Castle, Hiskinstown, Co. Westmeath
In the well-drained grasslands of County Westmeath lies what may be the remnants of Hiskinstown Castle, though you'd be hard-pressed to spot it without knowing what to look for.
Castle, Hiskinstown, Co. Westmeath
The site sits just 50 metres east of a ringfort, marked on maps as WM013-096, forming part of a broader landscape of ancient earthworks that speaks to centuries of continuous occupation and fortification in this part of Ireland.
According to research conducted by Adams in 1959, the castle site is marked by a sub-rectangular enclosure defined by a low earthen bank; all that remains of what was once likely a formidable structure. Rather than standing alone, this enclosure appears to be part of a larger complex of earthworks, a detail that only became fully apparent when examined through aerial photography taken in November 2011. These photographs revealed patterns in the landscape invisible from ground level, showing how the castle site connects to other defensive features in the area.
The proximity of the castle site to the earlier ringfort suggests a continuity of strategic importance for this location, with successive generations recognising its defensive advantages. While the castle itself has long since been levelled, leaving only subtle traces in the earth, its ghost persists in the landscape, waiting to tell its story to those who know how to read the signs written in banks and ditches across the Irish countryside.