Proc Soc AntiqINVESTIGATIONS Scot 144 (2014), AT311–322 KINBANE CASTLE, CO ANTRIM AND ITS SCOTTISH CONNECTIONS | 311

Archaeological investigations at Kinbane Castle, County Antrim and its Scottish connections

Colin Breen* and John Raven†

ABSTRACT Kinbane Castle is positioned at the base of steep cliffs on the north Antrim coast, with views northwards to Rathlin Island and Islay and eastwards to Kintyre. Recent investigations have demonstrated that this KHDGODQGZDVIRUWLÀHGLQWKHVE\FHUWDLQ0DF'RQDOGVZKRKDGDUULYHGLQ$QWULPIURP,VOD\ The site was built to act as a bridgehead into Ulster as this family, and its associated mercenaries, attempted to establish themselves as a major force amongst the Gaelic lordships of west Ulster. Its RFFXSDWLRQZDVVKRUWOLYHGVLQFHLWZDVHIIHFWLYHO\DEDQGRQHGLQWKHVIROORZLQJGHIDFHPHQWE\ (QJOLVK IRUFHV DQG WKH UHFRQÀJXUDWLRQ RI 0DF'RQDOG VHWWOHPHQW DFURVV QRUWKHDVW $QWULP DQG WKH Southern Hebrides.

INTRODUCTION HISTORICAL CONTEXT

In 2008, the authors initiated a research project THE MACDONALD FAMILY examining the character of late medieval By around 1400, the Clan Donald had become settlement and Gaelic lordship in north Ulster the dominant lordship on the west coast of and the Hebrides. Initially, the project focused Scotland, assuming the title of Lord of the on two castle sites, Dunluce and Ballylough, Isles. By the end of the 15th century, however, associated with the MacQuillans and the the lordship increasingly lost its cohesion and MacDonnells in north Ulster (Breen 2012). dominance. As a result of the Lords of the Isles’ Investigations were also subsequently conducted attentions being predominantly focused on at Kinbane Castle, an enigmatic site located in an H[WHQGLQJ WKHLU LQÁXHQFH HDVWZDUGV LQWR 5RVV unusual position at the base of high, steep cliffs and the Scottish heartlands, competing branches and virtually inaccessible by land (illus 1). The of the Clan Donald disputed the headship of site has traditionally been related to a branch of the lordship and competed for ownership of the the MacDonald family and was believed to have clan’s core territories. One of these sub-lineages been constructed in the 1540s (Hill 1873). The was the Clan Iain Mhóir. They had been one site is a scheduled monument, so only limited RI WKH PRVW LQÁXHQWLDO NLQJURXSV XQGHU WKH H[FDYDWLRQV GHVLJQHG WR WHVW VSHFLÀF UHVHDUFK Lordship and perhaps maintained the greatest questions, were proposed and conducted in claim to be the inheritors of the Lordship. During tandem with geophysical and topographic the 15th century, they became increasingly survey. The upstanding architectural remains had focused on Ulster, where they became more also been previously surveyed in 2007, using a FRPPRQO\ NQRZQ DV WKH 0DF'RQQHOOV 7KHLU Cyrax laser scanner, in advance of conservation initial focus had been on the Glens of Antrim, ZRUNDFURVVWKHPRQXPHQW in east Ulster, and, by the mid-1400s, they had

* Colin Breen, School of Environmental Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland BT52 1SA  FSEUHHQ#XOVWHUDFXN † John Raven, Historic Scotland, Longmore House, Salisbury Place, Edinburgh EH9 1SH.

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Illus 1 Location map of Kinbane Castle

WDNHQRYHUSRVVHVVLRQRIPRVWRIWKH*OHQVIURP viewed as a close ally by the Ulster MacDonnells, the Bissetts. Initially, they retained their primary led by Alexander Carrach, and he provided many power base in Islay, importantly incorporating ÀJKWLQJPHQIRUZDUIDUHLQ,UHODQG+DYLQJEULHÁ\ Dunyvaig Castle. From early in the 15th risen in rebellion in 1529, following the potential century and onwards, the chiefs of the Clan Ian loss of his lands on Islay, Alexander Canochson Mhóir had styled themselves ‘of Dunyvaig (or submitted to King James V of Scotland in 1531 sometimes Islay) and the Glens’. From then on, and the Clan Iain Mhóir regained titles for their an increasing number of the family members lands on Kintyre and, presumably, on Islay appear to have become almost wholly involved in (Caldwell 2008). Part of Alexander’s coming the family’s affairs in Ulster. As the 15th century WR WHUPV ZLWK WKH 6FRWWLVK NLQJ VHHPV WR KDYH progressed, and particularly after the forfeiture resulted in the Clan Iain Mhóir’s fermentation of of the lordship of the Isles in 1493, when their instability throughout the northern part of Ireland position in Islay became increasingly precarious, as a counterpoint to English authority, so much so the Clan Iain MhóiULQWHQVLÀHGLWVLQWHUHVWVRQLWV that in 1532, after 8,000 Hebrideans gathered in holdings in the Glens, consolidated its borders Ulster, the English-dominated council in Dublin DQGEHJDQWRORRNWRH[SDQGHOVHZKHUHLQ8OVWHU famously appealed to Henry VIII for help to (for a fuller account of the Clan Iain Mhóir and contain the number of Scots coming to Ireland Ulster in the 1400s see Kingston 2004, and also under the banner of the Clan Donald (Cal. S.P.Ire. Paterson 2001). 1532). Later genealogies provided Alexander By the 1520s, Alexander Canochson of with the title ‘of Islay, the Glens and the Route’ Dunyvaig does not yet appear to have gained (Gregory 1836: 194). Alexander died in 1536, ascendancy over the Clan Ian Mhóir but was still having assumed headship over the whole Clan

