Site of Castle, Laraghcon, Co. Dublin
Along the northern bank of the River Liffey in Laraghcon, County Dublin, lies a curious cartographic mystery that speaks to the changing landscape of Irish history.
Site of Castle, Laraghcon, Co. Dublin
The 1937 Ordnance Survey 6-inch map marks this spot as ‘Castle (site of)’, though by that time a woollen mill had already claimed the location. Today, visitors to the area will find only a steep scarp where the road passes; no trace of the castle remains visible at ground level.
What makes this site particularly intriguing is its wandering placement across different maps. The earlier 1837 Ordnance Survey shows the castle site on the northern side of the road, a different location from its 1937 counterpart. This discrepancy hints at either the uncertain memories of local informants a century apart, or perhaps the difficulty in pinpointing the exact location of a structure that had long since vanished from the landscape.
The transformation from medieval stronghold to industrial mill reflects a pattern seen across Ireland, where ancient defensive sites gave way to the practical demands of commerce and industry. While the castle itself has left no physical footprint, its ghostly presence on these historic maps serves as a reminder of the layers of history that lie beneath even the most unremarkable stretches of Irish countryside. The woollen mill that once stood here has also passed into history, leaving only the natural scarp and these cartographic breadcrumbs for those curious enough to seek them out.