County: Meath Site name: KILLEEN CASTLE, Killeen
Sites and Monuments Record No.: ME038-012 Licence number: 04E0969 EXT.
Author: Christine Baker, Margaret Gowen & Co. Ltd.
Site type: Excavation - miscellaneous
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 693113m, N 755159m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.538120, -6.595262
Killeen Demesne lies within the medieval barony of Skreen. The oldest surviving part of the castle, a four-storey medieval tower-house comprising a central portion with four angle towers, dates from the first half of the 15th century. Two substantial extensions were added in the 19th century, completely enclosing the medieval castle. The 15th-century parish church of Killeen (SMR 38:13) is situated adjacent to the castle and was originally part of an abbey complex; there are a number of gravestones of the Plunkett family in the church, including two fine late-15th-century double-effigy tombs in memory of the founder, Christopher Plunkett, and his wife. The remains of a 15th-century cross (SMR 38:31) are situated to the north of the church.
In order to assess the impact of the proposed development, five trenches were mechanically opened, north of the castle and east of the abbey. Seven features were identified, the most significant of which was a ditch that extended from the base of the present delineating bank of the graveyard, thus pre-dating the 15th-century church. The remaining features were interpreted as 19th century in date. This area was subsequently excavated.
27 Merrion Square, Dublin 2