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Iain Mhóir, his son James Canochson assumed provisions from both places. He then moved his father’s mantle and also claimed the title of RQ DQG WRRN WKH LVODQG VLWHV RU FUDQQRJV RQ /RUG RI WKH ,VOHV &DOGZHOO  ²  /LNH Loughaverra and Lough Lynch before returning his father before him, both he and his brothers, home. MacQuillan, in response, engaged the &ROODDQG6RUOH\%R\WRRNDQDFWLYHLQWHUHVWLQ services of James and Colla MacDonnell (as the 8OVWHU 7KH\ TXLFNO\ HVWDEOLVKHG WKHPVHOYHV DV IDPLO\EHFDPHNQRZQLQ8OVWHU ZKRWRRNEDFN a formidable mercenary force and subsequently /RXJKDQ,VODQGNLOOLQJ%ULDQ2·&DKDQDQGRWKHUV focused their efforts almost entirely on north ($)0: 1489; AC: 737). O’Cahan then hired the Antrim and Donegal. JDOORZJODVVHVRI5RU\0DF6ZHHQH\DQGDWWDFNHG MacQuillan near the Bann, although on this 1RUWK8OVWHULQWKHV occasion he escaped with his life. This type of The Clan Iain Mhóir’s renewed focus on Ulster in VPDOOVFDOHFRQÁLFWZDVW\SLFDORIWKHSHULRGEXW WKHPLGWKFHQWXU\ZDVVHWDJDLQVWDEDFNJURXQG its relevance here is that it provided the foothold RIDOPRVWLQFHVVDQWLQWHUQHFLQHFRQÁLFWLQ8OVWHU for the Clan Iain Mhóir incursions into this part and the ambitions of the Scottish crown. The of Ulster. The MacQuillans’ invitation to the situation was so unstable that the English Crown MacDonnells to join them in their campaign forces revitalised their efforts to subdue Ulster against the O’Cahans, along with Colla’s and pacify the warring parties. In north Ulster, marriage to Elveen MacQuillan, is generally seen the MacQuillans and O’Cahans, located east and as the basis for subsequent MacDonnell claims west of the River Bann respectively, had been on the Route (following Hamilton 1790: 122). HQJDJHG LQ QHDUFRQWLQXDO FRQÁLFW ZLWK HDFK Following this prolonged period of hostilities, other for decades – while both parties also had a a degree of peace appears to have settled tempestuous relationship with the O’Donnells of DFURVV 8OVWHU SUHVXPDEO\ VWURQJO\ LQÁXHQFHG Donegal. In July 1543, a memorandum was drawn E\ WKH ORRPLQJ SUHVHQFH DQG LQÁXHQFH RI WKH up in an attempt to settle the differences between MacDonnells on the area. They had, by the O’Donnell and MacQuillan (&DO &DUHZ 066 early 1550s, effectively settled in north Antrim 1543: 209). In compensation for MacQuillan’s DQGEHJXQWRÁH[WKHLUPXVFOHDQGLQGRLQJVR aggressions, O’Donnell was to receive 100 cattle. raised increasing concern in Dublin. The Scots 7KLVDWWHPSWHGDJUHHPHQWFOHDUO\GLGQRWZRUNDV from the Isles had always posed a threat to crown O’Donnell led a large force into the MacQuillan control in north Ulster, but their settlement along WHUULWRU\ NQRZQ DV WKH 5RXWH D VWUHWFK RI ODQG the north coast posed an even greater threat. The contained between the rivers Bush and Bann Lord Justice supported an expedition in 1551 LQ $QWULP DQG 'HUU\ +H WRRN WKH 0DF4XLOODQ against them and sent four ships to Rathlin where ‘wooden castle . . . [of] impregnable fastness’ James and Colla were now based, presumably on Loughan Island, on the Bann and gave it to having withdrawn to the safety of the island from O’Cahan ($)0: 1544). While O’Laverty (1887: Kinbane Castle. The Scots repelled the small  UHIHUVWRWZRHDUWKHQIRUWLÀFDWLRQVVXUYLYLQJ armada and exchanged a number of captured on the island in the 19th century, the island is (QJOLVK RIÀFHUV IRU WKH UHOHDVH RI 6RUOH\ %R\ now extensively covered in woodland that serves from imprisonment in Dublin ($)0: 1551). WRPDVNWKHVXUYLYLQJHDUWKZRUNV$GGLWLRQDOO\ 7KRPDV &XVDFN /RUG &KDQFHOORU RI ,UHODQG the Bann drainage scheme deposited large linear ZURWHWRWKH(DUORI:DUZLFNLQ6HSWHPEHU EDQNV RI VHGLPHQW RQ WKH LVODQG WKDW IXUWKHU informing him that the Scots now effectively confuses interpretation of the remains. It does controlled all of the lands from MacQuillan’s DSSHDUWKRXJKWKDWWZRGLVFUHWHHDUWKZRUNVDW house (Dunluce?) to Belfast (Hill 1873: 47–51). either end of the island, represent vestiges of the He also made reference to Colla MacDonnell’s IRUPHU IRUWLÀFDWLRQV 2Q WKH VDPH H[SHGLWLRQ castle at Kinbane, although his assertion that it 2·'RQQHOOWRRNWKHFDVWOHRI%DOO\ORXJKVHL]LQJ was no longer defensible was an exaggeration and weapons, armour, copper, iron, butter and other a statement made to cover the fact that the English

