Drumcliff

Area

4,188 m² (0.42 ha, 1.03 acres)

Buildings

1 building touches it. Its footprint covers 418 m².

Zoning

No zone of a development plan covers it in the national zoning. Outside zoned towns and villages, the county development plan's rural policies apply.

Townland

Drumcliff

Planning applications on this parcel

• 19 Jun 2018Conditional

  AN EXTERNAL STAIRCASE, NEW DOOR AND WINDOW AT THE FIRST FLOOR SOUTH EAST GABLE END

  Permission · Donegal County Council, 1850970

Source: National Planning Applications, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Applicants are not shown.

Designated sites

• Proposed Natural Heritage Area: Donegal Bay (Murvagh) 000133

Recorded monuments around it

This parcel is in the zone of notification of 9 recorded monuments.

• DG093-013 Historic town
  Description

  Described in the Urban Survey of Donegal as 'The town is located at the head of Donegal Bay overlooking the wide shallow estuary of the river Eske. The placename is derived from Dun na Ngall, "the fort of the foreigners". These "foreigners" are usually presumed to be the Vikings who were active around the coast of Donegal in the mid ninth century and again in the 920s and 930s. The nature of this fort and whether or not is represents Scandinavian settlement remain unknown (Bradley & Dunne 1989, 30). Donegal rose to prominence in the later middle ages as one of the principal residences of O Donnell lords of Tirconnell. The castle (DG093-013001-) was constructed in or around 1474 by Hugh Roe O'Donnell (d. 1505) at much the same time as the Franciscan friary (DG093-013002-) was established a short distance to the south. In 1566 Sir Henry Sidney described the castle as "one of the greatest that ever I saw in Ireland in any Irishman's lands and would appear in good keeping; one of the fairest situated in good soil and so nigh a portable water as a boat of ten tons could come within twenty yards of it". Increasing English pressure to gain a foothold in Donegal caused it to be burned in 1588 so that it could not be used as a garrison fort. The English force instead garrisoned the friary. In 1592, when Red Hugh O'Donnell returned after his escape from Dublin Castle, the English garrison was forced to flee and both castle and friary were rebuilt. The landing of Dowcra's forces, under Niall garbh O'Donnell, in 1601 resulted in the capture of the friary and the return of a garrison which Red Hugh O'Donnell failed to eject because it could be provisioned directly by sea. After the flight of the earls in 1607 and the escheat of the county, the land around Donegal town was granted to Capt Basil Brooke, who had been active in the Ulster wars. Brooke began to settle the land and in 1611 Donegal was described by Pynnar as follows : We found a fair bawn built, with flankers, a parapet, and a walk on the top 15 feet high. Within the bawn is a strong house, built by Captain Basil Brooke….Many families of English, Scottish, and irish are inhabiting the town, who built them good copled houses after the manner of the Pale (Butlin 1977, 89). On 13 march 1612 Brooke received a grant : To hold a Thursday market and a fair on the feast of St Peter, and the day after, yearly at Donegal; with courts of pie-powder; power to appoint a clerk of the market, etc. rent 6s. 8d.; No person to sell goods by retail within 3 miles of the castle of Donegal, unless they were planted there by the said Basil, or were inhabitants of the said town of Donegal, on forfeiture of the said goods; he to set apart a convenient place for the site of the said town to be built; for the market-place, and for the church and church-yard; the said borough to consist of 20 burgesses, besides cottagers and other inferior inhabitants, to be accomodated with houses and lands within four years; 30a to be appointed for the Common to be called the burgess-field, with 2a. More, viz. half an acre for the building of a public school and one and a half for the exercise of the scholars (Ir. Rec Comm 1830, 219-20). As a result of this grant Brooke succeeded in attracting sufficient settlers and the town was incorporated on 17 February 1613. The town was never particularly large and in the census if c. 1659 its adult population was given as 24 English and Scots together with 71 Irish making a total of 95. In 1689 the town was burned by Jacobites under the Duke of Berwick but he failed to