Roodstown Castle

Roodstown Castle
Native name Irish: Caisleán Bhaile an Rútaigh
Type	tower house
Location	Roodstown, Ardee, County Louth, Ireland
Coordinates	53°52′20″N 6°29′12″W / 53.872243°N 6.486708°WCoordinates: 53°52′20″N 6°29′12″W / 53.872243°N 6.486708°W
Area	Dee Valley
Height	15 m (49 ft)
Built	15th century
Owner	State
National Monument of Ireland
Official name: Roodstown Castle
Reference no.	298
Location of Roodstown Castle in Ireland

Roodstown Castle is a 15th-century tower house and National Monument located in County Louth, Ireland.^[1][2]

Location

Roodstown Castle is located by the roadside, 3.6 km (2.2 mi) north-northeast of Ardee.^[3][4]

History

Roodstown Castle was built in the 15th century, standing at a strategic point between the River Glyde, River Dee, Ardee and the Irish Sea. It is similar to, although taller than, the ten-pound castles built under Henry VI. It is locally associated with the Taaffe family.^[5]

Building

Another view

Roodstown Castle is a rectangular tower house of four storeys with small turrets at diagonally opposed corner: a spiral stairway in the SE and garderobes in the NW.^[6]

The castle contained a vaulted ground-floor cellar or storage space, a murder-hole, a crenellated parapet, chemin de ronde.

The upper floors have large ogee windows and fireplaces.^{[7] [8][9][10]}

References

1. Crowl, Philip Axtell (1 January 1990). "The Intelligent Traveller's Guide to Historic Ireland". Contemporary Books – via Google Books.
2. "Great Britain and Ireland, a Phaidon Cultural Guide". Prentice-Hall. 1 January 1985 – via Google Books.
3. Archer, Lucy; Smith, Edwin (1 January 1999). "Architecture in Britain and Ireland, 600-1500". Harvill Press – via Google Books.
4. Friar, Stephen (1 January 2003). "The Sutton Companion to Castles". Sutton – via Google Books.
5. "The Schools' Collection » Stabannon, Castlebellingham".
6. "Ardee - Roodstown Castle".
7. "Roodstown Castle, Louth".
8. "Roodstown Castle".
9. "Roodstown Castle, County Louth".
10. "Roodstown Castle".