County: Clare Site name: SMITHSTOWN OR BALLYNAGOWAN CASTLE, Smithstown
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 15:03402 Licence number: 96E0167
Author: Richard Crumlish, Archaeological Services Unit Ltd
Site type: Castle - tower house
Period/Dating: Late Medieval (AD 1100-AD 1599)
ITM: E 541106m, N 663256m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.717203, -8.871700
On 4 June 1996 the writer monitored the removal of a small mound located along the south wall of Smithstown Castle prior to the development of this tower house. This was undertaken in compliance with planning conditions made by Clare County Council.
The tower house, also known as 'Ballynagowan Castle' or Béal átha an Gobhan ('the mouth of the smith's ford') was an O'Brien stronghold at one time, belonging to Teige McMurrogh O'Brien in 1580. Built on a rock outcrop, it contains four storeys in a poor state of preservation, and measures 12.4m east-west, 8.2m north-south and c. 12m in height. It was constructed of roughly coursed undressed limestone blocks, with dressed stone reserved for the quoins and around the window opes and doorways. It was in use as a cowshed up until recently. A large house attached to the south wall of the tower at a later date was inhabited up to 1837 but has since been removed. Evidence of its location remains in the form of the weather-line of its roof, which is clearly visible.
The mound of material removed from the base of the exterior of the south wall of the tower house was located near its east end and measured 3.2m in length, 1.2m in width and 1min height. It was removed by hand and consisted of stones, mortar, red brick fragments, topsoil, roofing flags and two sherds of modern pottery. This material represented collapse from the tower house and remains of the building formerly attached to the south wall. Nothing of archaeological significance was in evidence.
Claregalway Rd. Oranmore, Co. Galway