capture the castle (Bradley & Dunne 1989, 31-2). The town of Donegal is described in the Urban Survey as 'The town was laid out around a triangular diamond placed to the south of the castle. Three streets led from the diamond: Bridge St, Main St and Quay St. Tyrconnell St is obviously an intrusion into this layout. The burgage plot pattern still survives within the town and it is very clear on the O.S. 25" map. In 1612 Basil Brooke was granted the right to hold a weekly market at Donegal. The diamond was evidently the market place of the new town. Pynnar's account of 1611, quoted above, indicates that the settlers were building houses in the town after the manner of the Pale. This presumably indicates that some were half-timbered while others were stone built. Nothing remains of pre-1700 housing within the town' (Bradley & Dunne 1989, 33-4). Excavation licence number 00E0697 Monitoring was carried out by by Declan Moore of Moore Archaeological and Environmental Services Ltd on the site of the proposed conversion and extension to the rear of the AIB building at the Diamond, Donegal, Co. Donegal. Monitoring was carried out between 6 and 28 October 2000. The site is bounded to the west by a high wall, separating it from a roadway and the Eske River. It is located on a gently rising slope. To the north and south it is bounded by the Abbey Hotel and the Central Hotel respectively. Bedrock was sealed by a series of compact, yellow/brown, sandy clays, which in turn underlay mixed deposits of dark brown silt and gravel with frequent inclusions of red brick. This deposit appears to represent deliberate deposition to level up the existing slope and was subsequently used as a yard and later as a parking area. This deposit was overlain by a layer of rounded cobbles and tarmac. The site was truncated throughout by a number of modern pipelines and was heavily disturbed. Nothing of archaeological significance was observed. (Excavations Bulletin 2000) Excavation licence number 00E0243 and ext. The site occupies an area measuring 35m east-west by 34m that lies on the west side of Quay Street and fronts onto the river estuary to the west. The first edition OS 6-inch map shows that the late 18th/early 19th-century quay wall crosses the west side of the site but is now hidden behind more modern reclamation. Three trenches were mechanically excavated iby Alan Hayden, of Archaeological Projects Ltd in April 2000. Bedrock stepped down from 1.4m to 3.5m below modern ground level from east to west. It was overlain by water-deposited silt, which contained 18th-century finds. The top of this deposit lay at 2m below modern ground level. A large stone wall crossed the centre of the site parallel to the later 18th-century one. Its top stood to a maximum height of 1m below modern ground level. The site and wall were subsequently fully exposed and recorded during archaeological excavation undertaken in early June 2000. It was the earliest structure on the site. The height of the bedrock at the east side of the site suggested that this was the first quay wall built in the area. The wall survived up to 2m in height and was built against one of the bedrock steps. Its rear face was poorly built, but the west face, which faced the water, was finely wrought of large blocks of stone. Eighteenth-century deposits occurred in places beneath the rear face and also against both sides of the wall. It is hoped that the wall will be rebuilt at a higher level in the proposed development. (Excavations Bulletin 2000) Excavation licence number 00E0697 ext. Monitoring was carried out by Declan Moore of Moore Archaeological and Environmental Services Ltd on the site of the proposed conversion and extension of the AIB building on the Diamond, Donegal town. Phase 1 of the proposed development entailed the excavation of foundation trenches and new drains to the rear of the existing building (Excavations 2000, No. 171). The second phase of monitoring involved the demolition of existing structures to the rear of the main bank building and involved no further excavations. Phase 3 involved the reduction of the floor in the existing building and subsequent excavation of two column bases. The site is bounded to the west by a high wall, separating the proposed development from a roadway and the Eske River. It is on a gently rising slope. To the north and south, the Abbey Hotel and the Central Hot