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IRUFHVKDGIDLOHGWRWDNHWKHVLWHIURPWKH6FRWV If viewed from a terrestrial perspective, it appears during this expedition. KDUGWRDFFHVV²ZLWKOLPLWHGYLHZVDQGODFNLQJ defensive capabilities – as it is located at the base Kinbane Castle of steep cliffs. A stream that runs to the immediate Tradition records that Colla MacDonnell, brother ZHVWRIWKHVLWHDOVRPDUNVDSDULVKERXQGDU\DQG of James and Sorley Boy, built this castle in the PD\KDYHPDUNHGWKHH[WHQWRIWKHWHUULWRU\RIWKH 1540s (Hill 1873) and that the site represents an Glens at that time. The strategic placement of a intial attempt by the MacDonnells to establish a IRUWLÀFDWLRQEHWZHHQDQDUHDRIWUDGLWLRQDO6FRWV base on the north Ulster coastline. Having arrived settlement and Gaelic Irish lands is interesting in the region during the early part of the decade, and demonstrates possible expansionist ambitions following their invitation from the MacQuillans amongst the newly arrived islanders. The castle to invade the Route and expel the O’Cahans, they itself is located on a dramatic promontory of required a base from which to operate. Kinbane ZKLWH FKDON DQG FRQVLVWV RI D VPDOO WZRVWRUH\ provided this bridgehead into Ulster, positioned tower with an enclosure wall built along the edge strategically at the coastal border between the of the headland (illus 2). An entrance, protected Glens and the Route and easily accessible by sea by a small angle tower, is located on the southern from Islay. Its role as a maritime gateway was its curtain wall, but no other buildings survive in the primary function and explains its unusual position. interior.

Illus 3KRWRJUDSKRI.LQEDQH&DVWOHZLWK5DWKOLQ,VODQGYLVLEOHRQWKHQRUWKHUQKRUL]RQ

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In 1551, James Croft initiated a military in 1589/90 (McDonnell 2004a:144). The campaign to lessen the emerging power of the MacAlisters had their origins in Scotland, with Scots forces in the north and Kinbane was targeted. land in Kintyre, but appear to have participated in 7KRPDV&XVDFN&KDQFHOORURI,UHODQGZURWHDQ Irish affairs from the 14th century. It seems much account of the movements of Lord Deputy Croft PRUH OLNHO\ WKHLU SUHVHQFH LQ 8OVWHU VWHPV IURP and Kinbane was mentioned as follows: the 16th century, when they lent support to the Clan Iain Mhóir both there and in Kintyre (see and also Coll McDonnell, second brother to James, MacDonald & MacDonald 1896–1904: 27–57). KDGDVWURQJFDVWOHEXLOWXSRQDURFNZLWKDVWURQJ A number of years later, in 1636, the MacAlisters bawn of lime and stone, over the sea, named the RI.LQEDQHZHUHFRQÀUPHGLQWKHLUKROGLQJVE\ castle of Kinbane, which my Lord caused to be Randal MacDonnell (Hill 1873). Neither of these GHIDFHGDQGEURNHPXFKSDUWWKHUHURIVRDVQRZLW is not defensible, which I am sure that never had for ODWWHUUHIHUHQFHVQHHGEHWDNHQDVSURRIRIWK so much more displeasure done to them (Cal S.P. century occupation of the castle, but are instead Ire. 1551: 116). associated with the regranting of the land around Kinbane to the MacAlisters, following Colla’s This episode does not seem to have displaced death. Certainly, the excavations that have been Colla as Hill (1873) suggests he was still in conducted would indicate that the site ceased to possession of the site, but possibly not occupying be actively occupied in the 16th century and no it in May 1558, when he died – although it is artefactual material of 17th- or 18th-century date unclear whether he died at the castle or at some was recovered. Any subsequent settlement of the location nearby. He had three sons; Gillespig ODQGV RI .LQEDQH PXVW KDYH WDNHQ SODFH LQ WKH or Archibald, Alexander or Alister, and Angus. townlands above the cliff face. Gillespig died in 1570, with tradition stating In the 1560s, the main counterweight to that he was gored by a bull outside Ballycastle Clan Iain Mhóir ambitions, the O’Neills, were (McDonnell 2004a: 141) and succeeded by his WHPSRUDULO\ SDFLÀHG E\ HYHQWV HOVHZKHUH son Colla Ciotach. The castle is again referred to allowing Sorley to continue to consolidate their in 1574, in a list associated with an ill-fated and Ulster holdings, which he obtained a grant for ultimately unconsummated plan to bring English from the English regent in 1586. Sorley seems gentlemen adventurers to Ulster. The reference to have resided primarily at Dunineny, another states ‘Whitehead, whereupon standeth a castle, IRUWLÀHG FRDVWDO SURPRQWRU\ ZKLFK LV OHVV not appointed’ (Hill 1873: 418), indicating the accessible from the coast but also seems to have castle was never granted to anyone. Whether been occupied by insubstantial houses surrounded this indicates that the castle was not occupied by a masonry enclosure wall (McNeill 2004). at this date or that potential occupants remained From this period, the Ulster and Islay branches of GDXQWHGE\WDNLQJRQDVLWHWKDWFRXOGDOPRVWEH the Clan Iain Mhóir became increasingly isolated considered inaccessible in the landscape – and a IURPRQHDQRWKHU8QOLNHWKHLU6FRWWLVKUHODWLYHV place that remained strongly associated with the the MacDonnells successfully vied for James VI’s still aggressive Scots – remains speculative. Its favour and actively participated in undermining physical position would hardly be attractive to the House of Dunyvaig in the 1590s. This more- incomers without a strong maritime connection, RUOHVVPDUNHGWKHHQGRIWKH0DF'RQQHOOLQWHUHVW WKHQHFHVVDU\UHVRXUFHVWRNHHSERDWVWRSURYLGH in the Isles and the demise of a pan-Irish Sea-Clan access to the site or the resources to maintain the Iain Mhóir lordship. structures. The absence of adjacent agricultural However, the Ulster branch of the MacDonells land must also have undermined its potential as a associated with Kinbane remained intrinsically redoubt for an incoming planter. connected to west Scotland into the 17th century. At the end of the 16th century, the sources refer ,Q WKH ZDNH RI WKH EULHI XSULVLQJ EHWZHHQ  to the MacAlisters of Kinbane, when they sided and 1615, which could be viewed as an abortive with James MacDonnell and his ‘highlanders’ attempt to re-establish the wider patrimony of against a MacQuillan incursion into the Route Clan Iain Mhóir, Coll Ciotach acquired Colonsay

