Callan Motte

Callan Motte

Móta Challainn
Shown within Ireland
Location	Westcourt Demesne, Callan, County Kilkenny, Ireland
Region	Kings River Valley
Coordinates	52°32′48″N 7°23′30″W / 52.546657°N 7.391781°W / 52.546657; -7.391781Coordinates: 52°32′48″N 7°23′30″W / 52.546657°N 7.391781°W / 52.546657; -7.391781
Type	motte
Length	66 m (217 ft) (at base)
Width	48 m (157 ft) (at base)
Area	780 m2 (8,400 sq ft) (summit area)
Diameter	40 m (130 ft)
Height	12 metres (39 ft)
History
Builder	Geoffrey FitzRobert
Material	earth
Founded	c. 1217
Periods	Norman Ireland
Cultures	Cambro-Norman, Old English
Associated with	Normans
Site notes
Public access	yes
Designation	Designations National Monument of Ireland Official name Callan Motte Reference no. 372

Callan Motte is a motte-and-bailey and National Monument in Callan, Ireland.^[1][2]

Location

Callan Motte is in the centre of Callan, north of the Kings River, west of Upper Bridge Street and east of the N76.^[3]

History and archaeology

Motte-and-bailey castles were a primitive type of castle built after the Norman invasion, a mound of earth topped by a wooden palisade and tower.^[4]

Callan Motte was built c. 1217 by Geoffrey FitzRobert, seneschal to William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke. In 1307 it was described as ‘a castle, in which there is a hall constructed of wood covered with wooden shingles, a stone chamber, a kitchen and other wooden chambers’.^[5]

Local legend claims that cannons were placed on the motte by Oliver Cromwell's soldiers during the 1650 Siege of Callan.

References