• DG093-013001 Castle - tower house
  Description

  Donegal Castle is a National Monument (No.174) in State care. Hugh Roe O'Donnell, who died in 1505, is credited with having first erected a castle at Donegal (AFM 1505). The 'old castle' and a 'new tower' at Donegal are mentioned in a domestic conflict of 1564 (AFM 1564); the nature of this tower is uncertain. Two years later, the Lord Deputy, Sir Henry Sidney, described the castle as 'one of the greatest that ever I saw in Ireland in any Irishman's lands, and would appear in good keeping one of the fairest. . .' (Caulfield 1870-1, 22). Though burned in 1589, and partly demolished, possibly in 1595, to prevent it being garrisoned by English forces (CSPI 1588-92, 123; O'Rahilly 1927, 208), it must, soon after, have been repaired; it fell into the possession of the English in 1601 (Murphy Ed., 1895, 261, 281, 291). Whether or not it was subsequently repaired by Rory O'Donnell is unknown. Captain Basil Brooke, knighted in 1616, received a grant of the castle in 1611, had it renewed in 1620 and made permanent in 1623 (Hill 1877, 324; Petrie 1840, 186). He is described in 1611 as having 'a fair bawn built with flankers' within which was 'a strong house of stone' (Hill 1877, 514). The Coats of Arms on the over-mantel of the fireplace confirm that it was he who converted the whole, with the addition of a gabled wing, into a Jacobean manor-house. During the 1641 rebellion it was held by Sir Basil's heir, Henry Brooke, though Clanrickarde took it for a short period in 1651. Henry Brooke subsequently resided there (de Breffny and ffolliott 1975, 44-5). It fell to decay in the 18th century and was placed in the guardianship of the Office of Public Works in 1898 (Leask 1932, 12). It is now a National Monument (no. 174). For the purposes of clarity and to aid the description, the manor-house (DG093-013007-) is taken as attached to the W wall of the keep. The remains consist of a much altered tower-house (DG093-013001-) and adjoining early 17th century manor-house (DG093-013007-) at the NE end of a bawn (DG093-013006-). They are protected by the River Eske on the N and E. Two distinct building periods are evident. Little remains of the original O'Donnell keep above first floor level, the surviving features confirming it as a typical if not large tower-house of the later 15th/16th century period. Brooke's early 17th century alterations included the insertion of numerous mullioned windows with horizontal hood-moulds, a bay frontage about the original entrance and several fireplaces in the E wall. That he first altered the keep is indicated by the partly blocked-up N window in the W wall and at second storey level (see below); this is also borne out by the fact that the alterations to the keep were defensive in character. All the ground-floor windows are small and narrow and it is only at first-floor level, some 6m up, that the large mullioned windows are inserted. The architecture indicates that the manor-house was added soon after, and the same masons undoubtedly worked on both buildings. The walls of the four storey keep rise from battered lower courses. They are built of roughly-quarried blocks and some rubble laid in mortar and have ashlar quoins. The original ground-floor entrance was in the centre of the S wall and the lower section of the E chamfered jamb is in situ. Brooke added a bay front to this wall and fitted it with three narrow windows. On the E of the original door is a small guard-chamber with a wall-press. On the W, a spiral stairs with twisted octagonal stone newel led to the upper apartments. The main chamber on the ground floor was vaulted N-S; only the S half survives. The vault was probably raised on wicker centering, at the springing of which are a number of corbels in the E and W walls and corresponding beam holes in the corners of the N and S walls. It was lighted on three sides by narrow windows set in sub-rectangular embrasures and had two deeply splayed loops in the W wall; all have 17th