County: Wexford Site name: Mountgarrett Castle
Sites and Monuments Record No.: WX029-009 Licence number: 21E0627 ext.
Author: Colm Moriarty
Site type: Castle
Period/Dating: Late Medieval (AD 1100-AD 1599)
ITM: E 672450m, N 629471m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.411948, -6.935069
Archaeological monitoring of rubble movement was carried out at Mountgarrett castle, Co. Wexford in September and October 2023. The earliest reference to the site dates from AD 1358 when a ‘stone tower’ is mentioned at Mountgarrett along with ‘a granary and two cabins’ (Hore 1900-11, Vol. 1, 192). This tower may have been upgraded in the early 15th century as in AD 1408 Patrick Barrett, the Bishop of Ferns, was granted permission to employ ‘competent quarrymen and masons’ to build a fortification at Mountgarrett (ibid, 130-1). In the early 16th century the castle was acquired by Sir Richard Butler and he appears to have substantially re-modelled the structure.
The rubble at Mountgarrett represented stone that had collapsed from the castle in recent years. This material was moved under archaeological supervision. No sub-surface excavation took place during these works and no intact archaeological horizons were encountered. During the course of the monitoring programme a number of fragments of cut stone were identified. These were photographed and then secured onsite for future conservation works. An iron cannon ball was also recovered during the conservation repairs. This was probably fired by a small 16th/17th-century cannon, such as a Falcon. Interestingly a Síle na Gig figure was discovered inside the castle during the movement of rubble. The Síle's head was missing, but otherwise the figure was complete. She was carved out of granite and features such as breasts, ribs, vulva, arms and legs were clearly discernible.
In addition, conservation repairs on the castle were carried out under archaeological supervision to ensure that original architectural features were retained. These works were concentrated on the western and southern walls of the structure. The repairs involved filling in masonry voids, tying in free-standing masonry elements, re-pointing degraded mortar joints and some rebuild. Funding for the conservation measures was supplied by the Community Monuments Fund (CMF23-1-WX004). These works represent the third and final phase of repairs at Mountgarrett castle.
Reference:
Hore, P.H. 1900-1911 History of the Town and County of County of Wexford. London.
The Hill, The Leap, Davidstown, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford