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IURP0DOFROP0DF'XIÀHZKRPKHVXEVHTXHQWO\ its eastern side, vessels could be drawn against NLOOHGLQ7KHPHQRI,VOD\FRPSODLQHGWR DYHUWLFDOURFNRXWFURSDQGÀQGVKHOWHUIURPWKH the Crown, that during this rebellion they were prevailing south-westerly winds and strong tidal subjected to harsh and foreign Irish forms of movement. A small embayment lies on its western rental under the MacDonnells (CdRA: 160). This side and a boat naust has been recorded here, at may reveal how far the two branches of the Clan the top of an area of former beach clearance. Iain Mhóir had parted (although they could just It should be noted that neither places are ideal have been trying to demonstrate their compliance and are only suitable during certain weather and with the new laws instigated by James VI). Coll tidal conditions. Approaching the site on foot, Ciotach’s grant of Colonsay was negotiated with WKH YLVLWRU KDV WR ÀUVW FOLPE D EDVDO VHFWLRQ RI Archibald, 7th earl of Argyll. In 1639, Coll was EHGURFN )RUPHUO\ URFNFXW VWHSV ZHUH SUHVHQW evicted from the island by Archibald, 8th earl and access would also have been presumably of Argyll. Coll’s son, Alasdair, subsequently facilitated by wooden steps. The entrance into the sided with the Earl of Antrim and made a name IRUWLÀHGFRPSOH[ZDVSRVLWLRQHGDWWKHZHVWHUQ for himself throughout Scotland and Ireland as end of a curtain wall. This has now collapsed, a military leader during the Wars of the Three but it is clear from early 19th-century written Kingdoms. descriptions and illustrated sources that this consisted of a gateway built into the enclosing wall. The Ordnance Survey Memoirs (1994: ARCHITECTURE 121) recorded that this had a tapered entrance .LQEDQH LV QRW D WH[WERRN H[DPSOH RI D FDVWOH measuring 1.5m wide internally and just under EXW LV SHUKDSV EHVW GHVFULEHG DV D IRUWLÀHG 2m in height. A possible bust or head was visible SURPRQWRU\ ,W LV ORFDWHG RQ D ZKLWH FKDON DERYH LWV HDVW FRUQHU $ ÁDQNLQJ WRZHU OLHV SURPRQWRU\DWWKHEDVHRIVWHHSFOLIIVNPZHVW immediately west of the entrance, but this is now of Ballycastle in Country Antrim. Primarily in a ruinous state. Its western wall is completely designed to be approached from the sea, there are destroyed and only small projecting sections of landing places either side of the promontory. On its northern and southern walls have survived.

Illus 3 Kerr’s 1809 view of Kinbane Castle from the west (courtesy of Hector MacDonnell)

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Its eastern wall contains a narrow loop providing wide. The south wall has two windows, while a direct coverage over the entrance area. This wall recess is present in the north wall, west of structure was still largely intact at the beginning the doorway. Three joist-holes are visible on the RIWKHWKFHQWXU\.HUU·VVNHWFKRIWKHVLWH north wall and would have provided a structural illustrates that this would have stood to at least EDVH IRU D ZRRGHQ ÁRRU 7KHUH LV QR VXUYLYLQJ the height of the curtain wall (illus 3). A later LQGLFDWLRQRQKRZWKLVÁRRUOHYHOFRXOGKDYHEHHQ  VNHWFK VKRZV LWV VRXWKIDFLQJ HOHYDWLRQ accessed. Windows were present in the north and had a small window, while the entrance to the south wall, while a doorway giving access to the IRUWLÀFDWLRQLVVKRZQDVDSODLQOLQWHOHGFRYHUHG western section of curtain wall and parapet is doorway. The curtain wall itself survives to a present in the west wall. Two wall recesses are height of over 3m along the southern edge of the present in the east and west walls. The remains promontory and would originally have facilitated RIDPXUDOFKDPEHUZLWKDZLFNHUFHQWUHGYDXOW DZDOOZDONDQGSDUDSHWDORQJWKLVVRXWKIDFLQJ survive in the east wall. The Ordnance Survey length. The walls on the promontory would have 0HPRLUV    PDNH UHIHUHQFH WR D ORFDO enclosed an area of c 360m2. However, much of tradition that this chamber was referred to as the internal area is very uneven and unsuitable WKH ¶RIÀFHUV· VOHHSLQJ URRP· 0F1HLOO  for building upon. Sections of the north-west  VXJJHVWVWKDWWKHURRÀQJPDWHULDOZDVOHDG curtain survive to a maximum height of 1m in The available space only allowed for a very places. This is largely featureless, aside from small attic, if one was present at all. While the a projecting abutment 15m north of the south- structure has clear defensive capabilities, it also west corner. Test excavation (T1) at this location OLNHO\VHUYHGDVWKHDGPLQLVWUDWLYHFHQWUHRIWKH would suggest that this was built as a supporting complex and possibly the domestic quarters of the revetment for the wall, which was constructed lead occupants. RQ WRS RI D KLJK VHFWLRQ RI EHGURFN LOOXV   The eastern section of wall runs at an acute This outcrop could potentially have caused a angle from the tower in the southern corner of the VWUXFWXUDOZHDNQHVVLQWKHZDOODQGXQGHUPLQHG complex. A possible garderobe is present at its it, so additional masonry support was required. southern end, which the Ordnance Survey Memoirs This may also have served as the base for a set refer to as a ‘slanting funnel’. This is indicative of wooden steps providing access to the wall, but of some form of building adjoining the tower and there is no visible evidence for this. wall at this location, but a test trench (T5) failed The primary feature in the complex consists to uncover any evidence for such a structure. of a square tower in the southern corner (illus 5). The soil depth was very shallow across this area This two-storey structure measures approximately and no cultural features were noted. Two loops 6.6m externally and 4m internally. Its southern survive on the wall. One of the loops is located angle fell in the second decade of the 19th 10m north-east of the tower and may originally century, while the quoins of its north-western have been incorporated into a small watchtower. and north-eastern corners are missing. The upper In 1838, the Ordnance Survey Memoirs (1994: section of the south-west angle is beveled and 121) record that the ruins of a ‘watch-room’ were decorated with sandstone quoins. This form of located 34 feet north of the castle . . . on which is angle is unusual in the context of late medieval the ruins of a narrow window 3 and a half feet in architecture in Ireland, although the lower portion KHLJKWDQGORRNLQJWRWKHVRXWKHDVW·,WKDVEHHQ of the north-western corner of Bonamargy Friary postulated that a further building was located on is similarly shaped. A further feature at Kinbane an elevated natural projection north of this feature LQFOXGHVDVWULQJFRXUVHDERYHWKHÀUVWÁRRUOHYHO (McNeill 1983: 112). However, two test trenches on its north and south faces, with a series of (T2 and T3) in this area revealed no evidence of weep-holes above. The tower is entered through a cultural activity and no stone walling, merely JURXQGÁRRUGRRULQLWVQRUWKZDOO7KLVQRORQJHU shallow natural wind-blown sediment deposits has its side dressings but would originally have VLWWLQJ GLUHFWO\ RQ EHGURFN ,Q -DQXDU\  D been approximately 2m high and just over 1m VLWHVNHWFKDSSHDUHGLQWKH'XEOLQ3HQQ\-RXUQDO