century inserted dressings and the embrasure to the N of the loops was enlarged re-using a chamfered, pointed door as an entrance to the manor-house. There is a chamber above the original S entrance and below first-floor level. It has a narrow window in the centre of the 17th century bay frontage and a circular pistol-loop in the W splay. A small garderobe chamber beside it on the E is entered by a lintelled door and has an embrasure of room-width set into the E wall of the keep with a corresponding shute, dropping to ground-floor level; the discharge opening is blocked. The first-floor is entered from the stairs by a chamfered door with tudor-arched head and ornate stops; the arch chamfer is carved in relief with lozenge and pellet designs and the spandrels have a false relief foliage pattern. This room, undoubtedly the principal chamber in the 17th century house, was lighted by a large bay window in the S wall, now completely fallen, though in existence in the early 19th century (sketch in OS Memoirs), and a large four-light window with double transom in the W wall. The line of an earlier window embrasure is visible in the masonry to the N of the latter window. Opposite it, in the E wall, is the large Brooke fireplace whose overmantel rises to full room height. The pedestals are carved with cloisonné-like designs and the pilasters have ornate hinge-like strapwork with flower and foliage patterns on the sides. The fireplace jambs are carved with tasselated garlands hanging from a double chain and the mantel is decorated with a double festoon suspended from chain links, the ends of which are wrapped about a figure on either side of the fire-place; all in high relief. The frieze comprises alternate plain and strapwork panels. The overmantel is divided into two large panels by three sets of inverted double consoles, each carved with a human mask and projecting leaf curling down the face of the console; the N console is missing and a mullion or transom fragment inserted. The left-hand panel bears the armorial escutcheon of Brooke impaling those of his wife, Leicester; the right hand panel bears the Brooke arms alone. Beside the fireplace on the N is a small window, set in a subrectangular embrasure. This floor undoubtedly had an E-W cross wall for there is another smaller fireplace at the N end of the E wall. It has moulded stop-chamfered jambs flanked by pilasters with false relief strapwork patterns and the lintel is carved with two opposing fish-like creatures; the moulded mantelpiece is broken out on decorated corbels over the pilasters and projecting keystone. This fireplace may be in the original entrance to a mural stairs. The remains of such are visible on the floor above descending in that direction. Leask noted that there might have been a staircase in the NE angle but it was then blocked-up and exploration was impossible on account of the defective condition of the masonry (1932, 13). This room is lit by two two-light windows in the N wall, the E having a transom. The tudor-arched door with rebuilt, blunt-pointed rear-arch ín the W wall communicated with the second floor of the manor-house; the masonry indicates that there was probably an original window embrasure in this position. The second floor was probably divided into at least two rooms and subsequent to the Brooke alterations must have communicated with the floors above and below by a wooden staircase. There are two fireplaces in the E wall and between them a window embrasure with descending mural stairs in the N ingoing. The N window in the W wall was partly blocked up to accommodate the roof line of the manor-house. This probably indicates the two-period nature of Brooke's alterations; the keep was first converted into a fortified dwelling and the manor-house then added. There is a wall-press in the E and W corners of the second floor. The main N and S gables of the altered keep were at third-floor level and each had a three-light transomed window; only the E ingoing of the former and

