Close-up of lichen and plant life on the nineteenth-century stone addition to the castle. Up to six hundred years of exposure have taken their toll on the castle, as have raids, renovators and treasure-hunters.
Finds from the archaeological excavations in the mid-1990s.
1-4 copper alloy
1 buckle plate
2 stick pin
3 sewing pin
4 miniature chape (i.e, the protective end of a knife sheath)
5 bone tuning peg (for an instrument, such as a lute)
The nineteenth-century platform addition is in the foreground. The Ballyhoura range of mountains can be glimpsed in the distance. To the south of the castle (in the background) is a marsh and seasonal lake, now part of a nature preserve.
Because it is on a ridge, the castle from this direction would have looked even more imposing (the castle would also have had at least two more stories, including parapets). The castle would also have had a "bawn" (i.e., enclosure) wall directly in…
View from the east. No modern roads lead to the castle, which is privately owned and surrounded by gated and fenced farmland. The seasonal lake and neighboring wooded land to the south and southeast of the castle (seen to the left in this picture)…
View from the north of Kilcolman Castle ruins, from within the area of the "bawn" or enclosure, which is no longer extant. In Spenser's time the castle would have been at least two stories taller (including the roof and battlements) and much more…
Close-up of the castle, including “Raleigh's window,” from the south. Note (to the right) the arrow slit in the staircase/garderobe tower on the same level as the window. Defense was paramount in the original castle design. The loop also serves as…