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

Roodstown Castle
Native name
Irish: Caisleán Bhaile an Rútaigh
Typetower house
LocationRoodstown, Ardee,
County Louth, Ireland
Coordinates53°52′20″N 6°29′12″W / 53.872243°N 6.486708°W / 53.872243; -6.486708
AreaDee Valley
Height15 m (49 ft)
Built15th century
OwnerState
Official nameRoodstown Castle
Reference no.298
Roodstown Castle is located in Ireland
Roodstown Castle
Location of Roodstown Castle in Ireland

Location edit

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

History edit

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 edit

 
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 edit

  1. ^ Crowl, Philip Axtell (1 January 1990). The Intelligent Traveller's Guide to Historic Ireland. Contemporary Books. ISBN 9780809240623 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ Great Britain and Ireland, a Phaidon Cultural Guide. Prentice-Hall. 1 January 1985. ISBN 9780133637557 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ Archer, Lucy; Smith, Edwin (1 January 1999). Architecture in Britain and Ireland, 600-1500. Harvill Press. ISBN 9781860467011 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ Friar, Stephen (1 January 2003). The Sutton Companion to Castles. Sutton. ISBN 9780750927444 – 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".