• DG093-013002 Religious house - Franciscan friars
  Description

  Donegal Friary is a National Monument in State care (No.175). It was founded for the Franciscan Observant friars by Aodh Rua O' Donnell and his wife Nuala O' Brien, the date of commencement of the building was 1473 or 1474, or less probably 1472 (Mooney 1954-5, 20). It survived intact until 1588 when English forces pillaged it and, soon afterwards, garrisoned the buildings. They were driven out by Red Hugh O' Donnell in 1592 and the friars returned and repaired the place. In 1601, it was again seized by English forces commanded by the renegade Niall Garbh O'Donnell. During the ensuing siege of the friary by Red Hugh O'Donnell, a mysterious explosion and fire wrecked the buildings. In the following year, Red Hugh was succeeded by his brother Rory as O'Donnell and Earl of Tirconnell and before the latter's departure for Spain, in 1607, he had set about repairing the friary for the Franciscans. The friary was granted in 1607 to Sir Basil Brooke and the Church was subsequently used for Protestant worship (Mooney 1952, passim). Though the explosion and fire of 1601 were without doubt responsible for the fragmentary condition of the ruins, the ·prolonged use of the friary as a place of burial (DG093-013005-) in modern times has raised the ground level (as much as 1.75m in places) and obscured much detail. The limits of many of the buildings were disclosed in the excavations carried out by the OPW when conserving the remains and some sections were raised to present ground level to mark important features (See Leask 1952, 53-7). The arrangement of the buildings accords with the usual Franciscan layout and consists of a church on the S with domestic buildings ranged around a central cloister on the N. The walls are built of roughlydressed blocks and split stone with some rubble, and have ashlar quoins and dressings. The church, comprised chancel, central tower, aisled nave and transept, and is unusually long, c. 44m by c. 6.5m internally. The chancel is the best preserved section of the ruin. The battered lowered courses of the E gable are demarcated by a chamfered string course which returns along the E end of the S wall. Only the jambs and splayed ingoings of the E window remain. The recess in the interior gable face at the foot of the window was probably for a reredos structure. S of the recess is a piscina-cum-wall-press; the niche has chamfered jambs and probably had a central mullion. The remaining four windows in the S wall are represented solely by jambs and sills. The two central windows were partly built up and reduced from three to two lights. The window on the E, over the sedilia, had two lights and that on the W may have had a similar number; the latter retains some blocking at the base of the surviving ingoing. Fragmentary sections of tile sacristy walls adjoining the N and E walls of the chancel survive. A door in the chancel N wall communicated with the E range of domestic buildings and further to the W under the tower another door led to the S ambulatory of the cloister. About midway along the N wall of the church a short projection of cross-wall undoubtedly indicates the position of a tower (see Murphy 1895, 35). The deep rectangular recess beside it may have been for a tomb. The remains of are spond pillar at the W end of the nave indicate the line of the arcade which divided the nave and S aisle. The transept is represented by the S gable and E foundation return of an altar recess. The remains of the S wall of a chapel (Leask 1952, 54-5) are no longer visible. The cloister court was small c. 19.4m by 20.6m in size. Though only sections of the N and E arcades remain, there is sufficient evidence to indicate the general layout. Each arcade comprised two groups of five pillars set either side of a central pier which was buttressed on the court face. Five pillars survive on the N and seven on the E. The former narrow, mullion-like pillars have 'corresponding chamfered round-headed arches. The latter are dumb-bell-like with paired octagonal shafts linked by a plate which projects through the shaft on the court side; the capitals are moulded but the bases are hidden below present ground level. The arches of the E arcade are bluntly pointed. Paired shafts on the W face of the SE pier indicate that the S arcade probably had similar pillars to those on the E. On the N and E sides (and probably on the W) of the cloister the arcades supported the walls of the storeys above and the ambulatories were thus enclosed within the adjoining ranges and ceiled by the timber floors of the upper apartments. The S arcade supported a lean-to roof against the N wall of the church. The line of this roof is visible in the E wall of the ambulatory above a round-headed, chamfered arch of two orders; the inner order which rose from spiked corbels (now damaged) is missing. The extent of the E range is defined by foundations on the N and a small section of wall at the SE There is a corner of some other building immediately N of this range. The dormitory probably occupied the full length and width of the upper storey. There are the remains at ground-floor level of the garderobe on the N, and the night stairs, partly incorporated in the thickness of the N wall of the chancel, survives, on the S. Small loops afford glimpses of the chancel from the stairway and first-floor landing level. The N range is represented by footings which have been raised to ground level and a section of the N wall with a blocked-up door; only the jambs remain. There is no visible trace of the window recorded by Leask to the W (1952, 54). At the junction of the W and N ranges are three separate short flights of steps, which communicated with the upper apartments. The chamber on the NW, possibly the kitchen, preserves a wall-press and a narrow rectangular window in the S wall. The NW corner of this chamber has been eroded away by the sea. Little remains of the W range. There is a curious narrow passage at its S end; it is partly built into the N wall of the nave and has a small splaying squint. The function of this passage is unclear. The above description was derived from the 'Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. A description of the field antiquities of the County from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century.' Compiled by: Brian Lacey with Eamon Cody, Claire Cotter, Judy Cuppage, Noel Dunne, Vincent Hurley, Celie O'Rahilly, Paul Walsh and Seán Ó Nualláin (Lifford: Donegal County Council, 1983). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Compiled by Caimin O'Brien Date of upload/revision: 17 November 2011

• DG093-013003 Church
  Description

  Church ruins: Vegetation and burial plots almost totally obscure the scant remains of this church and only the lower courses of sections of the S and E walls can be distinguished from the grave surrounds into which they have been incorporated. Described in the Urban Survey as 'After the Franciscan Friary was granted to Sir Basil Brooke in 1607 the friary buildings subsequently functioned as a parish church (Lacy 1983, 331). It is quite likely that this was succeeded by the small church in the graveyard, known simply as Glebe Church. This in turn was succeeded by the present C of I parish church which was built in 1825 (Rowan 1979, 238). It was probably at this date that the church was moved into the town and placed opposite the castle (DG093-013001-) (Bradley & Dunne 1989, 34). The above description was derived from the 'Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. A description of the field antiquities of the County from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century.' Compiled by: Brian Lacey with Eamon Cody, Claire Cotter, Judy Cuppage, Noel Dunne, Vincent Hurley, Celie O'Rahilly, Paul Walsh and Seán Ó Nualláin (Lifford: Donegal County Council, 1983), and from the Urban Survey of Donegal. Date of upload: 22 September 2008