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Illus 4 Plan of the site showing the location of the six excavated test pits

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(1:31). The southern curtain wall and entrance A second trench, T4, uncovered a linear stone were still intact at this date, but the southern feature that could be collapse associated with DQJOHRIWKHWRZHUKDGFROODSVHG7KLVVNHWFKDOVR the curtain wall, with an overlying burnt deposit DSSHDUVWRVKRZDVPDOOZDWFKWRZHUOLNHEXLOGLQJ associated with the destruction of the site. at its north-eastern corner. Alternatively, this could be a foundation deposit of a building and the above burning could have constituted an occupation deposit, although EXCAVATIONS WKLV ODWWHU LQWHUSUHWDWLRQ DSSHDUV OHVV OLNHO\ $ At Easter 2011, four small test trenches were number of sherds of Ulster Medieval Coarse excavated in the castle’s enclosure in an Pottery were found, associated with the burnt attempt to ascertain the nature of the surviving deposit. These sherds were heavily burnt but archaeology and to gain some insight into the are very similar to other examples found across castle’s settlement history. Topographic and Ulster. Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) surveys were Trench 6 was located in the central court area conducted at the same time. The GPR data 9m north of the entrance. It consisted of two showed little of cultural interest, although the conjoined trenches measuring 1.4m × 0.9m and undulating topography of the interior, coupled 1m × 2m and respectively. The primary feature ZLWK ODUJH DUHDV RI KLJK RU H[SRVHG EHGURFN encountered from the late medieval occupation militated against the success of this. Two further deposits was a roughly oval-shaped spread of test trenches (T5 and T6) were conducted in ÁLQWZLWKVLJQLÀFDQWFKDUFRDOLQFOXVLRQV &  June 2012, in tandem with a number of local P LQ OHQJWK DQG P WKLFN :KLOH QRW D community groups, as part of the AHRC hearth per se, it may have been the base of a Connected Communities funded project. EUD]LHU,QWHUPVRIGDWLQJDULPVKHUGRIHYHUWHG Two of the trenches on the eastern elevated rim ware or Ulster Medieval Coarse Pottery was side of the enclosure produced no cultural recovered immediately above this spread. This stratigraphy. Trench 1, located midway along the XQJOD]HGULPVKHUGKDGDEURZQWREODFNIDEULF western enclosure wall, was excavated against a ZLWK QXPHURXV LQFOXVLRQV RI TXDUW] DQG JULWV stone abutment feature, previously noted as a and a thin red/ brown surface. Pottery of this structural support that may have supported steps type was probably produced locally from the OHDGLQJWRDZDOOZDON$TXDQWLW\RIGRPHVWLF medieval period through to the 17th century and faunal refuse, including cattle and sheep bone, can be used here to date this occupation deposit was found, but no dating evidence was recovered. to the late medieval period.

