COUNTRY Heritage

NATIONAL MONUMENTS AN ROINN EALAÍON, OIDHREACHTA AGUS GAELTACHTA | DEPARTMENT OF ARTS, HERITAGE AND THE GAELTACHT Fortified Houses of

ne of the most visible medieval buildings This is the final article in the series produced by the National Monuments in the Irish landscape is the tower house, a Service of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to introduce smallO medieval castle. However, Farmers Journal readers to the archaeology of Ireland and to highlight the towards the end of the medieval period, in the late sixteenth century, vital role of the farming community in preserving our heritage. there was a move away from these well defended but uncomfortable tower houses to more commodi- ous, better lit accommodation, Portumna Castle with an increased emphasis on privacy. Some builders were more progressive than others resulting in a variety of building forms. In many instances there is a strong link with the past, houses being built onto existing tower houses, as at Castle, , Co Clare, and Loughmoe Castle, Co Tipper- ary, all in State care. Others that were entirely new build and are also in state care, include Rathfarnham Mallow Castle Castle, Co Dublin, Portumna Castle, Co Galway, Burncourt, Co Tipper- ary, and in Co Cork, Kanturk, Mal- world come here to savour our low and Monkstown Castles. rich and diverse heritage. Our The main difference between tourist industry is of course more tower houses and fortifi ed houses important than ever in the current is the shift away from compact, tall, economic climate and it behoves us vertical structures to longer, more all to ensure that the reputation we rectangular buildings with more enjoy internationally that brings so elaborate ground plans. The houses Donegal Castle many visitors to our shores remains are usually three-storeys high with untarnished. an attic, over a half-basement. As Ireland’s archaeological heritage the ground fl oor can be slightly el- can be appreciated and experienced evated, there may be steps up to the in our cities, towns and countryside main entrance. Each storey was car- as part of looped walks, on na- ried on a wooden fl oor. This period tional waymarked trails and in our was one of great experimentation museums and heritage parks. Many and there are examples of forti- of our national monuments include fi ed houses with H-plans (a central excellent visitor facilities that offer rectangular block with a projecting guided tours and also free educa- tower at each angle), Z-plans, U- tional visits for schools. Full details plans, L-plans and T-plans (where of admission arrangements to the the projecting tower usually houses many heritage sites and national the stairs). monuments managed by the Offi ce Despite differences in plan, of Public Works can be found on fortifi ed houses share many com- www.heritageireland.com. Lots of mon features. They are recognisable these sites offer free admission on by having large, usually fl at-headed the fi rst Wednesday of every month. windows, subdivided into smaller The National Monuments Ser- sections by stone mullions and vice hopes that you have found this transoms, often with hood- ber of chimneys, often with lozenge also be seen at a more basic level in series of articles to be both interest- mouldings over the windows. The shaped stacks. All these features new toilet arrangements. In tower ing and informative and that it will exterior looks more symmetrical, were a testament to the wealth of houses garderobes (dry toilets) were encourage you to go out and see with windows often placed in a row the owner. a standard feature, with the seat what archaeological monuments which is repeated for each storey. An increased desire for privacy placed over a chute built into the may be on your own doorstep. A The level of each storey is often meant that more rooms had to be thickness of the wall which exited good starting point is to visit the further emphasised externally by provided with partitions, usually of near the base of the building. These National Monuments Service’s a projecting horizontal stone band wood or wicker. Though these rarely must have been quite smelly affairs! website, www.archaeology.ie and to called a string-course. Though survive, their imprint can some- In fortifi ed houses garderobes were use the map viewer to identify what comfort was important, defence times be found on internal plaster- dispensed with in favour of cham- monuments are in your area. was not abandoned as Ireland in the work. Where the partitions do not ber pots, which meant that waste Knowing something about these late sixteenth and early seventeenth survive the number of rooms can be could be emptied frequently and, monuments, and understanding centuries was still a very turbulent indicated by the number of fi replac- more importantly, away from the their origins and signifi cance, will place. Guns were in common usage es, as each chamber generally had house, thus preventing bad smells help to ensure that both the monu- and gun-loops were incorporated one. The fi replaces often have quite from lingering. ments themselves and the memory into these houses, usually on either simple fl at stone or timber lintels, of our ancestors who constructed side of the entrance, in projecting sometimes chamfered and/or deco- MONUMENTS TO VISIT and occupied them are preserved towers to provide fl anking fi re and rated. However, the fi replaces of the The wealth of our archaeological for the enjoyment and enlighten- National Monuments Service Photographic Unit

in angle turrets at parapet level. © larger public rooms could be elabo- heritage and the extent to which it ment of present and future genera- The roofs of these buildings are also rately decorated, such as that found has been preserved makes Ireland tions. quite distinctive as there are often at Ormond Castle, Carrick-on-Suir. the envy of many other nations. There really is so much to dis- Fireplace from

many small gables and a large num- Pictures: The improved standard of living can Visitors from every corner of the cover and learn! CL

All recorded archaeological monuments are protected under the National Monuments Acts 1930-2004. Visitors to monuments on lands in private ownership should request permission from the landowner. If you would like to know more about the archaeological monuments on your land or in your locality, please visit www.archaeology.ie. Any questions or feedback can be forwarded to [email protected]

16 31 March 2012 COUNTRY LIVING