• DG093-013005 Graveyard
  Description

  Donegal Friary (DG093-013002-): founded for the Franciscan Observant friars by Aodh Rua O' Donnell and his wife Nuala O' Brien, the date of commencement of the building was 1473 or 1474, or less probably 1472 (Mooney 1954-5, 20). It survived intact until 1588 when English forces pillaged it and, soon afterwards, garrisoned the buildings. They were driven out by Red Hugh O' Donnell in 1592 and the friars returned and repaired the place. In 1601, it was again seized by English forces commanded by the renegade Niall Garbh O'Donnell. During the ensuing siege of the friary by Red Hugh O'Donnell, a mysterious explosion and fire wrecked the buildings. In the following year, Red Hugh was succeeded by his brother Rory as O'Donnell and Earl of Tirconnell and before the latter's departure for Spain, in 1607, he had set about repairing the friary for the Franciscans. The friary was granted in 1607 to Sir Basil Brooke and the Church was subsequently used for Protestant worship (Mooney 1952, passim). The site is now a National Monument (No. 157). Though the explosion and fire of 1601 were without doubt responsible for the fragmentary condition of the ruins, the ·prolonged use of the friary as a place of burial in modern times has raised the ground level (as much as 1.75m in places) and obscured much detail. The limits of many of the buildings were disclosed in the excavations carried out by the OPW when conserving the remains and some sections were raised to present ground level to mark important features (See Leask 1952, 53-7). The above description was derived from the 'Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. A description of the field antiquities of the County from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century.' Compiled by: Brian Lacey with Eamon Cody, Claire Cotter, Judy Cuppage, Noel Dunne, Vincent Hurley, Celie O'Rahilly, Paul Walsh and Seán Ó Nualláin (Lifford: Donegal County Council, 1983). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Date of upload: 22 September 2008

• DG093-013006 Bawn
  Description

  Donegal Castle: Hugh Roe O'Donnell, who died in 1505, is credited with having first erected a castle at Donegal (AFM 1505). The 'old castle' and a 'new tower' at Donegal are mentioned in a domestic conflict of 1564 (AFM 1564); the nature of this tower is uncertain. Two years later, the Lord Deputy, Sir Henry Sidney, described the castle as 'one of the greatest that ever I saw in Ireland in any Irishman's lands, and would appear in good keeping one of the fairest. . .' (Caulfield 1870-1, 22). Though burned in 1589, and partly demolished, possibly in 1595, to prevent it being garrisoned by English forces (CSPI 1588-92, 123; O'Rahilly 1927, 208), it must, soon after, have been repaired; it fell into the possession of the English in 1601 (Murphy Ed., 1895, 261, 281, 291). Whether or not it was subsequently repaired by Rory O'Donnell is unknown. Captain Basil Brooke, knighted in 1616, received a grant of the castle in 1611, had it renewed in 1620 and made permanent in 1623 (Hill 1877, 324; Petrie 1840, 186). He is described in 1611 as having 'a fair bawn built with flankers' within which was 'a strong house of stone' (Hill 1877, 514). The Coats of Arms on the over-mantel of the fireplace confirm that it was he who converted the whole, with the addition of a gabled wing, into a Jacobean manor-house. During the 1641 rebellion it was held by Sir Basil's heir, Henry Brooke, though Clanrickarde took it for a short period in 1651. Henry Brooke subsequently resided there (de Breffny and ffolliott 1975, 44-5). It fell to decay in the 18th century and was placed in the guardianship of the Office of Public Works in 1898 (Leask 1932, 12). It is now a National Monument (no. 174). For the purposes of clarity and to aid the description, the manor-house (DG093-013007-) is taken as attached to the W wall of the keep. The remains consist of a much altered tower-house (DG093-013001-) and adjoining early 17th century manor-house (DG093-013007-) at the NE end of a bawn (DG093-013006-). They are protected by the River Eske on the N and E. Two distinct building periods are evident. Some lengths of the bawn wall with splayed loops survive on the E, S and W, which together with the SW gatehouse-tower are probably not earlier than the 17th century. The other sections of enclosing wall, particularly on the W and S, probably stand on original foundations. The two-storey gate-tower has a bartizan above the SE corner. The present external entrance is possibly modern, the original access being from the parapet walk on the E where there is a pointed doorway; it is fitted with numerous loops. The above description was derived from the 'Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. A description of the field antiquities of the County from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century.' Compiled by: Brian Lacey with Eamon Cody, Claire Cotter, Judy Cuppage, Noel Dunne, Vincent Hurley, Celie O'Rahilly, Paul Walsh and Seán Ó Nualláin (Lifford: Donegal County Council, 1983). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Date of upload: 22 September 2008

