MOYLOUGH CASTLE

Moylough Castle was a 13th century tower house built by the de Cotterells and de Cogeshales. The three-storey castle which is now in ruins was built throughout of local limestone rubble set in hard whitish lime mortar. The ruins are an interesting feature to Moylough and worth a visit!

Moylough Castle was a rectangular keep or hall house dating to around the first half of the 13th century, between 1235 – 1240. Records relating to the castle are rare, but it has been identified with having association with two English landowners by the names of the de Cotterells and de Cogeshales who were tenants of firstly the O’Concannons and later the de Birmingham family.

It is unsure whether the castle may have been built by either the de Cotterells and de Cogeshales families or whether they were just tenants, in which case the castle was most likely built by either the O’Concannons or the de Birmingham family. The castle is built on a slight elevation about half a mile west of Moylough village, overlooking the low marshy lands bordering Summerville Lough.

The keep comprises of three stories built throughout of local limestone rubble set in hard whitish lime mortar. Gravel from nearby esker ridges would have been used as the core. It survives to roof level on three sides but the south west wall has now collapsed. The entrance is at first floor level and a timber stairs probably gave access to the door. The castle now lies in ruins, but many features can still be seen throughout.