THE WHITE CASTLE, ATHY

Map Reference: S682940

Athy was important because it commanded a ford over the River Barrow. The White Castle was built in the 16th century to control the bridge. It may be named after James 'White', Earl of Desmond and Lieutenant of the English King, who slew many of the O More Irish at Athy in 1420. It is said that the sun stood still for three hours to facilitate the slaughter.

CARBURY CASTLE

Map Reference: N687350

The motte near Carbury Castle was probably built by Meiler FitzHenry who was granted the area by Strongbow. The castle was acquired in the 14th century by the de Berminghams. They probably built the older parts of the existing castle. In the 15th century it was taken by the native Irish and in 1562 it was granted to the Colley (or Cowley) Family. They were the ancestors of the Dukes of Wellington. The Colleys built a large strong house in the 17th century. Originally there seems to have been a rectangular building with vaulted rooms at the lower level. A projecting wing was added on the W side although the stonework in both sections is similar. An added section on the E side has four 17th century chimney stacks and some large mullioned windows. The top of the hill may be partly artificial.

CASTLEDERMOTT FRANCISCAN FRIARY

Map Reference: S782848

Near the south end of the town the ruins of the Franciscan friary consist of a rectangular church with a north transept. It was founded in 1302 by Thomas, Lord of Ossory and plundered by Bruce in 1317. The original church was rectangular with a doorway and a pair of lancet windows in the west wall. There is a residential tower attached to the south wall and a north aisle arcade. The north transept was added later, possibly by Thomas, 2nd Earl of Kildare, in 1328. The transept has some east chapels.. Within one of these is a tomb-chest with, on the lid, a double skeletal image, one within a shroud. There is also a good bullaun stone.

CASTLEDERMOTT HIGH CROSSES

Map Reference: S783850

The churchyard at Castledermott has two very fine High Crosses. The east face of the south cross has mainly interlacing and geometrical patterns. The west face has Daniel in the Lions' Den, The Temptation of St Anthony, Adam & Eve and two figures holding a round object between them. On the south arm is Abraham & Isaac and on the north arm is David with his harp. In the middle is a crucifixion and below this possibly the Three Hebrews in the Fiery Furnace. The south side of the base shows the Loaves & Fishes. The base of the north cross has curvilinear ornamentation on the west face, the Loaves & Fishes on the south face, more ornamentation on the east face and a crouched figure on the north face. On the west face of the cross on the north arm is David with his harp, with Abraham and Isaac on the south arm. Between these is Adam & Eve, below which is Daniel in the Lions' Den and possibly the Temptation of St Anthony. The Crucifixion is central to the east face and it is possible surrounded by the Twelve Apostles in four groups of three. Lower down are two figures holding a round object between them. The north and south edges have curvilinear ornamentation. In the churchyard is a portion of a Round Tower with a castellated top. A reconstructed two-order Romanesque arch spans the pathway to the church doorway which is a replica of this arch. Nearby are two perforated stones, one round with a large hole and the other rectangular with a small hole. This also has a ring-headed cross on the east side and a ridge running full length on the west side. There are a number of cross-inscribed stones.

KILDARE

Map Reference: N725127

The cathedral was originally built in the 13th century and partially restored in the 15th century. Its present appearance is due to a heavy restoration and major rebuild in the 19th century. The oldest structures on the site are a plain granite High Cross and a Round Tower. The tower has a fine Romanesque doorway with a pointed hood. It had four orders originally but only the innermost arch is now complete. The soffit of this arch has chevron decoration forming lozenges that enclose rosettes.

KILTEEL CASTLE

Map Reference: N984212

In the middle of the 13th century Maurice FitzGerald, 2nd Baron of Offaly, founded a Preceptory of Knights Hospitallers at Kilteel. In 1335 Robert Clifford was ordered to repair the castle. The present building is a 15th century tower and gatehouse of five storeys. Ther are barrel vaults above the ground floor and top floor. To the left of the doorway a spiral stairway, housed within a projecting round tower, rises to roof level. The castle was suppressed in 1541 and granted to Sit John Alen. Nearby are some sections of the preceptory wall and another, less elaborate, gateway.

MAYNOOTH CASTLE

Map Reference: N935376

The castle was probably begun by Gerald FitzGerald, Baron of Offaly, in 1203. It was enlarged by John, 6th Earl of Kildare, in 1426. In 1535, during the rebellion of its owner, Silken Thomas, the castle was captured by the Lord deputy, William Skeffington. Gerald, 11th Earl of Kildare, regained the castle and estates in 1552. The building was restored in 1630 by the Earl of Cork and occupied by the Confederate Catholics in 1641. It was abandoned by the FitzGeralds about 1656. The castle is entered through a magnificent square gatehouse to the S. To the E of this is a square tower forming part of the boundary wall and to the N and W is a huge rectangular keep. There are fragments of the curtain wall in the E.

The keep is entered by a modern stairway at first floor level. This leads to a large vaulted room beyond which is a similar room. Directly opposite the doorway a spiral stairway rises to above the vault. Here there were possibly two large rooms but the dividing wall is fragmentary. There is at least one more storey above this. The upper storey is lit by large two-light windows. They are set within deep recesses and there are good window seats. There may be several mural chambers. The keeps originally had four corner turrets of which fragments remain. There are no visible fireplaces.

The tower at the SE corner has three storeys plus attic. A spiral stairway in the NW rises to roof level. A murder-hole protects the doorway inthe N wall. There are mural chambers in the two storeys above this. There is another doorway in the S wall. An exit low down in the E wall may be for a latrine chute leading from one of the mural chambers.

MOONE HIGH CROSS

Map Reference: S790937

The High Cross at Moone stands on the site of an Early Christian monastery allegedly founded by St Columba. It was raided in the middle of the 11th century and in the 13th century the FitzGeralds founded a new church on the site. The cross was discovered in the 19th century in pieces and re-erected. The middle section of the shaft was missing for many years but was found buried towards the end of the century and the cross was completed. Unfortunately iron bars, which were used to hold the pieces together, rusted over the years and caused some damage to the stone. In recent years the cross has been repaired and re-erected within the ruined church. Some modern stone inserts have replaced damaged and missing portions. The cross is over 5m high but appears to be much higher. This may be due to the relatively small head and the tall narrow base which is in the form of two truncated pyramids. Almost all of the flat surfaces are covered with figure sculpture. The subjects include Daniel in the Lions Den, the Sacrifice of Isaac, Adam & Eve, the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes, the Flight into Egypt and the Three Children in the Fiery Furnace. Other panels show spirals, angels, beasts and St Anthony & St Paul. Nearby are fragments of another cross which also has some figure carving.

OLD KILCULLEN

Map Reference: N829070

In the graveyard at Old Kilcullen is the stump of a Round Tower. It is about 10m high and has a round-headed doorway. The doorway is less than 2m above ground level and about 1.7m high. Beside it is part of the shaft of a decorated High Cross. On the east face are the Twelve Apostles in three groups. On the north face one of the panels shows MacTail, Son of Adze, founder of Kilcullen, with crozier, bell and book, smiting the enemy. The south face shows panels of ornament. One of the panels on the west face possibly shows the Flight into Egypt. The cross may date from the 9th century. Nearby is the plain shaft of another cross and the base of a third. There is also the low ruin of a nave-and-chancel church.