• DG093-013007 House - 16th/17th century
  Description

  Donegal Castle: Hugh Roe O'Donnell, who died in 1505, is credited with having first erected a castle at Donegal (AFM 1505). The 'old castle' and a 'new tower' at Donegal are mentioned in a domestic conflict of 1564 (AFM 1564); the nature of this tower is uncertain. Two years later, the Lord Deputy, Sir Henry Sidney, described the castle as 'one of the greatest that ever I saw in Ireland in any Irishman's lands, and would appear in good keeping one of the fairest. . .' (Caulfield 1870-1, 22). Though burned in 1589, and partly demolished, possibly in 1595, to prevent it being garrisoned by English forces (CSPI 1588-92, 123; O'Rahilly 1927, 208), it must, soon after, have been repaired; it fell into the possession of the English in 1601 (Murphy Ed., 1895, 261, 281, 291). Whether or not it was subsequently repaired by Rory O'Donnell is unknown. Captain Basil Brooke, knighted in 1616, received a grant of the castle in 1611, had it renewed in 1620 and made permanent in 1623 (Hill 1877, 324; Petrie 1840, 186). He is described in 1611 as having 'a fair bawn built with flankers' within which was 'a strong house of stone' (Hill 1877, 514). The Coats of Arms on the over-mantel of the fireplace confirm that it was he who converted the whole, with the addition of a gabled wing, into a Jacobean manor-house. During the 1641 rebellion it was held by Sir Basil's heir, Henry Brooke, though Clanrickarde took it for a short period in 1651. Henry Brooke subsequently resided there (de Breffny and ffolliott 1975, 44-5). It fell to decay in the 18th century and was placed in the guardianship of the Office of Public Works in 1898 (Leask 1932, 12). It is now a National Monument (no. 174). For the purposes of clarity and to aid the description, the manor-house is taken as attached to the W wall of the keep. The remains consist of a much altered tower-house (DG093-013001-) and adjoining early 17th century manor-house (DG093-013007-) at the NE end of a bawn (DG093-013006-). They are protected by the River Eske on the N and E. Two distinct building periods are evident. The Brooke manor-house (DG093-013007-) is essentially a three storey T-shaped addition of five gabled bays, having a wide shaft and small arms adjoining the keep. Some skew-corbels and coping remain on the gables. It is markedly less defensive than the altered keep, in having mullioned windows of many lights at ground-floor level. Only the shell of the manor-house remains. There are two entrances in the ground floor; both are older work than the 17th century manor and might well have been taken from the nearby Franciscan Friary (DG093-013002-). The short S arm adjoining the keep may have housed the staircase and the entrance door has chamfered jambs and a round head. The door to the W is of two orders and has multi-moulded stop-chamfered jambs and a pointed head; beside it on the W, a jamb and sill of a single-light window have been incorporated in the wall fabric. The blocked-up opening in the W gable probably indicates the position of a window. There is a large kitchen fireplace with adjoining oven in the N wall. The W wall of the N arm of the house has a chamfered two-fight ogee-headed window; the mullion is missing and the jambs and sills are 17th century in date. The heads are earlier and may also have been removed from the Friary. The upper storeys of this arm each contains a small room; that on the second floor has a small fireplace in the N gable. The main entrance to the manor-house is at first-floor level in the S wall, the steps to which have entirely disappeared. The architrave of the round-headed doorway is carved with a strapwork pattern. To the W of the door is a single-light window, on the E a four-light transomed window and opposite the latter a large fireplace with tudor-arch in the N wall; this was undoubtedly the main entrance hall. There is another fireplace in the N wall to the W and a similar example in the W gable; these indicate the position of two other rooms on this floor. The second floor had a five-gable frontage each with a two-light window. The entrance to the first floor of the keep was from this level. W of the manor-house are the NW fragmentary remains of a building with battered lower courses incorporating a blocked-up discharge shaft. The masonry and construction are very similar to that in the O'Donnell keep and they are possibly coeval. Some lengths of the bawn wall with splayed loops survive on the E, S and W, which together with the SW gatehouse-tower are probably not earlier than the 17th century. The other sections of enclosing wall, particularly on the W and S, probably stand on original foundations. The two-storey gate-tower has a bartizan above the SE corner. The present external entrance is possibly modern, the original access being from the parapet walk on the E where there is a pointed doorway; it is fitted with numerous loops. The above description was derived from the 'Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. A description of the field antiquities of the County from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century.' Compiled by: Brian Lacey with Eamon Cody, Claire Cotter, Judy Cuppage, Noel Dunne, Vincent Hurley, Celie O'Rahilly, Paul Walsh and Seán Ó Nualláin (Lifford: Donegal County Council, 1983). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Between 30 April and 27 November 2002 a number of narrow trenches were archaeologically excavated (02E0496) in advance of the laying of service pipes and cables. Two trenches were excavated within the 17th-century manor house (DG093-013007-). Roof slates were found which may be from the original roof of the manor house, and a yellow clay layer, which may represent the original floor level or a working level when the manor house was being built. A trench excavated along the E side and SW corner of the manor house produced 17th-century pottery and the bowl of a 17th-century clay pipe, and another trench which extended close to the walls of the tower-house (DG093-013001-) and the E end of the manor house at its eastern end, also produced 17th-century pottery. Evidence for an early medieval burial ground (DG093-013008-), which had been disturbed during the construction of the castle, was found in the area to NW of the tower house on sloping ground that runs down to the River Eske. (Moore 2004, No 0416). Date of upload: 22 September 2008

