down-survey-maps.php#bm= Rathdown&c= Dublin&p= Killeny+Tully+and+Whitechurch. Accessed 5th December 2013  101 The commissioners of markets and fairs in 1853 reported that fairs were held on January 6th, April 14th, June 24th and October 14th at Carrickmines, Fairs and Markets, 79.  72 

 

 

102

Parliamentary Gazetteer of 1854, 422  Samuel Lewis in his 1837 Topographical Dictionary records ‘Carrickmines Castle, of Robt. Taylor, Esq, in the grounds of which are the remains of an ancient castle of that name” but this refers to a house of that name depicted on the first edition Ordnance Survey map in Cornelscourt, 2km north of Carrickmines.  104 Ball, 1901, 196  105 Through the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries the fair continued to give an extra-local economic significance to Carrickmines. The 11th, or 11th and 12th June fair chartered by James II had been joined by several others by the middle of the nineteenth century. The commissioners on markets and fairs reported in 1853 that fairs were held on January 6th, April 14th, June 24th and October 14th. The date of the June fair had changed because of the adoption of the Gregorian calendar, but the other three fairs were new and, had no charters to sanction their existence (Fairs and Markets, 79). The June fair was in 1835 described as specialising in 'mountain kinds' of livestock, and also in textiles as a 'great frieze fair' (IFGMRRA, 287).  106 Joyce 1921, 57-8  103

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O'Keefe, 2005, 142-3  108 http://www.vincentsalafia.com/interviews/fighting-for-the-irish-high-kings-an-interview-with-vincent-salafia. Access 25th November 2013  109 http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/81/January_2004Carrickminders.jpg. Accessed 21 October 2013  110 http://www.indymedia.ie/article/25804. Accessed 21 October 2013  111 Photograph of Carrickmines Castle from South Dublin County Council library service,. Source: http://source.southdublinlibraries.ie/handle/10599/3639   112 Photograph of Carrickmines Castle from South Dublin County Council library service. Source: http://source.southdublinlibraries.ie/handle/10599/3418   113 114

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 Goodbody, 2014, 90  Duff 2013  115  This approach has been used for a number of conservation plans in Ireland including St.  Patrick's Cathedral, St. Luke's Church, Dublin and the Dalkey Islands. 

The farmhouse buildings are not listed in the Record of Protected Structures, however the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage for Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown has not yet been undertaken. 

73