Parke’s Castle, Co. Leitrim: archaeology, history and architecture

by Claire Foley, archaeologist with DOE(NI)  and Colm Donnelly lecturer in archaeology QUB.

This monograph details the results obtained during a major programme of archaeological excavation undertaken seasonally between November 1971 and May 1975 at Parke’s Castle , also known as Newtown Castle, a National Monument in state ownership in the townland of Kilmore, Co. Leitrim. As noted in Grose’s text, Parke’s Castle stands in a highly picturesque setting; it is positioned on the northern shoreline of Lough Gill, approximately 11km east of Sligo town and 5km to the west of the village of Dromahair . The castle comprises a gatehouse, a manor house, two large corner towers (the north-east and north-west corner towers) and associated bawn, and the foundations of a late medieval tower-house were discovered during the excavation programme.

The programme of archaeological excavation was directed by Claire Foley, then of the National Parks and Monuments Branch, Office of Public Works (OPW). Preliminary fieldwork involved monitoring for the insertion of a service pipe in November 1971. The first season of excavation was from April to June 1972, with a further period of excavation undertaken from July to September in the same year. A second season of fieldwork was undertaken from April to May 1973, and a third from April to August 1974. A fourth and final phase of fieldwork was carried out during April and May 1975.