• DG093-013008 Burial ground
  Description

  Located immediately to W of Donegal castle/tower house (DG093-013001-). Between 30 April and 27 November 2002 a number of narrow trenches were archaeologically excavated (02E0496) close to the tower house, in advance of the laying of service pipes and cables. One of the trench (2m by 1m; D 1.3m at N, 0.8m at S) was opened to the north-west of the tower house, just below the break of slope down to the river. It revealed a slab-lined, lintelled grave, the floor of which appeared also to be paved with slabs. The grave was greatly disturbed, and the lower part of the skeleton was missing. The burial had an E−W orientation, with the head to the west, and appeared to be that of a child or juvenile. There was evidence of two other possible graves, lying parallel at the east and west. They did not contain articulated remains, but the fill included fragments of human bone mixed with concentrations of animal bone and oyster shells, i.e. refuse from the castle mixed in with human remains as a result of root action. Further fragments of human remains lay beneath the slab-lined grave, and may indicate layering within the graves. A possible fifth grave in the north-east corner of the cutting appeared to have been deliberately emptied and incorporated into a drain for the tower-house. There appears to have been considerable disturbance of the graves when the tower-house was constructed; it is possible that the builders of the castle gathered up the bones from the disturbed graves and placed them elsewhere. The graves are typical of the Early Medieval lintel type, which implies that the castle was constructed on a pre-existing burial ground (Moore 2004, No. 0416). The full extent of the burial ground is unknown. Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy Date of upload: 1 December 2017

• DG093-013009 Bridge
  Description

  As part of the Donegal Main Drainage scheme the possible pier belonging to a medieval or post medieval bridge was recorded at the foot of Donegal Castle (DG093-013001-) under excavation licence no. 02E0851. The pier of this bridge consists of cut blocks of limestone, at one time bonded by mortar. The mortar has mostly disintegrated and the entire structure has been badly damaged by tree root action, leaving it in a very precarious and unstable state (Read, C. 2002, 4). Information taken from unpublished excavation report, Read, C. 2002, 'Progress Report 1 for the Archaeological Monitoring of the Donegal Main Drainage Scheme'.

Architectural heritage

No building of the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage stands on this parcel.

Designated sites: National Parks and Wildlife Service. Recorded monuments: Sites and Monuments Record, National Monuments Service. Buildings: National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Works at or in relation to a recorded monument need two months' written notice to the National Monuments Service (National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994, section 12).

Ground and risks

Radon

At the centre of this parcel, about 1 in 10 homes in this area is likely to have high radon levels. Testing a home

Landslides

The Geological Survey did not answer.

Terrain model

The Geological Survey did not answer.

Flooding

The Office of Public Works publishes its flood maps on floodinfo.ie.

Radon Risk Map of Ireland, Environmental Protection Agency, and Landslide Susceptibility Classification, Geological Survey Ireland, both under CC BY 4.0. LiDAR: contains Irish Public Sector Data (Geological Survey Ireland & the Office of Public Works) licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.

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Registered freehold land, Tailte Éireann, CC BY 4.0. A parcel is the land of a title, not an address. The owner's name is in the Land Registry of Tailte Éireann: a copy of the folio can be ordered on landdirect.ie, for a fee.