Illus 5 External elevations of the tower at Kinbane

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Ivens (1988) describes a sherd from an DISCUSSION

HYHUWHG ULP ERG\ IRXQG DW (VNHDERX\ QHDU 7DNHQWRJHWKHUWKHKLVWRULFDODQGDUFKDHRORJLFDO Lough Macrory, in Tyrone, that had a hard evidence clearly point to a site that was occupied IDEULF EDFN FRUH DQG WKLQ UHGEURZQ VXUIDFH IRUDOLPLWHGSHULRGRIPD\EHWHQWRÀIWHHQ\HDUV OD\HU JULWWHG ZLWK ÀQH PLFDTXDUW] FKLSV ZLWK from the mid-1540s to the late 1550s. While the VPDOO DQJXODU TXDUW] 7KLV VKHUG ZDV VLPLODU English siege by itself was not enough to end the to examples recovered from Tullyliss Rath, RFFXSDWLRQRIWKHVLWHDQGEUHDNWKH0DF'RQQHOO Dungannon, and from the Rath of Dreen, connection to it, it was part of a broader chain Antrim. The sherds recovered from Kinbane of events that led to its abandonment. The death would appear to fall into MacSparron’s Category of Colla in 1558 and the acquisition of Dunluce B of late medieval coarse pottery (MacSparron Castle by the Ulster MacDonnells rendered the 2009). It may be important to note that these initial purpose of the site obsolete. By the end sherds are also similar to later medieval ceramic traditions visible throughout western Scotland RI WKDW GHFDGH WKH IDPLO\ KDG EHFRPH ÀUPO\ (see Raven 2005: 375–7). What is additionally established across the former territories of the interesting from the excavations is the complete MacQuillans in north Antrim. The Clan Iain absence of 17th-century or early modern Mhóir’s original bridgehead, positioned so artefactual material. Finds from sites of this later unfavourably from a terrestrial perspective, was period are usually numerous and distinctive, simply no longer needed as Colla’s descendants inclusive of clay pipe stems and, in a context shifted their focus to the Scottish western Isles VXFK DV WKLV HYLGHQFH RI ÀUHDUP XVH 7KH and Colonsay in particular, and Dunluce became DXWKRUV·ZRUNDWXSODQGKRXVHVLWHVLQ&RORQVD\ the centre of a reinvigorated MacDonnell lordship for example, has produced evidence for the LQ8OVWHU.LQEDQHZDVQHYHULQWHQGHGLQWKHÀUVW PDQXIDFWXUH RI JXQ ÁLQWV DQG OHDG VKRW 7KLV place to function as a permanent base. absence, combined with the historical reference Its broad enclosure points to it being to castle defacement in 1551, is indicative of a predominantly a military landing and staging short phase of occupation before the site was post, bearing in mind its defensive character and ultimately abandoned after the middle of the 16th unique coastal position. It was built to support the FHQWXU\7KHODFNRIDQ\GHÀQLWLYHHYLGHQFHIRU men arriving off vessels from the isles bringing LQWHUQDOVWUXFWXUHVZRXOGDOVRDSSHDUWRFRQÀUP supplies, weapons and foodstuffs from their this, but equally this could result from the homeland. The large walled enclosure would constructional nature of late medieval dwelling probably have been used primarily for storage houses, which often leave little evidence in the and the short term accommodation of men in archaeological record. The departure of Colla’s temporary buildings. Certainly, the widespread descendants to Colonsay and the entrenchment distribution of faunal material across the site of the MacDonnells in other sites across the and presence of a number of localised hearth- QRUWK FRDVW LV OLNHO\ WR KDYH PLOLWDWHG DJDLQVW OLNHEXUQLQJDUHDVVXJJHVWJURXSVRILQGLYLGXDOV the need for the castle at Kinbane and it seems occupying this place on an occasional basis. to have fallen out of everyday use, remaining The limited material culture recovered from the only as a site of symbolic importance in the excavations suggests that the pots they used for landscape. It should also be noted that deposits FRRNLQJDQGVWRUDJHZHUHVRXUFHGZLWKLQWKHORFDO dating to before the late medieval period, landscape, which is presumably indicative of LQFOXGLQJ SUHKLVWRULF ÁLQW ZHUH DSSDUHQW EXW established social interactions and trading activity their dating and interpretation will require in the region. further excavation. It is clear from other sites However, this picture does not do justice to along this coast that these headlands had been the south tower, which although not a complex subject to cultural activity for many millennia piece of domestic architectural display, contains DQG LW LV OLNHO\ WKDW .LQEDQH ZDV ZLWQHVV WR VXIÀFLHQWGHWDLOVWRVXJJHVWLWSHUIRUPHGDPRUH similar activity. polite function and was designed to display at

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least the semblance of status, lordly occupation VW\OH ,W LV XQOLNH DQ\ RWKHU IRUWLÀFDWLRQ DFURVV and permanence, and not simply a functional 8OVWHUGLIIHULQJFRQVLGHUDEO\LQVL]HOD\RXWDQG PLOLWDU\ UROH ,W LV UHODWLYHO\ VPDOO LQ VL]H DQG form from the tower-houses of County Down or DSSHDUV WR KDYH EHHQ EXLOW ZLWKRXW D ÀUHSODFH Donegal, for example. It was commissioned by a This could potentially indicate that it was not IDPLO\IURPWKH6RXWKHUQ+HEULGHVZKRVHNLQVPHQ built by a leading MacDonnell lord with a view KDGHQMR\HGOLQNVZLWKHDVW8OVWHUIRUJHQHUDWLRQV to housing his family. There is some limited However, sections of the architecture, including evidence to suggest that there could have been WKH ZLFNHUFHQWUHG PXUDO SDVVDJH LQGLFDWH WKDW an annex attached to the tower, and this might PDVRQV RI DQ ¶,ULVK· EDFNJURXQG ZHUH LQYROYHG KDYH IXOÀOOHG D PRUH GRPHVWLF UROH WKRXJK WKH in its construction. Similarly, the material culture surviving architecture could still support an UHFRYHUHGIURPWKHVLWHZDVPRVWOLNHO\PDGHDQG interpretation that it had a more specialist and sourced locally, which would testify to the extent HYHQWVSHFLÀFUROH2QWKHRWKHUKDQGWKHVWULQJ of local connections and relationships during the coursing, dressed quoins, bevelled corner and site’s occupation. However, can we state that this relatively large, non-defensive windows perhaps was a Scottish castle built in an Irish landscape? relate to towerhouse architecture elsewhere in Or, were the people who lived in, or at least Scotland and Ireland. The fact that there was a occupied, this castle continuing a tradition of perceived desire to adopt these features perhaps communication, settlement and trade in a local suggests the tower was intended to provide maritime world where they either did not see a suitably embellished venue for housing the or did not perceive national borders but existed normal functions of lordship (entertainment, LQ D UHJLRQ ZKHUH ORFDO NLQEDVHG DOOLDQFHV KDG QHJRWLDWLQJ ODZJLYLQJ MXVWLFHWDNLQJ HWF  LI existed in what could be termed the broader not necessarily providing a high level of domestic Gaelic world (see McLeod 2004). This was a comfort. Similar small towers were appearing region that had been witness to millennia of close in the Western Isles, from the end of the 15th FXOWXUDODIÀQLWLHVRULJLQDWLQJLQWKH0HVROLWKLFDQG century, none of which were primarily military in continuing through plantation and into the 20th function, but which perhaps provide a precedent century, before world wars, the collapse of the for Kinbane. The two best preserved are Castle ÀVKLQJ LQGXVWU\ DQG WKH 1RUWKHUQ ,ULVK WURXEOHV MacLeod, in Barra, and Eilean Bheagram, in served to sever these connections. Such simplistic South Uist, and are as similar to one another and assignations of Scottishness or Irishness are Kinbane to serve as a contrast. Castle MacLeod arguably the products of resurgent nationalism contains a similarly proportioned tower with in the 19th century and of more recent decades. a number of similar embellishments, such as As with all archaeological material within this largeish windows and spouts, and may have WKHDWUHVKRXOGZHQRWWKHQORRNEH\RQGDUWLÀFLDO had an associated house alongside it. Eilean QRWLRQV RI HWKQLFLW\ DQG WKLQN UDWKHU RI SHRSOH Bheagram, a minor centre of the Clanranald OLQNHG JHRJUDSKLFDOO\ DQG E\ VKDUHG FXOWXUDO lordship in the Uists in this period, contains a traditions within the same maritime world. series of houses alongside a tower of similar VL]H EXW FRQWDLQV QR VLPLODU GRPHVWLF QLFHWLHV only a small slit window – possibly a gun loop. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS /LNH.LQEDQHQHLWKHURIWKHWRZHUVDWWKHVHVLWHV FRQWDLQ ÀUHSODFHV DQG ZHUH SUHVXPDEO\ KHDWHG The excavation and survey were partially funded by by embrasures, as was common throughout many under the Arts and Humanities Research Council’s tower-houses along Scotland’s north-western (AHRC) Connected Communities programme. seaboard (see Dunbar 1981). The excavation was aided by Thomas McErlean Kinbane also questions our contemporary and Prof. Audrey Horning (QUB). James Patience understandings of nationalist-based identity. To 1,($  NLQGO\ SURYLGHG WKH UHVXOWV RI WKH &\UD[ WKH PRGHUQ REVHUYHU WKH FDVWOH OLNH LWV ODUJHU VXUYH\.LOOLDQ0F'DLGSUHSDUHGWKHÀQDOÀJXUHVIRU counterpart at Dunluce, was built in a ‘Scottish’ publication.

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